Tennessee
Travis Smith Jr. Injury Status Update for Tennessee vs Arkansas
The Wednesday injury report for the Tennessee Volunteers and the Arkansas Razorbacks has officially released. This is one of the most important parts of the week during an SEC football conference game.
The Vols had extra time to recover for the conference matchup against the Razorbacks, but the receiver depth for the game could still potentially take a hit if true freshman Travis Smith Jr. is unable to play on Saturday.
According to the SEC Student-Athlete Availability Report, the status of Smith is listed as “DOUBTFUL.”
The wideout has three receptions for 29 yards to this point of the season. While his three receptions might not seem like a lot, he is still fifth among receivers on the team in catches, just one behind fellow freshman Radarious Jackson, who has already been labeled as “OUT” for this week’s game, taking away a significant amount of depth in the position room for Kelsey Pope to work with.
This game will be an opportunity to avenge their upset loss from last season with the advantage this year of playing at home in front of a packed out Neyland Stadium.
The Tennessee offense under head coach Josh Heupel has hummed along just fine with already limited receiver depth as starting quarterback Joey Aguilar has been able to hit a plethora of different weapons from a variety of positions over the course of the season.
However, losing a talented body that offers more size and length to the room will always sting when battling through the grind of conference play in the Southeastern Conference.
With potentially both Smith and Jackson out, the pressure will be on the rest of the room to step forward to get physically and mentally prepared to enter the football game and provide reliable play and valuable depth.
The next wideout to step up would in theory be another true freshman with former in-state standout Joakim Dodson, who has recorded two catches for 38 yards in his debut season.
Other options at the positions include Alabama transfer Amari Jefferson as well as walk-ons Tommy Winton III, Braylon Harmon, Trey Weary.
Following the battle at home against Arkansas, the Volunteers will be tasked with going on the road to play Alabama, so this situation could be one to monitor as the team gets into the meat of conference play against a high-quality caliber of opponent every single week.
The team will hope to get both of the talented true freshman back in the mix over the remainder of the season.
Tennessee
More than 8,500 layoffs hit Tennessee in 2025, nearly 19% increase from 2024
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Tennessee employers laid off more than 8,500 workers in 2025 compared to 7,320 last year, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development.
This is about a 19% increase in layoffs, with WARN notices impacting 8,691 Tennesseans to date. As of 2023, 5,168 Tennessee workers were laid off through WARN notices.
Counties in Middle Tennessee impacted include:
- Davidson
- Sumner
- Maury
- Rutherford
- Williamson
- Wilson
- Coffee
- DeKalb
- Bedford
- Lawrence
- Putnam
The largest layoff this year was in Maury County. Come January, 710 employees will be laid off from GM Ultium Cells’ Spring Hill facility. Research Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee Knoxville Michael Kofoed tells FOX 17 News that the facility is is likely impacted by the rise on steel tariffs ruled out by the Trump administration. He adds steel tariffs raise input costs for employers which directly impacts employees’ salary or employment.
The second largest layoff impacted 658 workers at Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC in Rutherford County with 615 workers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center permanently laid off. WARN notices are reports a company is required to file with the state to give workers time to find future employment.
Kofoed states that Tennessee is seeing a troubling trend, with layoffs skyrocketing since 2023.
“That is a very big and concerning number,” Kofoed said.
According to CNBC, more than 1.1 million U.S. employees were laid off this year, the highest 11-month total since 2020.
Tennessee
Nonprofit rescues 11 ‘emaciated and suffering’ animals from Tennessee property ahead of dangerous cold snap
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – The Animal Rescue Corps (ARC) is asking for donations after rescuing 11 animals Friday.
ARC said it was contacted by law enforcement in an unidentified rural Tennessee area to rescue five dogs and six cats in what the nonprofit is calling “Operation Cold Snap.”
In the rescue, the nonprofit took in two emaciated Great Danes, three Pit Bulls and six cats. ARC said some of the animals are emaciated and suffering from untreated bite wounds and infections.
The nonprofit said the animals were kept without heat or regular care.
ARC shared a video of the rescue. In it, you can see the property s in disarray with trash littering the floor and overturned furniture.
This rescue comes just days before Middle Tennessee is expected to see its coldest temperatures of the season.
Now, ARC is asking for donations to help the 11 animals rescued Operation Cold Snap. Those interested in donating can do so on the nonprofit’s website.
Copyright 2025 WSMV. All rights reserved.
Tennessee
Alex Golesh hires former Tennessee analyst as Auburn’s coordinator
Alex Golesh was introduced as Auburn’s head coach on Dec. 1. He served as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator and tight ends coach from 2021-22.
Golesh announced the hiring of Jacob Bronowski as Auburn’s special teams coordinator. He served as the Vols’ special teams analyst in 2021 under head coach Josh Heupel. Bronowski was also under Heupel at UCF in 2020 as special teams quality control.
“His track record is outstanding,” Golesh said of Bronowski. “He developed multiple national award contenders, including a Lou Groza Award winner, and has led some of the top special teams units in the country.
“I saw up close when we worked together before that coach Bronowski understands that special teams can be a championship difference-maker, and he’s proven he can develop elite specialists. He brings exactly the attention to detail and relentless work ethic we need in our program.”
Auburn will play at Tennessee on Oct. 3, 2026.
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