The month of October is kicking off for the Auburn Tigers with a trip up to Knoxville to take on the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday, a place the program has not played since 2013.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR LIMITED-TIME SUBSCRIPTION MATCH OFFER
The meeting between the SEC foes will mark the first true road test for Alex Golesh’s squad, who has had three home games and one in a neutral site so far.
Josh Heupel’s Volunteers are coming off of a home loss to the top-ranked Texas Longhorns in their most recent game, falling by one possession 20-17.
Tennessee hit the portal in the offseason and loaded up on a number of players, the majority of which are on the defensive side of the football.
Ahead of the Tigers taking on the Volunteers, here are five notable transfers to keep an eye on for Tennessee on Saturday.
Amare Campbell, linebacker
Previous school: Penn State
Following the firing of James Franklin at Penn State, a number of players from the Nittany Lions program made the decision to transfer. But one of the most notable moves was the defensive coordinator Jim Knowles moving to Knoxville to join Heupel’s staff.
With him came Amare Campbell, who alongside Arion Carter helps to make up one of the better linebacker rooms in the conference. Campbell currently holds the second most tackles for the Volunteers at 22 to go with his lone sack and two pass deflections.
He was on a more efficient track with his tackle numbers in 2025 in State College, Pennsylvania, but Campbell’s 6-foot, 230-pound frame showcases his strength on the field, which is backed up by his 103 tackles from last season.
TJ Metcalf, defensive back
Previous school: Michigan
Another product of the Big Ten, TJ Metcalf has made a name for himself in the secondary early in his time in Knoxville. Having gotten a lot of playing time while he was at Michigan, Metcalf brought his power conference experience to the SEC and has put himself to work.
Through four games, Metcalf has recorded 16 total tackles, tied for third on the team so far. The two games that Tennessee has played against Power Four competition though has seen him put up his best numbers, notching seven tackles against Georgia Tech and five against Texas.
He will be relied upon to defend in space and make plays, something the Volunteers secondary has done often early.
Xavier Gilliam, defensive lineman
Previous school: Penn State
The numbers for Xavier Gilliam at Penn State were not what he wanted entirely, but his trust in Knowles as a defensive coordinator helped bring him to Knoxville to play on the Tennessee front, where he is just one tackle shy of his production in 2025.
Gilliam’s biggest contribution to the team so far though has been his sack numbers, putting up four in four games on a unit that leads the nation in sacks. The sophomore also forced one fumble in the season opener against Furman, which was part of a performance that has propelled him through the month of September.
The momentum will be crucial for him to carry through October, as he looks to make a statement as a young guy in a tough conference.
Kayin Lee, defensive back
Previous school: Auburn
Familiar with the orange and blue, Kayin Lee will be facing off against his former team on Saturday after three seasons on the Plains with Hugh Freeze, already making his presence felt.
After 15 of his 31 tackles came in the last three games of the 2025 season, Lee has already put up nine tackles in his campaign. His biggest play came on an interception against Texas though, being his first on the year. That matched his total that he put up in his final year with Auburn, receiving high praise from Heupel.
Being that this game is against his former program, he could make a difference on the defensive side.
Qua Moss, safety
Previous school: Kansas State
Alongside Metcalf, Qua Moss sits on the other side of a solid defensive back pair, and the senior has also not held back in the early portion of 2026.
Coming over from the Big 12, Moss is tied with Metcalf in total tackles so far at 16, putting up five each against Georgia Tech and Texas. At 5-foot-10, 188 pounds, Moss is a light, shifty defender that can move around the field well.
Having played well towards the end of his time at Kansas State, the senior is riding momentum, using his high game IQ to make a difference in the deep part of the field.
Auburn Undercover is an independent Auburn sports media company covering Auburn athletics, recruiting and insider news.
