Two Tennessee defenders on Friday decided to use their final seasons elsewhere.
Defensive end Tyler Baron and cornerback Doneiko Slaughter have each played four years with the Volunteers but have entered the NCAA transfer portal to use their one extra season of eligibility made available by the NCAA in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic. The two players have combined for 89 career appearances and 32 starts.
Baron, who has entered the portal twice previously before remaining in Knoxville, has amassed 101 tackles, 27 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks in his four seasons. The 6-foot-5, 260-pounder from Knoxville Catholic posted career bests this season with 10.5 tackles for loss and six sacks.
Slaughter has racked up 87 tackles and an interception during his time at Tennessee. The 6-foot, 190-pounder from Roswell, Georgia, collected 63 of his 87 stops the past two seasons.
Tennessee did receive some good roster news Friday when the NCAA granted a seventh season for linebacker Keenan Pili, who transferred from Brigham Young but only played in this year's opener against Virginia in Nashville before suffering a season-ending injury.
"Thank you for accepting me into the family here in Knoxville," Pili posted on social media. "Let's run it back in 2024!"
On the recruiting front, tight end commitment Jonathan Echols of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, flipped his nonbinding pledge Friday to the University of South Florida. The four-star Echols was committed to Tennessee for more than 17 months and committed to the Vols when Alex Golesh was the offensive coordinator.
Golesh is in his first season as USF's head coach.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.