Furman’s first game offered Tennessee a useful snapshot of what the Paladins want to do - and where the Volunteers can make life hard on them once kickoff arrives in Knoxville.
The clearest strength showed up on the ground against Anderson. CJ Nettles and Ben Croasdale led the way for Furman’s rushing attack, with Croasdale scoring two touchdowns and Nettles finishing with 99 yards, just one yard shy of 100.
That ground game is going to be a big part of what Furman leans on, but Tennessee has its own answer in the backfield. The Vols have four solid running backs, and a run-by-committee approach could be coming fast.
DeSean Bishop has a chance to emerge as one of the top players on the roster again, while Javin Gordon and Daune Morris should both get plenty of work this season. In this matchup, Justin Baker could also be in line for a strong day on the ground.
Where Furman looked more vulnerable was through the air. Against Anderson, the Paladins didn’t even get to 200 passing yards, and that raises an obvious concern heading into Knoxville.
Tennessee’s defense, under Jim Knowles, can present a lot of different looks and disguise what it’s doing before the snap. That kind of versatility is exactly the sort of thing that can make a passing game uncomfortable, especially one that already struggled to produce against Anderson.
If Furman couldn’t generate much through the air in that game, the expectation here is that the challenge only gets tougher.
One player who absolutely showed up for Furman was safety Eli Lipscomb. He posted six tackles, a sack, and three tackles in the backfield against the Trojans.
Lipscomb stood out as the top performer in that game, and he’s the kind of high-motor defender Tennessee will have to account for. Limiting him will be a key part of the plan for the Vols.
If they do that, the door opens for Tennessee to take control of the game quickly.
In Other News...
Another Former Tennessee Defender Just Got Caught In NFL Roster Crunch
The NFL roster squeeze reached another former Tennessee defender this week, with Matthew Butler among the players let go as teams trimmed down ahead of the season deadline. Butler, who lined up on the defensive line for the Volunteers, had been with the Miami Dolphins before his release and now finds himself back on the market as clubs finalize their openings.
Butler joins a growing list of recent Vols to hit the same wall, alongside former Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar and tight end McCallan Castles, who were also cut by their teams. For Butler, the next step is simple but far from easy: catch on with another NFL opportunity and keep his career moving toward the 2026 season. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Dobbs Just Added To Tennessee's Quarterback Pride Story
Josh Dobbs keeps finding ways to stay in the mix at the pro level, and his latest outing for the Detroit Lions only adds to the long line of Tennessee quarterbacks making noise in the NFL. The former Vol was efficient, completing 15 of 19 passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns, the kind of showing that reinforces why teams keep trusting him in backup conversations.
For Tennessee fans, it also fits into a broader theme that has been building for a while. Joe Milton III, Hendon Hooker and Joey Aguilar are all in the hunt for backup jobs around the league, giving the program a steady stream of quarterbacks with real NFL relevance. Dobbs is now in position to back up Jared Goff, and it is another reminder that the Vols quarterback pipeline keeps reaching the league in meaningful ways. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessees New Defensive Front Has A Camp Name Fans Need To Know
Jim Knowles is putting his stamp on Tennessee football quickly, and part of that has been building a new look along the defensive front with transfer tackle Xavier Gilliam right in the middle of it. Gilliam followed Knowles from Penn State and has already drawn strong reviews throughout spring and fall camp, with coaches and teammates noticing both his play and the way he carries himself as the Vols shape their identity for the coming season.
For Tennessee, that matters because Knowles is arriving with fresh expectations and a roster in transition, and the defensive front will be one of the clearest indicators of how fast the new system takes hold. Gilliams emergence has added some early momentum to that process, and the attention he has earned suggests there may be more to this front than just a schematic change as camp gives way to game prep. [Read more 🡒]