Oliver Springs, TN (WOKI) Oliver Springs’ chief wastewater operator is now facing charges after an investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury.
According to the office, Travis Thrasher has been charged and indicted for official misconduct and theft for reportedly using more than $3,400 taxpayer dollars to buy personal items, including tires, gas and more.
Thrasher resigned from his position on September 13; officials say he paid the town a check covering the money he’d spent as “repayment.”
The investigation also revealed that the comptroller’s office had identified another, roughly, $3,000 in “questionable” purchases from town employees to include items such as food, auto parts, gift cards and more that were not properly documented.
“Our investigators identified a number of deficiencies within the town’s operations that must be corrected,” said Comptroller Jason Mumpower. “These include adopting a written credit card policy, maintaining invoices for purchases, and establishing more control over gift cards. The town must also enforce its disconnect policies for water and wastewater service and reconcile bank statements to its general ledger each month.”
The comptroller’s office’s latest investigation centers on Travis Thrasher. (Courtesy: Tennessee Comptroller’s Office)
Erwin, TN (WOKI) Thousands of tons of asphalt and rock later and in just 33 days, connectivity is restored to a small East Tennessee town as a portion of I-26 is reopened Wednesday in Unicoi County.
The small town of Erwin relies on major roads like I-26. Speaking to media Wednesday, Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner Butch Eley highlighted why getting this portion open was so important.
“The reality is, this means so much more than the assets that we’re putting in to the ground,” Eley said. “This is about community. This is about connectivity. This is about making sure that our people in this community and those around are able to access the basic needs that they’re trying to get to.”
Eley said one lane of I-26, in each direction, in Erwin is now open to non-commercial traffic. Commercial traffic is still being rerouted to I-81 and I-77. Additionally, wide loads over 12 feet still are not permitted on the interstate.
TDOT officials added crews used more than 5,000 tons of asphalt and 33,000 tons of rock to repair the bridge around exit 37.
Wednesday’s reopening comes after September flooding from Hurricane Helene closed almost 50 thoroughfares across East Tennessee.
TDOT officials give an update on Helene-damaged I-26 in Erwin, Tennessee. (Courtesy: WVLT)
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — After attacking their second open week of the 2024 campaign with focus and intentionality, the No. 7 Tennessee Volunteers enter the back half of SEC action with another home contest under the lights of Neyland Stadium this Saturday against Kentucky (7:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network).
Tennessee’s defense has been remarkable through the first seven contests of the season, holding each of its opponents under 20 points and ranking top-10 nationally in several major statistical categories – including third in the FBS in both total defense (259.0) and scoring defense (11.6). Rodney Garner‘s defensive line unit has anchored the special group, leaning on the culture and experience of the room to uphold the standard of elite defense on Rocky Top.
“We have spent four years trying to change the culture, trying to instill in these young men how blessed they are to have an opportunity to play somewhere like the University of Tennessee,” Garner said during his Tuesday post-practice media availability. “We’re always playing for something bigger than us individually, be it the T on the side of your helmet or the name on the back of your jersey. Those are the things we represent. I still like to be a little old school with it and instill a brotherhood.
“The older guys in that room that have been there and stuck with us since day one, they have been able to enforce some of those things and let people know that we have standards. This is what is expected, this is what’s going to be tolerated and what is not going to be tolerated.”
Tennessee’s wide receiver corps looks to carry momentum from a successful second half against Alabama into the final stretch of the regular season as the Vols play five games in the month of November. Kelsey Pope‘s crew took advantage of the open week, looking to narrow the gaps on a few close plays and finish the campaign strong.
“Any practice is extra reps to be able to get timing and experience with quarterbacks,” Pope explained. “Guys have been staying after practice all season long but being a lot more intentional in that stuff as of late. To what I alluded to before, guys are hungry because they sense how close we are. I think they’re willing to do whatever it takes to make sure going down this stretch that we finish strong, and we end up making those plays.”
Full comments from Garner and Pope along with select quotes from sophomore defensive back Jermod McCoy, junior defensive lineman Jaxson Moi and redshirt junior defensive back Andre Turrentine can be viewed below.
Tennessee Football Press Conference | Oct. 29, 2024
On if it has been a surprise how impressive the defensive line has been this season… “Obviously, I feel like we’ve done some good things, but there are a lot of things that we need to do a lot better at as far as improving our play. That’s been the challenge week-in and week-out is to try to make sure that we stay focused and keep the main thing the main thing. There’s just so many areas when you sit there and watch the film, critique it and are being truly honest with what’s taking place, that guys see that there is so much room for improvement. Communication, getting people on the same page, being fundamental and using the right techniques and fundamentals where now they can be more productive and even better players. That is our challenge. We spent the off week trying to improve and work on us. Now, we’re back into the scheme and getting ready for Kentucky.”
