Tennessee adds graduate transfer wide receiver from USC

Tennessee adds graduate transfer wide receiver from USC.

KNOXVILLE — Only one week removed from a Gator Bowl victory over Indiana, it has already been a productive offseason for Tennessee football.

The Vols added another piece to their team on Thursday, as former USC wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. announced on his Twitter account that he will transfer to Tennessee to play out his final season of eligibility.

A native of Saraland, Ala., Jones was recruited heavily by Butch Jones and his staff to Tennessee, but elected to go to the west coast and play for USC. Current Tennessee wide receivers coach Tee Martin recruited Jones to Los Angeles as part of the 2016 recruiting class when Martin was on Clay Helton’s offensive staff.

As a three-star prospect on the 247 Sports Composite, Jones was rated the No. 79 wide receiver in his class, and held offers from schools such as Georgia, Michigan, Oklahoma and Florida.

Jones had a limited role in USC’s offense, catching just 36 passes for 347 yards and one touchdown through three seasons, as well as an eight-yard touchdown run against Arizona State. The Trojans often utilized his speed, however, particularly in the kick return game. He nearly reached 2,000 kick return yards with a 24-yard average and one kick return for a touchdown.

Jones comes to Tennessee in a week where the Vols welcome early enrollees on campus, bringing in offensive lineman Cade Mays as a transfer from Georgia and announce that offensive lineman Trey Smith will return for his senior season.

The new Volunteer also joins former Nebraska wideout Miles Jones as Tennessee transfers. Both players enter a wide receiver room that loses its top two players to the NFL Draft in Jauan Jennings and Marquez Callaway.