Tennessee linebacker Brenden Anes plans to enter portal

Tennessee linebacker Brenden Anes linebacker is leaving the program after one season on Rocky Top. Anes plans to enter the transfer portal when it opens on January 2nd.

Tennessee True Freshman LB Brenden Anes is entering the @TransferPortal, his agency tells @On3Sports

Was the No. 2 LB in Tennessee in last years classhttps://t.co/RlUbB6Fk7q pic.twitter.com/T04Q0F9uN4

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 10, 2025

Anes played in all 12 games this season most on special teams as he recorded 5 tackles Anes had 3 tackles in second half work against New Mexico State.

The Nashville product signed with the Vols a year ago when he flipped his commitment from Wisconsin to Tennessee on Halloween last fall. 

Understanding the portal

The transfer portal window is now just one window. The window opens on January 2nd and runs through January 16th.

Players don’t have to pick a school they are going to during those specific dates but those are the span of dates on when a player can enter the portal.

Those dates don’t apply to graduate transfers who can enter the portal whenever they wish. Also, if there’s a head coaching change, their players are granted an immediate 30-day window during which they can enter the portal.

Of note, any team playing in a game after Dec 28 (playoffs or regular bowl) gets a five-day window once season ends for those player to enter portal.

Players who enter the portal in the winter window are trying to be somewhere for the spring semester. 

For Tennessee the spring semester starts on January 21 which is late compared to many schools around the country. Tennessee a year ago started a winter mini-term class that runs the first three weeks of January.