Tennessee’s Heisman conversation is starting to widen beyond the obvious name.
Freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon remains the Vols’ headliner in the betting markets, and he’s the player most people would circle first if Tennessee were to make an actual run at the trophy. But ESPN’s Bill Connelly took a different route in his weekly “Heisman of the Week” exercise, and the Tennessee player he spotlighted wasn’t Brandon at all.
That nod went to defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam, who turned in a monster line in Tennessee’s 56-9 win over Furman this past Saturday. Gilliam finished with six tackles, five tackles for loss, three sacks and a forced fumble.
Connelly did not place any Tennessee player in his top 10, though Vols transfer and LSU edge rusher Jordan Ross landed at No. 4. Gilliam instead came away with an honorable mention after a performance that completely wrecked Furman’s offense.
The production came against a Furman team, not a Power Four opponent, so no one is pretending this is a straight line to New York. But Gilliam was the kind of force that stops drives cold and changes the feel of a game in a hurry, which is exactly why he got the mention.
The bigger question is whether he can carry that impact into a tougher setting. Tennessee gets that chance this weekend against Georgia Tech in Atlanta, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Brandon still sits at the front of the Tennessee Heisman picture, while backup quarterback George MacIntyre and running back DeSean Bishop are the next Vols listed in Vegas odds. But for one week at least, it was Gilliam who forced his way into the conversation.
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Tennessee's Georgia Tech Trip Comes With A Personal Sideline Twist
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Kyle Pope has been on Georgia Techs staff since 2024 and has built a coaching rsum that includes stops at Memphis, Liberty and Alabama. For Tennessee, it adds a personal layer to a game that already carries some history, with the Popes spending the week in opposing meeting rooms before sharing the same field in Atlanta. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Suddenly Has A Receiver Depth Problem Behind Braylon Staley
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That leaves freshman Tyreek King in line for a much larger backup role behind Staley than Tennessee likely imagined when the season opened. King came to Knoxville in May 2026 after committing in 2024, and the former four-star recruit now has an immediate chance to accelerate his development because the Vols do not have many easy answers at receiver. [Read more 🡒]
Tee Martin Nearly Left Before Tennessee's Title Run Ever Began
Tee Martins path to Tennessees 1998 national championship almost ended before it really got started. After Peyton Manning chose to return for his senior season, Martins long-awaited turn at quarterback was put on hold, and the setback was enough to make him think seriously about leaving the program.
Martin had gone so far as to be at a Greyhound bus station ready to quit before coach Pat Washington and teammates talked him into staying. He ultimately remained in Knoxville, earned the starting job and went on to guide the Volunteers to the title, turning a near-exit into one of the most important chapters in program history. [Read more 🡒]