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Australian Freestyle Specialist Koby Bujak-Upton Commits to Tennessee for 2024

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Australian Freestyle Specialist Koby Bujak-Upton Commits to Tennessee for 2024


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The University of Tennessee is adding another international freestyle specialist next season in 18-year-old Australian Koby Bujak-Upton.

Bujak-Upton is coming off a successful Australian Age Championships in April that saw him set lifetime bests in the 50 free (23.20), 100 free (50.26), 200 free (1:49.65), and 400 free (3:56.50). He placed 2nd in the 100 free behind Flynn Southam and 3rd in the 200 free behind Anders McAlpine and Southam, both of whom medaled in the event at last year’s World Junior Championships.

The Knox Pymble Swim Club standout announced his verbal commitment to the Volunteers last month.

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“I am excited and proud to announce my verbal commitment to the University of Tennesse (sic),” Bujak-Upton wrote on Instagram. “I am looking forward to pursuing and excelling in my academic and athletic endeavours. I am very grateful for everything my coaches, family, and teammates have done to help me through my career so far. GO VOLS🍊🍊”

Best LCM Times (Converted from SCY)

  • 50 free – 23.20 (20.18)
  • 100 free – 50.26 (43.83)
  • 200 free – 1:49.65 (1:35.90)
  • 400 free – 3:56.50 (4:24.98)

Bujak-Upton’s best converted times wouldn’t score at the SEC Championships quite yet, but he’s just half a second shy of C-final range in the 200 free. At last season’s SEC Championships, Cayman Islands star Jordan Crooks placed 3rd in the 200 free, Trinidad and Tobago freshman Nikoli Blackman made the B-final, and Peruvian junior Joaquin Vargas made the C-final. Tennessee’s freestyle group also includes Brazilian sprinter Gui Caribe.

The Volunteer men placed 5th at the SEC Championships in February before finishing 6th at the NCAA Championships in March. Head coach Matt Kredich has been at the helm of the program since 2005. The SEC should get even more competitive next season with Texas joining the conference from the Big 12 this summer.

One interesting wrinkle is that Bujak-Upton is signed to an Australian modeling agency. He could risk losing his F-1 student visa if he does name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals on U.S. soil, but a loophole exists that allows international college athletes to profit off their publicity rights outside the country.

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].

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Tennessee

Insider Dishes Intel on Titans HC’s Future

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Insider Dishes Intel on Titans HC’s Future


The Tennessee Titans have suffered through a brutal 2024 NFL season. In Week 17, that continued with a 20-13 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Entering the final game of the season, the Titans hold a 3-13 record. This season completely fell apart and it has left some thinking that first-year head coach Brian Callahan could be on the hot seat.

Despite all of the rumors, it doesn’t sound like the team views it the same way.

According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Tennessee is still very high on Callahan and he is expected to be back along with a good portion of his staff.

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“It has been a trying season for the Titans, with a string of close early losses, underwhelming (and at times confounding) quarterback play and a 3-12 record entering Sunday’s game at Jacksonville. But first-year head coach Brian Callahan and the bulk of his staff are expected to return,” Rapoport wrote.

“Internally, there is a feeling Callahan has shown long-term promise and the team has improved; the expectation next season is that that’ll be reflected more on the field and the scoreboard. Fixing the QB position — former second-round pick Will Levis was benched in December — is Job No. 1.”

Honestly, this would be the right call by the Titans. Callahan is far from being the one to blame for the shortcomings of this year’s team. The quarterback position has been the biggest problem in Tennessee.

If the Titans are able to find a quarterback upgrade in the offseason and make a few other moves to fill some roster holes, they could very well be a sleeper team to watch in 2025.

Along with the poor quarterback play this season, Tennessee has struggled with injuries. Defensively, L’Jarius Sneed has missed a ton of time and Chidobe Awuzie also missed a good chunk of time. Plenty of other players have also missed games due to injury.

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There are so many things that went wrong with the 2024 season that were out of Callahan’s control.

Hopefully, the franchise can make the right decisions this offseason, bring in the right talent at positions of need, and stay healthy next season. Those are the main factors, not making a head coaching change.

All of that being said, it’s going to be an interesting offseason for the Titans and fans. There is a lot of work to be done and it seems very likely that they will have an aggressive approach as they look to get back into playoff contention.

Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!



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Pair Of Tennessee Basketball Players On Pace To Break Program Records | Rocky Top Insider

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Pair Of Tennessee Basketball Players On Pace To Break Program Records | Rocky Top Insider


Zakai Zeigler (5) celebrates a Tennessee score during a game against MTSU at Food City Center. Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. Cole Moore/RTI

Tennessee basketball faces off against Norfolk State on Tuesday afternoon in its finale tuneup before opening up SEC play on Jan. 4 against Arkansas.

