Entering college, Smith was a three-star recruit out of Loganville, GA, playing his high school ball for the Grayson Rams. Smith was ranked 44th among recruits in Georgia, ranking as the 42nd-best linebacker that year.

And after two years with Tennessee’s football program, Smith appears to be entering the transfer portal.

Tennessee football program likely losing LB Jalen Smith to transfer portal

In 2024, the Volunteers continued their streak of winning records, dating back to 2021. Once he became Tennessee’s head football coach, Josh Heupel has had the Volunteers playing some of their best football since the late 1990s or early 2000s.

Coming in as the second double-digit-win season for Tennessee’s football program in their last three seasons, the Volunteers look to make an appearance in the College Football Playoff.

As a redshirt freshman, Smith has appeared in 17 games over two years, totaling 38 tackles and two tackles for loss. Though he wasn’t incredibly productive for Tennessee, a change of scenery could help the soon-to-be redshirt sophomore.

And with the availability of the transfer portal for players to switch teams, it creates an opportunity to shine elsewhere. It’s not the most beloved part of college football for some fans, but it’s a way for these student-athletes to express their willingness to be “traded” in a sense.

Trades are a crucial part of professional sports nowadays, and with that being the end goal for many of these athletes, it makes sense to have that ability in college, too.

So, as Tennessee awaits their destiny for the College Football Playoff, they could be doing so with the knowledge that Smith won’t be returning next season.

And while Smith could be repping a new uniform in 2025, he’ll always have a spot in Rocky Top Nation.