🏈 Tennessee's biggest question (plus a GIVEAWAY!)

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:

• A FREE GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY

• The biggest question about Tennessee’s roster entering the season

• More hype for James Pearce Jr. and Nico Iamaleava

• Is five-star OL David Sanders Jr. ready to commit to Tennessee?

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Now, to the newsletter…

A QUESTION AMIDST THE HYPE

The hype for Tennessee’s football season is growing. 

That’s natural — most fanbases around the country are adding an extra win to their predictions with the season roughly two weeks away.

There’s nothing wrong with getting excited about your team. 

And with Tennessee, there’s a bunch of reasons to be excited. 

Nico Iamaleava and James Pearce Jr. are two of them — and we’ll get to them before the newsletter ends. 

But what about the question marks?

Tennessee isn’t a perfect team. 

The Vols’ roster has improved with its depth and overall talent. 

“We’ve got without a doubt the best, the deepest roster that we’ve had,” coach Josh Heupel told us in July.

But a lot of UT’s young players have to develop and prove they belong in the SEC.

So what’s the biggest question about this Tennessee team?

ESPN/SEC Network analyst Roman Harper joined the show this week and pointed to the Vols’ defense. 

Harper knows about playing in the defensive backfield. 

He was a two-time All-SEC safety at Alabama and played 11 seasons in the NFL.

Before you point to Harper’s Alabama connection, he correctly predicted Tennessee would go 10-2 before the 2022 season. 

“I was the only one,” Harper reminded us. 

Harper’s question about Tennessee’s secondary doesn’t mean UT’s defense will disappoint this fall.

Cornerback Jermod McCoy looks like he’ll be a quality SEC starter with real NFL potential. 

Sophomore corner Rickey Gibson has excited the staff, too. 

But he’s also dealing with a hamstring injury; the staff will be careful in bringing him back. 

That brings up questions about the depth in the defensive backfield. 

Do they have enough corners?

Temple transfer Jalen McMurray and sophomore Jordan Matthews are talented backup options, but they’re both unproven.

What about safety?

Andre Turrentine and Will Brooks are veterans but haven’t played a ton.

Will they make plays in the SEC?

Brooks arrived at Tennessee as a walk-on in 2020 and so far appears to be holding off other scholarship players. 

Will someone else emerge to challenge Brooks?

Then there’s the STAR position, which has already lost Jourdan Thomas for the season due to a knee injury. 

Christian Harrison, the son of former All-Pro Rodney Harrison, and talented freshman Boo Carter are battling at STAR. 

No one questions Carter’s athleticism. 

But will he earn the coaches’ trust and play a big role immediately?

It helps that Tennessee has a big-time defensive line to create pressure. 

At some point, the Vols’ defensive backs will be tested. 

Will they be up for the challenge?

Check out our full conversation with Roman Harper below or anywhere you get your podcasts.

TENNESSEE’S BEST PLAYER SINCE…?

Tennessee’s defensive line looks like it could be one of the best D-line units in the nation.

Defensive end James Pearce Jr.?

He might be the best overall player in all of college football.

ESPN ranked the nation’s top 100 players on Thursday — and Pearce landed at No. 1.

The ranking was compiled by a group of ESPN’s college football experts. 

Here’s what they wrote about Pearce:

Pearce had a huge season in 2023 but still has room to improve. 

If he taps into more of that potential, he’ll be a frightening defender this year. 

He’ll also be on every team’s radar. 

Pearce probably snuck up on some teams last year; no chance that happens this fall. 

Is Pearce ready for the spotlight?

(Clark Brooks also ranked Pearce No. 1 overall in his player rankings for On3 back in May.)

Tennessee’s defensive front looks impressive. 

Jayson Swain’s takeaway after watching last week’s scrimmage: the Vols’ defensive line looks like the real deal.

Allan Bell of Driving The Line also took in the scrimmage and praised UT’s defense. 

“Ten years ago, you saw very little depth on (Tennessee’s) defensive line … you might have one guy who looked NFL size and a lot of undersized guys,” Bell said. “That’s not the case anymore. They’ve got some hosses out there — and a lot of them.”

It’s the collection of talent that makes Tennessee’s D-line look like a top-tier SEC unit. 

Pearce’s presence could take them even higher. 

SPORTS NUGGETS

🏈 Adam Sparks provided takeaways from Tennessee’s scrimmage on Thursday. It was closed to the media and public.

🏈 Could Group of 5 schools create their own championship knowing they’ll only get one team in the College Football Playoff each season?

🏈 A Tennessee wide receiver made ESPN’s list of 32 sleepers who could break out during the 2024 season.

🏈 This playoff prediction has Tennessee out of the playoff and instead playing against Virginia Tech in the Gator Bowl. Is that something you’d be interested in?

🏈 Here are 10 storylines to consider as we enter a brand new college football era.

💵 Pilot CEO Adam Wright joined the show and told us why he believes in Pilot’s partnership with UT athletics. Wright: “We want to win with winners.”

🏀 Could Tennessee host The Basketball Tournament (TBT) next year? VFL Chris Lofton told us tournament officials are interested in coming to Knoxville.

⚽ One Knox SC will host Chattanooga on Friday with a Vols night t-shirt bundle.

WHERE WILL DAVID SANDERS JR. GO?

The wait is finally over. 

Five-star offensive lineman David Sanders Jr. will announce his college choice on Saturday. 

Tennessee feels quite good about its chances entering the announcement. 

The Vols have put in serious work to land Sanders, who’s ranked as the nation’s No. 1 and No. 2 offensive tackle by 247Sports and On3, respectively. 

Sanders visited Tennessee more than any other school, and he had the choice of any school he wanted. 

The other finalists for Sanders: Georgia, Ohio State and Nebraska. 

What is Tennessee getting if the Vols land Sanders?

Nothing is ever done until it’s done in college football recruiting. 

But Tennessee has done everything it could to land Sanders. 

We’ll see if the hard work pays off for the Vols on Saturday. 

We discussed Tennessee’s recruitment of Sanders, along with several position battles during fall camp, with Austin Price of Volquest. Check out our conversation below.

NICO IS ‘REALLY, REALLY SPECIAL’

Add former Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer to the long list of people excited to see Nico Iamaleava as Tennessee’s full-time starting quarterback.

Fulmer joined the show on Tuesday and brought up the talent he’s seen in Iamaleava at UT practices.

Everyone is intrigued to see what Iamaleava can do in this offense.

The bowl game offered a glimpse with the red-zone plays he made with his legs.

What can Nico do a with a full offseason of prep and an improved offensive line and group of receivers?

ESPN ranked Iamaleava as the No. 92 overall player entering the season.

“He looks like the total package,” ESPN wrote.

Fulmer’s note about keeping Iamaleava healthy is important.

While Tennessee’s staff is happy with Gaston Moore, no one anticipates him replacing all that Iamaleava can do.

The hype is building with 15 days to go until Tennessee’s season opener against Chattanooga.

What can Nico do with full command of the offense?

We’ll find out soon.

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