Tennessee
No. 8 Arkansas drops Game 1 to No. 17 Tennessee, 10-7
The No. 8 Arkansas Razorbacks (41-12, 18-10 SEC) dropped Game 1 on Thursday to the No. 17 Tennessee Volunteers (41-13, 16-12 SEC) in a 10-7 loss at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville.
Starter Zach Root was less-than-stellar in 3.2 innings pitched. He was tagged with seven hits, four earned runs and racked up four strikeouts and two walks on 68 pitches.
Offensively, the Diamond Hogs finished 15-for-40 at the plate, but left 12 runners on base. Logan Maxwell recorded three hits, while Charles Davalan, Kuhio Aloy, Reese Robinett and Justin Thomas Jr. each had two knocks.
Out of the bullpen, Gabe Gaeckle retired seven of his first nine batters before Tennessee finally figured him out. He ended up allowing four hits and three earned runs in his 2.2 innings pitched.
First Inning:
Arkansas starter Zach Root needed just eight pitches to work through the top of Tennessee’s order, working in a strikeout and two groundouts to complete the 1-2-3 frame.
The Razorbacks recorded two hits — singles by Charles Davalan and Logan Maxwell — but a groundball double play and strikeout prevented Arkansas from scoring.
Second Inning:
Tennessee scored the first run of the game to leadoff the second, a solo homerun to left field. The Volunteers followed that up with a single, but Root got his first out with a looking punchout. The southpaw got a lineout and another K to finish things off.
Cam Kozeal got ahead 3-1 in the Hogs’ half of the frame, but grounded out. Ryder Helfrick singled up the middle and Brent Iredale moved Helfrick to third with a single of his own. Reese Robinett walked to load the bases. Justin Thomas Jr. struck out on three pitches to bring up Davalan, who doubled home two runs to give Arkansas a 2-1 lead.
Third Inning:
Root surrendered a single to start the third, but a failed bunt attempt resulted in a foulout. After another single to give the Vols runners on the corners, Tennessee grounded into a frame-ending double play.
Besides a Maxwell walk, the Hogs didn’t get much going in the third offensively.
Fourth Inning:
Arkansas ran into some trouble in the fourth. After a groundout to start, Root got tagged with a single and then a walk. A strikeout and walk later, the Vols brought home two runs with a single past Wehiwa Aloy, to lead 3-2. Tennessee then led 4-2 after another single, which chased Root out of the game for Gabe Gaeckle, who got a swing and miss to get out of the jam.
Helfrick led off with a groundout, then Iredale got plunked with a pitch to give the Hogs a baserunner. After a Robinett walk and a Thomas fielder’s choice groundout, Davalan grounded out.
Fifth Inning:
Gaeckle worked around a walk in the fifth behind two strikeouts to bring Arkansas’ offense up, which scored a run on a Kuhio Aloyu double to make it 4-3, Vols.
Sixth Inning:
Other than a one-out single, Gaeckle again made easy work of the Volunteers to push the game along. The Razorbacks got a leadoff man via an Iredale walk, but after a flyout and then a stolen base by Iredale, Thomas lined out and Davalan struck out looking on a close call pitch.
Seventh Inning:
The seventh was a disaster for Arkansas’ pitching staff. A leadoff single scored off a two-run blast, which was followed up by another homer. Some more shenanigans took place before the Hogs finally escaped down 7-3.
Arkansas attempted to storm back in the bottom of the seventh with two outs, getting two men in scoring position thanks to a Kuhio Aloy single and Kozeal double. An Iredale lineout stranded the runners.
Eighth Inning:
Ben Bybee entered the game for Arkansas in the eighth and struckout two, walked two and got a lineout for the final out. It was a bit of a circus defensively in the bottom of the eighth after Robinett and Thomas singled to start things off.
After that, an error on a Davalan lineout resulted in both Robinett and Thomas getting into scoring position with one out. With his first hit of the game, Wehiwa Aloy drove in both runners to make it 7-5, Tennessee.
