Rhea’s Kevin Revis leaving Vols

KNOXVILLE — After two seasons at Tennessee, Kevin Revis is switching schools.

The Volunteers’ offensive lineman and former Rhea County High School standout will transfer, his high school coach confirmed on Wednesday afternoon.

“He’s decided to transfer,” said Jason Fitzgerald, who stepped down as the Golden Eagles’ coach earlier this week. “He’s exploring his options right now.”

The 6-foot-1, 275-pound Revis signed with UT in 2009, and the former Mr. Football finalist played in just one game this past season as a redshirt freshman. Multiple attempts to reach Revis were unsuccessful, and UT has yet to confirm the move.

“It’s just one of those things,” Revis told WRCB-TV3. “I don’t know where I want to go yet, but there’s a lot of good places out there.”

True freshmen Ja’Wuan James, James Stone and Zach Fulton, redshirt freshman JerQuari Schofield and third-year sophomore Dallas Thomas combined for 44 starts last season for the Vols’ young offensive line. UT also signed five offensive linemen in their 2011 class and brought in Notre Dame transfer Alex Bullard, who is immediately eligible after the NCAA granted his hardship waiver.

Revis verbally committed the summer before his senior year to former UT coach Phillip Fulmer before signing after Lane Kiffin took over as the Vols’ coach. He had a scholarship offer from Duke and interest from UCLA, Stanford, Penn State and Georgia Tech.

Revis would have to sit out a season if he transfers to a Bowl Subdivision school per NCAA rules, but if he chooses to continue his career at an FCS school, he could play immediately.

Now including Revis, eight players from UT’s 2009 signing class are permanently no longer part of the program.