Tennessee

No. 12 Tennessee opens against Virginia in the 1st game for the Cavaliers since 2022 fatal shooting

Published

10 months ago

August 31, 2023

No. 12 Tennessee opens against Virginia in the 1st game for the Cavaliers since 2022 fatal shooting

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The 12th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers are ready to see just what they can do in coach Josh Heupel’s third season. They will start in an NFL stadium that essentially will be a home away from home while technically a neutral site.

The Virginia Cavaliers finally are getting back on a field to play. Saturday’s opener for both teams will be their first game in 294 days. They’re trying to move on from a shooting that left three players dead and ended their season early.

Virginia coach Tony Elliott says every day is a triumph as they start their second season together.

“Every day that we continue to wake up and come to work, put our best foot forward, that’s the triumph in all of this,” Elliott said. “And now we have an opportunity on a national stage to show just how resilient the human spirit is.”

The Cavaliers will be trying to channel the spirit of Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry. Running back Mike Hollins, wounded in the shooting, recovered by the start of spring practice despite needing several surgeries.

Tennessee will be joining Virginia for a moment of silence planned before kickoff with the Vols wearing a helmet decal honoring the slain players.

“It’s obviously a horrific tragedy that took place there on their campus,” Heupel said. “They’ve had a long time to try and grow through that. We also recognize what happened.”

INDIVIDUAL TRIBUTES

Virginia freshman wide receiver Suderian Harrison will wear No. 1 to honor Davis Jr., and kicker Will Bettridge will wear No. 41 to honor Perry. Both were teammates in high school with the players they will honor.

Defensive end Chico Bennett, perhaps the Cavaliers’ best defender, will continue to wear No. 15, which he shared with the third victim, Devin Chandler, last season. Bennett will miss the game with an injury. The Cavaliers also will wear patches to honor their lost teammates.

OFFENSIVE VOLS

Elliott knows well the challenge his Cavaliers face in a Tennessee offense that spreads the field — and Tennessee can run, too. The uptempo Vols led the nation both scoring 46.1 points and averaging 525.5 total yards per game.

Joe Milton III goes into his third season in Heupel’s offense replacing his roommate Hendon Hooker, drafted by the NFL’s Detroit Lions, at quarterback. Milton was the only FBS quarterback to throw at least 10 touchdowns without one interception after taking over when Hooker tore his ACL.

“Man, he’s a stud,” Elliott said. “He can run it, and he can throw it. He’s more of a throw guy first, but man, when he pulls it down, it’s pretty scary.”

START FAST, PLAY FAST

Slowing down the Vols has proven to be quite the problem. Under Heupel’s system, they’ve outscored opponents 331-123 in the first quarter, scoring at least one TD in the first quarter of 24 of 26 games through the coach’s first two seasons.

Part of the challenge for opposing defenses is just how fast Tennessee plays offensively. The Vols run an average of 2.94 plays per minute combined over the past two seasons, most in the nation. They also lead the nation averaging 1.72 points on offense per minute.

MUSKETT’S MOMENT

Monmouth transfer Tony Muskett will start at quarterback for Virginia. A three-year starter, he threw for 51 touchdowns with 16 interceptions in 23 starts for the Hawks. He’s well aware there’s little comparison between the Coastal Athletic Association and the Southeastern Conference.

“It’s a defense that doesn’t have a lot of weak spots,” Muskett said.

READY TO GO

Nissan Stadium is home to the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, and the game is sold out. The Vols, at least as a program, should be comfortable in this stadium. This is the third time they have opened a season here, though this is the first time since 2015 when they routed Bowling Green.

Yet Tennessee is 3-2 at this stadium after two controversial losses in the Music City Bowl, the last a 48-45 overtime loss to Purdue to cap Heupel’s first season.

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AP Sports Writer Hank Kurz Jr. contributed to this report.

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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll

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Tennessee

TSWA releases Tennessee high school boys soccer all-state teams for 2024 TSSAA season

Published

4 hours ago

July 4, 2024

Press Room

TSWA releases Tennessee high school boys soccer all-state teams for 2024 TSSAA season

The Tennessee Sports Writers Association has released its 2024 all-state boys soccer teams for all five TSSAA classifications.

Here is the complete list of selections.

Class AAA

Goalkeepers: Logan Nelson, Bearden, Jr., Gudmaro Roblero Mendez, Howard, Jr.

Forwards: Dillon Sims, Bearden, Sr., Jack Boring, Brentwood, Sr., Nick Krall, Beech, Sr.

Midfielders: Jack Raulston, Bearden, Sr., Will Keeney, Ravenwood, Sr., Jack Langford, Germantown Houston, Sr., Graham Duncan, Rossview, Sr.

Defenders: Nic Prins, Bearden, Sr., Noah Davis, Science Hill, Sr., Dasan Borror, Hendersonville, Sr.

Class AA

Goalkeepers: Jonah Mitchell, South-Doyle, Jr., Tanner Myers, Greeneville, Sr.

Forwards: Jude Straussfogel, South-Doyle, So., Diego Ojeda, Alcoa, Jr., Jefferson Cervellon Sanchez, Cocke County, So.

Midfielders: Anestis Tiriakidis, South-Doyle, Jr., Brennan Lauderback, Alcoa, Sr., Colston Callis, Chester County, Sr., Ryan Hendon, Station Camp, So.

