An exodus of talent from the Tennessee football program is apparently underway after the dismissal of coach Jeremy Pruitt and nine staff members left the volunteers in a limbo this week. Leading rusher Eric Gray and lead tackle Henry To’o To’o both entered the transfer portal on Wednesday, according to 247Sports. It highlights the issues facing the next coach of the program in rebuilding the list, amid the looming possibility of sanctions.
Gray ran for 1,311 yards in two seasons and eight touchdowns on 258 runs, while also catching 43 passes for 369 yards and three touchdowns. To’o To’o has meanwhile suffered 140 tackles in two seasons. The two are among several players from Tennessee who have transferred or entered the portal over the past few days. Most importantly, former five-star striker Wanna Morris announced Monday that he plans to move to Oklahoma after starting 19 times in Tennessee.
Quarterbacks Jarrett Guarantano (Washington State) and JT Shrout (Colorado), Ty Chandler (North Carolina), wide receiver Brandon Johnson (UCF) and linebacker Deandre Johnson (Miami) are so far one of the other high profiles. University administrators said Monday they plan to appoint a new athletics director to replace the outgoing Phillip Fulmer before hiring Pruitt’s replacement.
Former Auburn defense coordinator Kevin Steele serves as interim coach, but Steele was not among Pruitt’s staff and apparently has no deep relationship with the current list. Gray and To’o To’o were one of the few highlights of the Pruitt era as highly regarded members of the program’s 2019 signing class, which was 247 nationally at 13.
Also, former attacking linebacker Jahmir Johnson and former four-star linebacker Quavaris Crouch, who entered the portal with Gray and To’o To’o, made 85 tackles in two seasons.