Tennessee Football Drops Epic 'Venom' Uniforms, 'Dark Mode' Videos for Kentucky Game
Oct 31, 2024
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 30: Tennessee Volunteers helmet sits on the field during a college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the South Carolina Gamecocks on September 30, 2023, at Neyland Stadium, in Knoxville, TN. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Tennessee Volunteers are shifting into dark mode for Saturday's home game against the Kentucky Wildcats.
First, Tennessee revealed the black uniforms it will wear under the lights for the 7:45 p.m. ET kickoff with an epic Venom style video and pictures highlighting the look:
It all built toward Thursday when the Volunteers released a trailer for the upcoming game accompanied by a particularly eerie rendition of their Rocky Top fight song. It surely wasn't an accident the team that will be wearing black and orange released the trailer on Halloween and captioned it "spooky."
Saturday will mark the Volunteers' return to the field after their bye week.
They are 6-1 and likely control their own destiny when it comes to making the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff field. After all, they count wins over Alabama and Oklahoma on their resume and still have an opportunity to bolster their ranking with a Nov. 16 game against Georgia.
The math would change for Tennessee if it slipped up at home against Kentucky, though, as the Wildcats are just 3-5 and coming off three consecutive losses.
Tennessee shouldn't completely overlook its next opponent considering Kentucky defeated Ole Miss and lost to Georgia by just one, but it can at least take solace knowing Neyland Stadium will likely be rocking on Saturday.
How could it not be with those uniforms and all this build up?
James Pearce Jr. NFL Draft 2025: Scouting Report for Tennessee Edge
Oct 9, 2024
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 07: James Pearce Jr. #27 of the Tennessee Volunteers prepares for the snap during the second half of the Duke's Mayo Classic against the NC State Wolfpack at Bank of America Stadium on September 07, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
HEIGHT: 6'5"
WEIGHT: 242
ARM: 32ยพโ
HAND: 10"
WINGSPAN: 80โ โ
40-YARD DASH: 4.47
VERTICAL: 31"
BROAD: 10'3"
POSITIVES
โ Good height, looks like he has long arms and room for growth on his frame.
โ Impressive athlete who has good movement skills to develop as a pass-rusher.
โ Accelerates off the line of scrimmage well to win with speed around the edge paired with a solid rip move and good bend to turn a tight corner at the top of the rush.
โ Can win by turning speed to power as a pass-rusher.
โ Has the agility and change of direction to be an effective looper on line games, he doesn't have to lose ground to move laterally.
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โ Occasionally flashed a solid inside spin move as a counter move.
NEGATIVES
โ Needs to add size and strength to be an effective run defender at the next level.
โ Block recognition against the run is sup-par, especially on the playside of gap runs he's often late to see and get underneath pulling players.
โ Timing and accuracy with his hands as a pass-rusher is a work in progress, he's shown growth from last year to this year but is still learning how to effectively use his long limbs when working finesse moves.
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โ Struggles to break down in the backfield and will miss tackles and sacks against athletic quarterbacks.
NOTES
โ Born Oct. 12, 2003
โ 4-star recruit in the 2022 class, per 247Sports
โ 2023 All-SEC First Team
OVERALL
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James Pearce Jr. has a lot of natural gifts that give him a very high ceiling in the NFL.
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He's a great athlete with very impressive movement skills, long arms and plenty of room for growth on his frame. That shows up the most as a pass-rusher, as he can win around the edge with speed, turn speed to power and effortlessly glide when moving laterally to be an effective looper when working line games or stunts.
However, Pearce is very reliant on his speed and athleticism to win when rushing the passer as his technique needs some fine-tuning. He's still learning how to use his hands to "defeat the hands and defeat the man" as the accuracy and timing with his hands are inconsistent when starting to work a move.
Against the run, the Volunteer has shown more aggressiveness and strength at the point of attack this season to be decent against tight ends, but he needs to add some size and strength to hold up against offensive tackles. Right now, he has a very wiry frame and lacks the sand in his pants to set the edge consistently and avoid getting washed inside.
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Offensive linemen who can stay in front of Pearce and match his length will be able to push him around in the ground game. Also, his lack of block recognition will get him in trouble, especially against pullers, and Tennessee didn't trust him to be an every-down player until this season.
Overall, Pearce's natural talent is worth betting on, he's just not a complete product at the moment. Still, he can contribute as a pass rusher early in his career and has plenty of potential considering he'll only be 21 years old on draft day.
GRADE: 7.9 (Potential Impact Player โ 2nd Round)
NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 21: Tennessee Volunteers QB Nico Iamaleava (08) looks to pass during a game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Tennessee Volunteers at Gaylord Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma on September 21, 2024. (Photo by David Stacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Tennessee did not give Oklahoma a warm welcome to the SEC.
