🏈 People like Tennessee's offense

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:

• How the Vols have stayed hot in recruiting

• Are the Vols ready to join the elite of the elite?

• Tennessee basketball’s unexpected transfer portal entry

• An NFL Draft prediction that had other analysts saying WOW

ANOTHER QB FOR TENNESSEE’S FUTURE

Tennessee’s offense has become a major attraction in college football.

And recruits are noticing.

Tennessee’s explosive offense helped the Vols sign five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava in the 2023 class.

Iamaleava, who’s on campus participating in UT’s spring practice, looks like a prototype QB for coach Josh Heupel’s system.

Iamaleava has a quick release with a large frame to go with mobility that should allow Heupel to call whatever play he wants.

It made sense that Iamaleava wanted to be a part of it.

Jake Merklinger has made the same decision.

The four-star quarterback from Savannah, Ga., announced his commitment to Tennessee on Thursday.

Merklinger, who chose Tennessee over North Carolina and several others, told 247Sports he bought into the idea of learning from Heupel and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle.

“Just the way I feel like I can get developed there,” Merklinger said, “because coach Halzle and coach Heupel are such great coaches. … Just the program itself and the tradition with Tennessee football and the fanbase.”

Merklinger committed to Tennessee despite the presence of Iamaleava.

Merklinger knows he’ll have to compete with a highly-touted quarterback who will have a head start playing at Tennessee.

North Carolina, which will likely have to replace starter Drake Maye after this season, would seem to offer a quicker route to the field.

Merklinger choosing Tennessee is an endorsement of Heupel and his offense. Merklinger has seen the development of other quarterbacks.

That includes Hendon Hooker, who went from a castoff quarterback at Virginia Tech to a rising NFL draft prospect (more on that below).

Tennessee’s offense has attracted offensive weapons like transfer receiver Dont’e Thornton and freshman skill players Nathan Leacock and Cameron Seldon.

The development of Hooker and others (like Jalin Hyatt, Cedric Tillman, and Darnell Wright) makes for an easy sales pitch on the recruiting trail.

Yes, Merklinger is just a commitment and not a signee. Tennessee will have to keep recruiting him.

And there’s more work to be done at other positions. The Vols would like to land a big-time running back in this class, for example.

The next few months should go a long way in helping with that.

Tennessee will invite as many prospects to campus as it can.

Tennessee’s coaches will sell the results of the last two seasons and the players who benefited.

Heupel and his staff can also tell prospects about players who will play a role in the program’s future.

Add Jake Merklinger’s name to the list.

We talked about the latest on Tennessee’s recruiting with Austin Price of Volquest on Josh and Swain. ⬇️⬇️

Tennessee’s Playoff Candidacy

Heupel’s success in his first two seasons at Tennessee speaks for itself.

✅ Winning 11 games in Year Two.
✅ Ending the losing streak to Alabama.
✅ Providing an explosive offense fans love.

So what might Heupel do next at Tennessee?

Don’t rule out a run at the College Football Playoff, says ESPN’s Heather Dinich.

To be clear: Dinich hasn’t predicted the Vols will earn a playoff bid this season.

But she does believe Tennessee fits the profile of a team that could do it.

The reason she’s buying into the idea? You guessed it: the Vols’ offense. Dinich wrote:

“It's Heupel's high-flying offense and that isn't changing, even if the personnel has. No question the Vols lose some big-time names (offensive coordinator Alex Golesh, quarterback Hooker and receivers Cedric Tillman and Jalin Hyatt), but there is plenty of talent lurking in the shadows.”

Like Joe Milton at quarterback, Bru McCoy at receiver, and veteran offensive linemen Cooper Mays and Javontez Spraggins.

(Plus others, like Thornton and receivers Ramel Keyton and Squirrel White.)

Dinich believes that Tennessee’s offense will be just fine because of Heupel and his offensive staff.

The last two years have earned him the benefit of the doubt, not just locally, but on a national level.

