Squirrel White's comments at Florida State show why losing him in the transfer portal is a bigger deal for Tennessee than most realize

Former Tennessee Vols wide receiver Squirrel White, who transferred to Florida State earlier this offseason, caught 67 passes for 803 yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore in 2023. 

In 2024, White was expected to have another big season for the Volunteers. Instead, the Alabama native caught just 34 passes for 381 yards and two touchdowns despite playing in all 13 games for Tennessee. 

The biggest reason for White's downtick in production is because he was playing through a knee injury, which limited him to just 17 snaps in the Vols' loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first round of the College Football Playoff. 

On Tuesday, while speaking to reporters at Florida State, White revealed that he was dealing with a PCL sprain (something that he's still recovering from) last season.

"I've been able to get more work (during spring practice) coming off a PCL sprain," said White. "Just getting out there and doing as much as I can with limited reps."

"It's something I was dealing with, before I got here, at Tennessee," added White. 

White's decision to transfer to Florida State opens the door for some of Tennessee's young wide receivers to step up and play a key role in the Volunteers' offense. 

Because of White's limited production in 2024, the loss of the speedy wide receiver has been met with a shoulder shrug from much of the UT fan base. White, however, is an experienced wide receiver who was immediately productive as a true freshman at Tennessee. He may not be a wide receiver that's going to be selected high in the NFL Draft, but he was still a valuable player for the Vols who proved he can be productive in the SEC. 

You can't blame White for transferring to Florida State so he can maximize his opportunities in his final season of eligibility. But the idea that White leaving Knoxville isn't a tough loss for the Vols simply isn't accurate.