Tennessee’s specialists took center stage with the media on Thursday after the Volunteers wrapped their 12th fall camp practice, giving fans a look at a unit that rarely dominates the conversation but always matters when the games get tight.
Special teams coordinator Evan Crabtree opened the day’s interviews, and he was joined by P Jackson Ross, KOS Josh Turbyville, LS Bennett Brady, and PK Cooper Ranvier.
Elsewhere around the program, Tennessee has already spent a nonstop offseason cycling through coaching hires, portal additions, high school newcomers, spring camp, and a stop at SEC Media Days. Even with all that movement, two storylines have separated themselves from the pack over the last seven months.
The first is the quarterback battle. Sophomore George MacIntyre, freshman Faizon Brandon, and senior Ryan Staub have all been in the mix, and all three got plenty of work during spring camp.
Josh Heupel then gave the group time to absorb the coaching points over the summer, with the expectation that they would come back ready to compete again this month. The battle resumes in August, and that remains one of the biggest things to watch.
On the other side of the ball, Tennessee is dealing with a very different kind of turnover. A new defensive staff, led by coordinator Jim Knowles, is in place, and the roster includes a wave of newcomers from the transfer portal. That means camp is about more than evaluation; it’s about how quickly the players and coaches can get comfortable with Knowles’ scheme.
Tennessee fans can expect continued coverage throughout the month, including on-site practice reports, highlight videos, press conference interviews, analysis, and other in-conference news whenever the media is allowed in.
In Other News...
Joey Aguilar Is Making Jacksonville Face A Tough Roster Decision
Joey Aguilar has turned a quiet preseason opportunity into a real roster storyline in Jacksonville. The undrafted rookie quarterback, who led the SEC in passing yards last season at Tennessee before going unselected in the draft, has made the most of his snaps with the Jaguars and given the coaching staff something to weigh as roster decisions draw closer.
Through two preseason games, Aguilar has completed 10 of 11 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown, a start that keeps him firmly in the mix. He still has one more exhibition game to strengthen his case, and for a Jaguars team sorting out the back end of the quarterback room, his rise has made that final evaluation a tougher one. [Read more 🡒]
Former Vol Joey Aguilar Is Making A Real NFL Roster Push
Joey Aguilar is keeping himself in the NFL conversation, and Tennessee fans have a familiar name to watch as the preseason winds down. The former Vol quarterback turned in a sharp outing for the Jacksonville Jaguars against the Carolina Panthers, coming on in the second half and showing the kind of poise that can matter when teams are sorting out the back end of a roster.
Aguilar completed 9 of 10 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown, highlighted by a 29-yard scoring strike to rookie wide receiver Trebor Pea. For a quarterback trying to force his way onto the Jaguars' roster, it was the kind of efficient performance that gets attention in a crowded competition, even if the final call still has to be made. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Scrimmage Put One Key Vols Battle Back In Focus
Tennessees second fall scrimmage brought a little more clarity to a few spots and a little more intrigue to one of the deeper battles on the roster. As the Volunteers continue preparing for the 2026 opener against Furman, the secondary got a boost from newcomers TJ Metcalf and Dejuan Lane, who both stepped in for injured Edrees Farooq and came away with interceptions. It was the kind of showing that can matter in August, especially for a defense still sorting out how the pieces fit after camp.
Faizon Brandon also flashed the running ability that can add another layer to Tennessees offense, but the job still appears unsettled at right tackle. Ory Williams and Jesse Perry remain locked in a competition there, and it is the sort of battle that can quietly shape how smooth everything else looks once the season starts. For now, the Vols have a few encouraging signs and at least one starting-caliber decision still waiting to be made. [Read more 🡒]