Tennessee
Tennessee Football Notes And Observations: Fall Practice No. 5 | Rocky Top Insider
With that, it’s on to the notes and observations.
Offense
Let’s start with injuries and absences which were largely the same as they were during Sunday’s practice. Running back Cam Seldon and walk on receiver Tommy Winton III remained in red non contact jerseys. Mike Matthews went through stretches but wasn’t wearing a helmet and worked off to the side the rest of practice.
Andrej Karic, John Campbell Jr. and Dont’e Thornton were all fully dressed out and went through warmups but were not active participants in practice while we were out on the field. Kaleb Webb was in the same boat on Sunday, but was back on the field going through routes on air, where he had two bad drops, during Monday’s practice.
Webb’s drops were representative of what was a largely sloppy routes on air portion of practice. In fairness, Tennessee was working on more downfield passing including double moves and off script throws from the quarterbacks, but it just wasn’t a sharp period for Nico Iamaleava or the entire offense.
Iamaleava was off on a handful of throws, he had a miscommunication on one rep with Bru McCoy and receivers and tight ends had a few bad drops. It’s only a very small portion of practice that we get to watch so I’m certainly not hitting the panic button or acting like what we’re watching is the most telling thing, but drops have been a somewhat consistent problem for Tulane transfer receiver Chris Brazzell so far this fall during routes on air.
McCoy is a player that continues to look better-and-better. It’s obvious he spent his rehab getting physically stronger in his upper body and I don’t think I’ve been him drop a pass through the first five days of practice.
Of note at the tight end spot, both Notre Dame transfer Holden Staes and Alabama transfer Miles Kitselman worked with Iamaleava during routes on air. It was the first work that Kitselman has gotten with him during that period of practice. Alec Abeln said that Tennessee is going to play three tight ends this season and Kitselman joining Staes and Ethan Davis as players getting reps with Iamaleava seems to prove it.
Over with the offensive line, it continues to be a little bit of an in-and-out rotation for the veterans. It was Campbell and Karic who didn’t get any work while we were at practice for the second straight day after Zalance Heard and Javontez Spraggins were in that boat last week.
Heard has been pretty full go in what we’ve been watching the last few days which is a good sign given he looked a little banged up last week. Offensive line coach Glen Elarbee meets with the media later today so we’ll see what he has to say.
More From RTI: Tennessee Football Is Recruiting The Quarterback Position At An Elie Level
Defense
Things stayed the same on the injuries and absences note on Monday. Cornerback Jalen McMurray as well as freshman linebackers linebackers Jordan Burns and Grier Short (walk on) were not in pads and worked off to the side after going through stretches.
Jourdan Thomas obviously wasn’t out there after suffering a season ending knee injury during Saturday’s practice. With Thomas out, all eyes turn to true freshman Boo Carter. The Chattanooga native is incredibly talented and already had a chance to earn the starting spot at STAR but now the opportunity is truly right in front of him to grab.
Christian Charles is another guy who could grab the starting spot but Charles versatility makes him very important in a thin secondary. He can play safety and also fill in at corner if injuries happen. I continue to like what I see what Rickey Gibson and Jermod McCoy and Jordan Matthews is certainly a capable backup. But with McMurray currently out, things are a bit grim behind them.
With Charles versatility, it feels like Carter will have to play major snaps at STAR at some point this season. The question is whether he can grab that job from the jump.
Defensive backs continue to do some basic technique work and zone coverage handoffs during practice. Little for us to glean from them but also very important, especially for the young Carter.
Much like the fourth corner spot right now, the fourth inside linebacker spot is a real question. He’s been lackluster in his first two years on campus but I continue to like what I’ve seen from Kalib Perry this camp. He looks more comfortable out there and is playing a bit bigger which should help him become more of an everyday player.
Sophomore edge rusher Caleb Herring got tripped up during a footwork drill which earned him “Coach Chop’s” ire. Still, he continues to look good and like a guy that might earn a role in pass rush packages. Josh Josephs also looks better and a sneaky pick for a potential breakout player.
I truly don’t know how Tennessee will be able to use all the playable LEOs they have on this roster. Certainly a good problem to have.
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
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.
More Vols News
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”
Boo Carter Visits Vanderbilt
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.
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.
More Vols News
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.
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.
Here is what White did in his 2025 season according to the Troy website.
Jaquez White’s 2025 Season
“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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