It didn’t take long for another Power Five program to welcome in Da’Jon Terry once the former Kansas football defensive lineman opted to leave the Jayhawks.
Four days after Terry announced he was entering the transfer portal, the athletic young tackle committed on Sunday evening to play at Tennessee.
A redshirt sophomore who completed the spring practice schedule with KU, only to transition out of the program just as new head coach Lance Leipold came in, Terry was listed at 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds most recently with the Jayhawks.
In an interview with Matt Ray of SI Now’s VR2, Terry said his time at KU “really helped” him.
“I redshirted my first year, and that helped me realized how much went into the game of football,” Terry said. “It was much more than I expected. That helped me learn the scheme of things and learning things like techniques. That is what helped propel me into my redshirt freshman season. Coach (Les) Miles saw a talent in me. I really appreciate (the coaches at KU) for seeing that in me. That is what was really inspiring. A legend like Coach Miles helped me and made me know that I was special at this game, because he is a legend. My defensive coordinator (DJ Eliot) and all of them helped me realize that.”
Terry became the first key player on KU’s roster to decide to transfer as Leipold came in as the new head coach. Terry was essentially a lock to start on KU’s defensive line in 2021 before the sophomore from Meridian, Miss., decided to move on, quickly landing in the SEC.
He recorded 14 total tackles while appearing in eight games, and also made two sacks in 2020, his redshirt freshman season at KU. Earlier this month, Terry delivered two tackles for loss in KU’s spring game.
“I am just hoping that I found a family atmosphere and a crowd that loves their team,” Terry told SI Now. “I am just ready to go play and get to work and play in front of compassionate fans.”
KU reserve defensive back Valerian Agbaw Jr. also opted to enter the transfer portal and play college football elsewhere.
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— DaJon Terry (@DaJonTerry1) May 10, 2021