Max Gilbert Enters Transfer Portal After Steady but Scrutinized Tennessee Run
News has started to circulate around Tennessee football, and this time it centers on kicker Max Gilbert, who has announced his decision to enter the transfer portal. The news was shared on January 2, and it immediately sparked conversation across Vol Nation, especially considering how reliable Gilbert has been during his time on Rocky Top.
Gilbert, a Memphis native, made the announcement himself on social media, reflecting on what he described as a lifelong dream of playing for the University of Tennessee. His message was filled with gratitude, saying the program, the people, and the place would always hold a special place in his heart. After what he called long and thoughtful conversations with friends and family, the decision was made to explore a new opportunity elsewhere.
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From a numbers standpoint, Gilbert’s résumé at Tennessee is hard to ignore. Over two primary seasons as the Vols’ placekicker, he was perfect on extra points, converting all 118 attempts without a miss. On field goals, he connected on 34 of 45 tries, giving him a success rate of 75.6 percent. That figure stands as the third-best mark in Tennessee history among kickers with at least 25 made field goals, which quietly places him in elite company.
As a freshman in 2024, Gilbert went 20-for-26 on field goals, showing poise early in his college career. That performance was followed by a 14-for-19 season in 2025, with his longest make stretching out to 53 yards. He appeared in 26 games overall and was often trusted in high-pressure situations, a role that only a handful of specialists truly earn.
Still, his tenure was not without criticism. Some missed kicks came at painful moments, most notably a potential game-winner against Georgia in 2025. Those moments lingered in the minds of fans and analysts, even as his overall accuracy remained strong. In a sport where one kick can define a season, those misses tended to overshadow a body of work that was largely dependable.
Now, with two seasons of eligibility remaining, Gilbert enters the transfer portal as a proven college kicker with experience in the SEC spotlight. Wherever he lands next, it will be with the understanding that his leg has already delivered consistency, and that a fresh start could allow his story to be finished on a different, and perhaps steadier, note.
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