KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 8/11 Tennessee fell 6-1 in the series opener against No. 2/3 Florida on Thursday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Five combined runs by the Gators in the fourth and fifth innings broke open a 1-1 game and proved to be the difference as UF snapped a five-game losing streak in the series.
Sophomore slugger Blake Burke provided the lone run for the Big Orange with a solo home run to tie the game at one in the second inning, his 11th long ball of the season. Burke also doubled later in the game and was one of just two UT hitters with multiple hits on the night along with Christian Scott, who went 2-for-3 with a pair of infield singles.
Chase Dollander pitched well through four innings before running into trouble in the fifth, issuing a leadoff walk, followed by a double before being lifted from the game. The next two Gators’ batters homered to put them ahead 6-1, which would prove to be the final score as neither side was able to plate a run over the final four innings.
Dollander finished the night with seven strikeouts but allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks to take the loss and fall to 4-3 on the year.
Florida starter Brandon Sproat went 5.2 innings to pick up the win and improve to 5-1. The junior right hander gave up one run on four hits and four walks but struck out nine in the outing.
A major story of the game was Tennessee’s inability to come up with clutch hits when it had the chance, going 2-for-23 on the night with runners on base and 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position.
The biggest missed opportunity came in the bottom of the sixth. Following two quick outs, the Vols loaded the bases on a walk, a hit batter and an infield single, but a strikeout by Gators’ reliever Philip Abner ended the threat and kept the deficit at five.
Kirby Connell and freshman AJ Russell were bright spots out of the bullpen for the Vols, combining for four strikeouts in two scoreless innings of relief.
Shortstop Josh Rivera drove in three of Florida’s six runs with a three-run homer in the Gators’ four-run fifth inning. Jac Caglianone and Cade Kurland led UF with two hits apiece and combined to score three runs.
UP NEXT: Tennessee (21-9, 4-6 SEC) will look to bounce back and even the series on Saturday night. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee running backs Dylan Sampson, Cameron Seldon and DeSean Bishop paced the Vols’ offense in the second scrimmage to wrap up the third week of spring practice on Thursday in Neyland Stadium.
Tennessee went through its normal pregame warmups before scrimmaging for close to one hour and 30 minutes.
With starter Jabari Small sidelined all spring from an offseason surgery, Sampson and Bishop notched big touchdown runs on Thursday morning. Sampson is entering his second season after rushing for 397 yards and six touchdowns on 58 carries last season. The local running back Bishop joined the program this semester after a prep career at Karns.
“I thought the running backs as an entire group were extremely positive today,” head coach Josh Heupel said. “Dylan Sampson made some people miss and did a great job pressing double-teams. Cameron Seldon did a really nice job running the football. Great job taking good care of it, DeSean Bishop. There were a lot of really good things from those running backs.”
The Vols will practice three times next week—Tuesday, Thursday and Friday—prior to next Saturday’s Orange & White Game. They will treat Friday’s practice like a normal game week “Fast Friday.”
“Next week is a huge week for our development as a program, in every phase, at every position with every guy on our roster,” Heupel said.
Admission to the Orange & White Game is $5 for non-premium seats, and all proceeds will count as a contribution to the My All Campaign. All seats can be secured now at AllVols.com or by calling the UT Athletic Ticket Office at (865) 656-1200. All open sections of the bowl of Neyland Stadium will be general admission seating.
On if offensive line had an even better day today than on Saturday… “Watching the video over will tell the story. I did think, in general, they did a good job on the first and second level and created some space. All those pieces play off of each other. The offensive line, take on double teams, good in their identifications. I thought the tight ends did a really good job on some of the second-level things that they were asked to do, and the running backs ran hard and they ran with good pad level.”
On if what DeSean Bishop has done has been surprising to him… “Not surprising what DeSean has done. I say that, he’s handled the transition into college football extremely well. We thought he was extremely athletic, he had a great vision, pace as a running back coming out of high school. He’s done a really good job of handling the communication system and not being too big for him since day one. Really proud of him.”
On if anything jumped out to him from the wide receivers… “There were some positives, some big plays, a couple of drops in the middle of the football field that had the opportunity to make a play too. That group’s got to continue to grow in their understanding, operating efficiently. I think that’s an area that that group will continue to get better at. They’ve been highly competitive, been physical and done a really nice job all spring.”
On if defense was as good as they were on Saturday… “I didn’t think the tackling in the open field was as good and consistent as it was the other day. Gave up a couple of big runs. Got to have gap integrity and you got to tackle well. There were times (that) it was really efficient, really good on the defensive side of the ball. There were a couple of big plays that we gave up that we can’t do.”
On how the quarterbacks looked in the scrimmage… “All in all, I thought they operated really well. We’ve put them in some situations, game management, for the win situation at the end of the game. There are a lot of things that we can learn in with those first two scrimmages. I think there are some things that we can get better at in that. Taking care of the football, being smart decision makers, handling communication, handling pace. Everybody has done a really nice job.”
On Nico Iamaleava’s development… “He’s continuing to grow, he’s a long way away from being where we need him to. That’s understandable. Where he’s at this part of spring ball, really happy with what he’s done, his work ethic, attention to detail, ability to rebound and how intentionally he is in the way that he works. He’s continued to get better every time that he gets on the field, which is what you want to see from the young guys.”
On Cameron Seldon… “I thought today – the last couple of practices have been really solid from him. He’s ran with good pad level. He’s transitioned from playing a lot out in space to being in the running back position really full-time . He’s continuing to grow in his understanding of how to press the line of scrimmage and understand how things are going to be brought from some different fronts. Took good care of the football today, he got pad under pad, he finished plus-two, a lot of positives.”
On what he sees differently from a scrimmage in Neyland compared to a normal practice… “I think coaches being off on the sidelines, the players being able to handle, solve problems while they are out there. They have to do that on their own. They have to handle being able to reload from one play to the next, handling game situations, continue to drive the football. It’s a drill, it’s going to be up until we get to kickoff in Nashville next year.”
