🏈 Tennessee's top transfer portal priority

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:

• Tennessee players that are coming (back) and going in 2024

• Top portal priorities for Tennessee to address

• The next test for Tennessee’s basketball team (and a player on the rise)

• How Tennessee came out in the new-look 2024 SEC football schedule

TENNESSEE FOOTBALL’S REVOLVING DOOR

College football’s crazy month of December is halfway over. 

Tennessee’s agenda is starting to come together. 

The early focus of this week’s newsletter will be on the Tennessee players coming back to school — and the objectives for Josh Heupel’s staff as they try to add more players. 

Tennessee has found some veteran help for next year’s team. 

Offensive tackles John Campbell Jr. and Gerald Mincey have announced they’ll return for one more season. 

That helps answer a big question that existed halfway through the season: who will be Tennessee’s starting tackles in 2024?

The next question to ask on the offensive line: will center Cooper Mays and guard Javontez Spraggins return?

Neither player has made anything official. '

But the word from campus is that Tennessee is optimistic they’ll be back.

Tennessee also received good news on the defensive side on Thursday. 

Omari Thomas's return will give Tennessee an experienced interior lineman with All-SEC potential. 

If fellow defensive lineman Omarr Norman Lott returns as well (that’s the expectation), the Vols’ defensive line will have depth and talent. 

Rising sophomore Daevon Hobbs will be a player to watch, and several members of the 2022 and 2023 classes will have a chance to make a jump. 

So who else does that leave with eligibility and the chance to return?

WR Bru McCoy

McCoy’s decision will have a big impact on Tennessee’s offense. 

He was the Vols’ most trusted receiver before suffering a season-ending injury against South Carolina. 

A proven receiver like McCoy would be beneficial for inexperienced quarterback Nico Iamaleava. 

McCoy had planned to leave after this season to prepare for the NFL. The injury has left him reconsidering the plan.

There’s no word of a decision, but there’s been optimistic talk from The Hill that McCoy could return.

CB Gabe Jeudy-Lally

Jeudy-Lally was a solid acquisition from the portal last offseason. 

With several defensive backs leaving (more on that in a moment), a veteran like Jeudy-Lally would be helpful in a room of young defensive backs. 

Right now, the expectation points to Jeudy-Lally moving on after this season. 

But we’ll see.

DB Wesley Walker

Walker has played at nickel and safety, his main position this season for Tennessee. 

Will he return to Knoxville for a third season with the Vols?

Walker is another player Tennessee’s staff is preparing to be gone. 

If Jeudy-Lally and Walker both leave, that is A LOT of defensive backs to replace. 

Their departures would create a big opportunity for young corners like Rickey Gibson, Jordan Matthews, and Christian Conyer. 

Tennessee has seen six defensive backs enter the transfer portal this month. 

That number is a bit shocking at first glance. 

But remember: Tennessee needs players to leave. 

To bring players in through recruiting and the transfer portal, plus seniors returning for an extra year, the Vols have to make space on their roster.

There are two Tennessee defensive backs in the portal who would have played big roles if they stayed: Tamarion McDonald and Doneiko Slaughter. 

They’re both solid players; they’re both replaceable. 

And that puts the pressure on Tennessee’s staff. 

The Vols have relied on veterans in the secondary for the last three years — most of them having been signed by the previous coaching staff. 

Tennessee signed a big class of defensive backs in 2023 — and more talent is coming in with the 2024 class. 

Will those players be ready?

We’ll soon find out.

We talked more about Tennessee’s players returning + targets in the portal with Austin Price of Volquest. Check it out below. ⬇️⬇️

TENNESSEE’S NEXT PORTAL STEPS

We know who’s coming back — and who might or might not. 

So what are the big needs for Tennessee to fill?

Well, there are several. 

We discussed the most pressing needs this week on Josh and Swain.

This list isn’t necessarily in order of importance, but it’s close. 

➡️ Tight End

We ranked this position No. 1 on the list of needs because right now, the Vols don’t have enough players at the position. 

Ethan Davis will enter his second season with talent — but no experience. 

Emmanuel Okoye is a super athlete, but he’s even less experienced than Davis and is probably a ways away from helping. 

And that… is the position group as it stands today. 

Can Tennessee land Notre Dame transfer Holden Staes or Kentucky’s Jordan Dingle?

Getting at least one of those players feels like a must. 

➡️ Wide Receiver

McCoy’s decision will affect this position group. But it’s a big need either way. 

The receiver room as it stands right now isn’t good enough, according to Swain. 

There’s excitement about incoming freshmen Mike Matthews, a five-star prospect, and speedster Braylon Staley. 

But they’re freshmen, which leaves a great unknown. 

A more proven player, like Tulane transfer Chris Brazzell, would help. 

➡️ Defensive Back

Here’s a question: if Jeudy-Lally and Walker both leave, who’s the proven defensive back on Tennessee’s roster? 

Don’t worry about looking for an answer; there isn’t one. 

Tennessee has a good amount of young talent, but it’s all unproven. 

A veteran DB who could come in and compete for a starting spot would help Tennessee’s defense. 

Oregon State transfer Jermod McCoy visited Tennessee this week. 

The Vols’ staff likely stressed opportunity in its sales pitch. 

➡️ Offensive Line

Even if Mays and Spraggins return, the Vols need more help. 

Andrej Karic could improve and take hold of the starting left guard spot in 2024. 

