Vols Spring Football Practice #1

[Fingers]

Tennessee football added UT Martin tight end Drake Martinez to the 2026 roster just before spring practice.

Martinez was in attendance at UT's first practice on March 16, but he must go through an NCAA-mandated acclimatization period before participating on the field.

a.sparks

One noticeable absence from practice was veteran defensive line coach Rodney Garner. Garner had an offseason medical procedure done and is not back to work full-time at this point. He has been and will continue to do zoom meetings with his position group until he returns

Linebackers coach William Inge was clearly speaking with a recruit on FaceTime during stretches as the recruiting grind never stops.

Linebacker Arion Carter is not practicing in the spring session as he continues to recover from offseason surgery to correct the double turf toe he played with last fall. Guard Wendell Moe Jr. will be sidelined for the start of camp but is expected to practice in the next few weeks. Linebacker Jordan Burns is out for spring camp

The ‘first team’ offensive line when doing group work were (l-to-r) David Sanders, Sham Umarov, Sam Pendleton, Jesse Perry and transfer Ory Williams at right tackle.

Faizon Brandon has some really good arm strength. He made all the throws and made it look easy. The freshman was clearly watching George MacIntyre go through drills as it was his first practice with the Vols. MacIntyre’s footwork is ahead of Faizon’s on day one. That was a clear indication, but also not a surprise given he has been in the system a full year longer.

MacIntyre certainly carried himself like he was QB1 today. He went first in all the drills and knew exactly what to do. Again, that comes as no surprise day one. But he looked good while the media was on hand. Really accurate with the football.

e.cain

The quarterbacks worked some mesh-point drills with the running backs, including some hand-offs out of the pistol formations, which we saw the Vols run more of in 2025.

The only passes we saw the quarterback throw were to the running backs, who ran some angle option routes and some swing passes to the flats that would be checkdowns in a game.

The safety group was much bigger numbers-wise. Edrees Farooq and transfers TJ Metcalf (Michigan) and Dejuan Lane (Penn State) were leading those guys through drills. The others working with the safeties included Kansas State transfer Qua Moss, freshman Jowell Combay, Joel Wyatt, Luke Thompson and KJ McClain, Appalachian State transfer DJ Burks, transfers Isaiah Hardge (Colorado) and Tevis Metcalf (Michigan) and some returning walk-ons still part of the 107-player roster.

The cornerback group consisted of eight players: Sophomores Ty Redmond, Tre Poteat and Timothy Merritt, Auburn transfer Kayin Lee, Miami transfer Jadais Richard and freshmen Jamyan Theodore, Zay Anderson and Javonte Smith.

The linebackers worked on some block-destruction techniques and drilled their zone coverage drops with William Inge. Without Carter, Edwin Spillman and Jeremiah Telander were carrying themselves as the tone-setters for that group, and sophomores Jadon Perlotte and Jaedon Harmon carried themselves like veterans even though it was their first spring practice – they missed it a year ago. Penn State transfer Amare Campbell looks the 6-foot, 230 pounds he is listed at.

Freshman TJ White, who was shadowing Telander, looks the part physically. The former top-50 recruit is listed at 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds and moves well at his size. He does not look like a freshman and even from across the field stood out as far as the eye test goes.

David Sanders Jr. still looks like a million bucks – no surprise there. There was a spring in his step as he worked at his favored left tackle spot. Sanders almost seemed to know he needed to be sharp because two freshmen in Gabriel Osenda and Kamari Blair were working at left tackle with him.

LSU transfer Ory Williams and redshirt sophomore Jeremias Heard were working at right tackle.

p.brown

We never had the chance to watch quarterbacks throw routes on air with receivers, but did get to see them throw to the flat with running backs. The order of backs was DeSean Bishop, Daune Morris, Justin Baker, Javin Gordon and then Hunter Barnes.

Joey Halzle then took his QBs through pocket presence drills before firing to a coach. Again, it’s impossible to crown a starter or even sole front-runner from that, but MacIntyre and Brandon looked sharp. While MacIntyre did put on some weight (up to 201 pounds on the roster from 195 a year ago), Brandon looks like he already has a college-ready frame. He’s showed off a great arm, too, though we didn’t get to watch any throws down the field.

On defense, linebacker Arion Carter was not practicing with the team. No reason to panic, though. He’s dealing with an injury that he is recovering from to start spring ball. Josh Heupel confirmed this during his press conference. Edwin Spillman and Amare Campbell looked like the leaders you’d hope in his absence, as well.

