Tennessee
As All-American Jermod McCoy rehabs injury, here are Tennessee football’s cornerback options

In the corner of the Tennessee football practice field, the team’s only returning All-American is on a stationary bike rehabbing his injured knee.
Until cornerback Jermod McCoy gets off that bike and onto the field, the Vols will face a series of questions in the secondary.
Defensive backs coach Willie Martinez is trying to solve them with a positive attitude.
“You’re going to have to adapt and adjust. We know that Jermod is going to be back,” Martinez said. “But I’m not frustrated. I wouldn’t look at it that way.
“Here’s an opportunity for some of these new and young guys, or even some of the older guys, to get quality reps to make us better. We’re not going to be elite unless we have enough depth.”
In January, McCoy suffered a torn ACL during a training session at his home in East Texas. He underwent surgery and returned to UT to rehabilitate. The Vols hope he’s back in the lineup early in the 2025 season, but no official timetable has been released.
When will Jermod McCoy return in 2025 season?
For now, McCoy’s absence has a compounding effect in UT’s secondary, which already faced offseason challenges.
In February, Rickey Gibson, the other starting cornerback, considered entering the transfer portal, but he’s participating in spring practice. One starting safety spot is vacant.
Starting nickelback Boo Carter is dividing his time between defense and offense, where he’s getting reps as a wide receiver. Nickelback Jourdan Thomas is still out with a serious knee injury suffered last August, and he’s on a stationary bike beside McCoy at practice.
Meanwhile, most of the backup cornerbacks are freshmen or walk-ons, so McCoy’s speedy return is essential.
UT opens the season against Syracuse in Atlanta on Aug. 30, followed by a home game against ETSU. The SEC opener is against Georgia on Sept. 13, when McCoy would be needed the most.
UT’s secondary is coming off its best season during coach Josh Heupel’s tenure. The Vols ranked No. 5 in the SEC in pass defense. They ranked No. 14 in 2021, No. 12 in 2022 and No. 8 in 2023.
Who replaces Jermod McCoy?
McCoy is one of the best cornerbacks in college football. He earned All-America and All-SEC first-team honors last season. And he was named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the top defensive back in college football.
McCoy is not easily replaced. Jalen McMurray, a veteran who transferred from Temple a year ago, has slid into the starting spot opposite Gibson during spring practice.
The group is thin and inexperienced after that. Marcus Goree played only eight defensive snaps last season as a freshman. William Wright and Colin Brazzell, the younger brother of UT receiver Chris Brazzell, are walk-ons. Tre Poteat, Timothy Merritt and Ty Redmond are freshmen debuting in spring practice after enrolling early.
Kaleb Beasley has moved from cornerback to safety, where he’s competing for a starting spot.
Cornerback Jordan Matthews transferred to Vanderbilt. Defensive back Christian Harrison transferred to Cincinnati. And defensive back Christian Charles is limited by an injury in spring practice.
Meanwhile, Martinez said McCoy is making the most of his rehab.
“(McCoy) has been outstanding. He’s just growing as a leader. He’s out there every day, and he’s actually coaching guys in the room,” Martinez said. “I told him that’s how you’re going to stay involved in this thing and become an elite corner. You don’t have to physically do it. You can do it mentally.”
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
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Tennessee
Titans’ Will Levis Must Fix One Issue

The Tennessee Titans are getting close to officially closing the chapter on the Will Levis era.
Levis may still be with the Titans next year, but he will likely become a backup for whoever the team takes with the No. 1 overall pick.
Though Levis may be due for a demotion, that doesn’t mean he won’t get another opportunity to play again for the Titans or another team.
If and when he gets the opportunity to start, he will have to fix parts of his game, according to CBS Sports writer Chris Trapasso.
“The brilliant flashes from Levis in Year 1 gave way to inopportune and at times ridiculous decisions on turnovers early in the season that were only made worse by more injuries for what we are realizing is a pretty reckless quarterback. He’s higher than Anthony Richardson because there’ve been longer stretches of quality play — like that amazing comeback in Miami in prime time as a rookie in 2023, and a 98-yard touchdown last season,” Trapasso writes.
“Levis needs to acknowledge taking the easy completion or throwing the football away is completely fine — and actually needed — to succeed in the NFL.”
A lot of Levis’ struggles may have been linked to the Titans’ offensive line woes. He was constantly under duress with pressure seeping through the trenches, and that forced him into some errant throws and turnovers.
