Tennessee
How Vanderbilt baseball underclassmen can create their own legacy against Tennessee
KNOXVILLE ― Ethan McElvain took the mound for the ninth inning against Tennessee in a move that felt like it could go either very well or very poorly.
McElvain has a 7.33 ERA this season, but the potential has always been evident with his mid-90s fastball. He gave up at least one run in his first nine outings of the season and multiple runs in seven of those, and though he was originally in the weekend rotation, Vanderbilt baseball moved him to the bullpen after five weeks.
Facing the top of the order, McElvain retired all three batters he faced, including striking out Andrew Fischer with a 97 mph fastball to close out the 10-6 win on May 10 and force a rubber match in the series.
Vanderbilt (35-16, 15-11 SEC) has dealt with inconsistent performances all season in part because of a young roster that has faced growing pains. But as the regular season comes closer to a conclusion, those same players have stepped up.
In the series opener, it was Brodie Johnston, who hit a ninth-inning home run in a 3-2 loss and made several key defensive plays. In Game 2, it was McElvain and sophomore Braden Holcomb, who had a home run and three RBIs.
“I think we’re as talented of a group as there is,” Holcomb said. “I think once, when we play with confidence, and we just go out there and let it go, I think we’re one of the best teams in the country.”
Holcomb has been rounding into form of late, with six extra-base hits in his past seven games. Most notably, he hit two home runs in a game against Alabama, including a walk-off to clinch the series for Vanderbilt. He is part of a formidable middle-of-the-order core with Johnston, Riley Nelson and Colin Barczi.
Younger pitchers have come in handy, too. Luke Guth got the Game 2 win with a scoreless inning and two strikeouts.
“I just trust him,” Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin said of McElvain. ” . . . I think he’s really improved over the past couple ofweeks. I like where his mind is. I like where his delivery is. I like where the ball is going. I like his intent. It’s good. He wants to pitch. We’ve got to get him out there.”
Corbin says his teams typically tend to improve after exams are over before hitting a late-season peak. One game against the Vols doesn’t necessarily make that the case this time, but several players are showing positive indicators.
The win also erased some of the previous demons of Lindsey Nelson Stadium, where Vanderbilt got swept in 2023. Just two players who played in Game 2 were on the 2023 team, and only one was on the 2022 team that was swept at home by the Vols, starting what would eventually become a nine-game losing streak in the rivalry.
Now a younger group has the chance to create its own legacy in a series Tennessee has dominated of late.
“I wasn’t here (in 2023), but there’s a lot of guys on the team that were here, and I’m sure that feels really good,” Holcomb said. “Coming in this environment, getting a win, that’s going to set us up in the long run. So that’s good, and that’s important.”
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter, @aria_gerson.
Tracking the opt outs for both Tennessee and Illinois before the Music City Bowl on December 30 (5:30 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN) at Nissan Stadium in Nashville:
Tennessee
Linebacker Arion Carter: Carter over the last seasons had 96 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in 31 career games. He had a team-high 76 tackles this season, with 6.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks while appearing in 10 games. He missed two games and was limited against Oklahoma in November while dealing with turf toe injuries. Carter had 68 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss in 13 games last season and 17 tackles and 1.0 tackles for loss in eight games as a freshman in 2023.
Wide Receiver Chris Brazzell II: He a breakout senior season in his second year with the Vols, catching 62 passes for 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns. He had 19 catches for 333 yards and two touchdowns in 2024, after transferring from Tulane. In 15 games at Tulane he caught 45 passes for 722 yards and five touchdowns. Brazzell is ranked No. 7 at wide receiver on Mel Kiper Jr.’s NFL Draft Big Board. He’s ranked No. 34 overall on ESPN’s list of the best available prospects in the draft.
Cornerback Jermod McCoy: Did not play this season after tearing his ACL during offseason training in January. He was a star last season with 44 tackles, nine passes defended and four interceptions. He had 31 tackles and two interceptions in 12 games as a freshman at Oregon State before transferring to Tennessee.
Illinois
Offensive Tackle J.C. Davis: Bret Bielema said the Illinois starting left tackle is opting out of the Music City Bowl. He was an All-Big Ten First Team pick by the league coaches this season and the No. 3 left tackle this season according to Pro Football Focus grades. He had made 49 straight starts before opting out of the bowl game.
EDGE Gabe Jacas: The Illinois outside linebacker declared for the NFL Draft on Friday night. He led the Big Ten this season with 11.0 sacks. He had 13.5 tackles for loss and 43 total tackles in 12 games this season. He finishes second in Illinois program history for career sacks, with 27.0, trailing only Simeon Rice. Jacas had 74 tackles, 8.0 sacks and 13.0 tackles for loss last season, after combining for 8.0 sacks and 9.0 tackles for loss in his first two seasons at Illinois.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Tennessee employers laid off more than 8,500 workers in 2025 compared to 7,320 last year, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development.
This is about a 19% increase in layoffs, with WARN notices impacting 8,691 Tennesseans to date. As of 2023, 5,168 Tennessee workers were laid off through WARN notices.
Counties in Middle Tennessee impacted include:
- Davidson
- Sumner
- Maury
- Rutherford
- Williamson
- Wilson
- Coffee
- DeKalb
- Bedford
- Lawrence
- Putnam
The largest layoff this year was in Maury County. Come January, 710 employees will be laid off from GM Ultium Cells’ Spring Hill facility. Research Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee Knoxville Michael Kofoed tells FOX 17 News that the facility is is likely impacted by the rise on steel tariffs ruled out by the Trump administration. He adds steel tariffs raise input costs for employers which directly impacts employees’ salary or employment.
The second largest layoff impacted 658 workers at Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC in Rutherford County with 615 workers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center permanently laid off. WARN notices are reports a company is required to file with the state to give workers time to find future employment.
Kofoed states that Tennessee is seeing a troubling trend, with layoffs skyrocketing since 2023.
“That is a very big and concerning number,” Kofoed said.
According to CNBC, more than 1.1 million U.S. employees were laid off this year, the highest 11-month total since 2020.
Tennessee
Nonprofit rescues 11 ‘emaciated and suffering’ animals from Tennessee property ahead of dangerous cold snap
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – The Animal Rescue Corps (ARC) is asking for donations after rescuing 11 animals Friday.
ARC said it was contacted by law enforcement in an unidentified rural Tennessee area to rescue five dogs and six cats in what the nonprofit is calling “Operation Cold Snap.”
In the rescue, the nonprofit took in two emaciated Great Danes, three Pit Bulls and six cats. ARC said some of the animals are emaciated and suffering from untreated bite wounds and infections.
The nonprofit said the animals were kept without heat or regular care.
ARC shared a video of the rescue. In it, you can see the property s in disarray with trash littering the floor and overturned furniture.
This rescue comes just days before Middle Tennessee is expected to see its coldest temperatures of the season.
Now, ARC is asking for donations to help the 11 animals rescued Operation Cold Snap. Those interested in donating can do so on the nonprofit’s website.
Copyright 2025 WSMV. All rights reserved.
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