After Tennessee football landed tight end Holden Staes on Friday, the Vols got some more good news from the transfer portal. Former MTSU defensive back Jakobe Thomas has committed to Tennessee.
Thomas was previously committed to Oregon State out of the transfer portal. Thomas chose the Vols over the Beavers as well as Auburn, Texas A&M, Louisville and Ole Miss, among others.
Thomas finished with 71 tackles, which ranked second on the team for the Blue Raiders. He also picked up three tackles for loss, five pass breakups, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick whole starting 10 games this season. He totaled 108 tackles and four tackles for loss over the past two seasons at MTSU.
Thomas was a quarterback and running back out of Tullahoma High School in Tullahoma, Tennessee. He ranked as a three-star prospect out of high school and the No. 2047 prospect overall in the 2021 class.
In the portal, Thomas is the No. 115 prospect overall and a three-star by 247Sports. He has two seasons of eligibility, and he redshirted his freshman year at MTSU.
Thomas is the first defensive player to commit to the Vols, and just the second player overall. Currently, Tennessee has six defensive backs in the transfer portal. There have also been several others who Josh Heupel and his staff are after in the portal.
Here’s a look at some other defensive backs Tennessee is after in the portal.
Oregon State DB Jermod McCoy
Jermod McCoy ranks as a four-star prospect in the portal from 247Sports. Originally from Texas, he received a scholarship offer from Tennessee on Wednesday.
McCoy picked up 31 total tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery in 2023. The 6-foot and 180-pound defensive back is expected to visit Tennessee. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
Villanova DB Devon Marshall
Devon Marshall out of Villanova picked up a Tennessee offer on Tuesday. Marshall had 47 tackles and 3.5 for loss in 2023. He also defended 11 passes.
Marshall played in nine games and picked up 13 tackles with two passes defended and one blocked punt as a freshman. The 6-foot, 200-pounder enters the portal with two years of eligibility remaining.
Rhode Island DB Syeed Gibbs
Gibbs was extended a scholarship offer on Dec. 5.
Gibbs had 52 tackles, three tackles for loss, three interceptions and six passes broken up in 10 starts this season for Rhode Island. Gibbs has three years of eligibility remaining.
The 6-foot, 180-pound corner has garnered a lot of FBS attention including from UConn, Liberty and Wisconsin.
Central Michigan S Trey Jones
Trey Jones received an offer from Tennessee on Wednesday. Jones finished this season 66 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and an interception. Over his career, he has 88 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and three interceptions.
Jones, a 6-foot-2 and 215-pound safety, left high school as a two-star prospect from Wetumpka High School in Wetumpka, Alabama. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
