Tennessee has received a football commitment via the NCAA transfer portal from defensive tackle DaJon Terry, who will instantly become the hungriest Volunteers player for a victory.
The 6-foot-2, 320-pound Terry tallied 14 tackles and two sacks last season at Kansas, which went 0-9 with six setbacks by at least 30 points. Terry played in eight of the nine defeats and made two starts, and his sacks occurred against Iowa State and Oklahoma State.
Terry, who entered the portal last Wednesday, made the announcement on Twitter, posting "GBO" with an image of him in a Tennessee uniform.
Tennessee has been ravaged by the portal since last year's 3-7 record was followed by the termination of coach Jeremy Pruitt for NCAA Level I and II violations uncovered through a university investigation. Many of the program's top players bolted, including running back Eric Gray to Oklahoma and inside linebacker Henry To'o To'o revealing Saturday that Alabama was his transfer destination, but the Vols have added seven players as well.
Though not all seven have been announced as signees, Tennessee has gained quarterbacks Hendon Hooker (Virginia Tech) and Joe Milton (Michigan), receiver JaVonta Payton (Mississippi State), defensive lineman Caleb Tremblay (Southern California), inside linebacker Juwan Mitchell (Texas), kicker Chase McGrath (Southern California) and now Terry. Hooker transferred while Pruitt was still coach and competed this spring under new coach Josh Heupel.
Terry is from Meridian, Mississippi, and signed with the Jayhawks in 2019 as the nation's No. 124 defensive tackle and No. 1,884 prospect overall, according to the 247Sports.com composite rankings. He played against Indiana State, Coastal Carolina and Boston College - Kansas won two of those games - before sitting out the rest of the 2019 season and receiving a redshirt year.
With the NCAA allowing an extra season of eligibility due to the outbreak of the coronavirus more than a year ago, Terry will head to Knoxville with four seasons remaining.
Terry is majoring in sports management was an Academic All-Big 12 second-team selection this past fall.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.