Tennessee

Oklahoma Releases Final Availability Report Ahead of Massive Tennessee Clash

Published

1 year ago

September 21, 2024

Oklahoma Releases Final Availability Report Ahead of Massive Tennessee Clash

Oklahoma’s health situation is improving at the right time.

The No. 15-ranked Sooners will be as close to full strength Saturday night as they’ve been all season, just in time to take on the No. 6-ranked Tennessee Volunteers.

According to new SEC rules in 2024, teams are required to release a final availability report 90 minutes before kickoff of conference games.

Earlier this week, offensive lineman Troy Everett and wide receiver Nic Anderson were both listed as probably to play in Saturday’s marquee clash.

Both Everett and Anderson would make their season debuts if they take the field against the Volunteers.

Everett, who saw action at guard last year but was projected to compete at center during spring practice for OU, has been on the shelf since sustaining an injury during spring ball.

At the very worst, he could provide depth at center as Joshua Bates has essentially been Oklahoma’s only option snapping the football the last two weeks.

Anderson has been unable to build on his 10-touchdown year to this point in the year.

His return will be welcome news for OU quarterback Jackson Arnold, who hasn’t had a full arsenal of weapons at his disposal at any point this season.

Third-year pass catcher Jayden Gibson sustained a season-ending injury during fall camp, and Jalil Farooq re-injured his foot on the first drive of the season against Temple, a setback that will cost him at least six weeks.

Defensive back Kendel Dolby is also likely to feature for the Sooners. He missed last week’s contest against Tulane which saw OU slide Woodi Washington over to split time with linebacker Sammy Omosigho at the cheetah spot.

Tight end Kade McIntyre also will be able to give it a go against the Volunteers on Saturday night after he was listed as questionable on Oklahoma’s initial availability report on Wednesday.

Center Branson Hickman and right tackle Jake Taylor’s status were both updated as well. Taylor and Hickman are both listed as “game-time decision.”

Hickman played in OU’s opener against Temple, but he left the game on the second drive with an injury that Brent Venables later labeled as a high ankle sprain. Hickman, a decorated transfer from SMU, hasn’t played since.

Taylor missed the opener and started against Houston, but he was unable to finish the first half before being withdrawn by offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh. Taylor won the starting right tackle job over Spencer Brown in preseason camp but hasn’t been able to stay healthy as the Sooners have shifted tackles back and forth.

Linebacker Dasan McCullough was ruled out of the contest on Friday night, and he has yet to feature for the Sooners in 2024.

Cornerback Gentry Williams will also miss the game, as he was ruled out on Wednesday.

The Sooners aren’t the only team who will be battling injuries on Saturday night.

Tennessee offensive tackle Lance Heard will miss his second straight game.

The LSU transfer was sought after by both the Sooners and the Volunteers in the transfer portal this offseason, but he will be unable to make an impact for either side in Norman.

Source link

Tennessee

Deputies perform ‘life-saving measures’ after 5-year-old falls into swimming pool in Tennessee

Published

5 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Deputies perform ‘life-saving measures’ after 5-year-old falls into swimming pool in Tennessee

FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – A Tennessee sheriff’s office is asking the community to pray for a family whose 5-year-old was hospitalized after falling into a swimming pool.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said deputies and family members were “administering life-saving measures” Thursday afternoon after pulling the child out of the water.

The child was then transferred to a hospital, where they are still being treated.

“The child was subsequently transported to the hospital, where they are currently receiving medical care‚” said a Facebook post from the sheriff’s office. “Out of respect for the family’s privacy, no further details will be released at this time.”

Source link

Tennessee

Why first quarter was ‘crucial’ in Mississippi State’s loss to Tennessee

Published

17 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Why first quarter was ‘crucial’ in Mississippi State’s loss to Tennessee

Sam Purcell felt good about the game plan for Mississippi State women’s basketball’s matchup with Tennessee.

But the Bulldogs gave up 26 points in the first quarter and trailed by seven points. It was a deficit they never recovered from in a 90-80 loss to the Lady Vols at Humphrey Coliseum on Jan. 8.

“You look at that that first quarter, I thought it was crucial. We had a great scout, a great game plan, but we didn’t talk on ball screens,” Purcell said. “Their largest quarter was that first quarter, and we’re going to watch back and go, dang it, we need to be more vocal. And you got to give them credit – top to bottom, they’re probably as good as anybody in the country with athleticism. So you can’t let those athletic kids turn the corner for wide open layups, and we did.”

Kharyssa Richardson and Madison Francis led the Bulldogs with 22 points each, but MSU didn’t have enough defense to pull off the upset.

Had Mississippi State been able to slow down Tennessee’s drivers in the first quarter, it may have been a different result. But once the Bulldogs started slowing that down, the Lady Vols were “phenomenal hitting some big-time shots,” Purcell said.

Tennessee only had the edge in points in the paint, 42-40, but it also went 10-for-27 on 3-pointers, which was an area Mississippi State couldn’t match. The Bulldogs shot 2-for-13 from deep.

MSU also couldn’t stop Tennessee freshman point guard Mia Pauldo, who scored a game-high 26 points on 8-for-12 shooting. The Bulldogs sent her to the foul line time and time again, and she went 8-for-9 on free throws.

“I thought (Pauldo) was poised, she was clutch,” Purcell said. “Obviously, that’s what you need in games like this that are gonna come down the to the wire. You need players to step up, and I thought she was the X factor for them.”

Source link

Tennessee

Former Tennessee Football Legend Accepts SEC Coaching Gig

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Former Tennessee Football Legend Accepts SEC Coaching Gig

The Tennessee Volunteers have been one of the main teams when it comes to producing talent and sending talent to the NFL, which is something that has often been discovered as a standard for the football program. This is something that has been going on for quite some time and isn’t anything new to the news cycle, as the Vols have been able to produce plenty of talented prospects.

Tennessee is the home of many stars, including some of the best defensive players in SEC history. Guys like Eric Berry have found their way through the Tennessee program and onto the NFL, where they would have legendary careers. However, the defensive side of the football is the only side that has produced plenty of talent, as Tennessee has produced a lot of offensive talent as well. With the likes of Peyton Manning and company, the Vols have shown a great track record in getting talent drafted.

The Vols have produced someone who could be considered as one of the best players to play the Tide end position, as the Knoxville, Tennessee program is the home to Dallas Cowboys legend, Jason Witten. Witten is someone who made the most of his career and has been viewed as a top player at the Tide in position, and someone who is often referred to as a legend for the Cowboys, along with being a legend in the game of football as a whole.

Jason Witten Accepts TE Coach Position For Oklahoma

Oct 10, 2010; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten (82) on the phone in the bench area in the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Cowboys Stadium. The Titans beat the Cowboys 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images | Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images

Witten is now taking a new gig, which has him in a huge role inside the Southeastern Conference. The Vols legend is now the tight end coach for the Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners have had some success out of their tight ends in the past, but the sky is the limit with a guy like Witten coaching up the players. Witten has the opportunity to do really well, as coaching tight ends won’t be an issue, and you have to imagine that he will be able to recruit very well, considering he has a huge name around him, as this is something that we have seen from positional coaches as well as head coaches who have done great work in the league. You have to imagine that the Vols will now have stiff competition for his son, Cooper, who is a five-star recruit for the upcoming 2027 class at the linebacker position.