During Tennessee football’s opening intrasquad scrimmage of spring practice on Monday night, the freshman wide receivers stood out and made a solid first impression.
Travis Smith snagged a touchdown pass from backup QB Jake Merklinger on a fade route, while Radarious Jackson was integral to a series of successful completions for a red-hot Vols passing game. This performance bodes well for Tennessee’s relatively thin receiving lineup, indicating that these freshmen may play crucial roles come the 2025 season.
“It’s just the reality of college football,” noted Coach Josh Heupel. “As the roster evolves, the young guys need to quickly learn, earn their stripes, and seize their opportunities. I saw some major plays tonight. The young receivers did well in their maiden scrimmage.”
Returning players like Mike Matthews, Braylon Staley, and Chris Brazzell also contributed to the strong offensive performance overseen by starting QB Nico Iamaleava. With only six scholarship receivers available this spring and Alabama transfer Amari Jefferson still recovering from a hip injury last year, Iamaleava’s performance was notably assertive. “He displayed command, control, and a comprehensive understanding of our offense, even as we make adjustments this spring,” Heupel added.
Defense, challenged with a dozen players sidelined by injuries, still saw a dynamic offensive display across the squad from experienced players to newcomers. Though the scrimmage itself was private, Coach Heupel shared some insights from the evening.
### Travis Smith Impresses in Receiver Lineup
Heupel was quite taken with how Smith, a 6-foot-3, 207-pound asset, handled his responsibilities amid the playbook, defensive reads, and the Neyland Stadium atmosphere. Smith was a contested recruit, picking UT over formidable programs like Georgia, Alabama, and Auburn, enrolling early to fight for field time. His performance in this scrimmage set him on a promising path.
“For someone so young, he’s navigated what we’ve introduced thus far admirably,” Heupel remarked. “When you know your role well, you can truly attack from start to finish. His size and competitiveness were on full display tonight.”
### Bishop and Lewis Power the Backfield
With the departure of running back Dylan Sampson, the 2024 SEC Player of the Year, DeSean Bishop and Peyton Lewis are stepping into leading roles. They collaborated for 794 rushing yards and six touchdowns last season, but Heupel was particularly pleased with their pass protection during the scrimmage.
Duke transfer Star Thomas, along with freshmen Daune Morris and Justin Baker, also got their fair share of reps, potentially expanding the backfield dynamics into a trio.
### Josephs Makes His Mark on Defense
With James Pearce prepping for the 2025 NFL Draft, the Vols are hopeful about Joshua Josephs filling his shoes as a tenacious pass rusher. Josephs, apart from his apparent physical readiness, demonstrated a remarkably swift first step, leading a defensive line that was somewhat understaffed during the scrimmage.
“The guys who’ve been here a while continue to evolve,” said Heupel. “I’m pleased with the length and agility of our defensive line group.”
Significant defensive players sidelined included Jermod McCoy, Jourdan Thomas, Christian Charles, and several others, impacting the defensive lineup during the scrimmage.
### Young Tight Ends Get Their Shot
Miles Kitselman, the starting tight end, had to undergo surgery after a pectoral injury, thereby advancing newer players up the depth chart. Redshirt sophomore Ethan Davis, redshirt freshman Cole Harrison, and freshmen DaSaahn Brame and Jack Van Dorselaer are taking turns in his place. According to Heupel, this process kicked off even before Kitselman’s injury, ensuring that the younger talents receive crucial field experience.
“The rest of the players in that position are receiving a lot of invaluable reps,” Heupel noted. “Even before Miles was sidelined, we had limited his role due to his extensive experience. It’s crucial for the young players to get up to speed.”
Adam Sparks reports on Tennessee football. Feel free to contact him at [email protected] or on X (formerly Twitter) @AdamSparks. Support quality local journalism at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
Stay updated with all things SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
