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New program trains Tennessee high school students for high-paying jobs building cars of the future

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New program trains Tennessee high school students for high-paying jobs building cars of the future


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The car industry is facing big changes: longtime workers are retiring, younger workers are not going into the industry, and the technology is shifting to robotics. But, a new program that launched this month in Tennessee is looking to high schools to find the next generation of car makers.

The Nissan plant in Franklin County opened in 1997, but making cars in 2024 looks a little different.

“Manufacturing isn’t what it was 20, 30 years ago,” said Matthew Overbay, Director of Manufacturing, Strategy and Planning at Nissan North America.

Overbay said that today’s assembly floor is very much based on computers and robotics.

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“Now, it’s not the individual shooting a bolt, it’s the individual maintaining a robot, making sure that it’s running properly, and being able to diagnose any of the issues that might come from the manufacturing process,” said Overbay.

Enter a whole new type of education. They are called the Centers of Excellence. These are high school programs launched for the very first time this month in four Tennessee school districts – Franklin, Grundy, Tullahoma, and Warren County.

From safety, measuring, automation, and coding, students are earning accreditations to one day work on a car assembly floor of the future while they are still in high school.

“You will go from English, math, history, whatever it might be over into this classroom where you’ll sit and it does have the tools, equipment, and instructors most importantly that will be able to support your growth in the overall advance manufacturing train,” said Overbay. “It is very laser-focused on advanced manufacturing.”

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And who will be teaching these students? They were very carefully chosen current Nissan workers with years of experience building cars.

“That was a key piece of the overall Centers of Excellence, making sure that we can put our Nissan technicians into those classrooms to support the growth of those students,” said Overbay.

The hand-picked teachers spent their summer working with Eric Oslund’s education department at MTSU learning how to be teachers.

“To have an outside company as big as Nissan approach us and ask us to train their employees to be teachers was a first,” said Oslund, professor and chair of Elementary and Special Education at MTSU.

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“They absolutely chose great people, and they will be difference makers. MTSU is proud to make difference makers and I have no doubt that they will be successful,” said Oslund.

And if they are, these Centers of Excellence could be a model for training Tennessee’s workforce statewide.

It took several groups to create these Centers of Excellence – Nissan, MTSU, the Board of Regents, the high schools, and TCAT programs.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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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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Tennessee Titans head coach interview schedule takes shape

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Tennessee Titans head coach interview schedule takes shape


The Tennessee Titans’ search for their next head coach is coming into focus, and the initial interview phase is in full swing.

Following the news that Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy would be having a first virtual interview on Thursday, the dates and times for some interviews for other candidates have come out.

Multiple reports on social media indicate that Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo will meet with Mike Borgonzi on Wednesday, followed by Nagy on Thursday. The team will then follow that up by meeting with former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski on Saturday and former Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on Monday.

Tennessee will also meet with interim head coach Mike McCoy, and is rumored to have interest in former Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

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It’s an ever-changing process in Nashville. Stay up to date with all the coaching search news with us here at Titans Wire, and please sound off with your thoughts.



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