A strong defensive performance helped lead the Volunteers to a 25-15 victory over the Sooners and helped the team move to 4-0 on the season.
The Volunteers defense unfortunately lost it's streak of not allowing an offensive touchdown during the final quarter, but it was still an excellent performance from the unit. The Sooners managed just 122 yards of total offense and the Volunteers also forced three turnovers.
Dylan Sampson led the rushing attack with 21 carries for 78 yards and a touchdown. DeSean Bishop added 65 yards on 16 carries while Bru McCoy had four catches for 92 yards receiving.
It was also a strong day for Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava.
The redshirt freshman went 13-of-21 for 194 yards and a touchdown. While it wasn't an overpowering day, he was efficient and also showcased an ability to make high-level throws.
Fans took to social media to praise Iamaleava's performance and project his future as an NFL prospect.
Nico Iamaleava is going be something special in the NFL.
Nico Iamaleava didnโt even plan on going to tennessee. All he heard was โVolunteerโ and immediately said yes bc weโre taught to be selfless on the Big Island
Tennessee is a National Title contender in my opinion. Offense was atrocious but if you fight until the end and keep this thing close, thereโs some positives to take away from this going forward
While the Volunteers have looked impressive this season, the team still has plenty of hurdles in the way.
Tennessee still has Alabama and Georgia remaining on the schedule, and teams like Arkansas, Kentucky and Florida could still put some pressure on. Beating the Sooners was a big test, but Tennessee needs to keep up the intensity to make the playoff.
The expansion to 12 teams means that an undefeated season may not be necessary but the Volunteers cannot afford any slip ups.
Tennessee Eyes '10% Surcharge' to Ticket Sales to Help Pay $22M Each Year to Athletes
Sep 17, 2024
KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 18: A Tennessee Volunteers football helmet sits on the sideline prior to the college football game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Tennessee Volunteers on November 18, 2023, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN. (Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Tennessee Volunteers fans planning to attend sporting events in the future can expect to pay more for tickets as the school looks to pay players.
Danny White, athletic director at Tennessee, told Andy Staples of On3.com the school is going to implement a "10 percent surcharge" to all season and single-game ticket sales with the additional cost said to add roughly $22 million per year in revenue sharing that will go to athletes.
"It's a talent fee, and it's going directly to the talent," White said. "It's going to our student athletes as part of this new world order in college sports. So I know our fans will embrace it."
This comes as the NCAA awaits word about a potential settlement in the House v. NCAA antitrust lawsuit that is currently on hold.
Settlement documents were filed in the Northern District Court of California on July 26 involving three different lawsuits that would have required the NCAA and the Power Five conferences to pay a total of $2.78 billion over 10 years in payment of damages related to NIL, academic-related awards and other benefits.
However, The Athletic's Justin Williams noted on Sept. 5 that Judge Claudia Wilken declined to rule on the preliminary approval due in part to the settlement's proposed restrictions on third-party payments, "particularly from booster-led NIL collectives, and the justifications for those restrictions."
Williams noted that Wilken did express optimism a deal could be reached, but the process will "likely" stretch into next year before a final approval process can be formalized.
Staples noted if the settlement gets approved, schools would have approximately $22 million through revenue sharing available to pay to players starting with the 2025-26 academic year.
As NIL rules have opened up opportunities for athletes to earn compensation for their play at a school, teams have been trying to find ways to get money from fans to fund their collective.
Oklahoma State's attempt to put QR codes on football helmets for fans to directly send money to the program's general NIL fund was blocked by the NCAA on the ground that it constituted "advertising and/or commercial marks" that aren't permitted by NCAA bylaws.
White attempted to justify the surcharge to Staples by calling it another opportunity to help the athletic program remain competitive in the same way that fans do when they purchase memorabilia.
"They do a phenomenal job of filling our venues, buying hats and T-shirts and in all the different ways that they invest in our program," he said. "This is another way that they can help us be more competitive."
In an October 2023 story, Tommy Deas of the Tuscaloosa News noted the total cost for four tickets to Tennessee's home opener last year against South Carolina was $1,188.73. The average cost of a single ticket across all 14 SEC schools was around $141.
Per Adam Sparks of the Knoxville News Sentinel, Tennessee's athletic department generated its "highest operating revenue in history" with more than $200 million in 2023.
5-Star OT David Sanders Jr. Commits to Tennessee; No. 2 Player in Class of 2025
Aug 17, 2024
ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 01: a Tennessee Volunteers helmet rests near the sidelines during the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl between Iowa Hawkeyes and the Tennessee Volunteers on Monday, January 1, 2024 at Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Fla. (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The University of Tennessee landed one of the top players in the college football recruiting class of 2025 on Saturday, securing a commitment from offensive tackle David Sanders Jr.