Maxwell continued the comeback attempt with a single to right, which advanced Wehiwa to third base. Kuhio Aloy reached first on a fielder’s choice groundout, which was enough to add another run to Arkansas’ total. With the Hogs down 7-6, Kozeal popped up to end the inning.
Ninth Inning:
With the game hanging in the balance, Arkansas handed the ball to lefty Hunter Dietz from the pen. That decision didn’t pan out, because after a leadoff single, Tennessee blasted a two-run shot to left field for some huge insurance runs. Another hard-hit single forced a pitching change to Christian Foutch, who struck out the first batter he faced.
However, a single and subsequent error by Maxwell in right field allowed the runner on first to come all the way home, which increased Tennessee’s lead to 10-6. Foutch drew the final two outs with a flyball and groundball.
A questionable strike three call retired Helfrick to lead off the bottom of the ninth, then Iredale grounded out to shortstop. Robinett snuck one through the infield for a two-out single, and he came around to score on a Thomas left-field single. The game came to an end on a Davalan groundout.
Published on Mar. 3, 2026
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According to ESPN’s latest NFL mock draft, three former Tennessee Volunteers players are projected to be selected in the top 60 picks of the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. Cornerbacks Jermod McCoy and Colton Hood are both projected to be first-round picks, while wide receiver Chris Brazzell II is projected to be a second-round selection.
Why it matters
The strong NFL Draft projections for Tennessee players highlight the continued talent development and success of the Volunteers football program under head coach Josh Heupel. If these projections hold true, it would mark the first time Tennessee has had two first-round picks and three players selected in the top 60 overall during Heupel’s tenure.
The details
Cornerback Jermod McCoy is projected to be selected 29th overall by the Los Angeles Rams, despite not participating in on-field workouts at the NFL Combine due to a previous ACL injury. Teammate Colton Hood is projected to be the final pick of the first round, going 32nd overall to the Seattle Seahawks. Wide receiver Chris Brazzell II impressed at the Combine with a 4.37 40-yard dash and is projected to be a second-round pick, going 60th overall to the Buffalo Bills.
- The NFL Combine was held in late February 2026.
- Tennessee’s Pro Day workouts are scheduled for the end of March 2026.
- The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in April-May 2026.
The players
Jermod McCoy
A cornerback for the Tennessee Volunteers who is projected to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, despite missing the 2025 season due to an ACL injury.
Colton Hood
A cornerback for the Tennessee Volunteers who is projected to be a first-round pick, going 32nd overall to the Seattle Seahawks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Chris Brazzell II
A wide receiver for the Tennessee Volunteers who impressed at the NFL Combine with a 4.37 40-yard dash and is projected to be a second-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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What they’re saying
“If we’re going strictly by talent, McCoy is a top-10 prospect in this class. But he hasn’t played a game since 2024, missing all of last season after suffering an ACL tear in January 2025. We’re still not sure where he’s at in his recovery, as he did not participate in testing or drills at the combine. This gives the Rams — who haven’t drafted a corner in the first round since 2006 or before Day 3 since 2019 — the potential to get a steal here. McCoy is an easy mover who has squeaky-clean technique.”
— Jordan Reid, ESPN Analyst (ESPN)
“The reigning champions have a clear need at corner, as Josh Jobe and Riq Woolen are both scheduled to be free agents. Hood is a scheme-versatile player who can thrive in press man while also having the fluidity to excel in zone. A former all-state center fielder in high school, Hood’s ball skills frequently show up on tape (10 pass breakups and an interception last season). With his poised technique and wrap-up-and-finish tackling, he would fit well on the outside of Mike Macdonald’s secondary.”
— Jordan Reid, ESPN Analyst (ESPN)
“The Bills need someone who can separate on the outside, and Brazzell is an ‘X’ receiver who can be a deep vertical threat. He can also sink his weight and run a true route tree, making him a good fit with quarterback Josh Allen.”
