Tennessee's Xavier Gilliam Lands on ESPN List of Top 10 Transfers at Season's Midpoint

With the season past its halfway point, ESPN's Bill Connelly has ranked the transfers who have made the biggest impact so far, and Tennessee defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam is on the list at No. 7. Gilliam came to Knoxville from Penn State, following defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, and he was viewed as the kind of addition who could help a new-look defense settle in quickly.

That is how it has played out through the first half of the season. Gilliam has recorded 23 tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss and 5.0 sacks, along with a pair of forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and two pass breakups. He also has six quarterback hurries, and opposing offenses have had to account for him as a pass rusher throughout the year.

The top of Connelly's ranking is led by Miami quarterback Darian Mensah, who arrived from Duke and has the Hurricanes undefeated, followed by UCLA linebacker Sammy Omosigho and Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker. The rest of the top five is West Virginia quarterback Michael Hawkins and UCLA running back Wayne Knight, with Wake Forest quarterback Gio Lopez at No. 6 ahead of Gilliam.

Behind Gilliam, the list closes with Georgia State linebacker Xavier Esqillion at No. 8 and two LSU additions, edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen at No. 9 and offensive lineman Jordan Seaton at No. 10. For Tennessee, Gilliam's place among them is a sign the defensive investment in the portal is paying off, with his production in the backfield giving the Volunteers a disruptive presence up front as the second half of the season unfolds.