Tennessee

Tennessee Titans’ offensive core ranked dead last in NFL

Published

9 months ago

July 8, 2025

Tennessee Titans’ offensive core ranked dead last in NFL

After laying an egg on offense during the 2024 season, the Tennessee Titans have made significant changes to their offense for the 2025 season. Armed with a new quarterback in rookie first overall selection Cam Ward, a rebuilt receiver group, and an upgraded offensive line, head coach Brian Callahan is hoping that this new unit outperforms what he coordinated in his first year as head coach.

The performance of the new-look unit remains unknown as the team heads into training camp, with multiple questions left unanswered.

With all of the uncertainty, it is no surprise to see the Titans’ offense ranked at the bottom of the core position group rankings compiled by Bill Barnwell of ESPN.

32. Tennessee Titans
2024 rank: 19 | 2023 rank: 29
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Tony Pollard looked better than he did while recovering from a fractured fibula with the Cowboys in 2023, but Tennessee’s lead back ranked 20th out of the 23 players with at least 200 carries in success rate. The receiving efficiency he showed in Dallas before the injury didn’t come back, either, as he often was reduced to a safety valve. Tyjae Spears had a better success rate, but virtually no explosiveness; just two of Spears’ 84 carries went for more than 12 yards. The hope will have to be that an improved offensive line and another year under legendary assistant coach Bill Callahan will unlock the run game.
No. 1 pick Cam Ward’s group of receivers are … well-seasoned. Tyler Lockett, 32, was a cap casualty in Seattle whose numbers were way down during his final year with the Seahawks. He joins to link up with 30-year-old Calvin Ridley, who was better moving around the formation in Tennessee after being trapped on the outside in Jacksonville, but he dropped seven passes and wasn’t always the reliable target a struggling group of quarterbacks needed. Van Jefferson, a second-round pick in 2020, might be valued for his blocking and professionalism, but he has averaged 0.7 yards per route run over the past two seasons. This feels like a group where there could be three new starters in 2026.
Rookie fourth-rounder Elic Ayomanor has the upside to push for a starting role and a leg up on a division rival; his best game at Stanford came in 2023, when a fair amount of his 294 receiving yards came past, over and through Colorado cornerback Travis Hunter, who will see Ayomanor twice a year with the Jaguars.

In breaking down the methodology behind the rankings, a significant portion of the weight was placed on the wide receiver group, where the Titans have numerous unanswered questions. Calvin Ridley is the only established threat in the system and has been working overtime to build chemistry with Ward. After Ridley, how things shake out is uncertain.

The Titans spent the majority of the offseason reshaping the unit within the building; how they perform on the field once the season starts remains to be seen. Their veteran acquisitions were not game-changing, although the additions of Van Jefferson and Tyler Lockett may be more beneficial in the locker room as they bring along some talented young receivers in Bryce Oliver, Chimere Dike, Elic Ayomanor, and Xavier Restrepo. While there is potential for success within this group, until it happens, Barnwell’s analysis is spot on.

The Titans’ offense is expected to benefit from an improved offensive line in 2025, which should have a significant impact on the success of both the running and passing games. Tennessee fielded one of the worst units in the league in 2024, and the changes they have made should have them trending in the right direction.

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Tennessee

Titans named one of the NFL’s most improved teams this offseason

Published

7 hours ago

March 23, 2026

Press Room

Titans named one of the NFL’s most improved teams this offseason

The Tennessee Titans have made some significant additions to their roster this offseason as they attempt to pull themselves out of the basement of the AFC South.

The Titans have added talent on both sides of the ball and have relied heavily on system familiarity and trust as they rebuild a depleted roster. But how much difference did it make? Gilberto Manzano of Sports Illustrated believes Tennessee will be much improved and has them slated as the third-most improved through this point in the offseason.

3. Tennessee Titans
Notable additions: TE Daniel Bellinger, DT Jordan Elliott, CB Cor’Dale Flott, DL John Franklin-Myers, edge Jermaine Johnson II, LB Jacob Martin, WR Wan’Dale Robinson, C Austin Schlottmann, CB Alontae Taylor, DT Solomon Thomas
There was nowhere to go but up after a disastrous past few seasons. Two years ago, the Titans were big spenders in free agency and still ended up with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft, which they used on quarterback Cam Ward. However, it’s hard to doubt this latest spending frenzy, given that new coach Robert Saleh has a track record of building formidable defenses and has reunited with many of his reliable players from previous stops.
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On offense, Ward got an intriguing playmaker in Robinson, who’s coming off a breakout 2025 season with the Giants. The arrow is finally pointing up in Tennessee.

The Titans have taken a big swing at the free agency market in an attempt to reset the organizational floor. Now, it will be up to general manager Mike Borgonzi to follow up this impressive haul with another solid draft. If he can do that, the Titans organization will likely be pointed in the right direction.

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Tennessee vs Virginia live updates: Prediction, how to watch March Madness Round 2 game

Published

19 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Press Room

Tennessee vs Virginia live updates: Prediction, how to watch March Madness Round 2 game

Follow all of Sunday’s NCAA Tournament second round games with USA TODAY Sports’ live updates.

Tennessee ruined the fun of Miami (Ohio) by dispatching the RedHawks rather handily in the first round, 78-56.

The Vols did so with little contribution from their star freshman Nate Ament, who went scoreless in just 18 minutes, as he was rested dealing with soreness from a high ankle sprain he suffered in late February.

Ja’Kobi Gillespie picked up the slack with 29 points, including a 6 of 11 performance from behind the arc.

