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Zakai Zeigler on his Madison Square Garden homecoming: Every moment meant something

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Zakai Zeigler on his Madison Square Garden homecoming: Every moment meant something


Every step Zakai Zeigler took on the court at Madison Square Garden brought back a memory Tuesday. And they weren’t good ones. 

Tennessee’s senior point guard kept going back to two years ago, when the Vols came to New York for the Sweet 16 against Florida Atlantic. Zeigler was only a couple weeks removed from having surgery to repair a torn ACL. 

“I remember (in) my head like, the last time I was here, I was on a scooter, rolling around,” Zeigler said Tuesday night. “Just being able to walk that hallway, being able to warm up, every moment out there just meant something to me.”

Zeigler made every moment count in one final homecoming with Tennessee. The Long Island native scored 13 points, had nine assists and grabbed five rebounds while leading the No. 1 team in college basketball to a 75-62 win over Miami in the Jimmy V Classic. 

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“It’s been a tough journey,” Zeigler said, “but no matter what, my mom always told me to be a fighter and never give up. And everything is part of God’s plan. 

“So all the ups and downs in life, no matter what, I’m just thankful to be in position I’m in today.”

Rick Barnes on Zakai Zeigler: ‘I wouldn’t trade him for anybody’

Zeigler was on the floor at The Garden as a freshman in December 2021 in the Jimmy V Classic, coming off the bench to score nine points, with two rebounds, an assist and a steal, in 29 minutes during an ugly 57-52 overtime loss to Texas Tech.

His sophomore season ended with a torn ACL in Tennessee’s final home game of the regular season. 

He had surgery and was away from the team while the Vols beat Louisiana and Duke in Orlando in the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament, then rejoined his teammates a week later for the East Regional semifinal in New York.  

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Tennessee led by as many as nine points in the first half, but was outscored by 12 after halftime as ninth-seeded Florida Atlantic’s Cinderella run to the Final Four sent the Vols home.

“I remember the game and it was pretty tough to watch, honestly,” Zeigler said. “I’m a sore loser.”

Zakai Zeigler this season: 12.1 points, 8.0 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 2.0 steals per game

This Tennessee team hasn’t lost yet, off to a 9-0 start — the program’s best winning nine straight to start the 2000-01 season — with Zeigler as the front man. He’s averaging 12.1 points, 8.0 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 2.0 steals in a team-high 33.2 minutes per game. 

“I wouldn’t trade him for anybody,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said. “ … He has been incredible. His DNA, how he’s impacted our program is unlike many players can ever do. And I’m just happy that we’re able to get him back here to New York, being his senior year, because I know he knows what The Garden is about. 

“He knows it’s a stage instead of court. And just getting him back here is really special for him.”

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On Tuesday night it was a stage Zeigler got to star on in front of friends and family — at long last. 

“Being able to come back here,” Zeigler said, “and get a win in front of a lot of hometown friends, family, my grandmother’s here, some people that haven’t got to see my teammates play since high school maybe, it was really meaningful for me, honestly, being able to get that win today and see everybody out there.”



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Former Tennessee Football Legend Accepts SEC Coaching Gig

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Former Tennessee Football Legend Accepts SEC Coaching Gig


The Tennessee Volunteers have been one of the main teams when it comes to producing talent and sending talent to the NFL, which is something that has often been discovered as a standard for the football program. This is something that has been going on for quite some time and isn’t anything new to the news cycle, as the Vols have been able to produce plenty of talented prospects.

Tennessee is the home of many stars, including some of the best defensive players in SEC history. Guys like Eric Berry have found their way through the Tennessee program and onto the NFL, where they would have legendary careers. However, the defensive side of the football is the only side that has produced plenty of talent, as Tennessee has produced a lot of offensive talent as well. With the likes of Peyton Manning and company, the Vols have shown a great track record in getting talent drafted.

The Vols have produced someone who could be considered as one of the best players to play the Tide end position, as the Knoxville, Tennessee program is the home to Dallas Cowboys legend, Jason Witten. Witten is someone who made the most of his career and has been viewed as a top player at the Tide in position, and someone who is often referred to as a legend for the Cowboys, along with being a legend in the game of football as a whole.

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Jason Witten Accepts TE Coach Position For Oklahoma

Oct 10, 2010; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten (82) on the phone in the bench area in the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Cowboys Stadium. The Titans beat the Cowboys 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images | Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images
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Witten is now taking a new gig, which has him in a huge role inside the Southeastern Conference. The Vols legend is now the tight end coach for the Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners have had some success out of their tight ends in the past, but the sky is the limit with a guy like Witten coaching up the players. Witten has the opportunity to do really well, as coaching tight ends won’t be an issue, and you have to imagine that he will be able to recruit very well, considering he has a huge name around him, as this is something that we have seen from positional coaches as well as head coaches who have done great work in the league. You have to imagine that the Vols will now have stiff competition for his son, Cooper, who is a five-star recruit for the upcoming 2027 class at the linebacker position.


