Tennessee’s 2028 class is beginning to take shape, and the Vols have already made one early move that could matter down the line. With quarterback Kaden Craft committed, Tennessee is now lining up pass-catching options to pair with him, and one of the newest names on the board is in-state tight end Jake Payne.
Payne, a three-star from the University School of Jackson, was on hand in Knoxville on Saturday when Tennessee extended its offer. The moment caught him completely off guard.
“I was fired up, honestly, a loss of words from me and my dad.”
The offer also seems to have given Tennessee tight ends coach Alec Ablen an immediate foothold in Payne’s recruitment. The relationship is still developing, but it’s already trending in the right direction.
“My relationship is really starting to build with him, especially now that I got the offer. I’ve had some great conversations with him, and Coach Cayden (offensive analyst) and I text a good amount.”
Beyond the offer itself, Payne came away impressed with the atmosphere around Neyland Stadium. The visit gave him a close look at the setting, the crowd, and the way Tennessee treated him on campus.
“I loved the stadium and the environment; it was insane and awesome to be a part of. It was also cool how welcoming everyone was and how I got to talk to some of the players.”
The game itself gave Payne another reason to notice Tennessee. The Vols beat Auburn 24-14, and Payne liked what he saw from the program on the field.
“The team is in good hands; they are young and will keep getting better. They have one of the best coaching staffs in the country, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for them.”
Payne’s offer list already includes Mississippi State, Missouri, and Arkansas, along with interest from several other programs.
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Tennessee's Pass Rush Is Carrying The Vols For One Big Reason
Through five games, Tennessees defensive front has been doing the heavy lifting, and it has become hard to miss how much Rodney Garners group has shaped the Vols start. The line leads the nation with 23 sacks, including 10 in conference play, and it has paired that disruption with 42 tackles for loss, a total that ranks eighth nationally.
Marion Dye and Xavier Gilliam have been central to the surge, with each posting four sacks while Gilliam has also piled up 8.5 tackles for loss. The bigger takeaway for Tennessee is that the pass rush has not just been a nice extra, it has helped keep the Vols competitive in recent games, which makes the next stretch a useful test of how long this edge can hold. [Read more 🡒]
Matt Rhule Just Gave Nebraska Fans An Unexpected Hollywood Moment
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Mack Brown, Mike Leach, Ed Orgeron, Nick Saban, Barry Switzer, Jim Harbaugh and Brian Kelly have all found their way onto screens in one form or another, from voice work to full-on acting parts. Rhules latest surprise adds another entry to that odd little coaching rsum, and it also raises the sort of question fans always seem ready to ask: who in the sport might be next to trade the sideline for a scene? [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee's Run Game Already Has Arkansas Feeling The Pressure
Tennessees ground game keeps looking like the engine that can tilt a Saturday before the passing attack even needs to take center stage. After the Volunteers ran for 237 yards in the win over Auburn, with DeSean Bishop accounting for 220 of them and all three touchdowns, the production only reinforced how dangerous Josh Heupels offense becomes when it starts leaning on the run.
That kind of success has been hard for opponents to ignore, especially with Tennessee carrying a 37-2 record under Heupel when it clears 200 rushing yards and having done so in all four of its wins this season. Arkansas defensive coordinator Ron Roberts already acknowledged the challenge ahead, and the bigger question now is whether the Razorbacks can handle Tennessees physical style well enough to slow the game down before it gets away from them. [Read more 🡒]