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4 days ago
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Tennessee running backs positional breakdown for 2025 football season
Tennessee will kick off fall training camp July 30 in preparation for its 2025 football season. The Vols will open their fifth campaign under head coach Josh Heupel on Aug. 30 versus Syracuse. The nonconference matchup between Tennessee and the Orange will be contested at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia (noon EDT, ABC). Tennessee enters fall training camp with six running backs on roster: Justin Baker, Hunter Barnes, DeSean Bishop, Peyton Lewis, Daune Morris and Star Thomas. Bishop is in his third season with the Vols in 2025. The 5-foot-10, 208-pound redshirt sophomore appeared in 10 games last season after missing the 2023 campaign due to sustaining an injury in fall training camp. In 2024, he totaled 455 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 74 attempts. Bishop also recorded one reception for 10 yards. More: 2025 Tennessee football projected starting lineup for offense PHOTOS: Tennessee running backs through the years Lewis played in all 13 games for Tennessee as a freshman in 2024. The 6-foot-1, 212-pound sophomore totaled 339 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns, four receptions, 14 receiving yards and 151 kick return yards. Lewis was named to the 2024 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll. Thomas enters his first season at Tennessee as a senior in 2025 after transferring from Duke. The 6-foot, 210-pound running back recorded 871 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 213 attempts in 2024 for the Blue Devils. He also totaled 20 receptions for 153 yards and one touchdown. Thomas emerged as Duke's starting running back during the final 10 contests in the regular season. He transferred to Duke after playing at New Mexico State from 2022-23. Thomas recorded 1,173 rushing yards, nine rushing touchdowns, 34 receptions, 351 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns with the Aggies. He began his collegiate career at Coffeyville Community College in 2021. Thomas appeared in 14 games, including eight starts, totaling 970 rushing yards, 11 rushing touchdowns, eight receptions and 36 receiving yards. 2025 will mark Barnes' fourth season at Tennessee. In three seasons from 2022-24, he recorded 55 rushing yards on 11 attempts in six contests. The 6-foot, 196-pound redshirt junior was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2023 and 2024. Baker and Morris enter their first season at Tennessee in 2025 as freshmen. Baker committed to Tennessee in Oct. 2023 and went through spring practices in January. The 5-foot-10, 210-pound running back is from Buford High School in Buford, Georgia. At the time of his commitment, he held scholarship offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Colorado, Florida, FAU, Georgia, Kansas State, Liberty, Michigan, Michigan State, North Carolina State, Ole Miss, Penn State, Pittsburgh, South Carolina, UAB, USC and Western Kentucky. The 5-foot-10, 195-pound Morris is from Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He enrolled at Tennessee in January and participated in spring practices. Morris was committed to USC and flipped to the Vols in Nov. 2024. More: Tennessee quarterbacks positional breakdown for 2025 football season Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Positional breakdown for 2025 Tennessee running backs
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4 days ago
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2025 Tennessee football returning starters preview
Tennessee will begin preparation for its 2025 football season July 30 when the Vols open fall training camp at Haslam Field. The Vols have 13 returning starters in 2025, based on who were primary starters last season. Three returning starters are on offense, eight defensively and two specialists. Redshirt junior wide receiver Chris Brazzell II, junior offensive lineman Lance Heard and senior tight end Miles Kitselman are returning starters for Tennessee's offense. Heard has appeared in 23 games during his collegiate career, 12 at LSU and 11 with the Vols, including 12 starts. The 6-foot-6, 330-pound left tackle transferred from the Tigers following the 2023 season. Brazzell II played in all 13 games, including nine starts, in his first season with the Vols in 2024 after transferring from Tulane. He recorded 29 receptions for 333 yards and two touchdowns. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound wide receiver's longest reception last season was 53 yards. Kitselman appeared in all 13 games during his first season at Tennessee in 2024 after transferring from Alabama. He recorded 22 receptions for 301 yards and four touchdowns. The 6-foot-5, 256-pound tight end also scored one rushing touchdown. More: 2025 Tennessee football projected starting lineup for offense Redshirt senior defensive end Dominic Bailey, junior linebacker Arion Carter, sophomore defensive back Boo Carter, redshirt senior defensive lineman Bryson Eason, junior defensive back Rickey Gibson III, junior defensive back Jermod McCoy, junior linebacker Jeremiah Telander and defensive back Andre Turrentine are Tennessee's returning defensive starters. Arion Carter led Tennessee in tackles (68), McCoy was the Vols' leader in pass deflections (7) and interceptions (4), while Telander led Tennessee for fumble recoveries (3) in 2024. More: Jermod McCoy ranked No. 23 player in college football, projected as first-round pick Redshirt sophomore punter Jackson Ross and redshirt sophomore placekicker Max Gilbert also return as specialists in 2025. Gilbert converted 20-of-26 field goal attempts and 54-of-54 extra point attempts last season, while Ross averaged 43.2 yards per punt from 2023-24 at Tennessee. More: Tennessee quarterbacks positional breakdown for 2025 football season More: Tennessee running backs positional breakdown for 2025 football season More: Where Tennessee football is predicted to finish in 2025 SEC standings Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Previewing Tennessee's returning starters for 2025 football season
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6 days ago
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Former Tennessee QB Andy Kelly inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame
After playing for the Tennessee Vols Andy Kelly enjoyed a successful career with the Nashville Kats in the Arena Football League.