According to On3.com's Steve Wiltfong, Sanders announced his commitment at Providence Day School in Charlotte, North Carolina, choosing Tennessee over three other finalists in Ohio State, Nebraska and Georgia.
Per Wiltfong, Sanders explained his decision in a statement, saying:
"This process has been a blessing and I'm so grateful to every school that considered and recruited me. There are so many things to weigh when it comes to making a decision like this, but what it came down to for me, and what was most important above everything else, was that I'd end up somewhere where I truly felt like family. I'm making my commitment because the school felt like home."
Sanders is rated as a 5-star recruit by 247Sports, as well as the No. 2 overall player and No. 1 offensive tackle in his class.
Listed at 6'6" and 290 pounds, Sanders unsurprisingly garnered interest from many of the top programs in college football.
In addition to his finalists, Sanders received scholarship offers from Clemson, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, Texas and a host of others.
While it is still fairly early in the process, Tennessee is on the precipice of having a top-five recruiting class in 2025.
Per 247Sports, the Volunteers' 2025 class is currently ranked sixth in the nation with 22 commits, including one 5-star and 11 4-star prospects.
Aside from Sanders, the biggest name to commit to Tennessee for 2025 thus far may be quarterback George MacIntyre, who 247Sports rates as the No. 58 overall player and No. 8 quarterback in the class.
Since posting losing records in three of four seasons from 2017 to 2020, Tennessee has been on the ascent.
Head coach Josh Heupel has led the Vols to a bowl game in three consecutive seasons, going 7-6 in 2021, 11-2 on 2022 and 9-4 last season.
With Sanders set to join the program, Tennessee could be a threat to reach the College Football Playoff in the coming years and vie for its first national championship since 1998.
Photo: Tennessee Unveils Possible Entertainment District Around CFB's Neyland Stadium
Jul 25, 2024
KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 04: Tennessee Volunteers Pride of the Southland Band plays the National Anthem before the college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Connecticut Huskies on November 4, 2023, at Neyland Stadium, in Knoxville, TN. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The University of Tennessee unveiled the renderings for its plans to radically transform the area around legendary Neyland Stadium.
The school said Wednesday it identified the group to lead the endeavor, 865 Neyland Project Team. Under the current proposal, the Neyland Entertainment District will consist of mixed-use retail and residential units, including a hotel with around 240 rooms and 60 luxury condos.
Proposed components include:
โข 175k sq ft entertainment district, featuring shops, restaurants and social areas
"We are absolutely thrilled to witness our vision for this groundbreaking project taking tangible shape," athletic director Danny White said. "The development team understood our vision and designed a legacy asset that will significantly impact our campus and overall community. We eagerly anticipate the upcoming phases of this historic endeavor, which is set to influence our campus and the city of Knoxville deeply."
Neyland Stadium is one of the most iconic venues in college football. Its signature feature is its placement along the Tennessee River, which allows fans to dock their boats next to the stadium on game days.
Tennessee clearly envisions Neyland Stadium being a much larger hub within Knoxville, and building an entertainment district would allow the location to more frequently draw in patrons year-round rather than just during football season.
The Neyland Entertainment District is still pending approval from the Tennessee State Building Commission. The university said it will be able to provide more specifics on the construction schedule and design details once it receives the green light.
Tennessee Unveils New 'Smokey Grey' CFB Uniforms in Video, Photos
Jul 13, 2024
KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 18: A Tennessee Volunteers football helmet sits on the sideline prior to the college football game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Tennessee Volunteers on November 18, 2023, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN. (Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Seven weeks away from the start of the 2024 season, the Tennessee Volunteers unveiled the newest iteration of their smokey grey jerseys.
The updated look includes an orange stripe for the Tennessee state flag and a Great Smoky Mountain patch on the helmet, a Tri-Star patch on the right sleeve and Tri-Star state logo on the leg.
Perhaps the most notable change to the jersey is it will be the first one in program history with Tennessee written across the chest above the player's number.
Tennessee first wore the Smokey Grey style jerseys in 2015 as part of a deal with Nike. The program wore them four times in three seasons through 2017 during that span.
In August 2022, Nike and the University of Tennessee announced a new partnership deal to bring back to the Smokey Greys for at least one game per season through 2025.
The jerseys have been very kind to the Vols, who own a 5-1 record in them. They defeated LSU, 40-13, in the first game back wearing the Smokey Grey jerseys in October 2022. They wore them for the home opener last year in a 30-13 win over Austin Peay.
Tennessee has not yet announced which game will feature the Smokey Grey jerseys. The Vols will open the 2024 season at home on Aug. 31 against Chattanooga.