On the defense keeping their edge for an entire season… “I do think that the depth of the room and the way we’ve played in the room is healthy competition. It creates guys that know that they have to play hard and physically or they’re going to be out sitting over with me. They have a choice, and every man gets to make that choice. Based on those choices and how they perform, that determines how much they’re going to play. The guys have been very good and responsive. That’s the one thing I do like about the room. I like the camaraderie in the room. I don’t feel like there is any jealousy in the room. I think the guys really enjoy playing for one another. They have fun playing together, and they seem to do a really good job of encouraging, critiquing, coaching and pushing each other where it’s not always 100 percent coach led. That’s where I do think we are making some progress in that area when it’s peer led.”
On how the room got to the point of having no jealousy… “We spent four years trying to change the culture, trying to instill in these young men how blessed they are to have an opportunity to play somewhere like the University of Tennessee. What an honor it is to have a T on the side of your helmet. We’re always playing for something bigger than us individually, be it the T on the side of your helmet or the name on the back of your jersey. Those are the things we represent. I still like to be a little old school with it and instill a brotherhood, just thinking about when I played, how close I was to my teammates and the accountability piece that we tried to hold each other to. Obviously, as a freshman, we had to learn that too from older guys. The older guys in that room that have been there and stuck with us since day one, they have been able to enforce some of those things and let people know that we have standards. This is what is expected, this is what’s going to be tolerated and what is not going to be tolerated.”
On Jaxson Moi and his Polynesian culture… “He is the first one that I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to coach. I came up second with (Breiden) Fehoko when he came up, and he ended up going to LSU. Coach O (Ed Orgeron) sold him, he was the defensive line coach. I still maintain a great relationship with the kid and his family, so having a chance to coach Jaxson has been a joy. It’s everything that I dreamt that it would be. What he stands for, his character and his work ethic have been really good for that room. He has fit in great with that room. I’m really excited about continuing to see his growth because I do think that he has true, natural leadership ability. In this generation, that stuff is getting harder and harder to find. When you have it and you find it, you have to cherish it. I’m really excited about where he’s headed and what he can mean to our program in the direction that we want our program to continue to go in.”
On how he evaluates James Pearce Jr. beyond stats… “I think if you ask James, just like if you ask anybody, I think he would have to be totally honest with you and say there’s room for improvement. It’s not always about stats. It’s making sure that we’re doing everything within the system, within the scheme, making sure that we’re executing at a high level. Like I tell the guys all the time, anytime that we can learn to put aside our personal goals and ambitions and put the team goals and ambitions first, then at the end of the day they’re going to reap the rewards individually because if we do good as a team and we win at a high level, I do believe that we don’t have enough guys for all the accolades that could come. I’m just trying to stress that team concept and us doing things as a team and doing things for Tennessee and not for individuals, but I think he’s progressing and I think he’s making strides and he’s heading in the right direction. So, we hope that he will continue to peak as we’re going through this stretch right here.”
On what has stood out about Dominic Bailey this season… “The thing about Dom that I admire, he’s a young man that wasn’t given anything, especially probably by me. When I first got here, I had question marks about Dom. He’s a kid who has really bought into what we’re doing and how we want to go about things. He’s changed his attitude, he’s doing those little things. He’s worked himself into being a pretty good football player. I still think there’s even more for him to grow and I think it’s important to him. He shows up to work every day. He has a good attitude and I think he’s made of the right stuff and I think he cares about his teammates and I think he cares about this institution.”
On how to handle Squirrel White’s playing time amidst his injury… “Yeah, I think that’s a fine line you have to draw. I think what gives you the best idea of that is how he handles it in practice. I think every play has a lifespan of its own. With guys like that, I think you have to be in tune and be intentional with how they look, how they respond. I think each play you’re assessing exactly where you are, as far as how comfortable those type of guys are out there.”
On how the receivers have been able to get open down the field the last several games… “I think on the perimeter, we see on film every week how close we are to connecting on those big ones. They won’t always happen, but I think showing guys each week, ‘We’re a depth here away or ball location here away or concentration catch here away.’ I think showing those guys how close we are better emphasizes that we have to continue doing what we are doing, and it’s only a matter of time before you connect on those. I think ultimately when we do, we’ll feel a lot different.”
On how much can be done to work on timing in the passing game during an open week… “Any practice is extra reps to be able to get timing and be able to get experience with quarterbacks. Guys have been staying after practice all season long but being a lot more intentional in that stuff as of late. To what I alluded to before, guys are hungry because they sense how close we are. I think they’re willing to do whatever it takes to make sure going down this stretch that we finish strong, and we end up making those plays.”
On how Chris Brazzell II’s game-winning catch against Alabama can jumpstart his production down the stretch… “I think anytime you make plays in a game like that, big time play in that type of atmosphere, naturally you gain confidence. I think when you go back and you look at the film, you see all the things that you did great, but you combine those with, ‘Man, I could’ve cleaned this up here, or I could’ve had another two or three here.’ I think that gives you more fuel to pair with that confidence to continue to work and really check off those boxes. So absolutely, those plays give you confidence, but more importantly, we have to channel that in the right way and detail the things we need to detail to make more plays like that.”
