This is a move everybody likely saw coming. Tennessee running back Khalifa Keith, who was a member of the Vols’ 2023 recruiting class out of Alabama, became the second player from Rocky Top to reveal his plans to enter the transfer portal when it opens next week.
Ironically, Keith hails from Parker High School in Birmingham, Ala., and announced his decision the same day UT flipped a defensive back in its 2025 class from the same Jefferson County school. Keith announced his decision to enter the portal on Twitter.
Keith had 10 carries for 21 yards for the Vols as a freshman while taking a redshirt. This year, he had 21 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown while also hauling in an eight-yard reception. However, UT’s use of running backs on its roster made it clear he would transfer for two reasons.
The first was just the depth. Dylan Sampson is the star, but he may leave after this year. Still, Peyton Lewis is the clear-cut backup, and the Vols have two more running backs committed in their 2025 recruiting class, Daune Morris and Justin Baker.
Not helping matters was Morris flipped from the USC Trojans to the Vols just last week, and don’t forget the fact that Cameron Seldon is still on the roster and taking up carries when injuries happen. As a result, Keith was always going to be the odd man out.
Beyond that, though, Keith’s role as a power back never came to fruition. The idea was that Keith would come in on short-yardage plays and be able to pick up a first down. Instead, though, Josh Heupel and Joey Halzle began to turn to tight ends for that, such as Miles Kitselman lining up as a fullback.
As a result, even the minimal role Keith expected to have did not happen, which made it very obvious he would enter the portal. He just doesn’t have the athleticism to be a feature back in Heupel’s system against SEC competition, and that was beyond clear.
