Tennessee

Will Josh Heupel’s QB luck with Tennessee football go beyond Nico Iamaleava? | Adams

Published

2 years ago

January 16, 2024

Will Josh Heupel’s QB luck with Tennessee football go beyond Nico Iamaleava? | Adams

Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel has a great track record with quarterbacks. And since joining the Vols, he has a lucky track record with quarterbacks.

That’s worth noting as he begins assembling his fourth Tennessee team.

Consider how lucky he was that former coach Jeremy Pruitt did one thing right in three years, which otherwise were distinguished by mishaps. Pruitt signed Virginia Tech transfer quarterback Hendon Hooker.

Heupel didn’t realize his good fortune when he replaced Pruitt after the 2020 season. Why would he? Since most of Pruitt’s decisions had proved detrimental to Tennessee football, Heupel probably assumed any Pruitt decision fell in the bad-to-disastrous range.

But Pruitt was right about Hooker. And Heupel was wrong. Unconvinced that Hooker was the right quarterback for his offense, he pursued Michigan transfer quarterback Joe Milton after spring practice. Milton signed and became the starter in 2021.

He held the job for about a game and a half. After a loss to Pittsburgh, Hooker took charge and the offense took off. He quickly established himself as a perfect fit for Heupel’s offense as well as Tennessee’s best quarterback since Peyton Manning.

Milton regained his starting role after Hooker’s departure and took every meaningful snap in an 8-4 regular season. He wasn’t nearly as proficient as Hooker, but he was durable. Heupel was lucky about that, too.

He played his second-best quarterback throughout the regular season and still ended up winning nine games when the Vols beat Iowa 35-0 in the Citrus Bowl behind freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava.

You could argue that Iamaleava wouldn’t have been that good at the start of the season or even in the middle of the season. But you’re kidding yourself if you think Milton was a better fit for the offense than Iamaleava is. It’s not even close.

At the very least, Heupel should have had a goal-line package for Iamaleava, whose terrific running instincts would have paid off inside the 20-yard line.

The best argument for not playing Iamaleava: What if he had gotten hurt? Now, the Vols have a healthy, redshirted Iamaleava with four more seasons of eligibility. But do you really think he won’t go pro early?

Heupel won’t have to sweat his next quarterback decision. Iamaleava is as much a sure thing as Hooker was in 2022. But Heupel would be wise to handle his backup quarterback better.

Iamaleava obviously has what it takes to become a top-tier SEC quarterback. But how durable will he be? You won’t know that until next season. Heupel needs to have a backup plan, just in case.

The Vols signed four-star quarterback Jake Merklinger in their 2024 recruiting class. The signing might have garnered more attention if Iamaeava hadn’t already been on board. However, Merklinger will begin next season – just as Iamaleava did in 2023 – as UT’s backup quarterback. And you want your backup quarterback adequately prepared to become the starting quarterback.

Iamaleava hardly played this past season. He didn’t even play in some games against outmanned opponents.

Next season, Heupel needs to give Merklinger more playing time than Iamaleava got as a freshman. Redshirting shouldn’t be a goal for your backup quarterback.

When I look at Tennessee’s schedule, I see four games that qualify as sure wins, starting with Chattanooga in the season opener. The Vols can be just as confident of victories against Kent State, UTEP and Vanderbilt. Those three teams had a combined record of 6-30 this past season.

You need to play your backup quarterback in games like that. And don’t wait until the game is well in hand. Give him a first-quarter series with your starting offense. Against teams of that caliber, surely you can risk one series with a backup quarterback.

The risk would be worth it if your quarterback luck runs out.

ADAMS: Nico Show opens to rave reviews for Tennessee football. He was as good as billed vs Iowa

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns.

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TN Lottery Cash 3 Evening, Cash 4 Evening winning numbers for March 8, 2026

Published

53 minutes ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

The Tennessee Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 8, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Cash 3 numbers from March 8 drawing

Evening: 1-8-7, Wild: 8

Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 4 numbers from March 8 drawing

Evening: 1-0-9-7, Wild: 7

Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily Tennessee Jackpot numbers from March 8 drawing

10-19-30-33-35

Check Daily Tennessee Jackpot payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 8 drawing

01-31-32-45-52, Bonus: 05

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Tennessee Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.

For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Tennessee Lottery offices. By mail, send a winner claim form, winning lottery ticket, a copy of a government-issued ID and proof of social security number to P.O. Box 290636, Nashville, TN 37229. Prize claims less than $600 do not require a claim form. Please include contact information on prizes claimed by mail in the event we need to contact you.

