Jalen McMurray traveled to three schools on consecutive visits last week after adding his name to the NCAA transfer portal less than two weeks ago. But his first visit to Tennessee’s campus made it easy for him to decide where he wanted to continue his college career
The Temple cornerback, who was a redshirt sophomore this season, announced Tuesday afternoon that he has committed to the Vols, giving Tennessee a transfer cornerback with plenty of starting experience. He chose the Vols over Illinois and Bowling Green after all three teams hosted him on official visits last week.
McMurray, who stands six feet and weighs 180 pounds, is the second transfer cornerback to choose Tennessee in less than three weeks, after Jermod McCoy of Oregon State. He is still eligible for two seasons.
McMurray claimed that after concluding his formal visit to Knoxville on Saturday and Sunday, he didn’t have to consider his alternatives for very long. He claimed that the opportunity to compete in the SEC and experience Tennessee’s “family atmosphere” was too good to refuse.
“To be honest, it was a simple decision once I went to Tennessee and got to know the people there and experience the things I experienced there,” stated McMurray, who made 11 starts this season after starting all 12 of Temple’s games as a redshirt freshman in 2022. “Well, it was a difficult decision. However, after talking to my parents and finishing that, I committed (Sunday) night.”
In the last months of his recruitment, he was unable to visit any universities until signing with Temple in 2021. This was because the NCAA had imposed an extended recruiting dead period due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After spending almost two days with the Vols, he said he was quite impressed and appreciated the opportunity to look into a few choices.
“I mean, the opportunity to play in the SEC is something that appeals to me because, as you know, I’m a competitor,” McMurray, a former standout at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., stated.
However, I feel that, personally, and having brought my entire family along for the visit, what really made the place feel like a family was the atmosphere they created. In terms of the coaches’ concern, talking to them was actually what made me feel more at home. Additionally, I thought that because they are in the SEC, I could really push myself there and compete fiercely.
McMurray was able to witness the Vols’ SEC basketball opening versus Ole Miss on Saturday night thanks to his official visit to Tennessee last weekend. All he could look and hear on campus, and almost everything else, was riveted by the sellout 21,932 inside Food City Center.
“After doing my study, I had a good idea of what to expect given Tennessee’s rich history and developed culture. He claimed that the fan base is among the best in the country.
