(GoVolsXtra.com & Dave Hooker) -- Former Tennessee offensive lineman Darris Sawtelle has decided to transfer to Grand Valley State.

“I’ve got a whole new lease on life,” Sawtelle said Thursday.

The ability to play right away at the Division II school in Allendale, Mich., was a factor in Sawtelle’s decision, as was the proximity to his hometown of Birmingham, Mich., and recent success that Grand Valley has enjoyed.

Sawtelle slid to off the depth chart during spring practice and was told by first-year coach Lane Kiffin that he likely wouldn’t play at UT.

“To leave Knoxville, to leave the University of Tennessee, to leave East Tennessee, that was really hard,” Sawtelle said. “To leave the football program, that wasn’t hard.”

Sawtelle also considered Dartmouth, Harvard, Samford, Alabama, Carson-Newman, Eastern Kentucky, Michigan State and Wisconsin.

Sawtelle was one of the top offensive tackle prospects in the nation when he signed with UT in 2007 out of Brother Rice High School.

His grandfather, Darris McCord, was a captain and All-American tackle at UT during his career from 1952-54.