Virginia overcame a slow start for No. 14 seed Wright State to pick up the program’s first NCAA Tournament win since they won the national championship in 2019.

Jacari White led the way for Virginia with 26 points vs. the Raiders as Ryan Odom got his first NCAA win with UVA as Cavs head coach.

Today’s winner advances to play the Kentucky/Iowa State winner in next week’s Sweet 16 in Chicago.

Here’s what you need to know about today’s second round matchup.

HIT REFRESH FOR UPDATES.

TEAMS	1H	2H	F
Tennessee	—	—	—
Virginia	—	—	—

Here are the starting lineups for both Virginia and Tennessee in Sunday’s second-round game of the Men’s NCAA Tournament:

Virginia

Malik Thomas (Guard)
Sam Lewis (Guard)
Dallin Hall (Guard)
Thijs De Ridder (Forward)
Johann Grunloh (Center)

Tennessee

Ja’Kobi Gillespie (Guard)
Bishop Boswell (Guard)
Nate Ament (Forward)
J.P. Estrella (Forward)
Felix Okpara (Center)

Thijs De Ridder is Virginia’s 23-year-old freshman from Belgium who has professional basketball playing experience overseas in Spain.

He was named to the All-ACC first team and all-rookie teams, and entered the Men’s NCAA Tournament as the Cavaliers’ leading scorer at 15.5 points per game. Though De Ridder hails from Brasschaat, Belgium, he did know a little bit about March Madness before Virginia’s first-round win over Wright State. … Including the great tradition of filling out brackets.

“When I was 17 and younger, I thought it was another tournament like others. I did some brackets when I was younger, but that was just for fun,” De Ridder told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday. “Every time (there was) an American guy on my team (overseas), they always talked about March Madness. Now that I’m here, it’s such an organization, and it just made me really excited to play here. Hopefully, we can do some great stuff.”

He finished in double figures with 10 points and six rebounds in addition to two assists in Virginia’s win vs. Wright State.

The Cavaliers held off a potential upset and defeated 14-seed Wright State in the first round of the Men’s NCAA Tournament on Friday, 83-72.

Jacari White led the way for Virginia with 26 points, while Sam Lewis added 12 and Malik Thomas added 11. De Ridder also finished in double figures with 10 points and six rebounds in addition to two assists.

The Cavaliers’ win marked their first in March Madness since they won it all in 2019. It ended a 0-3 stretch in their last three trips to March Madness.

What time is Tennessee vs Virginia?

Time: 6:10 p.m. ET, Sunday.

What channel is Tennessee vs Virginia? How to watch, streaming info

The game is airing on TNT, streaming via Fubo.

Virginia vs Tennessee prediction, odds

Odds provided by BetMGM, as of 11:30 a.m., Sunday.

∎ Wynton Jackson, Knoxville News Sentinel: Virginia 71, Tennessee 66

Ament’s questionable status swings our prediction towards Virginia. The Cavaliers had one of the best defenses in the ACC, and if Tennessee’s star freshman isn’t at his best, it’s tough to see how the Vols continue their hot shooting. They shot 53% from the floor and 45% from 3-point range against the RedHawks. Tennessee’s defense always keeps games close, but it may not have enough offensive juice to make a fourth straight Sweet 16.

John Leuzzi: Tennessee
Jordan Mendoza: Virginia
Ehsan Kassim: Virginia
Blake Schuster: Tennessee
Moneyline: Tennessee (-115); Virginia (-105)
Spread: Tennessee (-1.5)
Over/under total: 137.5

Nate Ament injury update: Will Vols freshman star play today vs Virginia?

All-SEC freshman Nate Ament had his first scoreless game of the season in the 78-56 win against Miami (Ohio) in the first round.

Ament is still dealing with soreness from the high ankle sprain he suffered against Missouri on Feb. 24. He still expects to play against Virginia and throughout the rest of the NCAA Tournament.

“There’s no chance I’d sit out a March Madness game,” he said. “It’s about what can we do to get back to 100%, or as close to it as we can.”

Nate Ament 2026 NBA Draft, mock draft prediction

No. 11 overall to Portland Trail Blazers

Kalbrosky’s Analysis:

After a relatively slow and inefficient start to the season, Tennessee freshman Nate Ament is starting to realize some of his lofty expectations. The freshman averaged 21.6 points per game while shooting 38.9 percent on 3-pointers during a 13-game stretch before an injury against Alabama on Feb. 28. The All-SEC forward then had 27 points (4-of-6 on 3-pointers) with eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal against Auburn on March 12. It will only take one team to fall in love with Ament and given so much of what he brings to the table cannot be taught, that team is probably picking fairly early in the lottery.

See USA TODAY’s full mock draft here

Nate Ament stats

(all stats as of March 15)

17.5 points per game
6.6 rebounds per game
2.5 assists per game
40.5% field goal percentage
33.1% 3-point field goal percentage

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Tennessee

Virginia vs Tennessee prediction, picks, odds for NCAA Tournament Second Round

Published

1 day ago

March 22, 2026

Press Room

Virginia vs Tennessee prediction, picks, odds for NCAA Tournament Second Round

The men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament continues with Second Round action Sunday with No. 3 Virginia vs. No. 6 Tennessee on the eight-game schedule.

Here is Sunday’s full Second Round March Madness schedule and expert picks from reporters across the USA TODAY Sports Network.

USA TODAY Sports has a team of journalists covering the men’s NCAA Tournament to keep you up to date with every point scored, rebound grabbed and game won in the 68-team tournament.

Join the USA TODAY $1 million Bracket Challenge