Tennessee transfer LB Elijah Herring gives thoughts on Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes after visit to Colorado

Tennessee Vols transfer linebacker Elijah Herring took a visit this past week to Colorado. 

Herring, who entered the NCAA transfer portal earlier this month, led the Vols with 80 tackles last season while filling in for injured starting linebacker Keenan Pili (Pili suffered a season-ending injury in Tennessee's season-opener against Virginia in 2023). 

Deion Sanders and Colorado are one of several programs pursuing Herring. 

“Experiencing Colorado was a great time. Coach Prime had a great staff around him. Bunch of family," said Herring to On3 of his visit to Colorado. 

“Everybody knew each other from years past,” added Herring. “Just shows how connected everybody was. How the chemistry was. The culture, a bunch of smiles, bunch of laughs and just how they got to work when it was time to grind.”

Kansas State and Penn State are two of the other programs that are also interested in the former Tennessee linebacker. 

Herring's decision to enter the transfer portal this month didn't come as a complete surprise. Herring played significant snaps for the Vols in 2023, but that wasn't expected to be the case in 2024. 

With Pili returning for another season, plus the emergence of young linebackers like Arion Carter and Jeremiah Telander, Herring was likely heading for a backup role with no guaranteed playing time. 

Herring's younger brother, Caleb, is a sophomore edge rusher who has received plenty of praise this spring from the Tennessee coaching staff. 

"Caleb is coming on, and that guy can be a freaky talent," said Vols outside linebackers coach Mike Ekeler earlier this month. "He loves ball. The funny thing about Caleb is after practice, he'll come in, and I won't even have a chance to watch the film yet, and he's watched it all. That guy eats, sleeps, and drinks ball. He loves it. That's what the great ones do." 

Fortunately for Tennessee fans, Caleb isn't expected to entertain the idea of entering the transfer portal despite his older brother's decision.