By Jimmy Hyams

HOOVER, Ala. — Alabama quarterback Bryce Young hasn’t started a college game, but he could start making over $900,000 as he cashes in on Name, Image and Likeness opportunities.

A Miami fitness facility owner is paying Hurricanes to promote his gym. Rival SEC players are pushing Milo’s sweet tea. A Tennessee player who owns a multimillion-dollar landscape business has hired teammates to peddle his product on social media.

Hundreds of student-athletes will make thousands of dollars because of NIL.

But not all.

Tennessee senior defensive back Alontae Taylor will not pursue revenue from NIL. Neither will Georgia quarterback J.T. Daniels or Georgia defensive lineman Jordan Davis.

“I actually haven’t tapped into Name, Image and Likeness a lot,’’ Taylor said during a session at the SEC Football Media Days. “Right now, my focus is on camp and getting ready for the season.

“It’s kind of late, me being a senior, kind of late down the road for me. …. Do I plan on (pursing NIL)? I don’t have an answer for that. But right now, my focus is on camp and this team and making sure we are where we need to be.’’

Taylor said he’s had a “couple of offers’’ but he wants to “focus on my body and make myself get better for the team.’’

Taylor said he already has a “lot to balance’’ this season: Football, academics, leadership councils.

Taylor did acknowledge that “some of our guys are running with that … and I’m really excited for those guys. I’ve talked to those guys about doing what they’re supposed to do. Make sure you check all the boxes that need to be checked, so that you don’t run into any problems down the road. … Be safe, be careful and make sure they do the best they can.’’

Georgia’s Davis said NIL is a “distraction’’ and he, like Taylor, wants to focus on football.

“Absolutely not,’’ Davis said when asked if he had an NIL deal. “I’ve kinda stayed away from that. I deleted social media so I don’t really have anything going for me.

“But I’m really proud of the players that are doing something and providing for their family.’’

Why avoid NIL?

“It’s a distraction and confusing,’’ Davis said. “A lot of rules and stipulations. … It’s more about football than Name, Image and Likeness for me.’’

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said players pursuing NIL could also lead to better behavior by players building a brand.

“Absolutely it has a chance to change everybody’s decisions that they’re making, absolutely,’’ Heupel said. “It changes the game.’’

Heupel said players need to be “cognizant of the decisions they’re making and understand that they’ve creating a brand, a resource for themselves so when football ends, they’re ready to attack life.’’

Heupel  said he and his staff are “constantly trying to educate them about positive posts and tweets and negative posts and tweets and what the perception of them is.’’

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By Jimmy Hyams

HOOVER, Ala. – Tennessee’s defense struggled mightily last year.

The Vols surrendered over 30 points per game, allowed at least 30 points to six teams, gave up over 400 yards per game, and ranked 11^th in the SEC in pass defense.

That’s not a recipe for success. Or optimism.

But Tennessee senior cornerback Alontae Taylor has unyielding faith in a unit that couldn’t prevent the Vols from going 3-7.

“My expectation for this defense is really, really high,’’ Taylor said at SEC Football Media Days on Tuesday. “I expect us to be the no. 1 defense in the country in the run game and pass game. Interceptions, whatever it may be. Turnovers.

“That might sound a little cliché, but me being a leader and saying what the defense has done in past and what it could possibly do as for as improving, I wouldn’t sell us short.’’

Taylor’s bold comments come despite the Vols being hit hard by defensive departures. Linebacker Henry To’o To’o transferred to Alabama. Linebacker Quavaris Crouch transferred to Michigan State. Safety Key Lawrence transferred to Oklahoma. Linebacker Deandre Johnson transferred to Miami.

Five other defensive players left for various reasons.

“We got hit hard on defense by the transfer portal,’’ said UT coach Josh Heupel, who noted that the Vols brought in, from the portal, two defensive linemen, two linebackers and two defensive backs.

Not only will Tennessee have new faces on defense, the defensive coordinator is a new face: Tim Banks, hired from the Penn State staff.

So why is Taylor so bullish on the Vols’ defense.

“We had a lot of guys come back,’’ Taylor said. “We lost (cornerback) Bryce Thompson (early to the NFL draft) which was a big bust to our defense. But we’ve got really great corners that stepped up. Got more depth in the cornerback room. I have a lot of faith in those guys. … We’ve just got to get more turnovers and be more passionate in what we do.’’

Tennessee’s pass defense was porous a year ago, and anything but opportunistic. It allowed 15 touchdown passes while picking off just five passes. Opponents completed 68.2% of their passes – 13^th in the SEC.

How can Tennessee take a step forward on defense?

“It really comes down to confidence,’’ Taylor said. “We’ve got to make sure we’ve got good confidence in ourselves and fly around and know the defense and the playbook.

“This playbook is a little different than last year’s playbook. With that, we can play a little faster, play a little quicker, stay confident and fly around to the ball.’’

Sponsored by Big Kahuna Wings: The wings that changed it all 

By Jimmy Hyams

HOOVER,, Ala.– When Tennessee reports for its first summer practice Aug. 4, it won’t be in the afternoon.

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel confirmed our earlier report that the Vols will engage in morning practices with players arriving at the complex at 7:30 a.m.

Heupel said when he arrived at UT, he had casual dialogue with the team about “things that matter most.’’

Part of the discussion involved practice times.

“Having done it both in the afternoon and morning,’’ Heupel said, “our players were interested in it. We talked about my experiences and our staff’s experiences with it and some of the benefits that come with it.’’

Those benefits outweighed the negatives and led Heupel to schedule morning workouts.

UT hasn’t had consistent morning practices in nine years.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey mentioned Monday that only six of the 14 SEC schools have reached the 80% vaccination threshold the league desires.

“We’re just below the threshold,’’ Heupel said. “It’s attainable for our football team as we go forward.’’

What is Heupel’s message to the players about vaccination?

“It’s an individual decision for everybody, right?’’ Heupel said. “It’s personal health, right?  I think you need to educate players to the benefits, right? And have a real conversation … about what the reality is.’’

Regarding Name, Image and Likeness, Heupel tells his players ‘’don’t forget why you’re here. It’s true when you’re 18 to 22 years old. It’s true when you’re 43, like I am. Don’t ever lose sight of what your priorities are.’’

Heupel said he expects his four quarterbacks to engage in heated competition this summer with some quarterbacks earning more reps and some losing some reps.

Asked about bringing in Michigan transfer quarterback Joe Milton after spring ball ended, Heupel said: “Competition is the greatest friend of any coach.’’

Heupel said Milton has a strong arm, is an accurate passer, is bright, has caught on to the system and has the mobility to beat you with his feet.

But that doesn’t’ ensure he will beat out Harrison Bailey or Hendon Hooker or Brian Maurer.

Heupel’s message to the quarterbacks?

“Go out and earn it,’’ he said. “It’s really critical your quarterback earns the right to be the starter. I think it’s important for the 114 other guys on the roster that they see the guy has earned it.’’

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