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19-07-2025
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Seth Halvorsen earns ninth save for Colorado in 2025
Colorado (23-74) opened its second half of the 2025 MLB season with a, 6-4, win against Minnesota (47-50) on Friday. The three-game series is taking place at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. Former Vol Jordan Beck started in left field for the Rockies. He went 3-for-5 and hit his 11th home run in 2025. Beck recorded two RBIs, two runs and one stolen base. Former Tennessee pitcher Seth Halvorsen earned his ninth save of the season for Colorado. He pitched one inning and recorded two strikeouts. Halvorsen totaled 17 pitches, including 12 strikes, against four batters. He allowed one hit and zero walks. Beck and Halvorsen were teammates at Tennessee in 2022. The Vols won SEC Tournament and regular-season championships in 2022. Game No. 2 between the Rockies and Twins is slated for 8:10 p.m. EDT on Saturday. Sunday's series finale is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. EDT. More: Tony Vitello describes what 2022 Tennessee championship team means to him Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Former Tennessee pitcher Seth Halvorsen records ninth save for Rockies
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13-07-2025
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QB Joey Aguilar takes over this jersey number with star-studded Tennessee football history
Quarterback Joey Aguilar will wear a No. 6 jersey in the 2025 Tennessee football season. That was among a few new jersey numbers on the updated Vols roster, which was released on July 11. It's a new number for Aguilar. He wore No. 16 as an under-recruited player at Diablo Valley College. Then he wore No. 4 at both Appalachian State as the starting quarterback and at UCLA in spring practice before transferring to Tennessee. Advertisement Aguilar will compete with redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and freshman George MacIntyre for the starting quarterback spot in the 2025 season. Merklinger remains No. 12, and MacIntyre will wear No. 15. Plenty of quarterbacks, NFL players and team captains have worn No. 6 for Tennessee. And it's been donned by some of coach Josh Heupel's best players. Here's a quick history of No. 6 for Tennessee as Aguilar takes it over. These six Tennessee quarterbacks wore No. 6 Historical records of UT jersey numbers go back to the 1930s. But single-digit numbers weren't widely used in the early era of college football, so the first recorded No. 6 for the Vols was defensive back David Parsons in 1973. Advertisement Since then, six quarterbacks have worn No. 6. Aguilar will be the seventh. Jimmy Streater was a record-breaking dual-threat quarterback as a No. 6 in the late 1970s. Steve Alatorre wore No. 6 as a part-time starter in 1980 before switching to No. 16. Tennessee Vols quarterback Jimmy Streater in the late 70's. Alan Cockrell was the next No. 6. He was a star quarterback and baseball player for the Vols, being drafted in the first round of the 1984 MLB Draft. Reserve quarterbacks Tyler Page, Mike Wegzyn and Brandon Hines wore No. 6 in the 2010s. SIZING UP VOLS QB BATTLE Joey Aguilar vs Jake Merklinger, George MacIntyre It's been a lucky No. 6 under Josh Heupel Perhaps no jersey number has touted more success than No. 6 in the Heupel era. Advertisement In 2021-22, edge rusher Byron Young wore No. 6. He became an All-SEC player and a third-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Rams. In 2023, running back Dylan Sampson and linebacker Aaron Beasley both switched from No. 24 to No. 6. The new number served them well. Beasley was UT's second-leading tackler in 2023. Sampson was the 2024 SEC