In the secondary, it appeared the defensive backs split up into groups of safeties and cornerbacks. The safeties, with co-defensive coordinator Anthony Poindexter, included Tevis Metcalf, Steele Katina, Dejuan Lane, DJ Burks, KJ McClain, Jackson Mathews, Dylan Lewis, Joel Whyatt, TJ Metcalf, Isaiah Hardge, Edrees Farooq, Qua Moss and Jowell Combay.

The cornerbacks, with Derek Jones, included Jadais Richard, Javonte Smith, Timothy Merritt, Kayin Lee, Zay Anderson, Jamyan Theodore, Tre Poteat and Ty Redmond.

The biggest takeaway from watching the defensive backs was the sheer size of Joel Wyatt. Wearing 31, you had to do a double-take to make sure it wasn’t Caleb Herring changing his mind on entering the portal. It’ll be interesting to see if they use him as a true safety or at STAR.

r.sylvia

 

[TAF]

FIRST


FOOTBALL IS BACK!!!!!!!

 

[volfaninpa]

Thank you @Fingers

 

[Just a VolinTears]

Gmac and Faizon both looking sharp!

 

[LouderVol]

honestly forgot about spring practice being a thing.

 

[cachurch]

Don't sleep on Staub. Great depth and you never know when you'll need him. Especially if these guys need to eat lol.

 

[MDsweetT]

Gmac and Faizon both looking sharp!

GMac definitely looks like he’s refined his fundamentals. Gotta master the details. Faizon you can tell is Uber talented, he just has to hone in on the finer things. It’s GMac’s job to lose. I think our offensive line will be better which will help whoever’s playing QB

 

[smokeycoonhoundUT]

Hell yes. Let’s go

 

[WillisWG]

2025 Football Roster - University of Tennessee Athletics

The official 2025 Football Roster for the University of Tennessee Volunteers

utsports.com

 

[FranklinVFL]

Football....I feel it in my blood.....

 

[WillisWG]

Faison will push GMac. They talk about the size of Joel Wyatt then don't include a pic...

 

[PEPPERJAX]

PHANGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[PEPPERJAX]

@joevol33

 

[TheVolsFrog]

Fingers!!!!!

Is this the first time they've released an all QB video? Usually get a little and then on to running in circles around the bag hahaha

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Fingers!!!!!

Is this the first time they've released an all QB video? Usually get a little and then on to running in circles around the bag hahaha

No Coach Rodney Garner today. He likes that ball drill a lot, I've noticed.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

GMac definitely looks like he’s refined his fundamentals. Gotta master the details. Faizon you can tell is Uber talented, he just has to hone in on the finer things. It’s GMac’s job to lose. I think our offensive line will be better which will help whoever’s playing QB

G-Mac is one white, white boy. I can't accuse the young man of spending his winter on the beach.

 

[joevol33]

Thanks Fingers

 

[RDU VOL#14]

“The safety group was much bigger numbers-wise. Edrees Farooq and transfers TJ Metcalf (Michigan) and Dejuan Lane (Penn State) were leading those guys through drills. The others working with the safeties included Kansas State transfer Qua Moss, freshman Jowell Combay, Joel Wyatt, Luke Thompson and KJ McClain, Appalachian State transfer DJ Burks, transfers Isaiah Hardge (Colorado) and Tevis Metcalf (Michigan) and some returning walk-ons still part of the 107-player roster”

 

[mitzustu]

Not worried about top end talent at corner. A little interested to see how the depth shakes out. Safety is flat out loaded.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

GBO!!!! Let’s get it on!!!!

 

[Manchester Vol]

Faison will push GMac. They talk about the size of Joel Wyatt then don't include a pic...

Here

 

[VolsLFC]

@Fingers

 

[WillisWG]

On having 46 new players

“Yeah. You know, from when I first got here and the evolution of the transfer portal, you guys have heard me say it, there’s more turnover than ever, right? Typically a quarter or 35% of your roster is graduating, moving on. Whether that’s running out of eligibility or going on to the NFL. That number this year for us, even higher than usual, because of the changes inside of college football. Certainly this year, day one, like you are building a team, right? CJH

 

[VOLED]

If I'm not mistaken, Osenda will be the first 600 pounder to play for the Vols.

 

[Oldvoldad]

Not worried about top end talent at corner. A little interested to see how the depth shakes out. Safety is flat out loaded.

Loaded? With what? I can't recollect a safety making a play all of last year.