On where they are at offensive tackle… “Great competition up front. Guys that are continuing to compete. We’re deeper in that room, so much deeper than we were when we first got here, and last year too. There’s really good competition and that ties all of us to get better. Each of them have a little bit different skillset, but at the end of the day feel like all of them could be really efficient, effective in the run-game and have done a nice job with pass protection throughout the course of spring ball.”
On if there was more of an emphasis on the line of scrimmage during today’s scrimmage… “There was a heavy emphasis on being able to be efficient in the run-game. Some of the situational football dictates if you want to be able to run the football. We are talking about the four-minute situation at the end. For us, we want to maintain balance in what we do, as the line of scrimmage is extremely important. We have to dominate that on both sides of the line of scrimmage, defensively and offensively.”
On if the younger running backs are hoping to make an impact during games this fall… “We are going to need them all. There are times where you stay healthy for a long period of time. You never know when your opportunity is going to come. We are going to need all of these guys throughout the course of the season. With competition, iron sharpens iron. We are going to need that. Everybody on this roster better believe they will have an opportunity to play next fall and continue to sharpen their skills. It’s fundamentals, it’s technique and it’s understanding what we do offensively, defensively and on special teams. Being able to be a mature competitor and handle everything that comes at you.”
On the freshman linebackers… “I’ve seen a lot more from those guys as we get a chance to sit in and evaluate the tape. Are their eyes in the right keys? Are they playing over the top? Are they being disruptive and disrupting blocks? I really like that group as a whole. They’re smart, they’re competitive and they’re great teammates. They’ve been nothing but intentional in the way they’ve worked every practice out on the grass. They’re athletic and they have a great ability to move. They should be able to help us on (special) teams. I’ll see how they played today when we get a chance to watch the tape.”
On if he was able to get more of a look at transfer wide receiver Dont’e Thornton “We did not get a ton of work with Dont’e. We had some yesterday out on the practice field. He has a lot of skillsets that we are looking for. In the back half of spring ball, we will continue to develop him.”
On Joe Milton III understanding the run game… “Our guys control everything. I don’t think there is anybody in America that puts more on their quarterbacks. There’s a lot of run checks, pass checks, loading the boxes, alerts and kills. They have to do it all. He’s highly instrumental in the efficiency and effectiveness in our run game.”
On the progression of Joe Milton III understanding the run game this spring… “I think he has really good command of what we are going at the line of scrimmage, out on the perimeter and his eyes being in the right place to identify his keys and take it to the next progression. It’s in the run game and the pass game too.”
On the message to the team going into the final week of spring practice… “At the end of the day, you have to reset and reload. When we come back next week, you control it. You have to win each rep, each period and each day. This has been a great group. Their consistency, and that’s in the meeting room, how they have been physically and mentally out on the practice field, has been awesome. I expect that in the backend of spring ball. Next week is a huge week for our development as a program, in every phase, at every position with every guy on our roster. They’re going to finish the day early around noon and have a chance to be with their families and enjoy the weekend. If they’re not going home, they can spend time with us as a staff. On Sunday night, we’ll have a team meeting and be ready to roll Monday morning.”
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced that Greenbrier Road will be open as far as the ranger station for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians on Friday, April 7. Old Settlers Trail and Grapeyard Ridge Trail will also be open.
Hikers will be able to access Old Settlers and Grapeyard Ridge trails by parking at the ranger station and walking on the road to the trailheads. The road beyond the ranger station will be closed to vehicles.
Some areas will remain closed while NPS trail crews replace log foot bridges and reroute some washed out sections of trail. The closed areas include Porters Creek Trail, Brushy Mountain Trail, Ramsey Cascades Trail, and backcountry campsites 31, 32, and 33. It is expected that the trails will reopen this summer. In addition, the Messer Barn is closed until structural repairs can be made for visitor safety.
Greenbrier Road was closed beyond the ranger station after the road and area trails and culverts sustained damage during a July 2022 flood event. In February 2023, the entire area was closed for repairs, slope stabilization, and culvert replacement.
The principal at Hardin Valley Academy is placed on administrative leave with pay.
Knox County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk appointed Michael Reynolds as the interim principal. He retired from Central High School in 2018.
Our news partner WVLT News reached out to KCS to find out if the action was due to a previous incident regarding a gas valve being intentionally left on by a contracted janitor and KCS says that there was an internal review of the incident.
Updated story: Two people are dead including a child and an investigation is underway following a house fire in Rocky Top.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is taking over the investigation started by the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office into last night’s fire in the 100 block of Ponderosa Lane.
TBI officials confirmed the adult who died went back into the house to try to save the child but both died in the house.
Original story: Two people are dead and an investigation is underway following a house fire in Rocky Top.
The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are investigating last night’s fire on Mountain Side Lane.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee football returns nearly all of its secondary from a season ago, and coach Willie Martinez brought in several new additions to the group. Martinez and the defensive backs met with the media on Wednesday prior to the Volunteers’ second spring scrimmage.
Tennessee will conclude its third week of spring ball on Thursday with a closed scrimmage in Neyland Stadium.
On the growth of the young defensive backs so far through spring practice…
“With Jack Luttrell, John Slaughter, Rickey Gibson, Jordan Matthews and Cristian Conyer, they’ve been here since December. I’ve seen tremendous growth from the time they’ve got here. We actually gave them the playbook at that time. We gave them some reps during those practices. From the time that they’ve gone back to school in the latter half of January and the months of February and March, you take the nine practices and they’ve come a long way. They have matured, become very confident and have managed their time with school. The schedule is the hardest thing to understand when you’re a young player. They’ve grown a lot since December, and they’re doing a good job too. There are not ones, twos or threes. We are mixing everybody in there and giving everyone an opportunity. They’ve done a really good job.”
