Tennessee
Governor Lee visits Tennessee National Guard ahead of their deployment to the Texas southern border – WBBJ TV
MILLINGTON, Tenn.– Saturday, Governor Lee and other lawmakers visited the first wave of National Guard soldiers in Millington ahead of their deployment.
“These men and women are here leaving their families to be apart of a coordinated effort to really secure the border,” said Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.
After Texas Governor Greg Abbott requested the help of securing its southern border with Mexico from other governors, Governor Lee made the decision to send the Tennessee National Guard. Saturday, Lee along with U.S. Representative David Kustoff, State Representative Chris Todd, and State Senator Ed Jackson, visited the National Guard Armory in Millington in Shelby County.
“Very proud to be here with them, to encourage them, and tell them how grateful we are for their service,” said Lee.
Major General Warner Ross says that the Tennessee National Guard has been assisting Texas since 2006, so they have experience. Their mission this time is a general purpose mission.
“It could be surveillance, it could be engineering type missions. So, they’ll be assigned to a task force under the Texas National Guard and once they get out there they’ll get specifics on what exactly the mission is,” said Major General Ross.
Ross says that every deployment comes with a risk but in this case, it depends on what sector they’re assigned to. Right now the deployment will come in two waves, but Ross says his troops are ready if elected leaders call for more.
“Our job is to be ready when they call us. Our motto in the Tennessee National Guard is we’re the volunteers and we’re ready now,” said Ross.
Congressman Kustoff, who represents a large portion of West Tennessee, says he believes border safety is quote, “The most important issue in people’s minds across the nation.”
“But my assessment is, the economy and inflation is what was primarily on people’s mind, and it still is, but the border has taken priority,” said Kustoff.
Governor Lee says as of now the two waves included in this deployment are all they are committed to send at this time.
We reached out to State Senator Ed Jackson and State Representative Chris Todd , however they were not immediately available for comment.
Tennessee
Vols Make Splash Hire With Jim Knowles | VFL Kevin Burnett Talks Tennessee Football | The RTI Low Down | Rocky Top Insider

On this week’s episode of The RTI Low Down, Bob Baskerville and Chris Low are diving into a huge week for the Tennessee Football program.
The guys start the show by discussing the Vols’ big move to fire Tim Banks and the splash hire in acquiring defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.
Bob and Chris are then joined by VFL and SEC Legend Kevin Burnett to talk about his time on Rocky Top, his thoughts on playing under defensive coordinators, Josh Heupel’s current team, and more.
The guys close down the show by breaking down Tennessee’s 2026 schedule, Vol Hoops’ tough test on the hardwood this week, and much more. Download and subscribe TODAY!
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The RTI Low-Down is brought to you by the Tate Insurance Group. Find out more information at www.tateinsurancegroup.com
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More from RTI: Tennessee Football 2025 Transfer Tracker – Who has Announced They’re Entering the Portal So Far
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YouTube –
0:00 Intro
8:30 Tennessee Fires Tim Banks, Hires Jim Knowles
21:25 VFL Kevin Burnett Talks Vol Football!
43:20 UT 2026 Schedule
50:17 Tennessee Basketball Faces Huge Test on Tuesday
1:01:06 Close
Tennessee
Remembering one of Middle Tennessee’s largest tornado outbreaks 4 years later
Tennessee
Tracking Music City Bowl opt outs for Tennessee and Illinois
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.
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