NEWS FLASH: just now, Tyler Baron has been suspended for two months and replaced with Simeon Barrow Jr. Due to a misdemeanor charges
Tyler Baron could have been at the NFL Scouting Combine here a year ago as a Tennessee player, but instead he was here this week as a Miami Hurricane.
After four seasons with the Vols and the best one of his career on Rocky Top in 2023, the former standout at Nashville’s Ensworth School and Knoxville Catholic High School determined he needed another year of college football and opted to play it elsewhere.
Baron said during his Combine media session on Wednesday morning that he “just wanted something different” in deciding to transfer from Tennessee and has enjoyed what he called a “family reunion” of seeing several of his former Vols this week.
Tennessee had three defensive lineman at the NFL Combine with James Pearce Jr., Omarr Norman-Lott and Elijah Simmons, plus two players who left their defensive line via the portal in Baron and Maryland’s Jordan Phillips, who left after his freshman season in 2022.
Baron’s departure by comparison was much more controversial for fans, many of whom expected him to turn pro. He set career-bests in tackles for loss (10.5) and sacks (six) as Pearce’s running mate in 2023, totaling 41 quarterback pressures during his senior season. Instead he hit the portal for the second time in his Tennessee career and left.
“For me, just wanted something different,” Baron said. “I think Miami had a lot of great things to offer just for me personally, so I just felt like it was a great fit and somewhere I really enjoyed being and somewhere I definitely hold close to me.”
Of course, Baron didn’t go straight from Tennessee to Miami. He initially committed to Ole Miss before flipping to Louisville. He spent the spring with the Cardinals before entering the portal again and winding up with the Hurricanes.
Baron said he “sure as hell did not” expect to commit to one school and transfer twice after deciding to leave, but Miami was a good match.
The Hurricanes were the ACC frontrunners and strong bets for the College Football Playoff before late-season losses to Georgia Tech and Syracuse, and Baron was a productive part of their defense. He had 38 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks and led Miami in quarterback pressures (48) to earn All-ACC honorable mention.