Nah, now that USC has entered the fray, it seems to be an NIL play. Even rumors his baby momma and baby live in Tennessee. Evidently, we told him what he would get, and he used that as leverage with other programs. Fuck him. As a fan of CFB, I am glad he is able to get money - I am for labor getting paid. As a Dawg fan, he's dead to me the minute he leaves. I won't wish him ill, but I will never pull for him again. Other Dawgs may disagree, but when they have natty reunions, I guess he won't get the ovation he thinks he deserves.
Before anyone @'s me, of course, I am being petty. My right. And of course, we took two WRs from MSU and Mizzou. I would expect their fans to have the same, exact feelings.
As to the "UT is tampering" whining you are seeing with some Dawgs fans, screw that ... we are just as involved in the transfer portal shenanigans as any other team. I guarantee you that what we did will pass scrutiny, but I am also sure we've fielded calls from players not in the portal through intermediaries. So, no, UT is not doing anything everyone else is doing.