Tennessee defensive back Christian Charles, a fifth-year senior, has entered the transfer portal to utilize his final season of eligibility. Charles played 30 games with seven starts over four seasons with the Vols, taking a redshirt in 2023 due to a season-ending injury. In 2024, he made 28 tackles in 10 games but missed spring practice while recovering from an injury. Charles, a three-star recruit in the 2021 class, played both cornerback and safety for Tennessee but faced challenges with injuries during his career.
Additionally, safety John Slaughter, a native of Clarksdale, Mississippi, has decided to enter the transfer portal. Slaughter, a 6-2, 197-pounder, played in 23 games over two seasons at UT, primarily on special teams. He made one tackle in 2023 and five tackles with one interception in 2024. With two seasons of eligibility remaining, Slaughter was vying for a starting safety position but was behind other players on the depth chart during spring practice.