The Tennessee Volunteers are once again feeling the sting of the transfer portal as defensive back Jakobe Thomas officially entered his name on Monday. The former Middle Tennessee State standout transferred to Knoxville ahead of the 2024 season, but after just one year in orange and white, he’s moving on. And this time, the SEC isn’t in his future plans.
According to reports, Thomas is only taking two official visits, Florida State and Miami, before making his final decision. The loss is another tough blow for head coach Josh Heupel, who has now seen multiple high-profile transfers leave the program this spring, including quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who committed to UCLA.
Potential Transfer Landing Spots for Jakobe Thomas
Thomas made a solid impact in his lone year with the Vols, logging 263 snaps in 2024. His stat line includes 22 total tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, 14 solo tackles, and two pass deflections. His lone sack came in a strong performance against NC State early in the season, and he was widely projected to play a key role in Tennessee’s secondary in 2025.
Tennessee defensive back Jakobe Thomas will visit Miami and Florida State, his agent @EugeneTLee of @3strandsports tells @On3sports.
It will be his only two visits. https://t.co/K6mBw4nkur
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) April 28, 2025
Now that Thomas is back in the portal, here are five realistic landing spots for the versatile defensive back.
1. Florida State Seminoles
This is one of Thomas’ confirmed visits, and it makes a lot of sense. The Seminoles have already added three former Vols this offseason and are in need of depth at defensive back. FSU is building a transfer-heavy roster and could offer Thomas immediate playing time, familiarity, and a real shot at postseason success.
2. Miami Hurricanes
The second and final visit Thomas has scheduled is to Miami, another ACC program on the rise. The Hurricanes have had recent success pulling talent from the portal and are aggressively rebuilding their secondary. With Thomas’ proven production and experience, he could become a day-one contributor in Coral Gables.
3. Louisville Cardinals
Louisville is quietly assembling a strong defense through the transfer portal and could benefit from Thomas’ SEC experience. The Cardinals compete in the ACC and offer a system where Thomas could thrive, especially with a physical style of play that matches his tackling ability.
4. South Carolina Gamecocks
Should Thomas reconsider an SEC return, South Carolina could be an option. The Gamecocks have a clear need in the secondary, and with his familiarity with the conference, Thomas could slide right into a starting role.
5. Oregon Ducks
Looking out West, Oregon has shown it’s not afraid to tap the transfer portal for impact players. With Nico Iamaleava landing at UCLA, Thomas might consider following the Big Ten pipeline if neither FSU nor Miami feels right.
KEEP READING: Azareye’h Thomas NFL Draft Projections: 5 Landing Spots for the Florida State CB
With just two visits scheduled, the race is likely between Florida State and Miami, but expect more interest to emerge quickly if Thomas delays his commitment. One thing’s clear, Josh Heupel’s defense just got thinner, and the ACC may be about to gain a hard-hitting difference-maker in Jakobe Thomas.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