Defenders: Finn Straussfogel, South-Doyle, So., Connor Slayton, Greeneville, Sr., Jonathan Tellez, Cumberland County, Sr.

Class A

Goalkeepers: Rohan Woodruff, Chattanooga School for Arts & Sciences, Sr., Jeffry Valladares, Gatlinburg-Pittman, Jr.

Forwards: Carlos Turcios Reyes, Gatlinburg-Pittman, Jr., Yuiman Betanco-Ramirez, Gatlinburg-Pittman, Sr., Eliot Nichols, Chattanooga School for Arts & Sciences, Sr.

More: How Ravenwood is keeping Williamson County’s soccer championship hopes alive with title berth

Midfielders: Oscar Estrada, Gatlinburg-Pittman, Jr., Edgar Betancourt, Independence Academy, Sr., Will Hetrick, Chattanooga School for Arts & Sciences, Sr., Jack Young, Madison Academic Magnet, Sr.

Defenders: Mekhi Morris, Madison Academic Magnet, Sr., Wyatt Yancey, Oneida, Sr., Josh Gonzales, Milan, Jr.

Division II-A

Goalkeepers: Nathan Randolph, Boyd Buchanan, So., John Payne Thomas, Battle Ground Academy, Sr.

Forwards: Andrew Pollard, Boyd Buchanan, Jr., Josh Bronk, Notre Dame, So., Naji Ghandour, Lausanne, Jr.

More: Meet the winners of the 2024 Middle Tennessee High School Sports Awards

Midfielders: Christian Melton, University School of Jackson, Sr., Phillip Collins, Boyd Buchanan, Sr., Evan Ozgener, University School of Nashville, Sr., Jackson Campbell, Lakeway Christian, Sr.

Defenders: Emory Gravitt, Boyd Buchanan, Sr., Derek Perez, Notre Dame, Sr., Jack Plucker, Lausanne, Sr.

Division II-AA

Goalkeepers: Ryan Larrabee, McCallie, Jr., Grant Clothier, Christian Brothers, Sr.

Forwards: Dylan Capazario, McCallie, Sr., Grayson Goodale, Knox Catholic, Sr., Terrance Reynolds, Ensworth, So.

Midfielders: Brandon Mathurin, McCallie, Sr., Brooks Hilger, McCallie, Fr., Richard Aylward, Montgomery Bell Academy, Sr., Camden Holiday, Christ Presbyterian Academy, So.

Defenders: Philippe Laforge, Baylor, Jr., Cullen Brummer, Christian Brothers, Sr., Carson Sberna, Montgomery Bell Academy, Sr.

Reach sports writer Tyler Palmateer at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, formerly Twitter, @tpalmateer83.

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Tennessee

Human Remains Found at Titans Stadium

Published

12 hours ago

July 3, 2024

Press Room

Human remains were found in the parking lot of the Tennessee Titans’ Nissan Stadium on Wednesday, according to multiple reports.

The Nashville Metro Police Department said that the remains were found inside a tent near Lot M. The body was not wrapped in a tarp, but a tarp was found nearby. No foul play is suspected.

According to News Channel 5 Nashville, the person who died was an unhoused man who had not been seen in a couple of days. Police said that those who new him were attempting to locate him. The person has not been identified as of Wednesday afternoon.

“A spokesperson with the Metro Nashville Police Department clarified to NewsChannel 5 that the body wasn’t wrapped in a tarp, but there was a tarp covering found near the body,” NewsChannel 5 writes.

Police also said that a woman in the area and alerted a bystander to call authorities around noon CT.

A medical examiner will determine the cause of death and identify the remains.

The Titans are currently on break as they await the return of training camp. Following Organized Team Activities and minicamp, the team broke off for a month-long gap as the league takes a break and players get one final down time before the start of the 2024 campaign.

Titans OnSI will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.

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

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Titans Showing Belief in Will Levis

Published

19 hours ago

July 3, 2024

Press Room

The Tennessee Titans entered a new era in franchise history when they selected quarterback Will Levis with the No. 33 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

While the Titans still had Ryan Tannehill on the roster, it was clear that Levis would eventually get the opportunity to replace him. After starting nine games last season, Tannehill went unsigned, paving the way for Levis to take over.

That’s part of the reason why Bleacher Report writer David Kenyon named Levis the Titans’ most promising building block.

“Whether you’re personally sold on Will Levis is a fair question. Tennessee, though, has already shown it believes he’ll develop into the cornerstone of this offense. Otherwise, the team wouldn’t have committed the money to Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd during the offseason,” Kenyon writes.

The Titans did invest a lot of money in the offense this past season. Adding center Lloyd Cushenberry III gives the offensive line an anchor to work with, and receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd give Levis experienced targets to pass to in the offense.

Common strategies among teams are to draft a quarterback so they don’t have to pay more than a rookie contract to that player, and then spend the rest of the cap space elsewhere. That’s what the Titans are doing and they have three years left on Levis’ deal. That should give them enough of an evaluation period to see if Levis is worth keeping long-term or finding someone new.

However, Levis is still being evaluated season-by-season, and some may even say week-by-week. The Titans have also shown a level of urgency with these moves, which could mean that they want to win sooner rather than later. By making these signings, it not only helps Levis but makes it easier to put the blame on him if things go awry.

If Levis cannot find a way to succeed with this supporting cast within at least a year or two, it will become clear to the Titans that he is not the franchise quarterback they thought he could be, and Tennessee should go searching for someone else.

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

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