On how the younger defensive backs have adapted to being more versatile and playing multiple positions…
“We are not doing too much with the young players. With John Slaughter and Jack Luttrell, they’ve been working the safety and star position. The three corners in Rickey (Gibson), Cristian (Conyer) and Jordan (Matthews) have just been playing the corner position. We’ve done that on purpose to let them have an opportunity to compete and know what to do. It’s worked out really well for us, and they have been able to compete with the guys that have been here.”
On the competition of the defensive back room…
“The last year, we have had a tremendous number of injuries. Having those five guys come in here, in addition to Gabe Jeudy-Lally being here also, has made us able to compete. We have had a competition open. We don’t have a first group. We don’t have a second group. That includes everybody. Whether it’s Tamarion McDonald, Jaylen McCollough or Wesley Walker, they all are competing. We have kind of been moving everybody around to give them an opportunity. We want the competition. We have to be better. We have said that from the get-go here. It’s been really good because we have been able to evaluate more reps from everybody. We told them we were going to give them a shot, and this is the time where they will have the opportunity to know what they have. They have to prove it, and it has to show up on film.”
On how much weight he puts on prior performances when evaluating playing time for players during spring ball…
“Warren (Burrell) and Brandon (Turnage) have been out of this spring. They’ve been with us the whole time. There is a lot there. Doneiko (Slaughter) had some really good games. Kamal (Hadden) has had some moments, and they have experience. You’re hoping that they continue to improve with their fundamentals and techniques. They will be better, and they have been. We’ve had nine practices, and we’ve been pleased with the progress that we have going here. I think a lot of it has to do with the competition. That is always good. That’s healthy and the last great motivator.”
On how Doneiko Slaughter has adjusted to the cornerback role more over the past couple of months…
“He’s doing a really good job. He’s all-in. We love versatility in our defensive backs. That is what we want. When we went down with some injuries in the middle of the week of the Kentucky game, he did not bat an eye. We told him, ‘Doneiko, go over and play corner.’ He had not played corner at all besides a couple of snaps in the spring. We all saw how he played in that game and moving forward. He’s a playmaker and is someone that has proved it. He’s had a good spring and he is locked in on playing corner right now. He’s a really good player and a playmaker. You see it in him. He just has to be more consistent.”
On if recruiting taller defensive backs was a goal…
“I don’t think anything has changed. We love length. When you’re trying to go against these wide receivers that are tall and got great size, you want the length. It’s not just the height factor, you’ve got to have the long arms, you’ve got to have the speed, you’ve got to have all the other skill sets that you need. There is no doubt that we like to see those guys. Obviously, I think we saw something from the combine with the NFL, I think the average corner was like 5’11 and a half. Not that we won’t take guys that are longer than that and guys that are not that height. Obviously, I’ve been blessed in my career that two of the best corners that I’ve ever coached were 5’8 and 5’9. They come in all shapes and sizes. Obviously, you got to be very conscious of being long when you’re playing against some really tall receivers.”
On how to make sure versatility in defensive backs makes them better…
“We just want the skill set. We want to say to ourselves, if he’s the fifth best DB, then we want to make sure he’s not the backup corner that doesn’t know how to play safety. It’s kind of like that kind of mindset. It’s not trying to confuse anybody. The corners, they play left and right, they are very versatile as far as playing the boundary and the field. There’s some versatility there. The safeties are very similar for strong or free, it’s the same thing, you got to know it. It’s not as difficult as it sounds. Like I said to you earlier about the young guys, we make a conscious effort. How much do they know? How much are they capable of doing? We’re not going to take away where they’re confused. So, if they can’t do it, then obviously we don’t force-feed them. That’s why, with the young guys, we’ve kept them with one stop and not moving them around. We haven’t given them an opportunity to play the nickel spot, so to speak. Let the corners play the corners right now, because obviously they are learning the defense. With the Doneiko (Slaughter) situation, again we lost some guys, he was the next best guy ready to go and he had enough knowledge to do it.”
On expectations for Gabe Jeudy-Lally with his experience at Vanderbilt and BYU…
“We wanted somebody that had experience (and that) obviously, would fit into our culture that we built here. Gabe is a professional. Obviously, you just said it, he’s been at two places where he’s played a lot of football. We wanted that experience. We wanted somebody to come in here with the skill set, but also could challenge for the starting spot and push these guys. Not knowing where we would be with some of these injuries, and then the youth of good players, where would they be at? We wanted to bring in somebody that had some experience, and again would fit in right with our culture. He has been accepted and he’s done a great job of buying into our program and all the players.”
On if there is anyone who has stepped up to meet the expected competition level…
“Without singling guys out, I think they’ve all had their moments. You see flashes of some really good plays. It’s been really inconsistent. Again, I’m talking about all the young guys, those five guys along with Gabe (Jeudy-Lally). There might be a little bit more consistency with Gabe, because obviously he has the experience. He’s really picked up our defense. He’s ahead with knowledge because of his experience, you know what I mean? Some of the guys are not 100 percent, I’m talking about the young guys, with learning our package. That’ where the inconsistency comes in. They’ve all really done a really good job of making plays, whether it’s a pick or a really good tackle. We just want to see more consistency. That will come, that will come. We’re excited with these young guys, we really are, moving forward. By the time we get through OTA’s in June and July, and then Fall Camp, September rolls around for that first ballgame, it’s almost like they’ve been here for more than a year. That’s the goal and I think they will be in great shape.”
On what he is trying to do to improve this spring…
“I am really focusing on my keys and not just doing my job, (but) focusing on my keys to help me execute my job at a high level. Also, helping the young guys, helping them get not frustrated, helping them understand that you are going to make mistakes. Just keep going really, so helping them.”
On how much more confident he is now than a year ago…
“My confidence has definitely grown a lot. The game is much slower now and I know what to expect based on formations (and) down and distance. I have a lot more knowledge than I did last year.”
