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

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


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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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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Alex Golesh hires former Tennessee analyst as Auburn’s coordinator

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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.

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“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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Tennessee football’s 2026 schedule complete with opponents, dates

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Tennessee football’s 2026 schedule complete with opponents, dates


Tennessee football will host Lane Kiffin, Alex Golesh and possibly Arch Manning at Neyland Stadium in the 2026 season.

UT’s opponents for the next four seasons were previously announced. On Dec. 11, the SEC released the dates of every conference game, providing the full picture of the 2026 schedule.

Game times and television designations will be announced later.

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Texas will make its first trip ever to Tennessee on Sept. 26. Manning, the Longhorns quarterback, is expected to return for the 2026 season rather than enter the NFL draft. If so, he’ll face the Vols on the home turf of his uncle, legendary quarterback Peyton Manning.

Golesh, the former UT offensive coordinator, is Auburn’s new coach. He will return to Knoxville for an Oct. 3 game.

Alabama will play at Tennessee on Oct. 17, continuing their Third Saturday in October rivalry game.

Kiffin, the polarizing former UT coach, is now coaching LSU after bolting Ole Miss after the regular season ended. He will return to Knoxville for a Nov. 21 game. Three of the five SEC teams visiting Neyland Stadium will have a first-year coach, including Kentucky’s Will Stein on Nov. 7.

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Tennessee will play Alabama, Kentucky and Vanderbilt as annual SEC opponents in the league’s new nine-game conference schedule. Its other six opponents will rotate each season. That means each school will play every SEC opponent home and away every four years.

Tennessee will have one open week on Oct. 31 and thus won’t play on Halloween.

Here is Tennessee’s week-to-week schedule for the 2026 season.

Tennessee football 2026 schedule

  • Sept. 5: Furman
  • Sept. 12: At Georgia Tech
  • Sept. 19: Kennesaw State
  • Sept. 26: Texas*
  • Oct. 3: Auburn*
  • Oct. 10: At Arkansas*
  • Oct. 17: Alabama*
  • Oct. 24: At South Carolina*
  • Oct. 31: Open
  • Nov. 7: Kentucky*
  • Nov. 14: At Texas A&M*
  • Nov. 21: LSU*
  • Nov. 28: At Vanderbilt*

*SEC game

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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Dragos Cazacu signs with Tennessee

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Dragos Cazacu signs with Tennessee


Tennessee announced the signing of graduate student Dragos Cazacu on Wednesday. He is from Constanta, Romania.

“Dragos is someone we believe can translate all of his professional experience and success seamlessly to high level college tennis,” Tennessee associate head coach Matt Lucas said. “He’s a very mature young man who has finished university in Romania, so we know the type of student athlete we are getting. Winning ITF Pro Circuit titles, all while doing his degree back home shows he will transition nicely to Tennessee in January.”

Cazacu competed on the ATP Tour prior to Tennessee. His highest ranking was No. 763 in singles and No. 495 in doubles.

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Tennessee will begin its spring men’s tennis season versus ETSU on Jan. 9, 2026 at Goodfriend Tennis Center. SEC competition will begin Feb. 21, 2026 at Kentucky.

The Vols’ home opener in SEC play is scheduled for Feb. 27, 2026 versus Auburn at Goodfriend Tennis Center.

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