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- š People like Tennessee's offense
š People like Tennessee's offense
Josh Heupel has created Vols buzz
Hello. This is the Josh and Swain Newsletter, a quick roundup of the weekās top stories and topics involving Tennessee and the sports world.
Hereās 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 basketballās unexpected transfer portal entry
An NFL Draft prediction that had other analysts saying WOW
ANOTHER QB FOR TENNESSEEāS FUTURE
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Photo via Dennis Knight, Savannah Morning News
Tennesseeās offense has become a major attraction in college football.
And recruits are noticing.
Tennesseeās explosive offense helped the Vols sign five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava in the 2023 class.
Iamaleava, whoās on campus participating in UTās spring practice, looks like a prototype QB for coach Josh Heupelās 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.
āJust the way I feel like I can get developed there,ā Merklinger said, ābecause coach Halzle and coach Heupel are such great coaches. ā¦ Just the program itself and the tradition with Tennessee football and the fanbase.ā
Merklinger committed to Tennessee despite the presence of Iamaleava.
Merklinger knows heāll 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).
Tennesseeās offense has attracted offensive weapons like transfer receiver Dontāe 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 thereās 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.
Tennesseeās 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 programās future.
Add Jake Merklingerās name to the list.
We talked about the latest on Tennesseeās recruiting with Austin Price of Volquest on Josh and Swain. ā¬ļøā¬ļø
Tennesseeās Playoff Candidacy
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Heupelās success in his first two seasons at Tennessee speaks for itself.
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Winning 11 games in Year Two.
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Ending the losing streak to Alabama.
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Providing an explosive offense fans love.
So what might Heupel do next at Tennessee?
Donāt rule out a run at the College Football Playoff, says ESPNās Heather Dinich.
To be clear: Dinich hasnāt 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 sheās buying into the idea? You guessed it: the Volsā offense. Dinich wrote:
āIt'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.ā
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 Tennesseeās 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 doesnāt 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. ā¬ļøā¬ļø
SPORTS NUGGETS
š Still craving more NIL coverage? Great! Hereās the latest from the congressional hearing on āNIL chaosā in college sports.
ā¾ A three-run eighth inning helped LSU beat Tennessee 5-2 on Thursday. Hereās weekend info for games on Friday and Saturday.
ā¾ The Major League Baseball season started on Thursday. Here are season predictions from The Ringer.
š Donāt know much about the Final Four teams? Join the club. Here are stats and facts about all four teams.
š 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?
š Clemson football āhas never been better,ā according to Dabo Swinney. Uh, thatās arguable.
ā½ One Knoxville SC will return home to play Union Omaha on Saturday. Hereās the full schedule for Knoxvilleās pro soccer team.
šļø Jimmy Hyams will host SportsTalk for the final time on Friday. Hereās a farewell tribute to John and Jimmy after 25 great years together on the radio.
š How big-time of a prospect is Tennessee OL Darnell Wright? Check out this prediction:
.@Vol_Football OT Darnell Wright going to be a Pro Bowl/All Pro his rookie season. In consideration in my mind for best overall player in this draft when it is all said and done. Should be a GREAT pro.
#NFLDraft2023
ā Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN)
12:36 AM ā¢ Mar 30, 2023
SO LONG, OLIVIER
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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 heāll 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 Tennesseeās wins over Texas and Duke showed the impact he can make.
But Nkamhouaās 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.
Nkamhouaās 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 HOOKERāS DRAFT STOCK š
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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.
āIāve never been around anybody thatās been a stronger or more impactful leader than Hendon Hooker is,ā Heupel said on Thursday. āOur program is not where itās at today unless Hendon is a part of our locker room.ā
That kind of praise has helped boost Hookerās 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 weekās mock draft. Tannenbaum wrote:
āI see a potential franchise quarterback and someone who can lead an offense. Go watch his performance against Alabama if you disagree.ā
Not everyone will agree with Tannenbaumās assesment. On ESPN, Todd McShay asked āIf you can get him at (pick No.) 20, why are we trying to draft him at 5?ā
Tannenbaum responded that he doesnāt 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 roundā¦ even in the top five as Tannenbaum suggested. Full segment below ā¬ļøā¬ļø
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