On what the next step is for the secondary to take to be more consistent…
“When the ball is in the air, we have to go get it. It’s really as simple as that. We have to get better at our pass defense, no balls over our head. So yeah, when everybody is in the air it has to be ours, that’s it.”
On the level of competition from the defensive back group…
“It’s fiercely competitive in our room but we all love each other. There’s no animosity in our room, there’s no hate on each other. If someone makes a play, everybody’s happy for them. The competition is fierce, but we all love each other, and we all want to help each other learn and become as great as possible as soon as possible.”
On the improvement he’s seen from the offense…
“I would say I’ve seen a lot of improvement in Jaylen Wright’s game. Staying with the running backs like Jaylen and Dylan Sampson, as far as from the end of the season to this spring, I’ve seen a lot of growth from them two specifically.”
On if he feels more like a cornerback after last season…
“Yeah, it grew on me like you’d expect it to. I’m fine with whatever corner position. I feel like the boundary corner is more physical now since I got used to it.”
On how he views his versatility…
“I view it as a positive since it helps you learn the defense better. You stay consistent on knowing what other guys are doing on the field, so you know where to help. Staying versatile will help your game at all times. There’s no negative to that. “
“Perfectly well in my eyes. He chills with the guys all the time and we feel like he’s just one of us now. We spend time in the spring just coaching the other guys too about the playbooks. So, I feel like he got real comfortable. I feel like it’s home to him.”
On why he chose Tennessee and what he saw in his opportunity here…
“The reason why I chose Tennessee is overall the goal that they have to reach a national championship. I think that Coach (Willie) Martinez and Coach (Tim) Banks really develop guys, seeing the guys that they put in the league. I know that I am coming into the back stretch of my career so I want to be in a place where I can achieve that goal. I got a little piece of going to a bowl game last year and I want to go somewhere bigger and understand the responsibilities that it takes to be able to take those steps. I wanted to be able to get coached in the classroom harder than I have before so I can take those steps to be a better football player at the end of the day, then use that to be able to help the guys out in my room as well.”
On the versatility of the secondary helping the level of play on the defense…
“Yeah, I think it is pretty awesome to see that anybody from the safety to the STAR to the corner can play any position on the field. I think it makes it better for plug and play. At the end of the day, you don’t know what is going to happen when it comes to being on the football field during a game and practice or just in everyday life, so it is good to be able to have guys just like we talked to Christian (Charles) before, guys like Doneiko (Slaughter) that can just play anywhere on the field. We have young guys who are able to do the same thing too. It’s good and it also shows a different look for the offense because they don’t really know who is going to come out each week if we decide to change something up, so it is just something that we can put in our back pocket that plays very well.”
On what his expectations are and how he has measured up to them so far…
“I mean, I didn’t come here to prove anything in my honest opinion. I came here to do my job at the end of the day. We need help in certain areas, and I am coming to help in those certain areas. If it means teaching guys, if it means getting on the field, if it means making plays that need to be made, that is what I came here to do. I think that your game itself proves what you have to do so I think that is where it comes in. My expectation of myself is to be able to teach the guys because I don’t have a lot of time left. So, teaching guys so Tennessee can be good for years on out and to be able to come in here and help us achieve that goal, right? We were a couple steps away from a national championship last year and hopefully we can build a little bit on that momentum and go to a national championship this year. It starts with the defense playing better at the end of the day and the offense just keep doing the thing that they are doing.”
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The first-ever Vol Village Music Festival leading into the Orange & White Game on Saturday, April 15 is set and will be headlined by top 50 Billboard country charts artist Matt Stillwell as well as Knoxville native Emily Anne Roberts.
The Vol Village Music Festival, located in Lot 9 and hosted by VFL DJ Sterl the Pearl, will feature food trucks, sponsor activations and fun activities for all ages from noon-2 p.m. A pep rally featuring the Pride of the Southland Pep Band and Tennessee
Spirit Squads will kick off the Vol Village festivities at noon before the artists take the stage.
The Orange & White Game is slated for a 2:30 p.m. start in Neyland Stadium.
Stillwell’s debut single “Shine” was top 25 on the iTunes Country chart and top 50 on the Billboard country rankings. His song, “I’m a Vol for Life Y’all,” has garnered over 1 million streams and over 400,000 plays on Apple Music. His current release, “Hey Dad,” written as a tribute to his late father, has generated over one million streams and over 40 million collective video views.
Roberts was a contestant on NBC’s The Voice where she became a finalist on season nine as a member of team Blake Shelton. In 2018, she released her first single “Stuck on Me and You,” which charted in the top 40 on iTunes.
Admission to the Orange & White Game is $5 for non-premium seats, and all proceeds will count as a contribution to the My All Campaign. All seats can be secured now at AllVols.com or by calling the UT Athletic Ticket Office at (865) 656-1200. All open sections of the bowl of Neyland Stadium will be general admission seating.
Walk-up admission will be available on gameday, but fans are strongly encouraged to obtain their seats in advance. All tickets will be digital and can be accessed via a mobile device—identical to the regular season.
Fans can access general admission seating of Neyland Stadium through the following gates: 13, 14, 15-A, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22 and 23. The stadium’s clear bag policy will be in effect, and gates will open at 1 p.m.
On-campus parking lots will open at 7 a.m. Free public parking will be available at the following lots:
Ag Campus with free shuttles running to and from; begins at 11:30 a.m.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Facing another top-five opponent, the No. 8/11-ranked Tennessee Volunteers are back on Rocky Top and ready for a weekend showdown with No. 2/3 Florida at Lindsey Nelson Stadium beginning Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET.
The Vols (21-8, 4-5 SEC) will have three chances to play in the eyes of the nation as all three weekend games will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks. Tennessee looks to keep the hot bats going that it had in Sunday’s series finale at LSU when the Big Orange struck for 14 runs on 17 hits against the Tigers.
