Report: Austin Pope Withdraws Name from Transfer Portal

Before the season started for Tennessee, Austin Pope announced that he had to have surgery for a herniated disc. “Sometimes life doesn’t always go the way we plan it,” wrote the senior when he first announced the surgery. “I’ve had hard times and challenges in my life, so this is nothing new to me. I recently have been dealing with a lot of nerve pain coming from my lower back. I went to get an MRI on Monday morning, and the results were not what I expected.”

Following the season, Pope announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal but that has now changed, according to a report from Jimmy Hyams. 

Pope will be expected to plug and play for Tennessee once again.

Pope's University of Tennessee profile for 2019 reads: One of the toughest players on the team and top run blockers ... Appeared in all 13 games with 11 starts ... Totaled four receptions for 21 yards during his redshirt junior campaign ... Started and made one catch for six yards in win over UAB (11/2) ... Started in win vs. South Carolina (10/26) ... Started against No. 3 Georgia and recorded a season-long 10-yard reception (10/5) ... Made his fifth collegiate start in the 45-0 shutout vs. Chattanooga (9/14) ... Made his fourth collegiate start in the season opener against Georgia State (8/31). "