When you have two legitimate Top 20 teams testing each other, it’s never inevitable.
Tennessee
Titans Linked to Several Free Agent Safeties
At this point in the offseason, most of the NFL has quieted down from a roster move perspective. Teams are focusing on their current rosters and preparing for the upcoming 2024 campaign. One team that may not be satisfied with how their roster is currently set up is the Tennessee Titans.
While most of the roster is set, there are a few positions that could use some help. One of those positions is at safety, where an upgrade could be a smart move to make.
Thankfully, the Titans will have their pick of free agents. There are still many safeties available on the market, and quite a few of them have been longtime starters or even stars at the NFL level.
One NFL writer has linked Tennessee as a potential suitor for eight different names in free agency.
Among the names are standout players like Jamal Adams, Eddie Jackson, Justin Simmons, and Quandre Diggs. There are four others that were listed, including Micah Hyde, Tracy Walker, Jayron Kearse, and Adrian Amos.
All of those options would be welcome additions to the Titans’ secondary. They are all proven players who could come in and make an immediate impact.
Simmons has been the player that most fans and media members have suggested for Tennesse. He has been a star with the Denver Broncos, but was released earlier this offseason due to financial reasons. The fact that he hasn’t found a new job is surprising.
Adams is another intriguing option, although there are concerns about his ability to stay healthy. If he does stay healthy, he’s a Pro Bowl caliber safety who is known for being a big-time playmaker.
The rest of the options that were mentioned are all also capable of being starters if signed by the Titans.
All of that being said, it will be interesting to see if Tennessee ends up signing one of these players. The safety position is one of their main weaknesses and it seems wise for the team to swoop in and pick up one of these names off of the free agent market.
Make sure you bookmark All Titans for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!
Tennessee
Tennessee football QB Jake Merklinger plans to enter transfer portal
Tennessee quarterback Jake Merklinger plans to enter the transfer portal, Knox News has confirmed.
On3.com and Rivals.com were the first to report Merklinger’s decision. The transfer portal opens on Jan. 2.
Merklinger has also opted out of the Music City Bowl. No. 23 Tennessee (8-4) plays Illinois (8-4) on Dec. 30 (5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Nashville. Starter Joey Aguilar will play in the bowl game, so Merklinger was not expected to be a factor. Freshman George MacIntyre will serve as the backup.
Merklinger spent two seasons at Tennessee but barely played and failed to win the starting job. He played six games and went 19-of-33 passing for 221 yards and two touchdowns.
In 2024, Merklinger was a third-string freshman when Nico Iamaleava started. In 2025, he competed for the starting job but lost to transfer Joey Aguilar.
By the end of the 2025 season, Merklinger was neck and neck with freshman George MacIntyre for the backup job. And it didn’t appear that Merklinger would factor in the starting job in 2026.
Merklinger, a native of Savannah, Georgia, was a four-star recruit in the 2024 class. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
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Tennessee
Seedy K’s GameCap: Tennessee
But this U of L task in Knoxville against tall favorite Tennessee sure seemed close to that heading in.
Well coached top level foe at its sold out home.
One whose strength — inside scoring and rebounding — made it a bad matchup for the Cards, whose lack of inside depth and strength has been an Achilles heel from the get go.
That the Vols were hungry and angry coming off three straight Ls made a U of L victory seem an almost impossible task.
Then we learned that back issue of Mikel Brown’s is a problem.
Cards were toast before tip.
It was all evident by halftime — actually well before then.
It just takes a peek at a couple statistics.
Tennessee led by only 7, thanks to some tough Cardinal D. And UT’s woeful FT shooting.
That inside game issue: Volunteers 28 points in the paint. Cardinals 10.
That’s right, Tennessee had more points in the paint at the break than Louisville had points total.
That lack of point guard issue: U of L had 9 FGs at intermission. Tennessee had that many assists on 15 buckets.
Louisville’s strength is depth. At least usually.
During the first 20 Tuesday, the Cards had zero points off the pine. Vols 22. (For the game, the disparity was 34-3. Khani Rooths hit a FT. Wild Man Zougris a garbage time slam.)
Another opening stanza reality that might have you feeling the need to clean your glasses.
Only three guys scored. Adrian Wooley with 12, Ryan Conwell with 11, and Sananda Fru with 4.
Louisville’s second half performance is not worth the bandwidth, my time to write about, nor your time to read.
The final, in a lopsided disappointing loss: 83-62.
There is no sugar frosting this. Against teams with major size and inside presence, Louisville has and will continue to struggle.
When your most talented player doesn’t suit up, it makes it more impossible to overcome.
Tennessee
A look at new laws proposed in Tennessee
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