On the different things that can lead to bad timing in the passing game… “The best athletes, regardless of whose fault, take accountability in every sport. What could I have done better to make that play? I played the position and my response was always, ‘I’m not going to be the one to be responsible for an incompletion.’ And that has been my message to these guys. No matter where the location is, ball is low or not thrown, it doesn’t matter. I have to be available, and I have to be ready to make a play whenever that time comes. That’s ultimately why we play wideout, is you have to be a playmaker. That’s just a part of our job. That’s kind of the message, not to necessarily point the finger of whose fault, but what could I have done to get the job done a little bit better.”
On if the receivers took their confidence from the second half against Alabama into the bye week… “Yeah, I think first half we didn’t score at all, and then second half you come out and you finally get it started on offense. I absolutely think naturally you gain some confidence. Leaving that game, leaving a couple games this year though, we still haven’t seen our best be put on tape yet. I think what’s unique about this team is most offenses, most players feel that and they tend to pull up or isolate themselves, paralyze themselves. I truly feel like these guys are hungry to go get things fixed every week. You’ve got no idea when that thing is going to get turned over, but you give yourself a chance as long as you continue to work at it and as long as you’re intentional with that work. And that’s what these guys have been doing.”
On the progress of freshman wide receiver Mike Matthews… “Yeah, Mike’s flashed at times, he’s got a really bright future here. I think a lot of stuff comes with experience. Being a freshman in this league is hard, there’s growing pains in this league. I think as long as he continues to do what he’s doing, he’s staying positive, he’s working his butt off. I think as long as he continues to do those things, it’s only a matter of time before he starts to see the plays being made that he wants. That’s the thing, he wants to make plays. He wants to be on the field in critical situations, and he wants to get better. His attitude as of late has been awesome, and that’s what he’s working towards.”
On how he treats younger receivers with so many freshman receivers playing large roles across the country… “Yeah, I think older guys are critical in those types of situations. This age we live in now, everything is visible. You can see everything all across the country right in the blink of an eye. That absolutely has an effect on it. What these guys have to learn at a young age is, I have to run my own race. My race is different from this guy playing here or this guy playing here. You ultimately don’t know where you or them will end up, but what happens is if I’m looking at someone else’s plate and I’m not looking at my own food, my food gets cold and I’m not able to take advantage of my own opportunity. What (Mike Matthews) has done, he’s done an incredible job of not paying attention to outside factors. He could be, but at least around me, around this building, he’s dialed in, he’s got a great attitude, he’s hungry. That doesn’t mean he’s not frustrated. He’s hungry and that’s all I can ask for. Like I said, he’s got a really bright future here because he’s got that attitude, and it’s only a matter of time before he starts to make those plays.”
On what the receivers can do to play better in the first half of future games… “I think don’t press. These guys understand we have to make more plays as an offense, not just the receiver room. I think once you start to press, that creates anxiety, and then I’m not being natural and playing football. I think all these guys have to focus on is, how do I do my job to the best of my ability. It’s that simple. If we do that, every position, every play, man we’ll continue to roll, and you’ll start to see explosive plays. You’ll start to see more of the high-power that these guys are wanting to see.”
On the most encouraging thing he has seen from Dont’e Thornton Jr. … “His positivity. I spoke to it this offseason. He’s had every reason to go the opposite way. He’s dealt with injuries. He’s had tough spurts at times in his play between this year and last year. What that kid has done, he responds to adversity, he responds to success the same way. He goes and works hard, he’s positive and that’s why good things continue to happen to him. He comes in the building with a great attitude every day and that’s all you can ask for. For him, the refreshing thing as coaches, you see a guy that’s continuing to respond no matter what happens, and as a coach that’s all I can ask for.”
On what allowed him to transition well into Tennessee… “Preparation. I’ve done a lot of studying and extra work to try and find a way to stay on top of everything.”
On what aspect of his game he is most proud of… “I like the way I’m more locked in on details. I was young at my old school and was out there playing. I didn’t do a lot of studying. I would just go out there on the field. Now I’m doing a lot more studying and the stuff I have to do to be prepared for the games.”
On why his play style fits the Tennessee defense… “I think because we play a lot of zone and man. I think the versatility between that helps me from getting different looks.”
On keeping egos positive in the locker room… “First I’d say it starts off with culture, and Coach Garner really builds that from day one when you get here. He lets us know we are going to compete, but at the end of the day, we are a family. A lot of people think you wanna be the only guy, but when you have others who are just as talented and capable as you, it opens up how many plays you can make yourself. They can’t just team up or game plan for one player when you have a whole D-line of great athletes.”
On Polynesian teammates Keenan Pili and Nico Iamaleava… “First of all, Keenan, that hurt me deeply because he’s like a big brother to me. Seeing him down and him being the leader of our defense hurt us emotionally, and not having that big piece there. I think the defense all came together and me personally and some others as well dedicated the rest of my season to him. He’s done so much for not only this program but for a lot of people here. We are trying to honor him in the way that we play and carry ourselves on and off the field. With Nico, he’s a baller. He’s a young guy, but he’s just so calm, he doesn’t let anything phase him. He’s a great leader, very soft-spoken, and very humble. The sky is the limit for that guy and I can’t wait to see all the great things he does.”