But why not create competition for him?

Tennessee can also look for an offensive lineman with multiple years of eligibility. 

Even if Tennessee gets four seniors back, they’ll leave after next season. 

The Vols have a big O-line class for 2024 and at least a couple of players they like from the ‘23 class. 

Tennessee would be wise to look for offensive line help while the staff figures out the future. 

Of course, every other school will do the same. 

➡️ Defensive Line

Here’s another position that every team needs.

The return on the interior veterans will soften the need for the Vols.

But if there’s an impact player on the defensive line, especially one with multiple years of eligibility, Tennessee should pursue him.

Tyler Baron is expected to head elsewhere to play one more year in college, but Tennessee never planned to have him back in 2024.

Still, Baron was a productive player who must be replaced.

And to repeat: everyone needs defensive line help.

Especially in the SEC.

SPORTS NUGGETS

🏈 An ex-Michigan assistant has joined Alabama’s staff ahead of the Crimson Tide playing the Wolverines in the CFB Playoff semifinal.

🏈 College football’s bowl season will kick off on Saturday. Here’s the full bowl schedule, with seven games taking place this weekend.

🏈 A somewhat controversial transfer portal entry: Texas QB Maalik Murphy entered the portal. He started multiple games for the Longhorns, who are alive in the CFB Playoff.

🏀 Great story from Mike Wilson on Tennessee’s Josiah-Jordan James, now a fifth-year senior after arriving as a five-star prospect.

🏀 The NBA’s in-season tournament had a huge audience for the championship game and provided a boost to the early portion of the league’s schedule.

⚾ On the day Shohei Ohtani was introduced as a Dodger, Los Angeles traded for pitcher Tyler Glasnow of the Rays.

🎙️ Awful Announcing has compiled the 10 best sports announcing bloopers of 2023.

THE NEXT STEP FOR TENNESSEE BASKETBALL

Tennessee’s basketball team will play a neutral site game on Saturday night.

Hope you’re sitting down for the tip-off time for Tennessee vs North Carolina State:

➡️ 10 PM. That’s Eastern Time.

Tennessee’s game will be the third one in a triple-header at the Hall of Fame series.

📍 San Antonio, Texas
⏰ 10:00 p.m. ET
📺 ESPN2
📻 99.1 The Sports Animal/WIVK

Tennessee has had a good week.

The Vols beat top-20 Illinois at home before Tuesday’s win against Georgia Southern.

The Vols’ second-half showing against Georgia Southern was ugly, but the players likely checked out mentally knowing their opponent had no chance to win.

Not an excuse — but the reality after a huge win vs Illinois.

NC State is a solid team but nothing that should get in Tennessee’s way.

NC State is 7-2 with losses to BYU and Ole Miss, the latter by a 20-point margin.

Tennessee fans will recognize NC State big man DJ Burns.

He spent one season at Tennessee before transferring to Winthrop, where he excelled.

He’s a big man — literally at 6-9, 275 — and will be motivated to play well against his old team.

But Tennessee has Jonas Aidoo, who has stepped up after coach Rick Barnes said Aidoo should play a bigger role for the Vols.

On Tuesday’s Josh and Swain, VFL Ron Slay bragged about the development of Aidoo and the coaches’ plan to involve him more.

“They’ve seen him put the work in,” Slay said, “and they’re trying to give him the veteran respect to go get it.”

Aidoo followed Slay’s praise with 29 points and 11 rebounds against Georgia Southern.

Tennessee has three more non-SEC games before conference play begins against Ole Miss on Jan. 6.

Along with trying to win games, the Vols will continue to work on team chemistry and lineup rotation in the meantime.

Disclaimer: Long way to go.

But the 7-3 Vols are in a good position to reach all of their goals later in the season.

THE NEW-LOOK SEC SCHEDULE

The SEC released its first-ever 16-team schedule on Wednesday night.

Look at this thing.

Tennessee got a pretty good draw.

The Vols’ schedule isn’t easy — there’s no such thing in the SEC — but it’s manageable.

From 2023 to 2024, Tennessee will essentially trade Missouri, South Carolina, and Texas A&M for Arkansas, Mississippi State, and Oklahoma.

Tennessee will play the three worst teams from the 2023 season: Arkansas, Mississippi State, and Vanderbilt.

Things change from one season to the next; Arkansas has a new OC in Bobby Petrino and Mississippi State hired offensive coach Jeff Lebby to run the program.

But the Vols have a week off before going to Arkansas and will host Mississippi State.

I don’t need to explain why Tennessee should beat Vandy.

Florida will be a home game in October, not September.

And games against Alabama, Georgia, and Oklahoma present obvious challenges.

The schedule is NOT a layup, by any means.

But other teams have schedules that look much harder on paper.

Starting with Florida.

Go look at the Gators’ schedule.

Three of their four nonconference games will be against Miami, UCF, and Florida State.

The final five opponents for Florida: Georgia, Texas, LSU, Ole Miss, and Florida State.

Only two of those games will be at home. No thanks!

Here are Tennessee’s final five opponents: Kentucky, Mississippi State, Georgia, UTEP, and Vanderbilt.

Fans have been looking for a better finish in November the last couple of seasons.

That slate of games should help next season.

Tennessee still has one game remaining from the “2023 season,” the Citrus Bowl vs Iowa on Jan. 1.

But the transfer portal and new schedule have us moving on to 2024.

More to look forward to.

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