Ryan Staub Reveals Transfer Portal Decision After Leaving Deion Sanders, Colorado

Ryan Staub has made his transfer decision.

Per ESPN's Pete Thamel, the quarterback has committed to Tennessee after transferring away from Deion Sanders and Colorado. According to Thamel, Staub also visited Cincinnati, Kentucky, Ohio State and Liberty before committing to the Vols.

Staub is a former 3-star prospect who was considered to be the No. 36-ranked quarterback in the class of 2023, per 247Sports' composite rankings. He held offers from SMU, Arizona and others before committing to Sanders and the Buffs.

Staub hasn't seen much action in his first three seasons at Colorado. He appeared in three games as a freshman, throwing for 254 yards and a touchdown before throwing just four passes throughout the 2024 campaign.

In 2025, Staub had a career-high 427 yards and three touchdowns, but also threw four interceptions in four games. He entered the portal last month after Colorado finished the season with a 3-9 record.

Staub has yet to establish himself as a consistent starter so far, and it won't be easy to do so in Knoxville, considering the talent the Vols have at the quarterback position.

While Tennessee lost quarterback Jake Merklinger to the portal and missed out on top players like Sam Leavitt, the Vols have a former 4-star prospect waiting in freshman George MacIntyre and will bring in Faizon Brandon, the consensus No. 3 quarterback in the class of 2026.

Staub has the benefit of experience since he's been around longer than the two other quarterbacks on the roster, but it should still be a tight quarterback competition at Tennessee this spring.