Nic Moore is already showing why Tennessee likes what it has in the middle.
The sophomore offensive lineman is heading into his second season with the Vols in 2026 after a freshman year that gave him a small but useful sample of game action. At 6-foot-3 and 312 pounds, Moore played in three games in 2025, getting work at center against East Tennessee State and New Mexico State and also seeing time on Tennessee’s extra point unit against Arkansas.
Now the conversation around him is shifting from experience to growth.
Sixth-year offensive line coach Glen Elarbee said Moore has made noticeable strides during fall training camp, especially in the areas that matter most for a center. “I think he's just such a powerful guy,” Elarbee said.
“He's got great natural leverage because of his height, which is beneficial inside, but he's super strong. He has great flex and he's done a great job of trying to reign his snaps in.
You can tell that's been a focus for him. He likes physicality, he does.
"He's got to continue to grow and learn, diet off the field, what that looks like. What the real strain in the weight room looks like, but as far as football goes, he's taken a tremendous stride.
His first two days, he's putting guys six, seven yards off the line of scrimmage. That's awesome to see.”
Moore, who comes from Jefferson County High School in Dandridge, Tennessee, was also named to the 2025 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll.
In Other News...
Tennessee Running Back Battle Just Got More Interesting After Closed Scrimmage
Tennessees closed intrasquad scrimmage at Neyland Stadium offered one of those early August snapshots that can shift the conversation around a position group. The Volunteers are still sorting out the running back picture behind starter DeSean Bishop, and Daune Morris helped make the case that he belongs in the mix with a burst that stood out during the workout.
Morris has also drawn attention because of the way Tennessee views his skill set. In a recent press conference, he and running backs coach DeRail Sims talked about his performance and his ability to do more than just carry the ball, a trait that can matter in a backfield where versatility often decides playing time. For a group still taking shape, Morris is making it harder to ignore the possibility that he can be used in a few different spots. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Alabama Rivalry Just Got A Tradition Vols Fans Will Love
The Alabama-Tennessee rivalry is getting a familiar look back for the next two years, with both schools agreeing to wear their home jerseys in the matchup. Alabama will be in crimson at Neyland Stadium on October 17, and Tennessee will return the favor in Tuscaloosa next year, bringing back a tradition that adds a little extra weight to one of the SECs biggest annual games.
For Vols fans, the timing makes the moment even more notable, since it will be the first time since 1970 that both teams have worn home jerseys in Neyland Stadium. It is the kind of small but meaningful change that gives the rivalry a throwback feel, and it should make an already charged atmosphere look even sharper when the teams meet in Knoxville. [Read more 🡒]
Iowas QB Battle May Be Swinging After One Telling Scrimmage
College footballs quarterback competitions are still being sorted out across the country, and Tennessee is right in the middle of that familiar late-summer uncertainty. With preseason work continuing and no official starter named, the Volunteers have been watching a younger group push for position as coaches and analysts try to separate promise from readiness before the opener.
One name drawing more attention is Faizon Brandon, the true freshman who has apparently made his case in recent work against George MacIntyre. Recent reporting pointed to Brandon landing several deep throws in a scrimmage, the kind of flash that can speed up a staffs thinking even when the race is far from officially over. If Tennessee is leaning toward getting clarity sooner rather than later, this battle may be nearing a decision point. [Read more 🡒]