Florida (25-5, 7-2 SEC) brings with it a very potent offense, one that ranks top-10 nationally in batting average, scoring, hits and homers. That offensive attack will look to be slowed by Tennessee’s pitching which ranks No. 2 in the country in both ERA (2.72) and WHIP (1.03) and features Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List honoreesChase Dollander and Chase Burns.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
For the most updated gameday information related to Tennessee baseball, please visit our Gameday Central page by clicking HERE. The baseball Gameday Central page contains info in regard to tickets, parking, stadium policies and more.
TICKET INFORMATION
Season and single-game tickets for all remaining home contests are SOLD OUT. Limited standing room only tickets will go on sale for all games two hours prior to first pitch at the Lindsey Nelson Stadium ticket office.
Single-game tickets for all games can also be purchased through Ticketmaster, the exclusive resale marketplace for Tennessee Athletics, by clicking HERE.
In order to keep Lindsey Nelson Stadium as full as possible, we are encouraging season ticket holders who are unable to use their tickets for a game(s) to transfer your tickets to someone else (Instructions HERE).
BROADCAST INFO
All three games this weekend will be televised with Tom Hart (PxP) and VFL Chris Burke (Analyst) calling the action. Thursday’s game will be broadcast on ESPNU, Friday’s on SEC Network and Saturday’s series finale on ESPN2.
The broadcasts can also be accessed on any mobile device through WatchESPN. WatchESPN can be accessed through the ESPN App, or online at espn.com/watch.
Fans can also listen to the Voice of Tennessee Baseball, John Wilkerson, and Vince Ferrara call the action on the Vol Network (FM 99.1/AM 990) or via a free audio stream on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics Gameday App.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE/PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
Game 1 – Thursday, April 6 (8 p.m. ET) [ESPNU] RHP Chase Dollander (4-2, 3.92 ERA) vs. RHP Brandon Sproat (4-1, 5.45 ERA)
Game 2 – Friday, April 7 (7 p.m. ET) [SEC Network] RHP Chase Burns (2-2, 4.97 ERA) vs. RHP Hurston Waldrep (5-1, 4.74 ERA)
Game 3 – Saturday, April 8 (2 p.m. ET) [ESPN2] RHP Drew Beam (3-1, 2.51 ERA) vs. LHP Jac Caglianone (3-0, 4.18 ERA)
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Florida leads, 154-94 In Knoxville: Florida leads, 67-48 In Gainesville: Florida lead, 83-44 at Neutral Sites: Florida leads, 4-2 Last 10 Meetings: Tennessee leads, 9-1 Last Meeting: W, 8-5 (May 29, 2022, in Hoover, Alabama)
The last meeting between Tennessee and Florida came in the SEC Tournament Championship when the Vols downed the Gators, 8-5, to claim the fourth conference tournament championship in program history.
The Vols went 4-0 against Florida in 2022, the last time Tennessee went undefeated against the Gators in the same calendar year before that was in 1994.
Tennessee has also tied its longest-ever win streak against Florida. The Vols have never taken six games in a row from UF and the only other time UT had won five-straight came between 1970-72.
NOTABLE
BATS ARE HEATING UP Tennessee is coming off a solid series offensively at LSU despite facing one of the nation’s better pitching staffs. The Big Orange batted .292 as a team and outscored the Tigers’ high-powered offense 20-18 for the series.
PLAYING THE BEST For the second consecutive weekend, Tennessee finds itself in a battle of top-10 teams as the No. 8/11 Vols host No. 2/3 Florida at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The Big Orange are 4-2 against ranked teams so far this season after sweeping then No. 12 Texas A&M two weekends ago before dropping two of three games at No. 1 LSU last week in Baton Rouge.
Since Tony Vitello became UT’s head coach in 2018, the Vols have posted 53 wins over ranked foes, including 22 victories over teams ranked in the top 10 and seven wins over top-ranked teams – LSU in 2023, Ole Miss (x3) in 2022, Arkansas in 2021, Texas Tech in 2020 and Florida in 2018.
Vitello’s record against ranked teams at Tennessee is 53-45 and UT has won 13 series over ranked teams since 2018, including five last season.
ROCKY TOP TRULY IS HOME SWEET HOME Tennessee has been extremely tough to beat at home over the past three-plus years thanks in large part to having one of the best home field advantages in college baseball.
The Vols are 100-17 when playing at Lindsey Nelson Stadium since the start of the 2020 season and continue to set attendance records along the way.
UT sold out 29 of its 45 home games last season and set new program records for total (181,517) and average attendance (4,221). 46 of UT’s 50 highest single-game attendance marks have come since the start of the 2021 season (all over 4,000).
The Big Orange have sold out 11 of their 20 home games already this season and have posted an attendance of over 4,000 in all 20 of those contests.
In its win over Gonzaga on March 4, Tennessee recorded the second highest attendance for a game in program history (5,037), while the March 7 midweek contest against Boston College came in at No. 3 (4,749).
CAMDEN SEWELL VS. THE GATORS Tennessee veteran reliever Camden Sewell has been at his best when facing off against the Gators throughout his career. In five career appearances, including two starts in the SEC Tournament, Sewell has carved up Florida hitters to post a 2-0 record and a pair of saves.
In last season’s SEC Championship game against the Gators, Sewell made his first and only start of the year to help lead UT to its first SEC Tournament title in the tournament’s current format and its first overall since 1995.
Sewell also shut down the Gators with six shutout innings to help the Vols advance to the 2021 SEC Tournament Championship game.
Gameday promotions for all Tennessee athletics home events can be found on the UT Fan Experience page by clicking HERE.
Fans are encouraged to download the My All App for their phones and devices this season. The app is available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store and will allow fans to participate in in-game trivia, the custom filter selfie cam and more throughout the year.
