Correction
This story was corrected on Feb. 19 to note that Wharton was the third wide receiver to transfer from the Vols this season.
KNOXVILLE -- Another member of Tennessee's 2014 recruiting class has decided to leave the program.
Receiver Vic Wharton has elected to transfer from the Volunteers, head coach Butch Jones told the Times Free Press on Thursday morning.
The first verbal commitment in a recruiting class that went on to finish in the top five nationally, Wharton started two games as a freshman in 2014 and caught a touchdown pass as Tennessee's rout of Iowa in the TaxSlayer Bowl last month.
"Right now I know he's going to transfer," Jones said. "Vic is going through that process of deciding what is the best fit for him in moving forward."
Wharton is the third wide receiver to decide to transfer from the Vols this offseason. Rising redshirt sophomore Ryan Jenkins confirmed on his Twitter account two weeks ago he was going to leave Tennessee, and junior Drae Bowles will be playing next season for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Wharton is the fifth 2014 recruit to choose to transfer and 11th player overall to leave the program this offseason.
Wharton and Jenkins both remain enrolled at Tennessee, according to the university's online directory.
The Vols endured a injury-plagued season at wideout in 2014 and will welcome the returns of Josh Smith (ankle), who received a medial redshirt after playing in just three games, Marquez North (shoulder), Jason Croom (knee) and Cody Blanc (Achilles' tendon) for next season.
Leading receiver Pig Howard, talented slot receiver Von Pearson, former five-star recruit Josh Malone and the dependable Johnathon Johnson also return for Tennessee, which will add touted prospect Preston Williams, who's coming off an ACL injury, from its 2015 class.
Dormady cleared
Freshman quarterback Quinten Dormady (shoulder) has been cleared to resume throwing, Jones confirmed, for the first time since enrolling at Tennessee last month.
"He's made remarkable progress," Jones said. "(Head athletic trainer) Jason McVeigh's done a great job. Quinten, from a maturity standpoint, in the training room has done a great job. He's been cleared, and he'll be full-go for spring football."
The former four-star prospect from Texas should get plenty of opportunities when spring practice begins next month as the Vols look for a backup behind starter Josh Dobbs. Dormady and fellow enrollee Jauan Jennings have begun the competition, and Sheriron Jones will join it when he arrives for the summer.
Dormady completed 57 percent of his passes, threw for 2,893 yards and 32 touchdowns and ran for five more touchdowns as a senior at Boerne High School after missing his junior season with a injury to his shoulder.
Staff salaries
As part of the raise and contract extension Jones received in December, Tennessee intended to increase the salary pool for its assistant coaches.
No figures have been released regarding the updated salaries for Tennessee's coaching staff, which underwent one change when Mike DeBord was hired to replace Mike Bajakian as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach earlier this month.
Both Jones's $3.6 million salary and the $3.265 million staff salary are in the middle of the pack among Tennessee's peers in the SEC.
""In the SEC, it's non-stop, no matter what it is," Jones said. "If it's facility improvements, if it's recruiting, or your staff. Our staff will be rewarded, but we have to continue to take care of our staff. You look at from where we were two years ago in the hierarchy to where we our know, it's a great illustration of the commitment that is in our conference to winning. Our administration here has shown great commitment."
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.