Offensive Player of the Year and a fourth-round pick of the Cleveland Browns. Aguilar takes over No. 6 after that hot streak of Vols. Tennessee offensive lineman Cooper Mays (63), wide receiver Bru McCoy (5), and quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) surround running back Dylan Sampson (6) to celebrate Sampson's touchdown during an NCAA college football game against Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Knoxville. Tenn. Alvin Kamara, other NFL players wore No. 6 for Vols Running back Alvin Kamara wore No. 6 for the Vols in 2015-16. He was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and a five-time Pro Bowl selection, albeit while wearing No. 41 for the New Orleans Saints. Advertisement Kamara also was one of three team captains to wear No. 6 at Tennessee. Wide receiver JJ McCleskey (1992) and defensive lineman Constantin Ritzmann (2003) were the others. In terms of NFL draft picks, Young, Sampson, cornerback Alontae Taylor (second round, Saints) and wide receiver Denarius Moore (fifth round, Raiders) also wore No. 6 at Tennessee. First, Aguilar must win the starting quarterback job. Then he must play well for a shot at the NFL. Why Joey Aguilar won't wear No. 4 for Tennessee Presumably, Aguilar likes No. 4. It's what he wore as a record-breaking passer and the 2023 Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year at Appalachian State, and he chose No. 4 when he transferred to UCLA. However, that was a brief stint ended when quarterback Nico Iamaleava transferred there from Tennessee. Advertisement However, No. 4 is already shared by three Vols on the 2025 roster. On offense, wide receiver Mike Matthews switched from No. 10 to No. 4 this offseason. By rule, players wearing the same number can't be on the field at the same time. On defense, freshman cornerback Ty Redmond switched from No. 27 to No. 4. No. 4 is also worn by defensive back Jourdan Thomas, but he is taking a medical redshirt in 2025 due to a serious knee injury suffered during the 2024 preseason. Tennessee's other new jersey numbers for 2025 Several returning UT players changed their numbers. Other new players were assigned their Vols jersey number on the 2025 roster. Advertisement Here's a rundown of the updated jersey numbers. 1 – Travis Smith Jr. (was 80 in spring) 2 – Peyton Lewis (was 27 last season) 3 – Jack Van Dorselaer (was 89 in spring) 4 – Mike Matthews (was 10 last season) 4 – Ty Redmond (was 27 in spring) 5 – Radarious Jackson (was 84 in spring) 5 – Daevin Hobbs (was 53 last season) 6 – Joey Aguilar (new player) 7 – DaSaahn Brame (was 88 in spring) 8 – Colton Hood (new player) 9 – Star Thomas (was 33 in spring) 9 – Mariyon Dye (was 52 in spring) 10 – Kaleb Beasley (was 25 last season) 11 – Jordan Burns (was 54 last season) 12 – Jaedon Harmon (was 48 in spring) 13 – Mason Phillips (new player) Advertisement 17 – Ethan Utley (was 97 in spring) 19 – Daune Morris (was 31 in spring) 20 – Justin Baker (was 28 in spring) 21 – Tre Poteat (was 36 in spring) 24 – Dylan Lewis (was 34 in spring) 25 – Timothy Merritt (was 35 in spring) 27 – Jadon Perlotte (was 41 in spring) 34 – Emmanuel Okoye (was 98 last season) 35 – Carson Gentle (was 95 last season) 41 – Steele Katina (was 44 last season) 44 – Christian Gass (was 46 in spring) 47 – John Rosen (new player) 51 – Jeremias Heard (was 60 last season) 58 – Nic Moore (was 74 last season) 74 – Sham Umarov (was 79 last season) 84 – Tommy Winton III (was 30 last season) 88 – Deon Hardin (was 38 in spring) Advertisement 89 – Joakim Dodson (new player) 93 – Josh Schell (new player) 97 – Grady Dangerfield (new player) 99 – Charles House III (new player) Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Joey Aguilar Tennessee football jersey number has star-studded history