There are some obstacles to the playoff, of course.

Alabama and Georgia are still on the schedule. And Tennesse has to make sure it doesn’t have a game like the one in Columbia, S.C., last year.

But the Vols have earned respect with their on-field play and off-field excitement.

We spent more time discussing the College Football Playoff idea on the show. Check out the segment below. ⬇️⬇️

SPORTS NUGGETS

🏈 Still craving more NIL coverage? Great! Here’s the latest from the congressional hearing on “NIL chaos” in college sports.

⚾ A three-run eighth inning helped LSU beat Tennessee 5-2 on Thursday. Here’s weekend info for games on Friday and Saturday.

⚾ The Major League Baseball season started on Thursday. Here are season predictions from The Ringer.

🏀 Don’t know much about the Final Four teams? Join the club. Here are stats and facts about all four teams.

🏈 The Carolina Panthers are reportedly down to C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young for the No. 1 pick. Who would you take in the top spot?

🏈 Clemson football “has never been better,” according to Dabo Swinney. Uh, that’s arguable.

⚽ One Knoxville SC will return home to play Union Omaha on Saturday. Here’s the full schedule for Knoxville’s pro soccer team.

🎙️ Jimmy Hyams will host SportsTalk for the final time on Friday. Here’s a farewell tribute to John and Jimmy after 25 great years together on the radio.

🏈 How big-time of a prospect is Tennessee OL Darnell Wright? Check out this prediction:

SO LONG, OLIVIER

Tennessee forward Olivier Nkamhoua is a senior with an extra year of eligilbility from the 2019-20 COVID season.

If Nkamhoua plays one more season in college, it looks like he’ll do so elsewhere.

Nkamhoua has entered his name into the transfer portal, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel.

That means the Vols will have to replace a post player who averaged 10.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game this season.

Nkamhoua lacked consistency but showed his importance to Tennessee when he played at the top of his game.

His 27 points in each of Tennessee’s wins over Texas and Duke showed the impact he can make.

But Nkamhoua’s 2-for-9 showing in the season-ending loss against FAU represented the other side.

VFL and former Tennessee basketball star Ron Slay stressed the importance of the Vols adding a big man who can score for next season on Josh and Swain.

Nkamhoua’s transfer portal entry will emphasize that need.

Tennessee has plenty of personnel questions to answer.

That includes the status of seniors Josiah-Jordan James, Uros Plavsic, and Santiago Vescovi. All three have an extra year of eligibility, too.

The college hoops offseason is officially underway.

HENDON HOOKER’S DRAFT STOCK 📈

Hendon Hooker has received plenty of praise during the NFL Draft process.

Coming off a torn ACL in November, Hooker has spent the last few months impressing teams with the character and leadership qualities he showed off at Tennessee.

“I’ve never been around anybody that’s been a stronger or more impactful leader than Hendon Hooker is,” Heupel said on Thursday. “Our program is not where it’s at today unless Hendon is a part of our locker room.”

That kind of praise has helped boost Hooker’s draft stock. But the rise has seemed to place him in the second round, maybe the first if things go right.

But Mike Tannenbaum has a bigger idea for Hooker.

Tannenbaum, a former NFL general manager and current ESPN analyst, had Hooker going No. 5 overall to the Seattle Seahawks in this week’s mock draft. Tannenbaum wrote:

“I see a potential franchise quarterback and someone who can lead an offense. Go watch his performance against Alabama if you disagree.”

Not everyone will agree with Tannenbaum’s assesment. On ESPN, Todd McShay asked “If you can get him at (pick No.) 20, why are we trying to draft him at 5?”

Tannenbaum responded that he doesn’t believe Hooker will be available at 20, indicating multiple teams should value Hooker as a first-round pick.

We discussed the possibility of Hooker going in the first round… even in the top five as Tannenbaum suggested. Full segment below ⬇️⬇️

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Thank you for reading.