Tennessee Football Shakes Up Roster: Michigan’s DB TJ Metcalf Commits—What This Means for the Season

The transfer landscape just got a bit more intriguing with Michigan’s defensive back TJ Metcalf packing his bags for Tennessee football. This isn’t just any transfer; it’s a strategic win for Jim Knowles, Tennessee’s freshly minted defensive coordinator, who’s been scouting for a seasoned, adaptable presence in the secondary. Metcalf’s journey is no stranger to pressure — having started in two powerhouse conferences, the SEC with Arkansas and Big Ten with Michigan, he brings a wealth of on-field wisdom. Over three seasons and 37 games, he’s racked up a solid stat line — 129 tackles, four picks, a pair of fumble recoveries, and more — all underscoring his knack for impactful play. Whether you’re curious about how he’ll mesh as a nickelback or potentially shake things up at safety, this move signals a nuanced chess play in Tennessee’s defensive scheme that could shake up the season ahead. Curious for the deep dive? LEARN MORE.

Michigan defensive back TJ Metcalf will transfer to Tennessee football, according to numerous reports, giving new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles the versatile veteran he needs in his secondary.

Metcalf has been a starter in the SEC at Arkansas and the Big Ten at Michigan.

He has logged 37 career games over three seasons and has one season of eligibility remaining. And he has 129 tackles, four interceptions, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and 11 pass breakups in his career.

Metcalf can play safety and nickelback. He earned All-Big Ten honorable mention at Michigan mostly playing nickelback, and that’s where the Vols might need him the most. Tennessee must replace Jalen McMurray (NFL draft) and Boo Carter (transferred to Colorado), who both played Star position, what UT calls its nickelback.

However, the safety position is critical in Knowles’ defensive scheme, so Metcalf could be utilized there.

In the 2025 season, Metcalf had 58 tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, one interception and one fumble recovery at Michigan.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder is from Birmingham, Alabama. He was a three-star prospect when he signed with Arkansas in the 2023 class.

Tennessee has added 11 players from the portal: Metcalf, Tulane edge rusher Jordan Norman, Kansas State safety Qua Moss, LSU offensive tackle Ory Williams, Auburn cornerback Kayin Lee, Louisville kicker Cooper Ranvier and Oklahoma State wide receiver Gavin Freeman. The Vols also got defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam, linebacker Amare Campbell, edge rusher Chaz Coleman and safety Dejuan Lane, all out of Penn State.

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email [email protected]. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: TJ Metcalf: Tennessee football lands Michigan DB from transfer portal