Josh Heupel: “Navy Shuler just told me he wants to leave Vols for Transfer portal….”

Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel revealed today that quarterback Navy Shuler has expressed his intent to enter the transfer portal. The son of former Vols legend Heath Shuler, Navy has struggled to carve out a significant role within Tennessee’s deep quarterback lineup.

Heupel spoke candidly about Shuler’s decision, stating, “Navy came to me earlir this week and told me he’s ready for a fresh start. While he’s shown tremendous work ethic and dedication to this program, he feels that his future opportunities to play are limited here.”

Sources close to the situation indicate that Shuler’s desire for more playing time is the primary factor driving his decision. With Joe Milton III continuing to hold the starting quarterback position and freshman phenom Nico Iamaleava rising through the ranks, Shuler’s path to meaningful snaps has become increasingly challenging.

Despite the decision, Heupel maintained his support for Shuler, acknowledging that transferring is often part of a young player’s development. “We’ll always be here for Navy. He’s been a great teammate and a great person for this program,” Heupel said.

As Shuler enters the transfer portal, it remains to be seen which program will offer him the playing time he seeks. His departure marks the latest in a growing trend of players using the transfer portal to seek better opportunities in college football.