On the culture of the defensive line… “It’s made me appreciate it more and just being able to play next to those guys in big-time games. It’s cool to see how we all play off of each other and how we play complimentary football off of each other. One of the big reasons why I came here was because of the culture in the D-line room. I feel like a lot of the guys in the transfer portal, they can go anywhere and start day one, but I liked how I knew that in order to get playing time here, I was going to have to compete and earn my reps and earn the plays I get to make. When you get to the next level, that is what is required. I feel like coming here is helping my game improve so much and I’m thankful for the older guys that brought me in. Coach Garner, Coach Harbin, Coach Ayers it’s a group effort. I’m just thankful for all of them.”
On challenges defending Kentucky’s offense… “Their ability to stretch the field with, like you said, their ability to run two quarterbacks. They have some fast guys on the edge so their ability to try to spread the field. We have the same mindset we did last week taking into this week. How we are going to prepare for the QB run and how we are going to prepare for the guys on the edges.”
On differences from last year’s to this year’s defense… “Our preparation has not changed. I think it is a subtle difference in how we care about each other. How we are there day in and day out for each other on small things so we have each other’s back on Saturday. Whether some guy falls down, some guy is outside of his gap or somebody is getting beat, someone helps him over top. Just the ability to know that your brother is right there Monday through Friday as well as on Sunday and Saturday. Just that small detail has allowed us to play better as a whole.”
On what makes him believe that Jermod McCoy and Rickey Gibson III could be the best cornerback duo in the SEC… “Their ability to make plays on the ball. Their athleticism stands out of course. Their ability to make plays on the ball and confidence to make plays on the ball. Understanding where they are in zone coverages and where they are in relation to their man-to-man coverages. Understanding when to get their eyes around, when to go for a PBU or a pick. Understanding all the way to preparation and what we are trying to do in the defense has allowed them to play the way they are playing.”
OKLAHOMA CITY – Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy was named a semifinalist for the 2024 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, as announced by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and the Jim Thorpe Association on Tuesday afternoon.
The Thorpe Award is given annually to the best defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character.
McCoy was one of 15 defensive backs across the country, including four from the Southeastern Conference, to make the list for the prestigious honor. He is the eighth player in program history to earn semifinalist status, including the second under head coach Josh Heupel and defensive backs coach Willie Martinez, joining Trevon Flowers (2022). Eric Berry is the only Vol to ever win the award, doing so in 2009.
McCoy has been a lockdown corner during his first season with the Vols after transferring in from Oregon State. The Texas native has not allowed a touchdown all season and ranks fifth in the SEC in passes defended (7) and seventh in pass breakups (5), averaging 1.0 passes defended per game, which is tied for fifth in the league.
The sophomore corner also has two interceptions this season, which is tied for seventh in the SEC. Both of his picks have come in conference play, which ranks tied for second in the league.
Among cornerbacks with over 200 pass coverage snaps this season, McCoy ranks third in the SEC and 10th in the nation in coverage grade (85.4) according to PFF (played 208 coverage snaps). Opponents have targeted him 37 times and he’s allowed only 45.9 percent of those passes to be completed, which is the fifth-best among cornerbacks in the SEC with over 200 coverage snaps.
Against rival Alabama, McCoy logged a team-high-tying eight tackles (five solo) to go along with half a tackle for loss, one pass breakup and an incredible one-handed interception in the end zone while covering star receiver Ryan Williams that prevented a touchdown and was returned 54 yards.
McCoy was named the Thorpe Award National Defensive Back of the Week after a sensational performance at Oklahoma in Tennessee’s SEC opener, in which he registered three tackles, one pass breakup and an interception that he returned 17 yards. In the win over the Sooners, he logged 48 snaps and did not allow a completion, holding OU quarterbacks to a 0.0 passer grade according to PFF.
The full list of semifinalists for this year’s award can be seen HERE.
Three finalists for the 2024 Jim Thorpe Award will be revealed on Tuesday, Nov. 26 and the winner will be announced on ESPN’s live presentation of The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, Dec. 12.
Pigeon Forge, TN (WOKI) Sevier County residents and workers have a chance to get into Dollywood next month for a hefty discount.
The park’s Sevier County Days returns, allowing those who live or work in Sevier County to enter the park for a $5 donation to Sevier County nonprofits.
“Our area non-profits take great care of our community each and every day, but as Christmas approaches, the demand for their services increases,” said Carol Agee, Dollywood Community Affairs and Philanthropy Manager. “Sevier County Days is one way we are able to partner with them to help provide what they need during this critical time of the year. It is important for us and others in the community to provide support. As always, we encourage families in difficult situations to visit the area nonprofits for the assistance they may need.”
All people have to do is stop by a Dollywood ticket booth with their Sevier County ID or a paycheck stub from their job, proving they live or work in the county.
As a bonus for making the donation, the Sevier County Days ticket receives full upgrade value toward the purchase of a 2025 season pass.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The 15-year-old suspect in an ongoing Powell murder investigation appeared in court for the third time Tuesday.
Malakiah Harris is facing a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 13-year-old girl who was found one week ago on a trail off of Cranley Road.