Friday SEC Block Parties
This week’s block party will take place on Friday night, prior to Game 2 of the series. Gates will open at 5 p.m. for ticketed fans on Pat Head Summitt Street (weather permitting). The area will only be accessible for fans with tickets to Friday’s game.
Friday’s SEC Block Parties will feature music, giveaways, face painting, food/beverage options, VolShop sales locations and Vol Network sponsor activations. Additionally, VFL Sterl the Pearl will join to add to the electricity in Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Food, drink, and anything else acquired at the block party can be brought inside the stadium. Gates 10A and 11 will be open for fans to use to enter the stadium. Fans may come and go from stadium to the block party as they please.
ON DECK
The Vols host Eastern Kentucky for a midweek on Tuesday, April 11, at 6:30 p.m. ET at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+.
Tickets for the game can be purchased by visiting AllVols.com.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The fourth-ranked Lady Vols softball team will step outside conference play this week as it plays host to No. 21 Baylor and Mercer on Thursday and Friday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium for the Tennessee Invitational.
The two-day tournament features three games on both days with Tennessee playing in games two and three on Thursday and Friday. Due to expected inclement weather in Knoxville, stayed tuned to @Vol_Softball on Twitter and Instagram for the latest updates.
Tennessee (29-3, 10-2 SEC) is coming off its fourth consecutive SEC series win after taking two games from Texas A&M on the road last week.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE Thursday, April 6 (All Times Eastern) 9 a.m. – Gate Open 10 a.m. – Baylor vs. Mercer 12:30 p.m. – Tennessee vs. Mercer 3 p.m. – Tennessee vs. Baylor
Friday, April 7 9 a.m. – Gates Open 10 a.m. – Mercer vs. Baylor 12:30 p.m. – Tennessee vs. Baylor 3 p.m. – Tennessee vs. Mercer
BROADCAST INFO Fans can listen to the Voice of Tennessee Softball, Brian Rice, call the action on the Vol Network (AM 990) or via a free audio stream on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics Gameday App.
NOTABLE ROGERS SHINING BRIGHT Graduate pitcher Ashley Rogers has been stellar in the circle this season and holds an 11-0 record through 14 appearances. The righty has an ERA of 0.75 and a WHIP of .64 – her ERA is second-best in the SEC and ranks sixth in the nation. Rogers is also holding opponents to 2.53 hits per seven innings which leads the conference and is No. 2 in the NCAA.
In 74.2 innings of work, she has 108 strikeouts to 21 walks while opponents are hitting just .108 against her.
DOUBLE THE FUN Shortstop Mackenzie Donihoo leads the SEC and is third nationally this season with 14 doubles. She also ranks third in the conference and No. 12 in the NCAA in runs scored at 1.19.
KIKI SHOWING OUT Senior Kiki Milloy has been on a tear this season and ranks at or near the top in the SEC and nation in several statistical categories. The Woodenville, Washington, native holds a .432 batting average with 14 home runs (t-1 SEC / t-3 NCAA), 1.38 runs per game (No. 1 SEC & NCAA), a .958 slugging percentage (No. 2 SEC / No. 5 NCAA), 23 stolen bases (No. 2 SEC / t-11 NCAA) and 91 total bases (No. 1 SEC / t-8 NCAA).
The center fielder also has an OPS of 1.499.
SCORING IN BUNCHES The Lady Vols are outscoring opponents 242-33 this season and are averaging 7.56 runs per game. The mark is tops in the SEC and fourth-best in the nation.
NATIONAL RANKINGS Tennessee enters the weekend ranked in the top five in all four major polls – D1Softball (No. 4), Softball America (No. 4), USA Softball (No. 5) and NFCA (No. 5).
SCOUTING BAYLOR
Head Coach (Record at Baylor): Glenn Moore (865-434)
2023 Record: 27-9 (2-4 Big 12)
Series Record: Tied 4-4
Last Meeting: W, 4-0, on 2/12/05 in Las Vegas, Nevada
Key Stat: Baylor went 4-1 last week, defeating both UTSA and Texas State in midweek matchups before going 2-1 against Kansas on the weekend. Overall this season, Baylor ranks second in the Big 12 in pitching ERA during all games, with a 1.73 team ERA. No. 1 Oklahoma is the only team ahead of the Bears. BU is aggressive on the base paths with 60 stolen bases this season.
SCOUTING MERCER
Head Coach (Record at Mercer): Lindsay Fico (28-64)
2023 Record: 12-24 (3-3 SoCon)
Series Record: Tied 1-1
Last Meeting: W, 12-0 (5), on 2/19/05 in Statesboro, Georgia
Key Stat: Rebeca Laudino leads the Southern Conference in hits (45) and steal attempts (16). She ranks second in batting percentage at .398. Tori Hedgecock leads in home runs (11) after a homer against Georgia Tech to record Mercer’s only runs for the game. In the circle, Grace Taylor is third in the league in batters struck out looking (22) and No. 1 in saves (3).
UP NEXT Tennessee heads out on a four-game road swing next week as it visits Virginia Tech for a midweek showdown on Tuesday before heading to Lexington, Kentucky, for a three-game set against the Wildcats.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Back at Haslam Field after the first scrimmage of spring ball, the Tennessee Volunteers competed their ninth practice of the semester on Monday to kick off their third week.
At the conclusion of practice, second-year wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope, along with offensive lineman Ollie Lane, running back Dylan Sampson and offensive lineman Javontez Spraggins met with members of the media at the Anderson Training Center.
Pope has seen incredible growth and development of his unit thus far in camp. The wide receiver room is one that has built strong players into stars in both years under head coach Josh Heupel. Pope noted that that success isn’t because of a rigid system, but instead finding ways as coaches to put players in a position to succeed.
