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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Tennessee

Tennessee is 230 years old, and it all started right here in Knoxville

Published

8 hours ago

May 29, 2026

Press Room

Tennessee is 230 years old, and it all started right here in Knoxville

Tennessee became the 16th state on June 1, 1796, after President George Washington signed the bill for its admission.
John Sevier was chosen as the first governor, and Knoxville was the state’s first capital.
Before becoming a state, the territory was known as the “Southwest Territory” and briefly existed as the unrecognized state of Franklin.
The state has had three constitutions, with the current one adopted in 1870 after the Civil War.

Much to-do is being made of America’s 250th birthday, as well it should.

But did you know June 1 is Tennessee’s 230th birthday?

It was on June 1, 1796, that President George Washington signed a bill granting Tennessee immediate admission as the 16th state. Gov. John Sevier was chosen to lead the new state, and Knoxville was picked as its first capital.

A decade before, settlers west of the Appalachian mountains had sought admission to the union for the state of Franklin. But despite four years of existence, Franklin never gained federal approval.

Tennessee’s first official state constitution – drafted by 55 delegates in Knoxville in 1796 – is on display at the Tennessee State Library and Archives.

It was drafted in the home of William Blount, which still stands on West Hill Avenue in downtown Knoxville.

Tennessee actually has three state constitutions: the first, adopted in 1796, a revision adopted in 1834 to update the taxation and court systems, and the 1870 constitution, adopted after the Civil War.

The 1870 constitution permanently abolished slavery in Tennessee and remains the state’s fundamental charter.

Celebrate Tennessee’s birthday in Knoxville

Marble Springs State Historic Site, home of Gov. John Sevier, will have a two-day free party for Tennessee’s Statehood Day.

Tennessee Field Day for kids (or kids at heart) is noon-5 p.m. May 29 and Statehood Day is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 30. Field Day explores history through many aspects and activities, and Statehood Day focuses more on lectures, demonstrations, music, line dancing and food.

The historic buildings and learning center are at 1200 W. Gov. John Sevier Highway in Knoxville.

Look back at how Tennessee was founded

1785-1789: Settlers establish independent systems of government and petition to become a state, but they fail to gain recognition for the state of Franklin. The territory is again under the control of North Carolina.

1789: North Carolina ratifies the United States Constitution and cedes its Tennessee lands to the federal government. It is designated as the “Territory of the United States, South of the River Ohio,” more commonly known as the “Southwest Territory.” William Blount is appointed by George Washington to be governor. Early governance of the territory is focused on making treaties with Native Americans, securing settlers from attacks and encouraging settlement. Warfare with Native American tribes increases through the 1790s.

1792: Knoxville is selected as the capital of the Southwest Territory.

January 1796: Gov. William Blount calls for a constitutional convention in Knoxville to begin the process of joining the Union. The delegates form an organized government and constitution before applying to Congress for admission to the Union. The delegates select John Sevier as governor, William Blount and William Cocke as senators and Andrew Jackson as representative.

June 1, 1796: Tennessee becomes the 16th state in America. Knoxville remains the capital until 1812.

1812: Tennessee earns its nickname “The Volunteer State” during the War of 1812 because it sends 1,500 volunteer soldiers.

1812-1816: Nashville is Tennessee’s capital.

1817-1818: Knoxville is Tennessee’s capital again.

1818-1826: Murfreesboro is the capital of Tennessee.

1826-present day: Nashville becomes – and remains – the capital of Tennessee.

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Tennessee

Former Tennessee Baseball Pitcher Gets Called Up

Published

20 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Press Room

Former Tennessee Baseball Pitcher Gets Called Up

The Tennessee Volunteers are constantly getting players in the MLB and the MILB farm system, which is the developmental program that all rookies and young players (a.k.a. prospects) start off in. One of the players who has been in the farm system since being drafted is Nate Snead, who was with the Tennessee Vols just last season as a pitcher, and one of the better pitchers on the Tennessee roster.

Nate Snead is one of the better players to come through the Tennessee program as a reliever, and he is one of the better pitchers when it comes to his fastball, as he throws what many would confirm to be “gas.”

Nate Snead Gets Called Up

Feb 18, 2026; Tempe, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nate Snead poses for a portrait during photo day at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Snead was in Single-A to start his career, but he is now on his way up, as he is moving up to Double-A after a great start to his career. He is heading to the Rocket City Trash Pandas, which is an affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. This would mean he is in the same farm system that both Christian Moore and Ben Joyce recently had to come through, and is one of the better players in the farm system for the Angels, anyway.

He currently holds an ERA of 2.80, which is great considering he has pitched 35.1 innings. He holds a win-loss record of 3-3, and also has a total of 39 strikeouts, which would mean he is averaging more than a strikeout every inning he pitches. He is also giving up less than a hit an inning, which is where he should be in order to get called up.

This decision doesn’t seem rushed, and it doesn’t seem that this is going to backfire. He will likely finish his season in Double-A, although a great stretch could lead to him being fast-tracked to Triple-A, the final team before the majors.

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Tennessee

What channel is Texas vs Tennessee today? Time, TV for WCWS softball game

Published

1 day ago

May 28, 2026

Press Room

What channel is Texas vs Tennessee today? Time, TV for WCWS softball game

Two teams who feel fated to face off will play each to open each other’s respective Women’s College World Series.

The Texas Longhorns and Tennessee Lady Vols square up in a battle of block Ts and oranges, with two of the sport’s eminent aces potentially facing off in Teagan Kavan and Karlyn Pickens.

Texas, the defending national champions, defeated the Lady Vols 2-0 in last year’s semifinals to advance to the Women’s College World Series final. It’s a massive game for Tennessee, which is looking to avoid dropping into the loser’s bracket as it did in 2023 and 2025. The goods news? Oklahoma isn’t in this field, which is the team that dropped Tennessee in both of those showings.

With that being said, Texas is a softball superpower in its own right. Led by Katie Stewart, the Longhorns have some big bats. Tennessee will need production from its bats if it is to win this opening matchup.

Watch Texas vs Tennessee live with Fubo (free trial)

Here’s how to watch Texas-Tennessee in a high-profile matchup.

What channel is Texas vs Tennessee softball on today?

Game 2 of the Women’s College World Series will air on ESPN. Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app (with a cable login) and Fubo, the latter of which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Watch 2026 NCAA Softball Tournament live with Fubo (free trial)