🏈 What's next for Tennessee?

Hello. This is the Josh and Swain Newsletter, a quick roundup of the week’s top stories and topics involving Tennessee and the sports world.

Here’s what we have for you today:

• Good news and bad news for Tennessee’s defense this week

• Why Zakai Zeigler matters so much to Tennessee Basketball

• Remaining needs for the Tennessee Football roster in 2025

• Another wrench thrown into revenue share plans in college sports

TENNESSEE’S UP AND DOWN WEEK

Tennessee received some good news and bad news this week. 

The good news: Tim Banks will remain Tennessee’s defensive coordinator. 

Chris Low of ESPN reported on Wednesday that Banks and Tennessee were finalizing a contract extension as his previous deal was set to expire. 

There was never a report that Banks would leave Tennessee — but his contract ending and openings at other schools led to questions about Banks’ future. 

Banks has helped lead Tennessee’s defense from being one of the SEC’s worst units when he arrived in 2021 to a top-tier defense in 2024.

The Vols’ scoring defense has improved each season since Banks became Tennessee’s defensive coordinator.

“Without Tim Banks’ defense, let’s put it that way, Tennessee doesn’t sniff the playoff this year,” Low said on Josh and Swain. “It doesn’t even come close because this was not a great offensive football team. I don’t think that’s a revelation.”

Banks was a finalist this year for the Broyles Award, which goes to the nation’s top assistant. 

So Banks is staying, which looks like good news for the Vols. 

Now the bad news…

All-American cornerback Jermod McCoy suffered a torn ACL training in his home state of Texas, which will put his status for 2025 in question. 

Austin Price or Volquest reported that McCoy is projected to “return near the start of the 2025 season.”

That could very well happen.

We’ve seen plenty of athletes return from a torn ACL in a timeline similar to McCoy’s (about eight months).

Zakai Zeigler did so for Tennessee’s basketball team in 2023.

But nothing is guaranteed. 

You can’t help but wonder…

Will McCoy be fully ready when Tennessee opens the season against Syracuse on Aug. 30?

and

Will McCoy be the same player whenever he returns?

The second part is difficult to predict. 

Returning to the field doesn’t mean he’ll return at 100 percent… at least right away.

Getting back to full speed and playing at the elite level he did this past season could take time. 

McCoy is Tennessee’s best returning player. 

His status for the upcoming season will play a big role in how well the Vols’ defense performs this season. 

It will take time for Banks and Tennessee’s staff to figure out a plan following McCoy’s injury. 

Fortunately for Tennessee, the Vols have more than seven months to come up with one. 

➡️ Check out our full conversation with Chris Low below or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

THE AMAZING ZAKAI ZEIGLER

Zakai Zeigler added to his Tennessee legacy this week. 

The Vols’ senior point guard became the school’s all-time steals leader on Wednesday — and he did it in impressive fashion, finishing with six steals in Tennessee’s 74-56 win over Georgia.

Zeigler made plays all over the floor against UGA. 

Along with his six steals, Zeigler led Tennessee with four made three-pointers and seven assists. 

Zeigler is the heart of Tennessee’s team and program. 

And he continues to receive praise from head coach Rick Barnes. 

“What he does,” Barnes said, “what you guys see him do … he does it every day. It’s just who he is. It’s in his DNA and it’s really a blessing as a coach to have a guy like that.”

Barnes called Zeigler “one of the great Volunteers” after the win against Georgia. 

Earlier this season, Barnes said that what Zeigler has done for Tennessee’s program “is second to none.”

And how can you argue?

Zeigler has already earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-SEC honors at Tennessee. 

He’s helped lead Tennessee to an SEC title and an Elite Eight appearance.

Now as a senior, Zeigler’s an All-American candidate on a top-10 team. 

He’s done all of this after coming back from his torn ACL in 2023.

We haven’t even mentioned the obvious obstacle Zeigler had to overcome — his lack of height — just to get an opportunity to play in the SEC.

When Zeigler visited Tennessee in 2021, he didn’t know much about Barnes or what to expect when he arrived in Knoxville.

But Barnes and Zeigler made a quick connection.

“Once I really knew what was going on and who (Rick Barnes) was,” Zeigler said, “and what the program was about and what the SEC was really about, that’s when I was like, ‘Oh yeah, this is the place to be.’”

And Zeigler’s impact on Tennessee basketball has been felt ever since.

“I don’t know what I’d do without him,” Barnes said. “I mean, he’s my comfort blanket.”

