Tennessee lands the 'next Travis Hunter' after Colorado's mass exodus

Jeff Hauser

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Tennessee lands the 'next Travis Hunter' after Colorado's mass exodus image

Tennessee continues to reshape its roster through the transfer portal, landing former Colorado Buffaloes two-way athlete Isaiah Hardge as the Volunteers look to add versatility ahead of the 2026 season.

Hardge arrives in Knoxville after spending the 2025 season at Colorado, where he contributed on both sides of the ball as a wide receiver and defensive back. He also carved out a major role on special teams. Though his offensive production was limited, his flexibility made him a valuable depth piece for the Buffaloes.

In 11 games during last season, Hardge caught six passes for 76 yards, rushed three times for eight yards and recorded 20 tackles on defense, including one tackle for loss. He also logged 108 special-teams snaps across five units, becoming one of Colorado’s most dependable contributors in all phases.

Hardge was once dubbed the “next Travis Hunter” by Colorado coach Deion Sanders.  A lofty comparison that never fully materialized in Boulder but details his two-way potential.

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A three-star recruit from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Florida, Hardge was rated the No. 2,492 overall player in the transfer portal by On3. He redshirted in 2023, expanded his role in 2024 and made one start at wide receiver in 2025 while also playing cornerback.

Tennessee is coming off an 8-5 season that included a Music City Bowl loss to Illinois. It's was a step back after reaching the College Football Playoff the year prior. Vols coach Josh Heupel now turns to the portal to spark competition as the program prepares for next fall.

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Contributing Writer