Between Ethan Davis' ability to create after the catch and Miles Kitselman's more traditional blocking-style tight end tendencies, the Vols showcased a dynamic position group that they'll hope to replicate in 2026.
Last season, the Volunteers featured a two-man tight end attack of senior Miles Kitselman and sophomore Ethan Davis.
Between Davis' ability to create after the catch and Kitselman's more traditional blocking-style tight end tendencies, the Vols showcased a dynamic position group that they'll hope to replicate in 2026.
With Kitselman now NFL bound, Tennessee has made several moves this offseason to remain competitive and fill the gaps left behind by its 2025 departures.
On the way out:
After being granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA for the 2025 season, Miles Kitselman's college career has officially come to an end.
Spending two years with Tennessee after playing JUCO ball and a brief stint with Alabama, Kitselman's physical play was an integral part of the Volunteers' success in the past two seasons.
In 2024, Kitselman was a favorite target of quarterback Nico Iamaleava, as he hauled in 22 catches for 301 yards and four touchdowns.
Despite increasing his catching total by four, Kitselman's numbers took a dip in 2025 as he recorded 48 fewer yards and only two touchdowns in his final season.
Joining Kitselman in departing from Knoxville, is 2025 freshman Jack Van Dorselaer, who entered the transfer portal in early January and has since signed with the Oklahoma Sooners.
In limited on-field action this season, Van Dorselaer recorded five total catches for 23 yards and a touchdown in his tenure with the Volunteers.
The Southlake, TX native hopes to play a bigger role in an SEC offense next season with the Sooners, putting more use to his 6'5" 236lb frame.
Returning:
Undoubtedly the No. 1 Volunteers tight end at the moment, Ethan Davis is ready for a breakout season in '26.
The Atlanta, Ga., native who enters his fourth season at Tennessee in the fall, recorded 21 receptions for 257 yards and two touchdowns this past season.
With near identical numbers to starting senior Kitselman, Davis showed prowess of a much larger offensive role in future seasons with the Vols.
His slim 6-foot-5, 245-pound build makes Davis a strikingly agile tight end who can make plays in open space after the catch.
In his second career start, replacing an injured Kitselman on the road against Florida, Davis caught five passes for 72 yards and a touchdown.
Also returning for the Vols are DaSaahn Brame and Cole Harrison.
Brame caught 6 passes for 63 yards last season while Harrison hauled in one catch for 17 yards in 2025. Both served as reserve tight ends and could play a larger part in Tennessee's 2026 offense.
Newcomers:
Tennessee scored itself a new tight end in the transfer portal this month, landing a commitment from South Alabama, Trent Thomas.
Thomas, who recorded just four catches for 34 yards last season with the Jaguars is a large 6-5, 245-pounder, likely to take on the Kitselman blocking tight end role.
Thomas played in 12 games this past season, starting in eight of them. Like Davis, Thomas enters his redshirt-junior year in the fall and will likely be used in a variety of offensive packages. Primarily as a block-first tight end.
Also new to Rocky Top is freshman tight end from Vienna, Austria, Luca Wolf.
The consensus three-star man by way of the NFL UK Academy in London brings his 6-5, 246-pound frame to a young Tennessee tight end group in need of playmakers.
Wolf was ranked the 12th best tight end prospect in the class of 2026 by ESPN.