A pair of Tennessee stars are chasing program records as things start to get amped up in the new year.

Point guard Zakai Zeigler is on pace to become Tennessee’s single-season assist record holder as well as its career assist record holder.

Through 12 games this season, Zeigler has totaled 99 assists. If he keeps things up at his current rate, Zeigler will finish the regular season with 256 assists. That will be enough to trump Rodney Woods’ 227 assists during the 1974-75 season for the most in a single-season.

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It could be difficult for Zeigler to continue his current pace of 8.2 assists per game. However, Zeigler averaged seven assists per game in SEC play last season which was more than he averaged in non conference play. If Zeigler averages seven assists in SEC play again this season he’ll break the record before the postseason begins.

The senior point guard is also chasing Tennessee’s career assist record. If Zeigler continues at his current pace this season, he’ll conclude the regular season with 728 career assists which would clear Johnny Darden’s 715 career assists for a new program record.

Through 11 games, Zeigler has a 2.60 assist-turnover ratio which would be the eighth best in a single-season in Tennessee history. Zeigler’s 11 turnover game at Louisville is largely dragging down his assist-turnover ratio this season.

More From RTI: Tennessee Basketball Set For New Year’s Eve Clash Before Intriguing SEC Opener

Transfer shooting guard Chaz Lanier is the other Vol chasing down program records and it’s three-point shooting numbers for the talented sharpshooter.

Lanier has made 45 triples so far this season at a 47.4% clip. He’s on pace to finish the regular season with 116 made three-pointers which would leave him two short of Chris Lofton’s single-season program record. Lanier would need to just total three made triples in the postseason to break Lofton’s record.

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Perhaps the most impressive part of Lanier’s pursuit to pass the best three-point shooter in Tennessee’s program history is that he’s on pace to finish the regular season with 62 fewer attempts than Lofton in his record breaking 2007-08 season.

Lanier’s current 47.4% clip would be the second best in a single season in Tennessee history behind Jon Higgins 48.6% clip in 2000-01. However, Higgins made just 53 total triples that season while Lanier has already made 45.

Like Zeigler, the challenge is going to get more-and-more difficult for Lanier as the season progresses. However, Lanier is shooting better against power five opponents to this point in the season.

Zeigler and Lanier resume their record chase as No. 1 Tennessee returns to the court on Tuesday afternoon against Norfolk State. Tipoff is at 3 p.m. ET on Tuesday afternoon at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center. The SEC Network+ is broadcasting the. game.

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Tennessee Titans 2025 NFL Draft order update: Titans close in on top-2 pick after Giants win

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Tennessee Titans 2025 NFL Draft order update: Titans close in on top-2 pick after Giants win


The Tennessee Titans are one loss away from a top-two pick in the 2025 NFL Draft thanks to some help from a division rival.

Tennessee’s loss at Jacksonville was combined with Indianapolis’ upset loss at the New York Giants to push the Titans up to No. 2 in the projected draft order with one week left in the regular season. The Giants would have been in line for the No. 1 overall pick with losses over the final two games; New England is now the projected No. 1 pick heading into Week 18. The Patriots already have promising rookie first-round pick Drake Maye at quarterback.

Among other three-win teams coming into Sunday, the Raiders dominated the Saints in New Orleans while Cleveland plays Miami later Sunday.

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The Titans face Houston next week in Week 18, while New England hosts Buffalo. The Giants will face the Eagles next weekend.

Here’s the full first-round draft order if the season ended today; this will be updated after Sunday’s games.

Order updated after Sunday’s late afternoon games

  1. New England Patriots (3-13)
  2. Tennessee Titans (3-13)
  3. New York Giants (3-13)
  4. Cleveland Browns (3-12)
  5. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12)
  6. New York Jets (4-12)
  7. Carolina Panthers (4-12)
  8. Las Vegas Raiders (4-12)
  9. Chicago Bears (4-12)
  10. New Orleans Saints (5-11)
  11. San Francisco 49ers (6-9)
  12. Indianapolis Colts (7-9)
  13. Dallas Cowboys (7-9)
  14. Arizona Cardinals (7-9)
  15. Miami Dolphins (7-8)
  16. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
  17. Atlanta Falcons (8-7)
  18. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)

The Titans need a loss to Houston next week coupled with a Patriots win over Buffalo to push up to the No. 1 overall pick.

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