“I think offensive football is all about molding your players,” Pope said. “You talk about Velus (Jones Jr.). He was a bigger slot. He’s six feet, 210 pounds, built like a running back and the toughest guy in the world. Jalin (Hyatt) ran 10.4 in the 100 meters in high school, has long-strides and a completely different skillset. Cedric (Tillman) is 6-3, 210 pounds and is a 50-50 ball guy. He doesn’t jump like Jalin but has a big catch radius.”
All three VFLs found their groove on Rocky Top, each easily surpassing 1,000 career receiving yards while Hyatt and Tillman posted 1,000-yard seasons, displaying how well the staff does catering its offense to the guys on the field.
“As an offensive coach, you have to tailor your system to the skillset of your players,” Pope continued. “I think even more, us being able to be successful with a bunch of different body types and skillsets shows recruits it doesn’t matter what they look like, these guys can put me in a position to win and help (me) get to where (I) want to get to.”
That ability to mold and excel is also a feeling that is experienced in the running back room. Though, in that room it is a three-headed monster of guys who can punish defenses in unique ways on the ground.
“I believe this is a good thing for our running back room,” Sampson said, speaking on the depth of the tailbacks. “You don’t ever want to be short or limited on running backs. We got a healthy running back room coming into the fall and it’s going to be really dangerous. We all compliment and help each other.”
It’s a bit of a different story for the offensive line, who is quickly working to gel with some new faces. It helps that the group has highly-experienced returners in Cooper Mays and Spraggins that can help acclimate the newcomers to UT’s high-octane offense as practices roll along.
“We have to keep pushing forward every day, building our limits and stretching every day no matter what we do,” Spraggins said Monday. “If it’s getting down the field, or pass-blocking or run-blocking better, it’s an inch forward every day no matter what until the time we put our pads on and play.”
The Volunteers return to the field Wednesday morning for their 10th practice of the spring. All practices are closed to the public.
Admission to the Orange & White Game on April 15 is $5 for non-premium seats, and all proceeds will count as a contribution to the My All Campaign. All seats can be secured now at AllVols.com or by calling the UT Athletic Ticket Office at (865) 656-1200. All open sections of the bowl of Neyland Stadium will be general admission seating. Start time is 2:30 p.m.
A transcript from Monday’s press conferences can be found below.
On getting both Squirrel White and Dont’e Thornton into the rotation at the slot position… “Absolutely, you can get both of those guys at the same time. I think another thing that you have to be conscious of is having guys being able to play multiple spots because you want your best players on the field. Whether it is those two are in that group or whoever, you have to have some guys play multiple spots. It allows you to do that.”
On how White and Thornton differ… “Body type for one. Donte’ is 6’5, 205-210 (pounds). Squirrel is 5’8, he is around 170 now. Both of those guys have the ability to run. Squirrel is more of a vertical guy. Donte’ can run, he adds a little bit more lateral, little bit more on the line of scrimmage. Both of those guys have a unique skillset that we are going to have to take advantage of this year and it will help us win.”
On Chas Nimrod and Kaleb Webb’s development… “Bunch of growth out of those two guys, a ton of growth. I think those two guys did a good job of observing the older guys that were ahead of them last year. You can see some of that start to play out now in the way they are moving around. They are both gaining more confidence and I think as we continue to finish this spring, you will see those guys make more plays.”
On Nathan Leacock’s development… “He has been awesome also, he’s been a guy that stands out. Physically, he is absolutely gifted, extremely gifted physically. The next biggest thing, and what he is starting to do and grow in, is more of the mental, detail, technical piece. As a wideout, I cannot be all athlete and get open in this league. There is a method to the madness. You have to be a technician, you have to be detail-oriented in your work and that allows you to create separation against some of the guys you will face in this league. He is a physical specimen, he has done a great job the last couple practices of starting to hone in on details and you see it play out on days like today.”
On Dont’e Thornton… “I think, skillset-wise, the tape that we saw before we got him shows you his skillset. Usually, when you get transfer guys, it is trying to understand the person. Dont’e has been phenomenal because he is all football. He loves it, he is in the building all the time. He is the first one in, last one out. He’s coming here in between classes trying to get extra work. Even days when he had not practiced, per se, he is the most exciting guy on the sideline helping coach other guys up. So, I have been pleased with him all the way through.”
On Ramel Keyton’s growth this spring… “Ramel is a savvy veteran. He is all ball and he has done a great job of taking that leadership role. He has been more of a quiet guy, just naturally, and I think he has seen himself emerge into that leadership role because he has seen a lot of football. In that room, he has seen the most ball. He has been here the most and it shows in his level of play. In situations where bullets are flying and other guys might get out of wack, Ramel is cool, calm and collected, and that allows him to make plays in those situations.”
On what he expects from his unit this season… “I think that is to be seen. That is why you have to stay in it, part of the word ‘process’ is you never know what the end product will be. We can start hot and not have the type of work ethic we want and things go the opposite way. We could start not the way we want to and start to work and prepare the right way and get things going. I think that is always to be seen; my main focus is not really the end result or production. I just want to see these kids operate, I want to see them build habits because those are ultimately what is going to take over when bullets are flying.”
On how comfortable he is in his second year as a wide receiver coach… “At this level you never want to feel comfortable. I think a continuous pursuit of growth is what I try to maintain. In this league alone, if you feel comfortable in an instant, you’re probably getting worse. For me it’s continuing to be aware of my players, what they need and to put pressure on myself every day.”
On molding the position to different players’ skillsets… “I think offensive football is all about molding your players. You talk about Velus (Jones Jr.), he was a bigger slot, he’s six feet, 210 pounds, built like a running back and the toughest guy in the world. Jalin (Hyatt) ran 10.4 in the 100 meters in high school, has long-strides and a completely different skillset. Cedric (Tillman) is 6-3, 210 pounds and is a 50-50 ball guy. He doesn’t jump like Jalin but has a big catch radius. As an offensive coach, you have to tailor your system to the skillset of your players. I think even more, us being able to be successful with a bunch of different body types and skillsets shows recruits it doesn’t matter what they look like, these guys can put me in a position to win and help (me) get to where (I) want to get to.”