According to court records, Harris met with the girl some time the night before, then stabbed her multiple times with a pocket knife, killing her.
The suspect’s appearance Tuesday was brief with the court scheduling a status hearing for Harris next Monday, November 4.
Harris has a court appointed attorney and is being held in custody until his trial.
Tuesday marked the suspect’s third court appearance. (Courtesy: WVLT)
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – University of Tennessee men’s basketball newcomer Chaz Lanier is a Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Top 20 Preseason Watch List designee, as released Tuesday afternoon by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
A 6-foot-5, 207-pounder from Nashville, Tenn., Lanier is in his first year at Tennessee after spending four seasons at North Florida.
The fifth-year standout is one of five SEC choices—the rest of the nation combined has 15—among the 20 preseason selections. The others are Arkansas’ Johnell Davis, Arkansas’ Boogie Fland, Texas’ Tre Johnson and Ole Miss’ Matthew Murrell.
Lanier is coming off a splendid 2023-24 campaign in which he garnered First Team All-ASUN distinction after averaging 19.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game for the Ospreys. He put up blistering shooting numbers, finishing with a 51.0 percent mark from the field, a 44.0 percent tally beyond the arc and an 88.0 percent mark at the line.
Synergy Sports labeled Lanier as the most efficient offensive player in the country (min. 15 possessions per game) last year. He was the only DI player to shoot at least 43.0 percent beyond the arc with at least 3.3 makes and/or 7.0 attempts per contest. In addition. Lanier ranked fifth nationally in 3-point percentage, eighth in 3-point makes per game (3.31), co-No. 19 in total made 3-pointers (106), No. 33 in free-throw percentage and No. 42 in scoring average.
The Jerry West Award Midseason Top 10 List will be announced Feb. 4, with the finalists named March 4 and the winner revealed April 4 at the Final Four. Each round, including the initial preseason watch list, features fan voting, available beginning Nov. 1 at hoophallawards.com.
In 2023-24, Tennessee fifth-year guard Dalton Knecht, now with the Los Angeles Lakers, won the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
Jerry West Award Top 20 Preseason Watch List Jahlil Bethea, Miami L.J. Cryer, Houston Johnell Davis, Arkansas R.J. Davis, North Carolina V.J. Edgecombe, Baylor Boogie Fland, Arkansas Caleb Foster, Duke Tyon Grant-Foster, Grand Canyon Meechie Johnson, Ohio State Tre Johnson, Texas Kam Jones, Marquette Kon Knueppel, Duke Chaz Lanier, Tennessee Caleb Love, Arizona Fletcher Loyer, Purdue Aidan Mahaney, Connecticut Zeke Mayo, Kansas Matthew Murrell, Ole Miss Kadary Richmond, St. John’s Hunter Sallis, Wake Forest
11/01/24 UPDATE: The man at the center of a nationwide manhunt for an East Tennessee murder is spotted in South Carolina.
Nicholas Hamlett, the man charged in a Monroe County murder, was spotted last (Thursday) night in a middle South Carolina town which prompted a response that included K-9s and helicopters.
Hamlett is accused of killing a person near Tellico Plains, then calling 911 using a stolen identity, claiming to be a distressed hiker being followed by a bear.
U.S. Marshals, the FBI have joined Monroe County officials in the search. David Jolley with the Marshals announced a $5,000 reward for anyone with information that leads to Hamlett’s arrest.
Anyone with information is being asked to call 911.
Monroe County – 10/30/24 (Story courtesy of WVLT) – The U.S. Marshals Service joined the nationwide hunt for Nicholas Wayne Hamlett, the man wanted in a Monroe County murder investigation.
There’s also a reward being offered for anyone with information about the suspect.
The situation is unusual. Hamlett is accused of not only killing a yet-unidentified victim, but also calling 911 after the fact using a stolen identity and claiming to be a hiker on the run from a bear.
Multiple law enforcement agencies have been on the hunt for Hamlett since Oct. 18. In a news conference on Wednesday, David Jolley with the Marshals announced a $5,000 reward for anyone with information that leads to Hamlett’s arrest.
Jolley’s announcement was joined by strong words from a representative with the FBI, who joined the search Tuesday, delivered straight to the suspect.
“Nick, let‘s end this peacefully,” he said. “Turn yourself in and have your day in court. The long arm of the law has a long reach. There’s nowhere to hide.”
Hamlett has a lengthy criminal history. Investigators said that he’s also wanted out of Alabama for a violation of probation. That probation itself a result of violent charges like attempted murder.
It’s that fact that prompted Monroe County Sheriff Tommy Jones Wednesday afternoon to give a warning about the man.
“There is a great risk to the public. The offender has a history. This is not an isolated incident,” Jones said. “There is a family suffering and there is a wanted, violent person walking our streets.”
While the conference mostly served as a warning to those in the area to stay alert and a plea for anyone with information to come forward, we also learned a bit more about the investigation itself.
Jones confirmed that the Monroe County victim’s cause of death was blunt force trauma to several parts of their body, including the head. He also said that the victim and Hamlett knew each other.
