The Tennessee Vols are working to take a giant step ahead in 2026 after a tough ending to their 2025 marketing campaign.
Tennessee’s spring soccer work has come and gone, and there definitely was lots to glean from it, together with some new faces on the roster getting their first public appears as Volunteers.
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The Vols might need a future standout in Tulane switch RB Javin Gordon, who turned a handoff right into a 62-yard landing within the Orange and White sport. Auburn CB Kayin Lee was sticky in protection final Saturday. Louisville kicker Cooper Ranvier was regular in his alternatives inside Neyland Stadium.
Now, consideration will flip to the autumn, the place jobs can be received – most notably Tennessee’s ongoing two-headed quarterback competitors – and Josh Heupel’s two-deep roster will take form.
However earlier than that, ESPN’s Mark Schlabach put out an up to date spring soccer way-too-early High 25 rating, and Tennessee checked in at No. 25.
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Tennessee Vols No. 25 in ESPN’s way-too-early High 25 rating
“After a disappointing 2025 season, Volunteers coach Josh Heupel made a giant transfer on protection by firing coordinator Tim Banks and changing him with former Penn State coordinator Jim Knowles, who helped Ohio State win the 2024 nationwide title,” Schlabach wrote. “The Vols ranked 14th within the SEC in scoring protection (28.8 factors) and complete protection (397.2 yards) final season. Campbell, Coleman, Gilliam and Lane adopted Knowles to UT and needs to be affect gamers. A Tennessee decide denied Aguilar’s injunction for one more 12 months of eligibility. Heupel didn’t land a big-time quarterback within the switch portal after pursuing Ty Simpson and Sam Leavitt. Redshirt freshman George MacIntyre and true freshman Faizon Brandon will battle for the job within the spring.”
Tennessee at 25 feels fairly honest. The Vols have been a prime 25 crew final 12 months heading into the ultimate common season sport of the 12 months towards Vanderbilt. In fact, they fell on their faces terribly, shedding 45-24 to the Commodores to finish the common season 8-4.
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Nevertheless, Heupel has made some main strikes to enhance the defensive facet of the ball, with Knowles and a number of skilled switch portal additions seeking to enhance what was a really disappointing unit from final 12 months.
A lot, as regular, will rely on how nicely both MacIntyre or Brandon takes the quarterback place and leads Heupel’s offense this fall. Proper now, it’s nonetheless not clear who that can be – or whether or not both participant will be capable to match the excessive stage that Joey Aguilar performed finally 12 months.
We’ll see in fall camp if both man can step up, take the job by the reins, and lead the Vols to a greater season in 2026.