Perhaps his next opportunity will have a stronger offensive line, and that could give Levis more time to make the smarter passes. It will be interesting to see how Levis responds to what’s about to happen to him, but if he can find a way to get better, he could wind up in the conversation towards being a starter again, similar to how Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield had their downs before their ups.
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Tennessee
Severe blood shortage in Middle Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — An unrelenting need continues, and the doctor’s orders for this prescription can’t be filled at any pharmacy.
Passionate to share Blood Assurance’s message, Brooke Katz, who is the media relations coordinator, says fewer people have donated while the number of people in need of blood goes up here in Middle Tennessee.
“The thing that people don’t realize is how important this is,” said Katz. “Blood is a medicine, and it is being used every single day.”
Hospitals rely on people willing to give a piece of what keeps them alive. Katz explained how the 30 to 45-minute process works, so someone who hasn’t yet donated blood might consider it.
“Nobody loves needles, but I promise it does not hurt at all, and that is probably the shortest part,” said Katz. “When you donate here, it is helping local patients in this community.”
Blood Assurance supplies blood to the majority of hospitals in Middle Tennessee. The donation supply is currently upheld by a few donors.
“Out of all of the eligible people in the population who could donate, only about 3 percent do,” said Katz.
Blood Assurance makes incentives for the unyielding demand.
“If you donate through the 31st, so tomorrow, you will be entered to win a $500 e-gift card,” said Katz. “And then beginning in early April, on April 1st, we are giving away $100 gift cards to five people.”
Organizations can also host a blood drive through Blood Assurance.
Katz shared a message from a life-giving donor she met.
“She knows the good that it does,” said Katz. “And so I like her message: she said, ‘Do it scared; just do it.’”
For more information on how to donate, find locations, or organize a blood drive, visit Blood Assurance’s website.
Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at (Kim.Rafferty@newschannel5.com).
Tennessee
OU's offense struggles in Game 3 as Tennessee clinches series
NORMAN — Both Oklahoma and Tennessee knew the drill coming into Sunday’s rubber game. With the series on the line, it would be an old-fashioned pitching duel between Sam Landry and Karlyn Pickens.
For a brief moment, it looked like the Landry and the Sooners would emerge victorious.
After the Sooners’ offense was non-existent through the first two innings, they started quickly in the third inning. Hannah Coor hit a leadoff single then stole second. Abby Dayton then followed with a single and then stole second. Nelly McEnroe-Marinas forced a walk to load the bases.
Kasidi Pickering stepped to the plate and delivered an RBI double that cleared the bases, giving the Sooners a 3-0 lead. In a series where both offenses struggled, it felt like all the momentum OU would need.
Instead, the Volunteers responded. Landry got two quick outs to open the frame, but Tennessee kept battling. Two walks and a single loaded the bases, then an RBI double from Laura Mealer cut OU’s lead to 3-2.
On the next at-bat, Ella Dodge smoked a three-run home run to right field to complete the two-out rally.
In a dramatic turn of events, OU’s three-run lead turned into a two-run deficit. The Sooners (31-3, 9-3 SEC) never recovered from that momentum change, as they fell 5-3 to Tennessee.
The loss marks the Sooners’ first series defeat in conference play. They lost on Friday 5-2 and won 4-1 on Saturday.
Landry eventually bounced back from that rough fourth inning, retiring nine of the final 10 batters she faced.
But the Sooners’ offense looked shellshocked as Pickens kept them from finding any rhythm. The Sooners had 12 of their final 14 batters retired over the final four innings, as the only hit came on a single from Abby Dayton with two outs on the board in the seventh inninmg.
But Nelly McEnroe-Marinas followed that with a strikeout, ending the game.
Landry finished with four hits and five runs allowed while striking out six and walking two. Pickens struck out six and allowed three hits, three runs and three walks.
— If it wasn’t Pickering, offense was really tough to come by this weekend, particularly on Saturday and Sunday. In Games 2 and 3, Pickering went 4-for-5 at the plate. The rest of the team combined for five hits.
For the weekend, Pickering was sensational. She finished 7-for-8 at the plate with two walks.
— Three of the Sooners’ four hits came in the third inning. The Sooners 2-for-12 with runners on base and 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
— It was a rough weekend for Gabbie Garcia, who went 1-for-8 across the three games. She finished 0-for-3 on Sunday.
— The struggles continue for Parker, who went 0-for-3 at the plate with zero walks. She’s now 2-for-30 (.067) at the plate in conference play.
— Up next: The Sooners will look to bounce back at UT-Arlington on Tuesday (6 p.m.)
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