(Monroe County – WOKI) The FBI is joining a nationwide manhunt for the suspect in a Monroe County murder, Nicholas Hamlett.
He’s been on the run for days and officials say he called 911 claiming to be a hiker who fell off a cliff running from a bear, he was using a different name.
Police found the body, that has not been identified, and Stacey Payne with Crime Stoppers share their “X” post:
Police say he has ties to several states including Tennessee, Alabama and Kentucky.
Original Story: (Story courtesy of our news partner WVLT)
A nationwide manhunt is underway for a man officials say is wanted for a Tennessee murder.
The Monroe County Sheriff‘s Office in Tennessee is asking for the public’s help finding 45-year-old Nicholas Wayne Hamlett.
Authorities told CBS News that he has ties to Montana, Tennessee, Alabama, Alaska, Kentucky and Florida.
Deputies say on Oct. 18, a man called 911 claiming to be a distressed hiker named Brandon Andrade. He said he had fallen off a cliff while running from a bear.
The call was pinged to a bridge on the Cherahola Skyway in Tellico Plains. Search and rescue teams responded and found the body of a man with personal identification listed as Andrade.
“Detectives with the Monroe County Sheriff‘s Office Criminal Investigation Division and the Monroe County Violent Crime Task Force reviewed the scene and after further investigation, determined that the deceased subject was not Mr. Brandon Andrade and that the identification had been stolen and used on multiple occasions. Furthermore, a male that was using stolen identification of Mr. Andrade was discovered to be a Mr. Nicholas Wayne Hamlett, who was wanted out of the State of Alabama on a parole violation,” said the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Detectives said Hamlett used a false name when talking to Knox County law enforcement after making the call about the hiker and fled from his Tennessee address.
Police issued an arrest warrant for Hamlett for first-degree murder. He is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone who sees him should call 911 and not approach him.
The body was taken to the Knox County Regional Forensic Center for identification.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – University of Tennessee men’s basketball standout Zakai Zeigler is a member of the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Top 20 Preseason Watch List, as announced Monday afternoon by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
A 5-foot-9, 172-pound senior, Zeigler was a Midseason Top 10 List selection during his stellar 2023-24 campaign.
This year’s preseason list features six SEC players and 14 from the rest of the country combined. Zeigler is joined by Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr., Mississippi State’s Josh Hubbard, Texas’ Jordan Pope, Alabama’s Mark Sears and Texas A&M’s Wade Taylor IV in the SEC group.
Three of those six players—Zeigler, Clayton and Sears—were among the five Preseason First Team All-SEC choices by the league’s media contingent.
Zeigler averaged 11.8 points, 6.1 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game in 2023-24, while shooting 34.4 percent on 3-pointers. He led the SEC in assists per game for the second year in a row, earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors and collected First Team All-SEC status from the league’s coaches. He was also one of 10 semifinalists for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.
Entering 2024-25, the Long Island, N.Y., native has earned multiple recognitions, including Preseason Second Team All-America accolades from Blue Ribbon Yearbook and Preseason Third Team All-America designation from ESPN’s Jay Bilas.
The Bob Cousy Award Midseason Top 10 List will be announced Feb. 3, with the finalists named March 3 and the winner revealed April 4 at the Final Four. Each round, including the initial preseason watch list, features fan voting, available beginning Nov. 1 at hoophallawards.com.
Additional information on the Naismith Starting 5—there is one honoree for each position—can be found at the same link. In 2023-24, Tennessee fifth-year guard Dalton Knecht, now with the Los Angeles Lakers, won the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
Bob Cousy Award Top 20 Preseason Watch List Ace Baldwin Jr., Penn State Markus Burton, Notre Dame Elliot Cadeau, North Carolina Walter Clayton Jr., Florida Dylan Harper, Rutgers Dajuan Harris, Kansas Elijah Hawkins, Texas Tech Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State Malik Mack, Georgetown Ryan Nembhard, Gonzaga Jordan Pope, Texas Tyrese Proctor, Duke Myles Rice, Indiana Jeremy Roach, Baylor Mark Sears, Alabama Braden Smith, Purdue Wade Taylor IV, Texas A&M Bruce Thornton, Ohio State Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 7/7 Tennessee will begin a stretch of five games in five weeks to close out the regular season starting with a border battle against the Kentucky Wildcats this Saturday night at Neyland Stadium.
Saturday’s contest will be televised on the SEC Network at 7:45 p.m. and will be the sixth night game for the Volunteers this season. It will also mark the return of the “Dark Mode” uniforms, which will be worn for the fifth time since their introduction in 2021. UT is 3-1 when wearing its “Dark Mode” uniforms.
Tennessee is also in the middle of a four-game home stretch at Neyland Stadium, a place it has had tons of success under head coach Josh Heupel, having won five in a row and 17 of its last 18 contests.
“Another rivalry game this weekend. Night game in Neyland. Dark Mode. Looking forward to going and playing in this one,” Heupel said during his Monday press conference. “Need our crowd to be a huge part of the football game, and you know, this week we have to continue our preparation as a football team (and) get ready to go play our best football.”
