Vols linebacker French in transfer portal

Martavius French is no longer an answer for Tennessee’s dwindling core of inside linebackers.

The 6-foot-2, 240pound redshirt freshman announced this weekend that he is entering the NCAA transfer portal. French and three early enrollees for the Volunteers — quarterback Kaidon Salter, defensive tackle Isaac Washington and inside linebacker Aaron Willis — were arrested in early March after an incident at Stokely Hall that yielded marijuana and drug paraphernalia possession charges.

None of the four practiced this spring, and Washington entered the portal this past Thursday.

“In life you make mistakes to make yourself a better person of character,” French posted on Twitter. “I apologize to my brothers that I built a bond with.”

French was a four-star signee out of Whitehaven High School in Memphis and was the nation’s No. 17 inside linebacker prospect in the 2020 class, according to the 247Sports.com composite rankings. He did not play in any games last season.

Vols pound Cats

Tennessee has played seven Southeastern Conference baseball series this spring and has won six of them, clinching the sixth Saturday afternoon with an 11-2 pounding of Kentucky at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Jake Rucker’s grand slam highlighted a seven-run sixth inning for the Vols, who improved to 34-11 overall and 14-7 in league games.

”Our guys have done a great job of responding if game two (of a series) doesn’t go well,” coach Tony Vitello said on a Zoom call. “They seem to finish strong, so it’s a feather in their cap for sure.”

Tennessee does not have a midweek game and will resume SEC play next Friday at Missouri.