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'He Grew Up A Lot': Marcus Phillips, Tennessee's Pitching Sends Vols To SEC Title Tilt | Rocky Top Insider

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'He Grew Up A Lot': Marcus Phillips, Tennessee's Pitching Sends Vols To SEC Title Tilt | Rocky Top Insider


Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics

HOOVER, Ala. — Vanderbilt baseball’s Alan Espinal pummeled a two-run homer off of Marcus Phillips in the Commodores’ blowout win over Tennessee on Wednesday afternoon. Phillips, a fringe weekend arm for the Vols, looked far from a reliable postseason option.

Just over 72 hours later, Phillips rose to the occasion against the same Vanderbilt lineup. He recorded the final nine outs to seal a 6-4 victory and send Tennessee to the SEC Tournament Championship for the third time in four years.

“He grew up a lot today,” Tennessee coach Tony Vitello said of Phillips. “It was good.”

Phillips pitched the final three innings for Tennessee. He blew past Vanderbilt in a dominant seventh inning, striking out the first two batters he faced and then getting a groundout on the third.

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“I think early we weren’t getting ready and he was 99 to 100 that first inning and he kind of carved us up a little bit,” Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin said of Phillips.

The challenge increased for Phillips in the eighth and ninth inning. The tall right-hander allowed two extra-base hits and walked two batters in the eighth inning. Vanderbilt scored one run and brought the go-ahead run to the plate.

Vitello kept rolling with Phillips and the sophomore got out of it, inducing a Matthew Polk chopper back to himself for the final out of the inning.

“Tough one to answer other than just gut feel,” Vitello said of rolling with Phillips. “Part of it is just communication with Frank, and a lot of times you just got to go with your gut. … There were some dicey moments in there where obviously we’re glad we stuck with him.”

The dicey moments weren’t over yet either. Vanderbilt’s first two batters singled in the ninth inning which brought the tying run to the plate. One of the runs scored but the tying run never got on base as Phillips shut the door on the Commodores.

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Phillips earned the save after Zander Sechrist went six innings for the second straight start, holding Vanderbilt’s offense at bay on an evening Tennessee badly needed him to eat outs.

“You just got to grit it out, and our team followed Zander’s lead today,” Vitello said. “So we were blessed to have him out there … but I think he was even better tonight and kind of built off of last time out. So it was good the team followed him.

Phillips gave Vanderbilt a much different look and found success in a crucial spot. He allowed four hits, two runs and one earned run while walking two and striking out three. The numbers were great and the upper-90s fastball was impressive but him channeling it and being effective was the most impressive part.

“I think just the conviction. You can kind of see it when he’s steering it in there,” Vitello said of the key to Phillips’ success. “With him in particular, the harder he throws the better he throws because he’s so big and strong and the stuff is so good. … From the get-go that it was coming out of his hand with conviction.”

That conviction is key as Tennessee keeps trying to expand its options in the bullpen. Andrew Behnke did it against Mississippi State and Phillips did it against Vanderbilt. They provided a burst of confidence entering the NCAA Tournament and Tennessee is looking for more guys to follow their lead in Sunday’s title tilt against LSU.

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“Some guys will have to look at Mr. Andrew Behnke and Marcus Phillips and say, I can do that as well.”



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Tennessee Football DB Transfer Boo Carter Visits the Vols Rival

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Tennessee Football DB Transfer Boo Carter Visits the Vols Rival


The Tennessee Volunteers are looking to land many of the nation’s best players in the transfer portal to replace the players who have already announced they are transferring away from Tennessee. One of the players they lost very early on to the portal, and his plans of entering the portal is Boo Carter.

Carter is someone who has quickly made a name for himself, as he played for the Vols as a freshman. He also played for the Tennessee Vols this past season before suffering an injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. Carter entered the portal and left an announcement on his X page for those interested. Here is what was said.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank The University of Tennessee Coaches, administrators and fans for a wonderful 2 years. Unfortunately my season has been cut short due to injury. I have decided to enter the transfer portal and I am excited about the opportunities going forward!-Boo Carter”

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Boo Carter Visits Vanderbilt

Tennessee defensive back Boo Carter (23) pulls on his jersey during Tennessee football preseason practice, in Knoxville, Tennessee, Aug. 6, 2025. | Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Now that the portal is here, he has started to hear from many teams, including a team many anticipated to be in the picture. The Vols DB heard from the Vanderbilt staff and is now reportedly visiting them. This is a school where many of his friends go currently, and a school that has been doing well, but it is no secret that this is one of the Vols’ biggest rivalries.

