Tennessee opens its 2026 regular season on Saturday against Furman, and the Paladins arrive in Neyland Stadium with a few things already showing up on film after last Thursday’s 20-3 win over Anderson.
For a closer read on what Tennessee is walking into, former Furman offensive lineman and current analyst Cole Neely offered a detailed look at the Paladins. Neely also has a direct tie to the Vols: he is cousins with Tennessee defensive backs TJ and Tevis Metcalf, both of whom transferred in to UT this offseason.
Neely’s biggest takeaway from Furman’s opener centered on the offense needing work in the passing game, even as he came away impressed with the line. He pointed to missed throws, drops and a lack of rhythm between the quarterback and receivers, while saying the protection was a clear strength. On the other side of the ball, he said Furman looked aggressive against the run and the quarterback, and that the defense is the part he’s most curious about seeing against Tennessee’s offense, especially with a true freshman at quarterback.
Asked about Furman quarterback Jake Garcia, Neely said the passer showed inconsistency but also flashes that could turn into big plays if the timing sharpens up. He highlighted a near touchdown late in the second quarter to Daniel Haughton, and said Garcia’s next step is getting into a better early rhythm.
Neely also pointed to Garcia’s decision-making when it comes to scrambling versus staying in the pocket, while noting he would like to see more designed quarterback runs. In Neely’s view, Garcia has the arm to make every throw, but the key is whether he can settle in and sustain that rhythm.
The offensive line drew Neely’s strongest praise. He said the unit looked much more experienced than it did a year ago and singled out center Chris Luna as the anchor.
That group helped open lanes for a productive ground game, one that featured CJ Nettles going for 100 yards on 10 carries, Ben Croasdale adding 67 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries, and C.J. Stokes contributing 38 yards on 11 carries.
Neely called it a major test ahead against SEC competition and specifically mentioned Hobbs and Weathersby among the challenges ahead.
On defense, Neely raved about edge rusher Joshua Stoneking, saying the Paladins can use him in multiple ways and that he can win with power, finesse and speed. Still, he expects opponents to account for him heavily, whether through chips or slide protection. He said he would like to see Stoneking matched up one-on-one with David Sanders Jr., and also told fans to keep an eye on Eli Lipscomb, Demetrius Baldwin and Caldwell Bussey.
More broadly, Neely said Furman’s defensive strength starts up front. He described a front seven that swarms to the football, pursues ball carriers, pressures the quarterback and cuts down on missed tackles, all of which makes life easier for the secondary.
As for what would make Saturday a success for Furman, Neely said the Paladins need to leave feeling good about what they put on tape. A win would obviously help, he said, but the bigger standard is effort and assignment execution.
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