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Tennessee Football DB Transfer Boo Carter Visits the Vols Rival

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Tennessee Football DB Transfer Boo Carter Visits the Vols Rival


The Tennessee Volunteers are looking to land many of the nation’s best players in the transfer portal to replace the players who have already announced they are transferring away from Tennessee. One of the players they lost very early on to the portal, and his plans of entering the portal is Boo Carter.

Carter is someone who has quickly made a name for himself, as he played for the Vols as a freshman. He also played for the Tennessee Vols this past season before suffering an injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. Carter entered the portal and left an announcement on his X page for those interested. Here is what was said.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank The University of Tennessee Coaches, administrators and fans for a wonderful 2 years. Unfortunately my season has been cut short due to injury. I have decided to enter the transfer portal and I am excited about the opportunities going forward!-Boo Carter”

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Boo Carter Visits Vanderbilt

Tennessee defensive back Boo Carter (23) pulls on his jersey during Tennessee football preseason practice, in Knoxville, Tennessee, Aug. 6, 2025. | Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Now that the portal is here, he has started to hear from many teams, including a team many anticipated to be in the picture. The Vols DB heard from the Vanderbilt staff and is now reportedly visiting them. This is a school where many of his friends go currently, and a school that has been doing well, but it is no secret that this is one of the Vols’ biggest rivalries.

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He is undecided on a possible commitment somewhere, but the reports have started to indicate that the Commodores are a team to watch moving forward. This will be one to watch for the Vols, as there is a good chance they may see Carter next season.

“Dynamic athlete who quickly made an impact on defense and special teams as a true freshman … Earned the starting STAR position and shined while becoming a dangerous weapon as a punt returner as a true freshman in 2024 … Saw action as a slot receiver as well during 2025 spring practices … Early enrollee in January 2024 who participated in Citrus Bowl practices and spring practice before his true freshman season … Has compiled 63 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles, three pass breakups and one interception on defense in his career … Dynamic punt returner who averages 16.0 yards per return in his career … Played in 21 career games and made five starts,” the Tennessee Vols athletics website stated.

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Tennessee Football Misses on Major Transfer Portal Target

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Tennessee Football Misses on Major Transfer Portal Target


The Tennessee Volunteers have been looking to land the best of the best when it comes to the transfer portal, and they have been targeting the best, but as of recently, all it has been is a bunch of swings and misses.

The Vols have missed yet again, as they have failed to land one of their top targets on their board when it comes to the college football transfer portal at a position that they currently need more than any. That position is the cornerback position, which is one that they need very badly.

The player that they failed to land in this go-around is Troy cornerback Jaquez White. White is one of the better players that the portal has seen at the position, as he was easily named as a top portal target for many. He was seriously looking at Tennessee, and the Vols were ready to bring him in, but instead, he has opted to commit to the Virginia Tech Hokies. The Hokies have done a decent job in the portal thus far, but their portal class has definitely improved following the addition of White.

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Whether this is a money thing or the Vols just couldn’t do enough convincing, the point is that they have missed on guys left and right recently. The vision isn’t clear, but fans are hopeful that it will be soon.

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Here is what White did in his 2025 season according to the Troy website.

Jaquez White’s 2025 Season

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Troy Trojans cornerback Jaquez White (8) tackles Clemson Tigers running back Adam Randall (8) Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 during the NCAA football game at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina. | Alex Martin/Greenville News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

“Earned All-Sun Belt Second Team honors … Ranked third in the league (seventh nationally) with 14 total passes defended and fourth (15th nationally) with 11 pass break ups … Started 12 games and played in all 14 contests … Returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown in Troy’s victory over Louisiana; added interceptions against Nicholls and in Sun Belt Championship Game at James Madison … Finished season with 67 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack … Sack came in Troy’s win over South Alabama; added five tackles, a quarterback hurry and a pass break up in the game … Season-best seven tackles against Memphis … Broke up four passes in win at ULM and had a pair at Southern Miss … Troy’s top-rated defender per PFF with an 87.6 rating … Played 879 defensive snaps, second most on the team … Third-rated cornerback in the country (min. 700 snaps) per PFF and fourth-rated cover corner … Held opponents to a 54.5 reception percentage (36-of-66).”

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