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He is undecided on a possible commitment somewhere, but the reports have started to indicate that the Commodores are a team to watch moving forward. This will be one to watch for the Vols, as there is a good chance they may see Carter next season.

“Dynamic athlete who quickly made an impact on defense and special teams as a true freshman … Earned the starting STAR position and shined while becoming a dangerous weapon as a punt returner as a true freshman in 2024 … Saw action as a slot receiver as well during 2025 spring practices … Early enrollee in January 2024 who participated in Citrus Bowl practices and spring practice before his true freshman season … Has compiled 63 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles, three pass breakups and one interception on defense in his career … Dynamic punt returner who averages 16.0 yards per return in his career … Played in 21 career games and made five starts,” the Tennessee Vols athletics website stated.

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Tennessee Football Misses on Major Transfer Portal Target

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Tennessee Football Misses on Major Transfer Portal Target


The Tennessee Volunteers have been looking to land the best of the best when it comes to the transfer portal, and they have been targeting the best, but as of recently, all it has been is a bunch of swings and misses.

The Vols have missed yet again, as they have failed to land one of their top targets on their board when it comes to the college football transfer portal at a position that they currently need more than any. That position is the cornerback position, which is one that they need very badly.

The player that they failed to land in this go-around is Troy cornerback Jaquez White. White is one of the better players that the portal has seen at the position, as he was easily named as a top portal target for many. He was seriously looking at Tennessee, and the Vols were ready to bring him in, but instead, he has opted to commit to the Virginia Tech Hokies. The Hokies have done a decent job in the portal thus far, but their portal class has definitely improved following the addition of White.

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Whether this is a money thing or the Vols just couldn’t do enough convincing, the point is that they have missed on guys left and right recently. The vision isn’t clear, but fans are hopeful that it will be soon.

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Here is what White did in his 2025 season according to the Troy website.

Jaquez White’s 2025 Season

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Troy Trojans cornerback Jaquez White (8) tackles Clemson Tigers running back Adam Randall (8) Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 during the NCAA football game at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina. | Alex Martin/Greenville News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

“Earned All-Sun Belt Second Team honors … Ranked third in the league (seventh nationally) with 14 total passes defended and fourth (15th nationally) with 11 pass break ups … Started 12 games and played in all 14 contests … Returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown in Troy’s victory over Louisiana; added interceptions against Nicholls and in Sun Belt Championship Game at James Madison … Finished season with 67 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack … Sack came in Troy’s win over South Alabama; added five tackles, a quarterback hurry and a pass break up in the game … Season-best seven tackles against Memphis … Broke up four passes in win at ULM and had a pair at Southern Miss … Troy’s top-rated defender per PFF with an 87.6 rating … Played 879 defensive snaps, second most on the team … Third-rated cornerback in the country (min. 700 snaps) per PFF and fourth-rated cover corner … Held opponents to a 54.5 reception percentage (36-of-66).”

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Tennessee football DL Josh Schell enters transfer portal

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Tennessee football DL Josh Schell enters transfer portal


Tennessee defensive lineman Josh Schell has entered the transfer portal, he announced on social media on Jan. 6.

Schell had a short stint at Tennessee after transferring from Grand Valley State in April. He played all 13 games and made one tackle in the 2025 season.

Schell played more than 100 snaps, mostly on special teams. He never cracked the rotation on the defensive line.

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Schell spent three seasons at Grand Valley State, including a redshirt year, and one season at Tennessee. He has one season of eligibility remaining.

The 6-foot-4, 265-pounder is from Camden, New Jersey. His best college season was 2024 at Grand Valley State, when he played 13 games and recorded 35 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, six pass breakups, three quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

He was also a pitcher on the Grand Valley State baseball game in the 2023 season.

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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