UT Vols have indispensable recruiting tool in Grad Transfer Tracker

The Grad Transfer Tracker is a sign of the times in college athletics. The website routinely lists players who plan to finish their college career somewhere else.

This should be of great interest to Tennessee, which needs players of any type – graduate transfers included – after a 4-8 season in 2017, which led to the firing of coach Butch Jones and the hiring of Jeremy Pruitt.

The Vols already have capitalized on the willingness of current players to move. They have attracted former Stanford quarterback Keller Chryst, former Michigan State running back Madre London and former Michigan placekicker Ryan Tice, who will have two years of eligibility remaining.

More:UT Vols football should send recruiting message to potential transfers

UT fans can be encouraged by this. While I realize Heisman Trophy candidates aren’t usually listed among graduate transfers, Tennessee should be happy to get any serviceable player.

Does that seem desperate? Sure. But it’s also realistic.

Jones recruited well in his five seasons at UT. However, too many of his recruits didn't stay. Moreover, some of those who did stick around didn’t develop into the players whom recruiting services projected them to be.

Also, when you have three good players from a bad team leave early for the pros, as Tennessee just did, you are left with a less than formidable depth chart.

Given UT’s situation, almost anyone on the Grad Transfer Tracker looks appealing.

More:Grad transfers exploit NCAA loophole, have big impact

Here’s one: “Dwayne Wallace, an offensive lineman from California-Berkeley who sat out the 2017 season, is no longer committed to Ole Miss. Wallace is now back on the Potential Transfer list and is still eligible to play FBS football this fall.”

I don't know if Wallace ever has blocked anyone from a Power 5 conference. However, UT can’t be choosy. Last season, it had perhaps the worst offensive line in the SEC. And now its two best offensive linemen – freshman All-American Trey Smith and Chance Hall – will miss spring practice for medical reasons.

Here’s another Grad Transfer Tracker posting of note: “Caleb Eagans reached out to us directly to let us know he’s seeking a graduate transfer. He hasn’t played college football since the 2014 season, but he had a successful career running track for Texas A&M. He aims to play wide receiver and return kicks.”

So what if he might be a little rusty. Eagans told the good folks at Grad Transfer Tracker that he has two years of eligibility remaining. And it’s not as though UT receivers have been running past SEC defensive backs on a regular basis.

More:Tennessee Vols coach Jeremy Pruitt hints there will be more transfers

Three potential graduate transfers from West Virginia also should be of interest to Tennessee. If you don’t know why, check the schedule.

Since the Vols open the season against the Mountaineers, they could get inside information if they signed quarterback Chris Chugunov, defensive lineman Jaleel Fields or wide receiver Ricky Rogers.

Here’s another one: “Aaron Calixte, who's just finishing an all-conference season as a guard for Maine, is taking his graduate transfer … ”

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Never mind. He’s a basketball guard.

Tennessee isn’t that desperate.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: Twitter.com/johnadamskns.

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