One point of emphasis this week will be getting off to a good start offensively after struggling over the past three games in the first half. The Vols will look to build off a strong second-half performance in their Third Saturday in October rivalry win over Alabama in which they scored 24 points and had four of their seven drives end in points, due in large part to a gritty effort from redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava.
“I think that we’re going to continue to carry that on through the rest of the season,” senior tight end Miles Kitselman said. “Just continuing to pour into our guys about how big confidence is. It truly is everything. Nico is a young player, and this is a tough league. That second half versus Bama, I think we really saw what he could do, and the coaches are great at pouring into him and pouring into everybody. Just that our ceiling is so high, and we haven’t even touched it yet.
“So, going into this week, just trying to keep the second half momentum that we had versus Alabama, just keep it rolling.”
Videos and quotes from Monday’s availability with Heupel and select players can be seen below.
Opening statement… “Good to see everybody back. Another rivalry game this weekend. Night game in Neyland. Dark Mode. Looking forward to going and playing in this one. Need our crowd to be a huge part of the football game, and you know, this week we have to continue our preparation as a football team (and) get ready to go play our best football. You look at Kentucky, it’s a group that defensively is playing extremely well. You just look at them statistically. Defensively, we have to do a good job following the formations, motions, and control the line of scrimmage. Quarterback run game being a part of that as well. As far as special teams, they have a dynamic returner that can change the game. We have to do a great job against him.”
On preparing for two quarterbacks and leaning on prior prep against Florida… “I think defensively, you always have to know who the number two is and have a plan for him. It can be through injury or them playing multiple guys. Your defensive players need to understand what type of player that is. Certainly for them, quarterback running game is always a part of it. Second half of last week, played the younger kid. For us, we have to do a great job of controlling the quarterback run game. That is a huge part of it. Understanding that in this game, there are limited opportunities, and I’m just talking about possessions during the course of the game. All three phases have to play that well together. For us, within the scope of what we are doing schematically, play assignment sound, have to rally, have to go make tackles in space. And certainly, when its quarterback run game, your eyes, your keys, have to take you to making those plays.”
On slow first halves in SEC games… “There’s not just one thing. You look at a week ago against Alabama, turnovers on a couple possessions and missed field goals, execution, taking sacks in the red zone. It’s a combination of all of us being a little bit better, coaches and players together.”
On teams showing different defensive structures than prior… “There are always subtle changes in every football game. For a couple of weeks there, it was a little more dramatic than usual. Young quarterback (Nico Iamaleava), having an opportunity to see things. You hear me say it, he’s going to get better with every rep that he takes. Our players having a better understanding of some of that puts us in a better position to be successful.”
On making a case for College Football Playoff rankings… “You make your case by going and controlling what you control, which is your performance on Saturdays. Your preparation takes you there. We’re halfway through the conference schedule. There’s a ton of football. If you are worried about the end result, you’re going to make the mistakes you can’t afford on the way to the end. For us, being present, being in the now, preparing in a great way, continuing to grow as a football team. You guys hear me say it, players hear me say it, good teams continue to get better. Our best football is still out in front of us, and we have to go chase that.”
On playing three linebackers in favor of the nickel package in recent weeks… “There’s a lot of different reasons that you can get into your base personnel. That’s what you’re facing on the other side of the line of scrimmage, their skillset, how you want them to defend the run game, and what you want to play out on the perimeter. We’ve worked that all through the course of spring ball and training camp, having the flexibility and opportunity to play different personnel groupings to those personnels that we’re seeing from the other side of the football. They train that way and have executed really well in it.”
On how high of a level Jermod McCoy is playing at right now… “It is never perfect. You’re chasing it every day. But he’s playing really good football, playing with great discipline at the line of scrimmage in his press technique. He has the athletic traits to recover when it’s not perfect at the line of scrimmage. He’s doing a great job of playing the 50-50 ball, back shoulder fades or vertically all the way down the football field. That comes from his maturity, his fundamentals and technique, and competitive composure at the end of the play.”
On what has allowed Jermod McCoy to make such an impact early in his transition… “I think it just starts with his maturity as a person. Coming out of high school, what he did before he got on the field in three months at the previous stop in changing his body. A guy that was recruited to play some wide receiver, flips over to the other side of the football. He’s a sponge as far as soaking up information inside the meeting room, extremely bright. It’s not like you’re restarting every single day. He’s able to grow upon what happened the previous day on the field or in the meeting room and incorporate those things into his game. He’s got all the athletic traits you want, but again, his maturity is a huge factor in why he’s playing the way that he is.”
On young players’ ability to make significant improvements during an open week this late in the season… “I made the point to our football team the Monday after the last football game that how you prepare, it’s not just during bye week. How you practice, the immediate gratification result doesn’t come after one practice. You just keep stacking days, and good things inevitably happen. There are great examples of that on our football team during the course of the season. Every player, not just young players, continuing to invest and improve is really critical. If you start showcasing those things, being consistent on the practice field, it will translate over to gameday. That’s the challenge for all of us.”
On Mike Matthews building into a larger role down the home stretch… “Yeah, Mike has gotten some opportunities. I feel like there is a greater opportunity for execution at times when he is out there. Some of that is the guys around him, some of that is him too. We need him to continue to come on and be a big part of what we are doing here on the back half of this conference season.”