Barnes accomplished plenty in his career before Zeigler arrived at Tennessee. 

But they have been a special pair during the last four seasons in Knoxville.

Make sure to appreciate them both while they’re here.

SPORTS NUGGETS

🏈 Here’s an update on how college football might try to stop fake injuries.

🏈 And here is an update on the NCAA considering a 5-year eligibility rule, which would eliminate the need for redshirts and waivers (until there’s another lawsuit).

🏈 See where Tennessee lands in Brad Crawford’s early SEC power rankings for the 2025 season.

🏈 The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has James Pearce Jr. going No. 19 overall in the upcoming NFL draft.

🏀 All five of Kim Caldwell’s 2025 signees were nominated to the McDonald’s All-American East Team.

🏀 Women’s basketball teams will be paid for playing games in the NCAA tournament each March.

⚾ Tennessee ranks No. 4 in the D1Baseball preseason top 25 (the SEC dominates the top 10 and top 20 of the ranking).

UPDATING THE PORTAL

There hasn’t been much transfer portal activity from Tennessee in the last week. 

But that could change soon because:

• Tennessee has several positions to address
• The Vols continue to evaluate and pursue portal players 
• There’s still time for more players to enter the portal

Tennessee has the same position needs as last week: receiver, running back and the offensive and defensive lines. 

The Vols tried to land USC offensive lineman Emmanuel Pregnon, but he committed to Oregon on Tuesday.

Will Tennessee find another offensive lineman after missing on Pregnon and Josh Thompson, who chose LSU in late December?

Cornerback becomes a greater need for Tennessee due to McCoy’s injury.

Purdue cornerback transfer Kyndrich Breedlove had planned to visit Tennessee, but Austin Price reported that he’d have an issue with enough credits transferring (Breedlove already played at three other schools).

Another name to watch: Duke running back Star Thomas. 

He ran for 871 yards and seven touchdowns last season and is visiting Tennessee as of this writing. 

The Vols need more running back help after Dylan Sampson declared for the draft and Cam Seldon transferred to Virginia Tech.

And then there’s the receiver position, which has probably received the most attention this offseason.

Tennessee would love to land a proven receiver with FBS experience. 

Could there be one at Ohio State or Notre Dame that becomes available after Monday night’s title game?

Keep an eye out. 

While Tennessee’s portal activity has been limited, that doesn’t mean it’s finished. 

➡️ Speaking of the offensive line, we discussed Tennessee’s plan on Josh and Swain following Pregnon’s commitment to Oregon.

Check it out below.

THE NCAA’S LATEST QUESTION

Have you seen talk of how college athletic departments plan to split revenue among their athletes in the near future?

Well, scratch that… at least for now.

On Thursday, the Department of Justice issued guidance related to Title IX.

From Yahoo Sports:

As the story notes, “many schools had planned to distribute a majority of their revenue pool — 80% plus — to football and men’s basketball teams.”

That would take place as early as July 1, when schools would be permitted to distribute at least $20.5 million to athletes annually in an escalating, capped pay system.

That would have to change under this guidance.

However, this is not yet a regulation.

There is an upcoming presidential change, which could affect the Department of Justice and how revenue sharing is handled in college athletics.

How will the upcoming administration change affect this case?

NCAA president Charlie Baker, via Yahoo:

So who knows?

Add this to the list of confusion in the current world of college sports.

Isn’t it fun?

ONE MORE BEFORE WE BOUNCE

Not to be overlooked: Tennessee basketball has a big game at Vanderbilt on Saturday.

📍 Nashville
⏰ 3:30 p.m. ET
📺 SEC Network
📻 99.1 The Sports Animal/WIVK

Quick note: every game in the SEC is big considering the depth of the league.

No opponent can be taken lightly — just this week, Florida lost at home to Missouri and Alabama lost at home to Ole Miss.

Vanderbilt has a 3-1 SEC record and is 14-3 overall.

And you know Vandy would love to get a win against its top-10 in-state rival.

Questions for Saturday will include:

◼️ Will Chaz Lanier’s shooting bounce back?
◼️ Will Tennessee’s bench produce like it has the previous two games?
◼️ Will Tennessee take care of the basketball (Vandy is top 5 nationally in steal percentage).

Weekly reminder: long way to go in the basketball season. And more fun to be had.

🏀 Looking for more hoops talk? Check out this week’s SlayRide with VFL Ron Slay.

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