Other home games on the schedule include Kent State (Sept. 14), Florida (Oct. 12), Alabama (Oct. 19), Kentucky (Nov. 2), Mississippi State (Nov. 9) and UTEP (Nov. 23).
Baby Gronk Flips Commitment to Tennessee from Nebraska; 5th Pledge Since May 10
Jun 1, 2024
KNOXVILLE, TN - APRIL 13: Tennessee Volunteers helmet sits on the sideline during the Tennessee Volunteers Spring Game on April, 13, 2024 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
In a stunning turn of events, Baby Gronk has had a change of heart and now intends to play college football at the University of Tennessee.
Baby Gronk, whose real name is Madden San Miguel, announced on Saturday he flipped his commitment to the Volunteers three days after pledging to play at Nebraska.
Since listing his top 30 schools on May 2, Baby Gronk has already committed to five of them. The schools include Ohio State, Michigan, Colorado, Nebraska and now Tennessee. All of the commitments have come since May 10.
At the rate Baby Gronk and his handlers are going to keep him in the news, they could go through all 134 FBS teams before the start of the 2024 season.
None of these commitments mean for several reasons, not least of which is because odds suggest Baby Gronk will flip twice next week. He's also too young, at 11 years old, to give any sort of binding commitment to a program.
The entire stunt has drawn public criticism, including from Baby Gronk's namesake. Former NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski has said things have gone "too far" and he would be "ceasing-and-desisting" Jake Miguel, Madden's father, because he would "hit me up like 500 times already" trying to make contact.
There's no indication Gronkowski has taken any sort of legal action at this point.
If you want to play along and assume Baby Gronk will keep this commitment, then congratulations are in order for Vols head coach Josh Heupel for landing the first recruit in the 2031 class without having to do anything.
Joe Milton III NFL Draft 2024: Scouting Report for Tennessee QB
Apr 13, 2024
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 23: Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joe Milton III (7) runs for a touchdown during the college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the UTSA Roadrunners on September 23, 2023, at Neyland Stadium, in Knoxville, TN. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HEIGHT: 6'5"
WEIGHT: 235
HAND: 10ยผ"
ARM: 33โ "
WINGSPAN: 80โ "
40-YARD DASH: N/A
3-CONE: N/A
SHUTTLE: N/A
VERTICAL: 35"
BROAD: 10'1"
POSITIVES
โ Special arm strength. Elite velocity and distance from any throwing platform.
โ Good athlete, especially when he can stride out in the open field.
โ Tough in the pocket. Unafraid to stand tall and take hits.
โ Flashes of impressive pocket movement. Keeps eyes up and moves with short, efficient steps.
โ Good deep-ball accuracy. Can throw them on a rope or add some arc when need be.
NEGATIVES
โ Scattershot accuracy anywhere short of 20 yards. Struggles in the 1-10 yard range in particular.
โ Spot thrower. Struggles to understand and throw against a defender's leverage to help the receiver out.
โ Awkward, almost robotic thrower whenever he is off rhythm. It's as if he tenses up trying to get back on time.
โ Very little experience and effectiveness throwing NFL concepts coming from Tennessee's offense. Requires a ton of projection.
โ Minor knee injury early in 2023, did not miss time
OVERALL
Joe Milton is an uber-talented player with very few projectible traits and experience for the NFL.
Everything with Milton starts with the arm talent. He has a quick, powerful throwing motion in which the ball jumps off his hand. Milton throws with blistering velocity and the kind of downfield range that can threaten defenses goal line to goal line. All of his best throws are down the field. In theory, every piece of grass must be defended against Milton.
Milton is a good athlete as well. He is explosive and agile for his size, but wins more as a strider in space. He is a dangerous mover when he leaves the pocket and commits to being a runner.
Milton shows admirable toughness in the pocket, too. He isn't afraid of the pocket closing on him, and he's shown flashes of impressive pocket movement with his eyes up.
However, Milton is a sort of robotic thrower. He struggles to adjust and find throwing platforms consistently beyond his first read, though there are sparse flashes of him doing so.
Milton is also largely inaccurate, especially in the underneath area. The closer a throw is to the line of scrimmage, the more Milton's intense velocity and lack of touch is a burden rather than a gift.
Moreover, Milton comes from a Tennessee offense that asked very little from him as a processor. A good chunk of the offense was built on screens, RPOs and simplified vertical reads. Milton requires a ton of projection as an NFL-level processor and decision-maker.
Milton is too talented to not take a chance on. His arm talent is otherworldly, and his pocket toughness is a good cornerstone trait. With that said, being a 24-year-old developmental player with spotty accuracy suggests Milton faces a long and winding road before he becomes a serious starting quarterback in the NFL.