On competition along the offensive line and young players vying for playing time… “I want to see those guys continue to improve. That is in our team setting, some of it is in pass rush against the defensive line. Those guys are in a race to be ready to play.”
On getting buy-in to play defensive line on a unit that rotates heavily… “I think it comes from them being connected in the meeting room. Understanding those guys are playing at a high level. How playing multiple guys makes us better later in the football game and throughout the course of the season. When teammates recognize that guys are ready to play, they understand that they have earned the right to go out there and play. At the end of the day, it has made our defensive line and our defensive unit stronger.”
On facing talented SEC defenders, specifically Kentucky defensive tackle Deone Walker… “Your original statement is true. The difference in this league and everywhere else around the country. You are going to see elite players with great physical traits and athleticism. He is a guy that is a dominant player. As they move him around in his front, he is able to play within their scheme extremely well. He uses his hands. He is physical. He is active, disruptive. He is a really good football player. But, their D-line in general has great size and plays extremely well with pad level.”
On Kentucky’s second and third levels’ impact on the pass game… “They have length, athleticism. They’ll play multiple fronts — three-down, four-down, drop-eight at times. They play with great discipline, pattern reading and causing issues with windows. We have to do a great job of recognizing their rotations, feeling the underneath coverage and getting to the right spot at the right time with the ball.”
On what stands out about Kentucky’s front seven… “They have depth, they play really hard, linebackers have good eyes, so this is going to be a challenge for us for sure, just attacking this week’s preparation and just honing in on details and not taking anything for granted.”
On how beneficial this second bye week was for him… “I would definitely say physically more than anything, you get to a point in the season where nagging pains are starting to become more and more. So being able to take this weekend off and really just get my body back to where it needs to be and coming back into this week feeling really good. That was a much needed bye week.”
On what he saw from the offense and specifically QB Nico Iamaleava during the second half against Alabama… “I would definitely say in the second half of the Bama game you kind of see who he truly is and how he’s built and how he’s made and how he came back in the second half and put up 24 points against a really good defense. I think that we’re going to continue to carry that on through the rest of the season. Just continuing to pour into our guys about how big confidence is. It truly is everything. Nico is a young player, and this is a tough league. That second half versus Bama, I think we really saw what he could do, and the coaches are great at pouring into him and pouring into everybody. Just that our ceiling is so high, and we haven’t even touched it yet. So, going into this week, just trying to keep the second half momentum that we had versus Alabama, just keep it rolling.”
On playing in a three-linebacker set… “I think my favorite thing about it is obviously emphasizing, like coach (William Inge) said, having dual backers. Just showing that all of us can play in three different spots and giving a different look for offenses. It makes it tricky because they don’t know what we are going to come out in, our different packages. It has been fun because all of us just play free. We all communicate. We are with each other all the time. So, just being able to have three backers in the game, we get to rock and roll and go play.”
On playing for defensive coordinator Tim Banks… “Coach Banks is one of those guys you have to get to know on a personal level. He means business at the end of the day, but he is someone who truly cares a lot about his players. He is always going to make sure he puts his players first in everything. He is someone that makes sure he builds on people and does not put them down. So yeah, he is going to teach you what you did wrong, but he is going to make sure you learn from it. Not just yell without a purpose, but make sure there is a purpose behind it. It is awesome to play for him. He opens up the playbook, sees things that we like, asks us constantly what we want to do this week. He is open about making sure that players communicate with coaches, and it is not just coaches talking to players. It is awesome to be around him, and he is a great coordinator.”
On how holding teams to under 20 points plays into the defense’s mindset… “It is huge obviously. When we give up points, we are not satisfied. It just makes us more hungry. We know it is just little things that go a long way in a game. So, we cannot give the opponents a step. It had been a big milestone for us. We are going to continue to harp on not letting up any points and continue to see what we did wrong to even get in that place. Like I said, it is fun to be around. It is awesome. It is great energy. But, at the end of the day too, we know what we need to do and how we are going to go about doing it. Just making sure that we continue to grow from it and not get satisfied with just holding people under 20 points, but trying to get them to zero.”
On his growth over the past couple of games… “I’d like to say that I’ve come a long way, especially from not playing at all last year. From having a lot of opportunities to get playing time this year is truly a blessing. It all starts on the practice field. I’m very intentional in what I do, whether it’s reading a play or having to take on a defender in pass pro. It all goes back into what I do to prepare for games coming on Saturday. It’s just my preparation is leading to my success on Saturdays.”
On what he was focusing on during the bye week… “I’d say just not falling asleep or not treating this week like an off week because it definitely wasn’t. Just being intentional in my craft, studying and taking some extra time to study Kentucky and not take them lightly. It was mainly just focusing on my craft.”
On the emphasis the team has put on starting out stronger on offense… “It’s been a big emphasis. I don’t feel like it is nothing that the other teams are doing, but rather us shooting ourselves in the foot. It goes back to being crucial in the small stuff and being more intentional.”
