Tennessee is heading into its first SEC road game of the season with a fresh group of captains.
The Vols travel to Fayetteville on Saturday to face Arkansas at 4:15 p.m. ET on SEC Network, and Tennessee announced its game captains ahead of the matchup. The program handles captains on a game-by-game basis, with at least one player representing offense, defense and special teams.
For this one, Tennessee went with long snapper Bennett Brady, defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam, wide receiver Mike Matthews and safety TJ Metcalf. Brady is earning the honor for the fifth time, Gilliam for the second time, and Matthews and Metcalf for the first time.
Metcalf’s selection carries an extra layer, since he is back in Arkansas for the first time after spending the first two years of his career with the Razorbacks.
One notable change: linebacker Arion Carter is not a captain this week, ending a run that covered every game so far this season. That includes the opener against Furman, when he served as the lone captain while suspended for taking a $427 flight during the pre-draft process. Carter later repaid the money after announcing his return to college.
“He’s the strongest leader in our locker room,” Heupel said about making Carter a lone captain vs. the Paladins. “He represents Tennessee in the exact way that I and our administration, our staff would want somebody to represent Tennessee. It’s a no-brainer on Saturday to have him be the guy out there.”
Here’s how Tennessee’s captains have looked through the first five games:
Game 1 - vs. Furman
LB Arion Carter
Game 2 - at Georgia Tech
LB Arion Carter (second time)
LB Jeremiah Telander
TE Ethan Davis
LS Bennett Brady
Game 3 - vs. Kennesaw State
LB Arion Carter (third time)
LB Jeremiah Telander (second time)
LS Bennett Brady (second time)
RB DeSean Bishop
Game 4 - vs. Texas
LB Arion Carter (fourth time)
LB Jeremiah Telander (third time)
LS Bennett Brady (third time)
RB DeSean Bishop (second time)
Game 5 - vs. Auburn
LB Arion Carter (fifth time)
LS Bennett Brady (fourth time)
DL Xavier Gilliam
WR Braylon Staley
Game 6 - at Arkansas
In Other News...
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Carrolls profile made him a priority worth tracking, with national buzz that placed him among the better prospects in his class and one of the top safeties in the country. For Tennessee, the miss carries some added sting because it fits a familiar early pattern in this cycle, with another defensive back the Vols chased ending up committed to an SEC rival. [Read more 🡒]
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John Henderson Just Got Another Honor Vols Fans Will Appreciate
John Hendersons resume keeps growing, and Tennessee fans have another reason to take pride in one of the programs most accomplished alums. The former Vol has been selected to the 2026 SEC Football Legends class, a group that will be recognized alongside notable former players and coaches from across the conference.
For Tennessee, the honor is another reminder of how much Hendersons name still carries in college football circles. He already has the College Football Hall of Fame behind him, and now hell be celebrated again on one of the SECs biggest stages, with the conference continuing to salute the careers that helped shape its history. [Read more 🡒]