Tennessee Volunteers strengthen their 2025 roster by adding two-way star DJ Newman from the transfer portal, boosting both offensive and defensive options for the upcoming season.

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The Tennessee Volunteers have made another major move in what’s shaping up to be one of the most aggressive and calculated offseasons in program history. In a statement that reverberated throughout the SEC and beyond, head coach Josh Heupel and his staff have secured one of the most intriguing and dynamic players in the transfer portal: DJ Newman, a two-way star who will immediately impact both sides of the ball for the Vols in 2025.

Newman, who previously played for Arizona State, entered the portal as one of the most coveted and versatile athletes available. Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 195 pounds, he played cornerback, wide receiver, and returned kicks during his two seasons in Tempe. His rare combination of speed, physicality, and football IQ made him a target for several Power Five programs, including Michigan, Texas, and LSU. But it was Tennessee that ultimately landed him, and the fit appears to be seamless.

For a program that has steadily built a national reputation under Heupel for innovation, aggression, and adaptability, Newman represents a quintessential “Vol-type” player — explosive, unafraid of the spotlight, and eager to compete wherever he’s needed. What makes his addition particularly special is his willingness — and proven ability — to contribute on both offense and defense, a rarity at the highest level of college football.

In 2024, Newman tallied 42 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 9 pass breakups as a cornerback, while also hauling in 28 receptions for 410 yards and 5 touchdowns as a part-time wide receiver. He even added two return touchdowns, earning All-Pac-12 second-team honors as a return specialist and honorable mention as a defensive back. He became a highlight machine, known for his toe-tapping catches, pick-sixes, and field-flipping returns. Simply put, DJ Newman does it all — and now he’s doing it in orange and white.

“DJ is a competitor. He’s electric with the ball in his hands, and he’s a nightmare for quarterbacks on defense,” said Heupel in a press release announcing the transfer. “We’re not just adding depth — we’re adding dynamism. He brings that rare energy and playmaking ability that can swing games.”

Newman’s arrival couldn’t come at a better time for Tennessee. Defensively, the Vols are retooling their secondary following the departures of key veterans. Newman immediately slots in as a contender for a starting cornerback role, likely opposite Kamal Hadden, giving Tennessee a formidable combination of speed, length, and instincts on the outside. His ability to read quarterbacks and jump routes gives defensive coordinator Tim Banks added flexibility to dial up aggressive coverages and blitzes.

But it’s on the offensive side that Newman’s presence may surprise people. Heupel has hinted at using Newman in a Deebo Samuel-like hybrid role — a receiver who lines up in the slot, outside, and even in motion in the backfield. With Nico Iamaleava leading the offense and a host of young receivers jockeying for breakout status, Newman brings polish and versatility that will expand the playbook in immediate and unpredictable ways.

“He’s a guy you have to account for at all times,” said wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope. “Whether he’s lined up in the slot, out wide, or coming around on jet motion, defenses will have to guess. That’s where he’s dangerous — in space, with options.”

Sources close to the program have said Newman’s camp specifically looked for a staff that would allow him to embrace the two-way challenge. At Arizona State, he often shifted between defensive and offensive roles, but rarely had the green light to do both in the same game. At Tennessee, Heupel and Banks have reportedly told him he’ll be used situationally on both sides, with the freedom to dictate his involvement based on opponent and game flow.

It’s an unusual arrangement — and it’s rare for a player to sustain elite impact in dual roles. But Newman isn’t a typical transfer. A former high school quarterback and track champion, he brings the kind of athletic profile that programs can’t teach or replicate. He runs a 4.38 40-yard dash, has a vertical leap over 40 inches, and plays with a controlled aggression that teammates call “calm chaos.”

“DJ’s one of those guys who’s just built different,” said former ASU teammate Elijah Badger. “He studies like a quarterback, hits like a safety, and runs like a wideout. He’s always in the film room. He’s not just talent — he’s work.”

Tennessee is clearly betting big on that combination. And in the rapidly changing landscape of college football, where the portal giveth and taketh without mercy, Heupel is building something increasingly rare: a roster full of unselfish, dynamic, and fully bought-in players. Newman’s choice to join Tennessee over suitors with clearer depth charts and potentially larger NIL deals speaks volumes about the program’s pull.

“I chose Tennessee because they believe in who I am as a player and person,” Newman said in a brief statement. “They didn’t ask me to be one thing. They asked me to be myself — and to be great at it.”

His arrival has already sent shockwaves through the locker room in Knoxville. Teammates reportedly welcomed him with open arms, and both the defensive and offensive units have expressed excitement about sharing a player who can sharpen practice competition and raise the standard of accountability. During early summer workouts, Newman has already turned heads with his conditioning and route-running — and intercepted Iamaleava twice during 7-on-7 drills.

“He’s making us all better,” said sophomore wideout Chris Brazzell. “He challenges you every rep — then turns around and runs a route like he’s been doing it full-time.”

The Vols’ 2025 schedule is loaded with high-profile matchups, including non-conference tilts with Oklahoma and NC State, and brutal SEC showdowns with Georgia, Alabama, Texas, and LSU. Depth, creativity, and unpredictability will be critical. Newman could become the type of player who not only produces on the stat sheet, but alters the way opponents game-plan.

Coaches have hinted that he could be used in a “joker” role — a positionless player who shows up in spots designed purely to cause confusion. Imagine a 3rd-and-7 where Newman lines up in the slot, draws a safety, then suddenly drops back in coverage on the next series and picks off a pass. It’s the kind of tactical flexibility that keeps coordinators up at night.

Beyond his play, Newman also brings leadership and maturity. He was a team captain at Arizona State as a sophomore — a rare honor — and has already been seen mentoring younger Vols. Known for his positivity and relentlessness, he’s seen as the type of culture elevator every elite team needs.

“Guys gravitate toward DJ,” said a staffer close to Tennessee’s strength program. “He doesn’t have an off switch. You need those kinds of dudes if you’re going to get through an SEC gauntlet.”

Newman will wear jersey number 5 in Knoxville — a number that hasn’t carried particular weight at Tennessee in recent years, but one he hopes to redefine. It’s a fresh start for a player whose game speaks volumes and whose ceiling remains sky-high. The last Tennessee player to routinely play both ways in meaningful snaps was likely back in the mid-2000s, long before the modern tempo offenses and spread defenses demanded specialization. That Newman is trusted to handle both roles is a nod to how much confidence the staff already has in him.

As fall camp approaches, all eyes will be on how Tennessee integrates Newman into live-game packages. While coaches will be careful to manage his workload, they’ve made no secret that he’s expected to be a factor immediately. Whether he’s locking down receivers, returning punts, or snagging key receptions in crunch time, Newman’s impact will be seen — and felt.

The Volunteers have momentum. Nico Iamaleava is coming into his own. The offensive line is deeper. The defense is faster. And now, with DJ Newman in the mix, Tennessee adds a level of unpredictability and playmaking that few teams in the nation can match.

In a transfer portal era often defined by mercenary moves and short-term thinking, DJ Newman’s decision to join Tennessee stands out. It’s not just a great get. It’s a culture win. And if everything clicks, it could be one of the defining additions of the 2025 college football season.