— Jordan Reid, ESPN Analyst (ESPN)
What’s next
Tennessee’s Pro Day workouts are scheduled for the end of March 2026, where McCoy plans to participate in on-field drills to further showcase his recovery from the ACL injury. Strong performances at the Pro Day could potentially push McCoy back up draft boards into the top half of the first round.
The takeaway
The strong NFL Draft projections for Tennessee players demonstrate the continued talent development and success of the Volunteers football program under head coach Josh Heupel. If these projections hold true, it would mark a significant milestone for the program, with Tennessee potentially having two first-round picks and three players selected in the top 60 overall for the first time during Heupel’s tenure.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WCYB) — Tennessee Athletics’ “Big Orange Caravan” presented by Pilot will roll into the Tri-Cities on April 30, bringing some of the university’s most recognizable faces to Kingsport.
The statewide tour, a collaboration between Tennessee Athletics and the UT Knoxville Office of Alumni Affairs, features Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White, men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes, women’s basketball coach Kim Caldwell, head football coach Josh Heupel and “Voice of the Vols” Mike Keith.
The Tri-Cities stop is scheduled for Thursday, April 30, at Meadowview Convention Center, 1901 Meadowview Parkway, Kingsport, Tennessee. Doors open at 5 p.m., followed by a meet-and-greet session with the headliners from 5:30-6:15 p.m. The program begins at 6:15 p.m.
Hosted by Keith, the evening will include stories, program insight and a question-and-answer session with Tennessee’s athletics leaders and coaches. The UT Spirit Squads also will be in attendance.
Tickets are $30, plus taxes and fees, and include light food options. A cash bar, along with additional light food and appetizers, will be available.
Of each ticket sold, $5 will benefit the local UT Alumni chapter’s scholarship endowment and $10 will go toward the My All Campaign.
The Tri-Cities event is the final stop of the three-city spring tour. The caravan opens in Chattanooga on April 28 before heading to Nashville on April 29. As announced last spring, Chattanooga and Memphis will alternate as tour stops each year.
The Big Orange Caravan is designed to connect Tennessee coaches and administrators with fans across the state, offering behind-the-scenes insight and celebrating the support of the Volunteer community.
Tickets for the Tri-Cities stop can be purchased at https://www.gofevo.com/event/BOCTriCities26
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Tennessee star Nate Ament will miss a game against South Carolina on Tuesday, the program announced on Monday night. Ament was injured during a weekend contest against Alabama.
Ament was injured when he was rolled up on while going for a loose ball. His leg twisted awkwardly underneath him, and Ament immediately went to the locker room.
He would return briefly in the second half. Nate Ament even made a basket, but then he appeared to tweak his injury shortly after and returned to the bench. He did not re-enter the contest.
Tennessee issued a short statement on his availability against South Carolina. The program released the statement on Twitter.
“Nate Ament will not play tomorrow night at South Carolina,” Tennessee wrote. “Ament is out due to a right leg injury sustained Saturday against Alabama. The timetable for his return is to be determined and he will continue to be evaluated.”
A 6-foot-10, 207-pound freshman, Ament has been one of Tennessee’s best players all season. He is the team’s second-leading scorer, averaging 17.4 points per game. He’s also the team’s leading rebounder, securing 6.4 rebounds per game.
Nate Ament signs NIL deal with Reebok
On3’s Nick Schultz recently published a list of some of the top brands to sign college basketball freshmen to NIL deals. Ament was one of the top signees.
In addition to Arkansas star Darius Acuff, Ament signed with Reebok this year. Ament was the crown jewel of Tennessee’s recruiting class. He signed with the brand in October 2024 while he was the No. 4 overall player from the 2025 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking.
Nate Ament sits second on the Tennessee roster with 17.4 points per game, and his 6.4 rebounds on average leads the Vols. Additionally, his $1.3 million On3 NIL Valuation ranks No. 14 in college basketball and No. 56 in the On3 NIL 100.
On3’s Nick Schultz also contributed to this report.
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