Tennessee’s early-season momentum in Knoxville is already making an impression on one of the top running back prospects in the 2028 class.
Jacez Walton, a junior from Georgia, has plenty of options on the table, but the Volunteers are clearly near the front of the pack. Walton spoke with Vols on SI and said his connection with Tennessee running backs coach De'Rail Sims has been a major reason the program keeps standing out to him.
“I’ve been up there for the past two years, so I am just looking to build a relationship with Coach Sims as I go up.”
Walton got back to Tennessee for the Furman game, using the trip to keep strengthening that bond in Knoxville. The relationship with Sims has clearly gone beyond the usual recruiting script.
“He’s one of the coaches that I have known for the longest; he treats me like a son. He’s a great guy, and we've built our relationship beyond football; he calls and checks on me all the time.”
That kind of attention has helped Tennessee stay in the mix as Walton heads into a busy fall of visits. According to 247 Sports, he is set to see Tennessee twice, along with Auburn, Notre Dame twice, LSU, UNC, Ohio State, Miami, USC, Florida, and Virginia Tech.
His family ties will bring him to South Bend more than once, since his older brother, Jonez Walton, plays for Notre Dame. Tennessee, though, is also getting an extra look for a simple reason: Walton wants to show appreciation for the consistent communication coming from Sims.
“Coach Sims is always in constant communication with me, so I am trying to show my appreciation and go up there twice.”
Walton also sees a path for himself in Tennessee’s running back pipeline. At 5-foot-11 and 220 pounds, he is built similarly to current Vols back DeSean Bishop, who is listed at 5-foot-10 and 215 pounds. That comparison, along with Tennessee’s track record at the position, has not gone unnoticed.
“They bring in good guys and put them in the league, so I think why can’t they do that with me?”
In Other News...
Tennessee Fans Still Found A Way To Keep Game Day Tradition Alive
Rain may have knocked out the full Tennessee Vol Walk before the Furman game at Neyland Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026, but it did not shut down one of the programs most familiar pregame traditions. With inclement weather forcing a cancellation, the scene outside the stadium still had the feel of a normal Saturday in Knoxville, only with ponchos, fans and a little more improvisation than usual.
Players and fans found a way to make the most of it with a modified walk that still brought both sides together before kickoff. The details were different, but the point of the tradition held up anyway, and for a fan base that treats game day as more than just the four quarters on the field, even a weather delay could not fully interrupt the ritual. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Found An Unexpected Defensive Tone-Setter In Its Debut Win
Xavier Gilliam made a memorable first impression in Tennessees opener, turning his debut into the kind of defensive spark that can change the tone of a season. The redshirt sophomore defensive lineman, a transfer from Penn State, finished with three sacks against Furman, giving the Volunteers a disruptive edge up front and immediately injecting some life into a unit looking for a tone-setter.
It was the most sacks by a Tennessee player in a single game since 2018, a noteworthy marker even against an overmatched opponent. More importantly for the Volunteers, Gilliams arrival added a new layer to the defensive line conversation and hinted at what kind of identity Jim Knowles may be trying to build on that side of the ball. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Has An Early O-Line Concern Before Georgia Tech
Tennessee got through its season opener against Furman with a little less certainty in the middle of the line than it expected. Sam Pendleton, the Vols returning starting center, was held out after an injury was discovered following warm-ups, leaving the offense to make a quick adjustment before kickoff. Sophomore Nic Moore stepped into the spot and handled the assignment well, giving Tennessee a usable answer in a pinch.
Josh Heupel said Pendleton is expected to be ready for the next game against Georgia Tech, which should ease the immediate concern for a line that needs stability early in the year. Even with Moores solid outing, the Vols will be watching closely to see how quickly Pendleton gets back into rhythm, because center is one of the spots where timing and communication matter as much as raw talent. [Read more 🡒]