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a winner claim form and deliver the form, along with the ticket and government-issued ID and proof of social security number to any of these locations:

Nashville Headquarters & Claim Center: 26 Century Blvd., Nashville, TN 37214, 615-254-4946 in the (615) and (629) area, 901-466-4946 in the (901) area, 865-512-4946 in the (865) area, 423-939-7529 in the (423) area or 1-877-786-7529 (all other areas in Tennessee). Outside Tennessee, dial 615-254-4946. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Knoxville District Office: Cedar Springs Shopping Center, 9298 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37922, (865) 251-1900. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.

Chattanooga District Office: 2020 Gunbarrel Rd., Suite 106, Chattanooga, TN 37421, (423) 308-3610. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.

Memphis District Office: Chiles Plaza, 7424 U.S. Highway 64, Suite 104, Memphis, TN 38133, (901) 322-8520. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://tnlottery.com/.

When are the Tennessee Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
Cash4Life: 9:15 p.m. CT daily.
Cash 3, 4: Daily at 9:28 a.m. (Morning) and 12:28 p.m. CT (Midday), except for Sunday. Evening game daily, seven days a week, at 6:28 p.m. CT.
Daily Tennessee Jackpot: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
Tennessee Cash: 10:34 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Powerball Double Play: 10:30 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Tennessean editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell Among Top Projected Fantasy Football Options in 2026 NFL Draft | Rocky Top Insider

Published

13 hours ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell Among Top Projected Fantasy Football Options in 2026 NFL Draft | Rocky Top Insider

Tennessee SEC Football — Photo via Tennessee Athletics

Tennessee football is set to send a handful of players from its 2025 roster to the NFL during this upcoming draft. However, one stands out as a potential breakout star for fantasy football players.

Wide receiver Chris Brazzell proved to be one of the top pass catchers in the SEC this past season, leading the conference in yards per game. Now, he’s widely projected as a second-round pick with the potential to even climb into the first round after a strong combine showing.

With the combine in the books and the draft coming up next month, ESPN ranked incoming rookies on their projected fantasy football output. He clocked in at No. 13 and the seventh-highest ranked receiver.

“Brazzell is a tall, perimeter receiver with a big wingspan who will do most of his damage down field (career 14.2 aDOT at Tennessee) and doesn’t offer much after the catch (class-worst 3.6 RAC),” ESPN’s Mike Clay wrote. “He has good speed (4.37 40-yard dash) and may settle in as a boom/bust low-volume, splash-play fantasy option.”

More From RTI: Three Tennessee Football Players Mocked in the First Two Rounds of NFL Draft by ESPN

Brazzell wrapped up his second season with Tennessee in 2025. In 12 games, he produced 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns on 62 receptions. He proved to be an elite deep-ball threat with Joey Aguilar at quarterback and Josh Heupel retooling the offensive scheme.

His best game came against Georgia at home. Brazzell recorded six receptions for 177 yards and three touchdowns in the game. He went over the 100-yard mark four times and over 90 yards five times.

Prior to that, Brazzell played two seasons at Tulane before transferring to join the Vols for their 2024 College Football Playoff campaign.

The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled to begin on April 23 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. If Brazzell does fall outside the first round, he’d likely go the following day when rounds two and three are held. The remaining four rounds are the next day.

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Tennessee State beats Morehead State 93-67, wins first OVC Tournament title since ’94

Published

1 day ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

Tennessee State beats Morehead State 93-67, wins first OVC Tournament title since ’94

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Antoine Lorick III scored 18 points, and top-seeded Tennessee State beat No. 2 seed Morehead State 93-67 on Saturday night for the Tigers’ first win in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship game since 1994.

Travis Harper II made five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points for Tennessee State (23-9), which shot 16 of 26 from long range. Dante Harris and Carlous Williams added 16 points apiece. Aaron Nkrumah chipped in with 14 points and six assists. Harris grabbed 11 of the Tigers’ 44 rebounds.

George Marshall scored 17 points and shot 4 of 9 from beyond the arc to lead Morehead State (20-13). Anouar Mellouk and Davion Cunningham added 12 points each.

The Tigers scored a Division-I program-record 55 points in the first half for a 21-point lead. Harris scored 16 points and shot 4 of 7 from deep. Harper added 15 points on five 3s. Marshall scored 12 first-half points for Morehead State.

TSU entered having won a program-best 15 conference games. The Tigers won back-to-back tournament titles in 1993 and 1994.

The teams split the regular-season series, each winning at home. Tennessee State won the first meeting 105-100 in overtime. Morehead State won the second 94-86.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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