On Cameron Seldon’s versatility as a running back and wide receiver… “We’re always lobbying for athletes in the wide receiver room, but ultimately want what’s best for the team. He’s doing a great job at that position (running back). Once he masters it, we can move him onto some other things. He’s done a phenomenal job of catching on and getting things to where they are.”
On running four-receiver formations… “I think ultimately that comes down to matchups. If we feel like we have a better matchup with a tight end, we have guys that can go in and fill that void. We feel like getting four wide receivers and 10 personnel on the field, we have multiple guys in the room that can fill that void. When you’re an offensive-minded coach, it’s not about what we want to do as coaches, it’s about how we can put our players in the position to be successful. That’s going to be our method here and until the end of it.”
On Chas Nimrod’s ability… “I think Chas has a shot to be really special. His versatility is the reason he has that shot. You can line him up on the outside and he’s smart enough to play slot. He’s nimble enough to get in the slot, make people miss and work through traffic. He’s got a big enough catch radius on the outside to hold a point and go get balls down the field. For him, he’s grown mentally. He’s starting to develop a mental-dominant trait, similar to the one Ced had where he just wants the ball in his hands. As a receiver, coming from high school to college, especially in a setting like this, that trait a lot of times has to be developed. That’s because you are playing against guys that are more physically superior. He’s got more confidence in himself, and that’s shown on the field. We’ve been pleased with him this spring.”
On the leaders in the wide receiver room… “A bunch of guys stick out. Bru McCoy and Jack Jancek. Jancek is a phenomenal leader, mark my words, he’ll be an awesome coach, an elite coach one day. I tell our guys all the time, leadership calls you when you aren’t ready, or even when you feel like you aren’t ready. If the group needs you to step up and do something, we have to be willing and selfless enough to do that for the greater good of everybody. There’s been a bunch of guys that’s stepped up and led, but those are just a few.”
On if there is an opportunity for him to take a starting position this spring… “I definitely believe so. Every year I’ve been here, I’ve come out with the mindset that there is an opportunity for me to take that starting job. Especially losing Jerome Carvin this season, I think it’s a big opportunity for me to step up in there. I’ve learned behind a lot of great offensive linemen in my five years, going on my sixth year being here. So, I’ve been able to carry over a lot of stuff. I think this year is a big year for me, especially this spring, to be able to start putting everything together, kind of step out as that leader and being able to take that position and solidify it.”
On how he reflects on the growth of Tennessee Football as a Tennessee native… “Honestly, I still think it’s pretty wild. I was recruited by Butch Jones way back in the day. I played three years for Jeremy Pruitt, now seeing where we are at from where we were, it’s a night and day difference. The attitude in the complex is completely different. Everybody has a different mindset when they come in here – that it’s time to work. There’s nobody that’s wishy-washy about it, everybody has bought in and it’s a whole new mindset and culture that coach Heupel has done a really good job of, investing in and building that team chemistry with everybody. Like I said, it’s just a night and day difference from what it used to be. “
On how much better he is compared to the 2021 season… “I would like to think that I’m a lot better from the first time that I stepped on the field. The 2021 season was the first opportunity that I got to get a large amount of reps in a game and start a couple of games. It was the first opportunity I got out there, so I kind of got a real feel of what a game is like and what it’s like to play against real guys. It’s definitely something where I’m taking that 2021 season and growing into 2022 and now 2023. Now, I know game setting, game feel and stuff like that. I’m able to build upon that with better technique, better hands and all of that good stuff to become a better athlete and offensive lineman.”
On how he’s improved after being at Tennessee for a full year… “I would say just operating in this offense. I came in and I tried to learn as quickly as a could, but when you get real game reps, you come in with a different sense of confidence. So, now it’s time to take the next step: being solid in pass protection and just operating quickly in this offense like a veteran.”
On how his role in the running back rotation might change this season… “I feel like with my progression, they might trust me a little more going into my sophomore year. But I believe this is a good thing for our running back room. You don’t ever want to be short or limited on running backs. Last year we were a little short, but we were all able to get through that season. Jabari Small did get banged up a few times, but we got a healthy running back room coming into the fall and it’s going to be really dangerous. We all compliment and help each other.”
On how he improves his pass protection… “Diving in the playbook, being locked in on details and calls, all the calls, knowing where my eyes start, being physical, that’s all of the things I’ve been working on. I’ve been doing pretty good on the back half of the season and going into the spring as a whole.”
On the new-look offensive line… “Of course there are missing pieces that you want to fill, but as far as the guys that are still here, you want to be the guy that gives another guy the call because he doesn’t know and he’s new. You want to make sure he’s alright through every play and it’s not a pressure thing. It’s the same feeling, but it’s the want to have that guy next to you to be able to do what the previous guy did. It’s an everyday thing, getting our toes wet.”
On how he felt like the offensive line performed in the scrimmage on Saturday… “I wouldn’t say it was bad or the best. We have to keep pushing forward every day, building our limits and stretching every day no matter what we do. If it’s getting down the field, or pass-blocking or run-blocking better, it’s an inch forward every day no matter what until the time we put our pads on and play.”
On the successes his teammates have had and how that motivates him… “It was motivation for me last year and the year before that. As soon as Darnell (Wright) lined up next to me, I knew that this guy is going to be here and I’m going to give my best effort. So, he can show these guys on film that this right guard is a guy too. From the moment Darnell moved from the left side to the right side, I just had that mentality. I knew he was going to work hard. I’m going to do what this guy next to me is doing. This my dog, and I’m going to try to work harder than him. That guy and Jerome (Carvin) are some dudes. Everyday consistency and pride in being an offensive lineman, taking the little things serious and showing the guys behind that this is the way to go.”
