GoVols247: A Tennessee Volunteers athletics podcast

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Patrick Brown (from his house at an undisclosed location in Knox County) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss a Tennessee front seven that lost a couple of leading men after last season but returns plenty of potential and plenty of experience. The first segment of this episode focuses on the defensive line — an area of depth and strength for Tennessee heading into the 2020 season. Every contributor from last season’s team is back, and senior Emmit Gooden — arguably the team’s best returning player at that point heading into 2019 — will be back after missing all of last season while recovering from a torn ACL. How did the Vols turn a potentially huge deficiency into a solid unit last season? How much can that group improve going forward? Will this unit continue to be a strength-in-numbers group, or could some individual players emerge as stars? Will any newcomers or 2019 reserves force their way into the mix? Those are some of the main questions discussed in the first segment. Linebackers take their turn on the docket in the second segment of this episode. There’s no question that Tennessee will be challenged to replace the experience, talent and productivity of inside linebacker Daniel Bituli and outside linebacker/edge rusher Darrell Taylor, who were among the SEC’s best players at their positions. The Vols do have some solid pieces, though, and they have an excellent foundation piece in sophomore inside linebacker Henry To’o To’o. They also have some intriguing options who played smaller roles on last season’s team, and they signed several intriguing talents to add to the mix. Tennessee’s linebackers are probably the team’s most difficult position group to project in 2020, because there’s a lot of interesting talent and undeniable upside in that group but also a lot of questions and a lot of experience and production to replace. That group will provide plenty of interesting discussion for the next several months, so why not start now? The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Friday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker went into Fort Rucker Studio to briefly discuss some recent news before giving way to the main course of this episode — a lengthy discussion with Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt about how he and his program are handling this unusual quarantine period and an uncertain future that will (at some point) follow it. Pruitt recently sat down for a half-hour to discuss where things stand for him, his program and the rest of the college football world at the moment, and he offered some candid remarks about the uncertainties facing everyone and football’s proper place in the world in a time like the present. Tennessee’s coach also offered some interesting insights into his daily life these days, and how different things have been with him working from home in a house full of young children. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Wednesday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and special guest Jayson Swain (from his house across town) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss the shock to the system that this coronavirus shutdown is having on Tennessee football players. Swain, who caught 126 passes while starring at Tennessee from 2003-06, returned to Knoxville after his playing days were done and started a new (and equally successful) career in the radio business. He hosts The Swain Event every morning from 7-10 Eastern. As a former star and captain at Tennessee, Swain has a unique insight into just how weird it will be for the current Vols to spend such an extended period of time away from their coaches, teammates and sanctioned workouts. How will — or at least should — the Vols occupy their time during this indefinite leave from campus? How can a player stay physically and mentally sharp without the use of a full weight room and teammates to workout with in the complex? Is it possible for a player to do that? It's worth mentioning that players almost never, at any point in the calendar year, spend more than a week or two away from some kind of action. This will be a shock to their systems. There's no way around that. But how can that shock be mitigated in some way? Swain's as good a place as any to start looking for some answers, and this episode, in addition to being a good old-fashioned Swain and Rucker reunion, is a search for those answers. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released later this week. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Grant Ramey (from GoVols247's Blount County Satellite Office in Maryville) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to put a bow on Tennessee's 2019-20 basketball season and look forward to what could be a fantastic 2020-21 season. This past season was never a dull one for Rick Barnes and his Vols, who were dealt a crushing blow when fifth-year senior point guard and unquestioned team leader Lamonte Turner went down with a season-ending shoulder injury. Tennessee took a while to adjust to Turner's absence, and despite the emergence of junior forward John Fulkerson as a star and the remarkable impact from mid-year enrollee point guard Santiago Vescovi, the Vols remained an erratic bunch most of the season and were a longshot — not impossible, but a longshot — to make the NCAA Tournament before the postseason was cancelled because of the worldwide novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. What did we learn about the Vols this season? What went right, what we wrong and what was somewhere in between? That's the focus of the first segment of this episode. The future is the focus of the second segment of this episode, though, and the future for these Vols is expected to be bright. Tennessee seems to be a consensus top-15 team heading into next season, because most of the current roster returns and it will be bolstered by arguably the best signing class in program history — and that's not including the addition of Sacred Heart all-conference forward E.J. Anosike as a grad transfer, and the addition of Victor Bailey Jr., a versatile, ultra-athletic guard who sat out this season while transferring from Oregon. Why are people so excited about this team? Well, there are many legitimate reasons for that, and those reasons are discussed in detail in this episode. Past. Present. Future. All of them are discussed in this episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Thursday, unless breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Looking for some discussion on Tennessee's newest football commitment? There’s a GoVols247 Podcast for that. GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Ryan Callahan (from his house across town) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss in-state wide receiver Walker Merrill's commitment to Tennessee. Merrill — an Nashville-area star who has been on the Vols' target board for a long time — gave Tennessee its second commitment of this unique, coronavirus-quarantine period. What kind of player is he, though? Where does he fit in the Vols' system? What does his addition mean for this class? Those are some of the questions discussed in this breaking-news episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released later this week. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Ryan Callahan (from his house across town) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss speedy running back Jaylen Wright's commitment to Tennessee. Wright, a 5-foot-11, 187-pound star at Southern High School in Durham, N.C., chose the Vols over a list of offers that included Miami, Arizona State and Syracuse, among others. He became the eighth public commitment and second public running back commitment in Tennessee's 2021 class, and he also hopes to run track for the Vols. How much of an impact did Jay Graham play in this process? What kind of player is Wright? How do his skills project to the next level? Is he merely a speed merchant, or does he have the potential be much more? What's next for Tennessee at the running back position in this class? How much does the uncertainly of the Zach Evans situation play into that? Those are some of the main discussion points in a breaking-news episode that covers a lot of ground in a small amount of time. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released later this week. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Patrick Brown (from his house at an undisclosed location across town) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss Sacred Heart grad-transfer forward E.J. Anosike’s commitment to Tennessee on Friday. The Pioneers star chose Tennessee over the rest of his top seven, a group that included Gonzaga, Louisville, Georgetown, Wake Forest, Georgia and Boston College. Anosike, a younger brother of former Lady Vols star Nicky Anosike, spent the past three seasons at NCAA Division I program Sacred Heart, where the versatile forward blossomed into an All-Northeast Conference star. The 6-foot-6, 245-pound Anosike averaged 15.7 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists last season, shooting nearly 50 percent from the foot and also showing some range to the 3-point line at times. He did most of his damage in the paint, though, much like his older siblings. Nicky was a two-time national champion as a frontline force for the Lady Vols, and OD Anosike twice led Division I in rebounding at Sienna before embarking on a professional career overseas. What kind of player is the younger Anosike? How does he fit into the Tennessee program, both from a talent and personality standpoint? What does this addition mean for the Vols? Discussions on several of those topics — and you’ll probably like answers — are included in this breaking-news episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released by Monday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Patrick Brown (from his house at an undisclosed location across town) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss an offseason checklist of sorts for Tennessee’s quarterbacks and wide receivers. It wasn’t the spring anyone in the college football world envisioned, and some of Tennessee’s January enrollees — including touted quarterback signee Harrison Bailey and fellow quarterback (at least for now) Jimmy Holiday — had just three practices with their new teammates. In that sense, it’s tough to suggest anything has changed since the end of last season, when Jarrett Guarantano was the team’s primary player at the position. Assuming football gets going again at some point in the future, though, the opinion of Coach Jeremy Pruitt is that all five of Tennessee’s scholarship quarterbacks and Maryland transfer Kasim Hill (who’s a walk-on in Knoxville) have a chance to earn the first-team spot. Pruitt was clear about that early in spring camp, and he’s never been the type to treat quarterbacks much differently from those at any other position. You have to earn the job and keep the job, or someone else will be on the field. Will Guarantano remain the man to beat there? What will it take for him to fully re-earn his spot atop the depth chart? Which players have a legitimate chance to take that job from him, and what do they need to do in order to make that happen? All things quarterback — including Brian Maurer and J.T. Shrout — are discussed in the first segment. Receivers take the stage in the second segment, and there’s no shortage of things to discuss there, either. Tennessee has to replace a pair of special wideouts in Jauan Jennings and Marquez Callaway, and Tyler Byrd was a big figure in the locker room, as well, but the Vols do have a long list of intriguing options there. Can Josh Palmer translate his undeniable talent into a starring role as a legitimate No. 1 target? Will Brandon Johnson’s decision to redshirt last season and return as a fifth-year senior pay dividends for him and the Vols? Will Georgia transfer Deangelo Gibbs get and stay focused and take advantage of the same talents he largely squandered during his time in Athens? Will speedy transfer Velus Jones Jr. from Southern Cal make an impact? Will promising underclassmen Ramel Keyton and Cedric Tillman make big strides as sophomores? What about the trio of gifted pass-catching targets who arrive this summer? How much of an impact can they make as true freshmen. Admittedly, there are more questions than answers for the Vols at wide receiver right now, but they do have options, and some of them are exciting options. There’s a ton to discuss about that position, as well, and that discussion occurs in the second segment of this episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Thursday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Grant Ramey (from GoVols247’s Blount County Satellite Office in Maryville) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss Jalen Johnson’s decision to enter the transfer portal and what that means for Rick Barnes and his Vols moving forward. The 6-foot-7, left-handed Johnson was the highest ranked signee in Tennessee’s 2016 class, but injuries dampened the start of his career, and things never really took off for him in Knoxville. The injury to Lamonte Turner opened a door for Johnson to play a large role this season, but he averaged just 3.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 15.7 minutes per game. Tennessee will have another pair of five-star guards (Jaden Springer and Keon Johnson) in the fold next season, and Oregon transfer Victor Bailey Jr. will be eligible after sitting out last season, so it’s tough to see Johnson getting as much playing time for the Vols as a fifth-year senior. When seen through that lens, Johnson’s transfer makes sense for both sides involved. Johnson’s teammates have sworn for several seasons that he’s been one the program’s most talented players, and he’s always been a hard worker and great teammate, never making a fuss behind the scenes despite not getting as much playing time as he wanted. Those traits have endeared him to everyone in the program, and there’s genuine belief from those in the program that Johnson could be a really good player somewhere. The flip side of Johnson’s transfer is obvious: Tennessee suddenly has an open scholarship for the 2020-21 season, and the Vols now have a chance to go find a player — preferably a big man — who can improve what already looks like one of the nation’s most talented rosters. There will be serious interest in that spot. But what kind of big man should Tennessee be targeting. There’s a brief discussion on that toward the end of this episode. As with all breaking news pods, this was a one-segment episode, but there was a lot to discuss in that short time. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Tuesday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Patrick Brown (from his house and at undisclosed location across town) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss Tennessee strength coach Craig Fitzgerald’s move to the New York Giants and what that means for the Vols. Fitzgerald is widely regarded as one of the game’s premier strength coaches, so there’s no way to sugarcoat his absence, but Vols coach Jeremy Pruitt has a solid track record of identifying good people for his staff. Hiring good people means you have to fight to keep them and often lose them, but that’s better than not having good people, right? A move like this means there’s plenty to discuss, and much of that discussion is crammed neatly into this 15-minute chat. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released later in the week, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Patrick Brown (from his house at an unspecified location) convened via the magic of Al Gore's Internets to discuss the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on college sports and what options the Vols and everyone else have going forward. The first segment of this episode is a general discussion on where things stand for various college sports — fall, winter and spring sports — during this extended hiatus. Obviously this was shaping up to be potentially the best Tennessee baseball season in years, so Tony Vitello and his BaseVols came up a good bit in that segment. But football, basketball and other sports were discussed, as well. Football takes the stage by itself in the second segment of this episode, with a discussion on what kind of options Tennessee and the rest of the college football world has at this point. Tennessee has been through two spring practices. Some programs have had more, and some haven’t started yet. Is there any kind of a fair or fairish way to handle this situation? Those options — plus the few things we gleaned from this limited viewing we had of the Vols this spring — are discussed in the second segment. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released by Wednesday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. A mailbag podcast episode also will be published later in the week. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Ryan Callahan (from his house across town) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss Tennessee’s two football commitments from this weekend. Saturday was a big day for Jeremy Pruitt and his Vols, who added commitments from Alabama safety Edwin White and North Carolina defensive lineman Isaac Washington. Both of Saturday’s commits have been on Tennessee’s radar for a long time. White was offered within Pruitt’s first week on the job in Knoxville, and Washington has had an offer for a long time and re-committed to the program after de-committing following the departure of former defensive line coach Tracy Rocker. Washington apparently learned all he needed to learn about new defensive line coach Jimmy Brumbaugh, and he quickly put himself back in the fold. Discussion on White and Washington dominates this episode. What kind of prospects are they? Who else offered them? How much upside do they have? What do 247Sports’ analysts think about them? How did White always find himself around the football as a turnover machine last season? Those are some of the topics discussed in this episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released by Monday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. Tennessee’s spring camp is scheduled to start Tuesday afternoon. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker and Grant Ramey convened just outside Rupp Arena to discuss Tennessee’s stunning, come-from-behind win at sixth-ranked Kentucky on Tuesday night at Rupp Arena. The Vols trailed by 17 points with less than 17 minutes left but stormed back to silence Rupp with an 81-73 win that pumped some much-needed life back into the program at the business end of the regular season. How did Tennessee pull off Tuesday’s win? What’s gotten into John Fulkerson and Josiah-Jordan James? What does this mean for the Vols moving forward? Those are the primary discussion points of an episode that also features interviews with Vols coach Rick Barnes, Kentucky coach John Calipari and three Tennessee players — Fulkerson, James and junior guard Jalen Johnson. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released by Monday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio), Patrick Brown (from his house at an undisclosed location across town) and Grant Ramey (from GoVols247’s Blount County Satellite Office in Maryville) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss the latest on a Tennessee football spring camp that’s about to start and a Tennessee basketball season that’s nearing win-or-go-home time. After a brief discussion on the hot start of Tony Vitello and his unbeaten, 16th-ranked Tennessee basketball team, football takes center stage for the first segment of this episode. It’s been mostly — not fully, but mostly — a good offseason for Jeremy Pruitt’s Vols, who take the field next to start spring camp. A bulk of the first segment is answers to questions from GoVols247’s CheckerBoard about spring ball. Some non-football questions worked their way into the mix, as well, just for funsies. Rick Barnes and his Tennessee basketball team are the focus of the second segment. The Vols held off Florida for a much-needed win over the weekend in Knoxville, and they close the regular season with their toughest week — a Tuesday trip to sixth-ranked Kentucky at Rupp Arena, and a regular-season finale against 17th-ranked Auburn on Saturday at Thompson-Boling Arena. All things Vols hoops are discussed in the second segment. Topics include the breakout season of John Fulkerson, the return to form of Josiah-Jordan James and what needs to happen for Tennessee to get itself into the postseason. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released by Thursday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Grant Ramey (from the GoVols247 Blount County Satellite Office in Maryville) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss Tennessee football, basketball and even some baseball. After giving a quick shoutout to the unbeaten, 19th-ranked Tennessee baseball team’s hot start to the season, the focus turns to Vols football for the first segment. It’s a huge week for several former Vols at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. A trio of former Tennessee pass catchers — wide receivers Jauan Jennings and Marquez Callaway, and tight end Dominick Wood-Anderson — went through drills Thursday night, and results were decidedly mixed for all three of them. All three performed really well in some areas but underwhelmed in others and will look to improve on those areas before Pro Timing Day in Knoxville during spring camp. Two more former Vols — inside linebacker Daniel Bituli and edge rusher Darrell Taylor — are also in Indianapolis, and a breakdown of their upcoming performances will be included in a later episode. Focus shifts to Tennessee basketball for the second segment of this episode, and obviously that’s a much rougher situation at the moment. Rick Barnes’ Vols are heading the wrong way at the wrong time of the season, and it remains to be seen whether Tennessee’s postseason will even extend beyond the upcoming SEC Tournament in Nashville. Such is the nature of the current college hoops universe and Tennessee’s schedule that things could change drastically down the stretch, though. The Vols have just three games left in the regular season, and they’re against arguably the league’s best three teams — Florida, Kentucky and Auburn. Tennessee still has at least a small chance to play its way into the NCAA Tournament or out of the postseason altogether unless it wins the SEC Tournament, but there’s no question things are trending the wrong way at the moment in this sandwich transition season full of injuries and other frustrations. A discussion on all things Tennessee basketball dominates the second segment of this episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released by Monday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker and Grant Ramey convened at the GoVols247 Mobile Studio — a hotel across the street from Coleman Coliseum, in this case — to discuss Tennessee’s wild, come-from-behind, 69-68 win at Alabama and interview Barnes and several of his players. The first segment of this episode features a quick breakdown of Tuesday’s game — a game in which the Vols trailed by 15 points late in the first half — and interviews with Barnes, junior guard Yves Pons, junior forward John Fulkerson, senior guard Jordan Bowden and freshman guard Davonte Gaines. All four of those Vols played a big role in Tuesday’s win and had plenty to say afterward. The second segment of this episode features a more thorough dissection of Tuesday’s game — the highs, the lows and everything in between — and a discussion on how badly the Vols needed that win. What does that win mean? How does it change things heading into Saturday’s showdown with Kentucky? Is Fulkerson a legitimate go-to guy now? Has Gaines earned a rotation role even after star freshman Josiah-Jordan James returns from his hip injury, and when will James return from that injury? What does Gaines’ performance mean for Jalen Johnson’s role moving forward? How important was it for Bowden to stay confident despite a rough perimeter shooting performance and find other ways to score and help Tennessee win? What’s the immediate future hold for Uros Plavsic? Those are just some of the topics discussed in the second segment of this episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Thursday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Ryan Callahan (from his house across town) convened through the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to preview Tennessee football’s National Signing Day. The traditional National Signing Day has definitely changed since the Early Signing Period came into play, but Tennessee still has multiple spots to fill and a few of the country’s top unsigned prospects firmly in the mix to fill those spots. The first segment of this episode features a brief breakdown of the lay of the land heading into Wednesday. How much have things changed in this post-Early Signing Period era? How much have they changed for players, coaches and even for fans? The second segment of this episode is a more thorough discussion on the handful of players still in the mix for Tennessee heading into National Signing Day — including a trio of the nation’s top uncommitted prospects. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Wednesday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker convened courtside at Mississippi State’s Humphrey Coliseum to discuss the ugly second half that led to Tennessee’s 86-73 loss to the Bulldogs and where the Vols go from here. The first segment of this episode is a quick breakdown of Saturday’s game and then a trio of interviews with Tennessee coach Rick Barnes, Tennessee freshman point guard Santiago Vescovi and Tennessee redshirt freshman forward Uros Plavsic. Vescovi and Plavsic scored 16 points apiece for the Vols in Plavsic’s first career start, but obviously more went wrong than right for the visitors on Saturday. The second segment of this episode is a more thorough breakdown of Saturday’s game. How did things change so drastically in the second half? Are these Vols physically overmatched or just not tough enough, or is it both? How long will James be out after re-tweaking the hip injury that cost him most of preseason camp? What were the pluses and minuses from Plavsic in his first career start? Is there anything these Vols can do to prevent teams from punishing them in the paint? Is this a blip or has this season gone into a rough place for good? Those are the primary points of discussion in this episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released in the coming days, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. With football National Signing Day and two big basketball games on the docket, it should be a busy week for the pod. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Patrick Brown (from his house across town) convened via the magic of Al Gore’d Internets to discuss the return of Jay Graham to Tennessee and some major rankings upgrades for players in the Vols’ 2020 signing class. The first segment of this episode is primarily a discussion on the return of Graham, a former star running back at Tennessee who began his coaching career in Knoxville after finishing his playing career in the NFL. Graham then worked his way up through the lower levels of college as a full-time coach before getting to the SEC at South Carolina in 2009. He then came to Tennessee for one season in 2012 before going to work with Jimbo Fisher at Florida State and then going with Fisher to Texas A&M in 2018. Graham — who has worked with Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt and Vols offensive coordinator Jim Chaney — was hired to replace David Johnson and will coach Tennessee’s running backs, but his title beyond that remains uncertain. Graham was also a co-offensive coordinator at A&M. Regardless, Tennessee certainly is happy to have Graham back home, and a discussion on his return is the primary focus of the first segment. The second segment of this episode is a discussion on some things Tennessee might to do replace Kevin Sherrer, a trusted lieutenant of Pruitt’s who served as his defensive coordinator in 2018 and his special teams coordinator in 2019 while coaching the inside linebackers both seasons. A discussion on that situation and on the significant ratings bumps for some of Tennessee’s signees is the focus of the second segment. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released by Monday morning, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker and Grant Ramey convened at the GoVols247 Mobile Studio — Thompson-Boling Arena, in this case — to discuss Tennessee’s shocking 63-58 loss to Texas A&M and where the Vols go from here. The first segment of this episode is a brief rundown of the game and a trio of interviews with Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes, Tennessee junior forward John Fulkerson and Tennessee senior guard Jordan Bowden. The second segment of this episode is a more thorough discussion of Tuesday’s game. How did that happen? Why wasn’t Tennessee locked in? Why did the Vols get bludgeoned so badly on the glass? What in the world was veteran referee Mike Nance doing when he bumped Barnes and then acted like Barnes started a confrontation with him down the stretch? Did anything good happen in Tuesday’s game? How can things better before an upcoming stretch of games at Mississippi State and Alabama? Those are the primary discussion points in the second segment. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode — an episode focusing on Tennessee football — will be released Thursday morning, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Grant Ramey (from the GoVols247 Blount County Satellite Office in Maryville) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss the recently improved play of the Vols and their upcoming trip to Allen Fieldhouse to face the talented, scandal-ridden Jayhawks. The first segment of this episode is a discussion on Tennessee’s much sharper play in the past two games — a blowout win at Vanderbilt on Saturday night and a blowout win over Ole Miss on Tuesday night at Thompson-Boling Arena. Yes, the Dores and the Rebels are struggling, but both teams looked better against other SEC teams than they did against the Vols. Ole Miss, in particular, has looked good at times, building double-digits leads in three of its first four SEC games before getting run out of Thompson-Boling Arena. Have the past two games simply been a matter of weaker competition? Or have the Vols started figuring out some things with their new-look lineup? That’s the primary discussion in the first segment. The second segment of this episode features interviews with Barnes and Fulkerson. Both discussed the Ole Miss win, the Kansas game and, in Fulkerson’s case, a whole lot more. Fulkerson’s 12-minute interview was fantastically spastic. The third segment of this episode is a discussion on Tennessee’s trip to Kansas. It’s a huge challenge for the Vols, but that also means it’s a huge opportunity, and both of those things are discussed in detail in that segment. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode — a Vols-Jayhawks recap — will be released by Sunday morning. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker and Grant Ramey convened at the GoVols247 Mobile Studio — again a hotel, in this case — to discuss Tennessee’s 80-63 loss at Georgia, Uros Plavsic’s college debut and where the Vols go from here. The first segment of this episode is a breakdown of the Vols’ ugly loss in Athens. Why did that happen? Why was it so bad? Is any of it explainable? Those are the main discussion points in that segment. The second segment of this episode features postgame interviews with Barnes, Plavsic and freshman guard Josiah-Jordan James. All three were asked tough questions and, as usual, offered candid replies. The third segment of this episode is a discussion on Plavsic’s college debut — the highlights, the lowlights and everything in between — and then discussion on how he’ll assimilate into the Vols’ rotation moving forward. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Monday morning, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Great Ramey (from the GoVols247 Blount County Satellite Office in Maryville) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss the NCAA’s decision to rule Tennessee big man Uros Plavsic eligible to play immediately. Plavsic, a 7-footer from Serbia who finished his high school career at Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in nearby Chattanooga, spent one redshirt season at Arizona State before deciding to transfer closer to his East Tennessee home away from home. Plavsic’s initial immediate-eligibility waiver was denied, as were a couple of subsequent appeals, but Tennessee remained persistent and eventually got an appeal accepted Tuesday afternoon. What does that mean for the Vols? It means Plavsic is eligible to play immediately, beginning with Wednesday’s game at Georgia. But when will Plavsic actually be tossed into the mix? And what kind of impact will he have on the team in the short-term and longterm? What are his strengths and weaknesses as a player? What could his addition mean to the rotation? And what exactly does this change about the Vols this season? Discussion on all of those points is crammed into the quick, breaking-news podcast episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Thursday morning, unless breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Ryan Callahan (from his house across town) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss Tennessee’s addition of two high-profile transfers — starting offensive lineman Cade Mays from Georgia, and speedy wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. from USC. The first segment of this episode is a general discussion on the addition of Mays and the impact that will have on the Vols, perhaps as soon as the 2020 season if Mays is able to secure an immediate-eligibility waiver from the NCAA. Mays — a former star at Knoxville Catholic High School, the older brother of Vols offensive line signee Cooper Mays and the son of former Vols offensive lineman Kevin Mays — upset a lot of people in the state when he signed with Georgia over the Vols, but he had his reasons for doing that. Situations change, though, and Mays’ decision to return home is one that certainly won’t upset a fan base that never wanted him to leave home in the first place. What kind of player is Mays? What factors made this the right time to come home? How much of a chance does he have to secure eligibility for the 2020 season? Those are the primary discussion points in that segment. The second segment of this episode is a general discussion on Jones — an Alabama native who initially signed with USC when Vols’ wide receivers coach Tee Martin had the same position at USC. Why didn’t Jones have a bigger role with the Trojans? What kind of impact could he have on the Vols in 2020? How will he fit into the Tennessee offense? Those are the primary discussion points in that segment. Brief discussion of another power-program transfer — wide receiver Miles Jones from Nebraska — also is included in the second segment. The speedy Jones was a scholarship player at Nebraska and was a three-star prospect from powerhouse American Heritage High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where he played alongside current Tennessee wideout Brandon Johnson. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released later in the week, unless breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Patrick Brown (from his house across town) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss star offensive lineman Trey Smith’s return to Tennessee for his senior season and what that means for the Vols. The first segment of this episode is a general discussion on Smith’s return and the reasons he made that decision. There were risks associated with any decision Smith made, given his health situation, but when considering the pros and cons of the two choices, it’s tough to suggest Smith got this one wrong. The second segment of this episode is the audio of Smith’s public announcement, plus interviews with Smith and Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt. Both of them had plenty of interesting things to say. The third segment of this episode is a general discussion on what Smith’s return means for Tennessee in 2020. The returns of Smith and center Brandon Kennedy combined with the addition of five-star transfer Cade Mays from Georgia and the rest of the returning talent up front means a special season could be in store for the Vols up front. No wet blankets were allowed in that segment. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker and Grant Ramey went into the GoVols247 Mobile Studio — aka a hotel room in the Midwest early Wednesday morning — to discuss Tennessee’s 69-59 win over fromer Vols coach Cuonzo Martin’s Missouri Tigers on Tuesday night at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.. The first segment of this episode is a general recap of the good, bad and ugly from Tuesday’s win over Missouri. Sure, much of it — including the final score — was good. And sure, it was badly needed. But … there were some things the Vols could and should have done better, especially with ball security and valuing possession, and those things can’t be ignored. But most of the discussion in this segment and throughout this episode are of a sunnier nature, given the results of the game and performances of freshman point guards Santiago Vescovi and Josiah-Jordan James. Those two newcomers led Tennessee down the stretch, and their contributions are described in detail in the first segment of this episode. The second segment of this episode is an interview with Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes, as well as James and Vescovi. All three had interesting things to say about the game itself and the impact of the game moving forward, and in this segment you can hear their unfiltered thoughts straight from the source. The third segment of this episode is a discussion on two Tennessee upperclassmen — senior guard Jordan Bowden and junior guard Jalen Johnson — who had big moments in Tuesday’s win to potentially break out of their recent funks. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released later in the week, unless breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker and Patrick Brown went into the GoVols247 Mobile Studio — aka a hotel room — in Jacksonville to discuss Tennessee’s 23-22 win over Indiana on Thursday night at TIAA Bank Field, the home of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. The first segment of this episode is a recap of the good, bad, ugly and just plain weird from the Vols’ win over the Hoosiers. There was plenty of all four of those things in Thursday's game. The second segment of this episode is an interview with Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt and freshman running back Eric Gray, the Gator Bowl MVP. The third segment of this episode is a discussion on where the Vols go from here heading into the offseason. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Monday morning, unless breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker and Patrick Brown went into the GoVols247 Mobile Studio — aka a hotel room — in Jacksonville to discuss Tennessee’s first full day of on-site preparation for Thursday’s TaxSlayer Gator Bowl against Indiana at TIAA Bank Field, the home of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. The first segment of this episode is a brief discussion of the Vols’ first day in Jacksonville, including insights and analysis from Tennessee’s afternoon practice at the University of North Florida. The second segment of this episode features interviews with second-year Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt, junior quarterback Jarrett Guarantano and junior offensive lineman Trey Smith. The third segment of this episode is a discussion of those interviews — including Smith’s comments on his upcoming NFL Draft decision — and some discussion on an interesting note about an injury Tennessee junior tight end Austin Pope played through late in the regular season. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Monday night, unless breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker and Patrick Brown went into the GoVols247 Mobile Studio — aka a hotel room — in Jacksonville to discuss Tennessee’s arrival in North Florida for Thursday’s TaxSlayer Gator Bowl against Indiana. Jeremy Pruitt and his Vols reconvened in Knoxville on Thursday night after a brief Christmas break and flew down to Jacksonville on Saturday to start preparing for the Hoosiers. GoVols247 arrived in Jacksonville earlier Saturday to provide daily coverage of Tennessee’s first bowl appearance in three years, and daily podcasts will be part of that coverage. What is Tennessee’s mindset heading into its return to the postseason? Are the Vols just happy to be in a January bowl game, or have they arrived in Jacksonville determined to make a statement? Does anything that happens in this game change anything about next season? How are the Vols from a health standpoint? How will things look for a Tennessee offensive line dealing with the loss of at least two and perhaps three veteran offensive linemen? Who are some players who didn’t play much during the regular season but could be factors in the bowl game? Those are the main discussion points in this episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Sunday night, unless breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker and Grant Ramey convened courtside at Thompson-Boling Arena to discuss Turner’s shocking announcement that Saturday’s 75-53 win over Jacksonville State would be the final game of his college career. Tennessee’s fifth-year senior point guard has battled shoulder injuries the past few years, and he and his family decided Friday night that he couldn’t continue to risk worsening the injury and needed to schedule season-ending surgery. Some of the factors that led to Turner’s decision, the impact of Turner’s decision and a discussion on how the Vols can adjust to life without their leader are the main talking points in this episode. (NOTE: The sound quality for parts of this episode isn’t great, and we apologize for that, but this is news that couldn’t wait.) The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Monday morning, unless breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Grant Ramey (from GoVols247’s Blount County Satellite Office in Maryville) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss Tennessee’s midweek loss at Cincinnati and the reasons for the program’s first two-game losing streak in two years. Tennessee’s 78-66 loss at Cincinnati was troubling for many reasons, and those reasons are discussed in detail in the first segment of this episode. The Vols’ offense showed some signs of life after its dismal performance in the 51-47 loss to Memphis, but their defense was as bad as it’s been for a while, and it’s fair to suggest no one in or around the program saw that coming. Why did it happen? What possible explanations are there for that performance? Those aren’t easy questions to answer, but the first segment of this episode is an attempt to make sense of the situation. An interview with Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes is the second segment of this episode. Barnes, as usual, was candid with his remarks about the rough performances against Memphis and Cincinnati. Discussion in the third segment focuses on the potential solutions for Tennessee to work its way out of this rut. Is the sky falling? No, it’s not. But these Vols have some real issues at the moment, and it’s fair to wonder just how many solutions there are for some of those issues. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Monday morning, unless breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s full staff Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Ryan Callahan (from his house across town) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss Tennessee’s 2020 recruiting class after the program’s strong start to the Early Signing Period. There was at least a mild amount of consternation throughout much of Tennessee’s fan base during the 2020 recruiting cycle, because the Vols’ class looked solid but not outstanding on the surface for much of that time. For the second consecutive year, though, Jeremy Pruitt and his staff got hot late in the process and added plenty of big pieces. Tennessee added five prospects — including three four-star prospects — on Wednesday, and the Vols’ class is now ranked 15th nationally. And it could get even better in the coming weeks, because some big-time prospects — including five-star tight end/athlete Darnell Washington from Las Vegas — are still heavily considering Tennessee. How did Tennessee regenerate momentum on the trail? What kind of players did the Vols just sign? What are the strengths and weaknesses of this bunch? How much of a factor is Tennessee for Washington, elite in-state defensive lineman Jay Hardy and other unsigned prospects? Those are the main questions addressed in the first segment of this episode. A busy week of football, recruiting and basketball pushed the Thursday morning podcast to Friday morning, so the second segment of this episode is a staple usually reserved for Thursdays — answers to questions submitted by GoVols247 subscribers on The CheckerBoard. The questions ran the gamut, as usual, and as always there was a hand-to-hand combat question in the mix. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode — an episode focusing on the 21st-ranked Tennessee basketball team and its current struggles — will be released later Friday morning. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s full staff Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Grant Ramey (from GoVols247’s Blount County Satellite Office in Maryville) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss Tennessee’s ugly loss to Memphis and the challenges facing the Vols this week and beyond. Saturday certainly didn’t go the way Tennessee hoped or expected. Thirteen-ranked Memphis came to Thompson-Boling Arena down two starters — including arguably the top NBA prospect in college basketball — but still walked away with a jersey-popping, 51-47 win in one of the ugliest games in a fierce rivalry that often produces ugly games. The first segment of this episode is a breakdown of Saturday’s ugly affair in the Tommy Bowl and the ending of what had been an NCAA-leading, 31-game home-court winning streak. How in the world did that happen? That’s perhaps the easiest way to describe the nature of that segment. The second segment of this episode is a look at other questions. The most important question — “Was that an outlier?” — is the primary discussion point, but there are other questions to answer, too. What’s the latest on Lamonte Turner and his shoulder issues? What’s the latest on Jordan Bowden following his disappointing performance? Can we expect to see Josiah-Jordan James continue to increase his role after having much of preseason camp cut short with an injury? Why isn’t Jalen Johnson getting more time on the floor? Can some of these freshmen help transform this team as the season progresses? Obviously there’s a ton to discuss after such a miserable game, and this episode attempts to discuss as much of it as possible. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Thursday, unless breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s full staff Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Ryan Callahan (from his house across town) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss Tennessee’s 2020 recruiting class heading into the Early Signing Period. Second-year Vols coach Jeremy Pruitt and his staff hosted a long list of official visitors — including five-star tight end Darnell Washington from Las Vegas — on the final weekend before the Early Signing Period opens, so there’s plenty to discuss about all the moving parts that always go into the recruiting process. The first segment of this episode is a recap of the big recruiting news from the past week — and there certainly was plenty of that, with Tennessee adding several commitments and parting ways with some others before hosting a big, impressive list of visitors over the weekend. The second segment of this episode is a general discussion on where things stand heading into the opening of the Early Signing Period and how things could go this week for the Vols. Which prospects could sign with Tennessee this week? Are there any concerns with current commitments having a late change of heart? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the current class, and how much of that can change in the next week? What areas do the Vols still need to address? How many prospects still plan to be available heading into the traditional National Signing Day in early February? There are many questions to answer, and this episode attempts to answer as many of them as possible. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode — an episode focusing on the 19th-ranked Tennessee basketball team — will be released later Monday morning morning, unless breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and GoTigers247’s Christian Fowler (from Memphis) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss Saturday’s Tennessee-Memphis game at Thompson-Boling Arena. The first segment of this episode is a general lay-of-the-land discussion setting up the second and third segments, when Fowler arrives to deliver insider information on Penny Hardaway and his Tigers heading into Saturday’s game. The second segment of this episode is a discussion with Fowler on the drama surrounding all things Vols and Tigers the past 12 months and how much that has impacted the future of this series, and whether Memphis is more interested than Tennessee seems to be about continuing this rivalry in the coming years. The third segment of this episode is a discussion with Folwer on Saturday’s game itself — the matchups, the absence of Memphis freshmen James Wiseman and Lester Quinones, the way these young Tigers will perform in a sold-out, hostile environment like Thompson-Boling and much more. The final segment of this episode is something that’s usually reserved for the final segment of the Thursday morning podcast — answers to questions submitted by members of GoVols247’s CheckerBoard. And, yes, as always there were some hand-to-hand combat questions. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Monday morning, unless breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Grant Ramey (from the GoVols247 Blount County Satellite Office in Maryville) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss Saturday’s Tennessee-Memphis game at Thompson-Boling Arena. Last season’s rekindling of the heated in-state rivalry provided plenty of drama during and after the game between the Vols and Tigers. The first segment of this episode is a rundown of all that drama between Memphis coach Penny Hardaway and Tennessee coach Rick Barnes and their players, and where those actions have placed the future of this series after the current contract between the two programs expires next season. The second segment of this episode is an interview with Barnes talking Vols, Tigers, injury updates and more. The third segment of this episode tosses aside the drama and discusses only the matchups on the court between the 19th-ranked Vols and 13th-ranked Tigers. Memphis obviously isn’t at full strength, but the Tigers still have plenty of top-shelf talent and athleticism on the active roster and still have the potential to give Tennessee some fits in certain areas. All things Vols-Tigers is the talk of this entire episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Friday, unless breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Ryan Callahan (from across town) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss Tennessee’s Tuesday commitment from Jabari Small, a dynamic running back at Briarcrest Christian School in Memphis. Small — the nation’s No. 11 all-purpose back prospect in the 2020 industry-generated 247Sports Composite — decommitted from Ole Miss less than two weeks ago and quickly switched his SEC allegiance to the in-state Vols, who on Monday added a commitment from his high school teammate, elite lineman Omari Thomas. What kind of player is Small? What kind of impact could he have on Tennessee’s offense and special teams units? Why are the Vols so hot in Memphis this year, and is that a trend that can continue in future classes? Is there any concern that Ole Miss with new head coach Lane Kiffin will try to get Small back to Oxford? And why did Tennessee and junior-college cornerback Art Green part ways Monday night? Those are the main discussion points in this breaking-news podcast episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Thursday morning, unless breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Ryan Callahan (from out of town) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss Tennessee’s Monday morning commitment from Omari Thomas, a star two-way lineman at Briarcrest Christian School in Memphis. Thomas — the nation’s No. 104 overall prospect and No. 8 defensive tackle prospect in the 2020 industry-generated 247Sports Composite — had dozens of offers but ultimately chose the Vols over Auburn and Texas A&M. At 6-foot-5, 300 pounds, Thomas has been a two-way line-of-scrimmage standout at Briarcrest, and he could project to either side of the ball at the next level, but he prefers defense and Tennessee plans on putting him there to start his career. What led Thomas to Tennessee when at times he seemed a bit more likely to commit elsewhere? What kind of player is Thomas, and how does he project to the next level? Will his commitment impact the upcoming decision from Briarcrest running back Jabari Small? Is there any reason for concern that new Ole Miss (and former Tennessee) head coach Lane Kiffin will try to get the Rebels back into the picture for Thomas? Those are the main topics discussed in this breaking-news podcast episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Thursday morning, unless breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Patrick Brown (from his house across town) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss the Vols, the Hoosiers and the Gator Bowl. A weekend full of speculation ended with Tennessee accepting a bid to the Gator Bowl, so the Vols will play Indiana on Jan. 2 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. The first segment of this episode is focused on the process that led Tennessee to its Gator Bowl bid, rather than a bid in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl in nearby Nashville. There were compelling reasons for Tennessee to prefer both places, so there’s plenty of discussion on why the Vols ultimately insisted on Jacksonville rather than their own state capital. The second segment of this episode is focused on Indiana football. The Hoosiers are historically a Big Ten doormat with just 11 bowl appearances and three bowl wins in their 121-year history, and they have to share a Big Ten West Division with juggernauts Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and Michigan State, but they’ve gotten something going with third-year head coach (and Hugh Freeze protege) Tom Allen. They went 5-7 in each of Allen’s first two seasons but have jumped to 8-4 this season, with all four losses coming to ranked teams. Indiana and Tennessee have campus separated by just a five-hours-and-change drive but have played only once — a 27-22 win for the Vols in 1988 — so there’s plenty to learn about the Hoosiers, and this podcast episode can be the first step in that process. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Thursday morning, unless breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker and Grant Ramey convened courtside at Thompson-Boling Arena to discuss all things Tennessee basketball following a comfortable win over Florida A&M that sent the 21st-ranked Vols into a brief academic break with a 7-1 record on the young season. The first segment of this episode is a recap of Tennessee’s win over Florida A&M — a comfortable win that was supposed to be comfortable, but also a game that allowed the Vols an opportunity to play all four of their freshmen together for a good chunk of the second half. The second segment of this episode is a full recording of Rick Barnes’ presser following the win over Florida A&M. The third segment of this episode is a discussion on where things stand with these Vols — the good, the bad, the ugly and the unknown — heading into their break break for fall semester final exams and their huge game against Memphis next weekend at Thompson-Boling. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Monday morning, unless major news breaks before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio), Patrick Brown and Ryan Callahan (from their homes across town) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss a Tennessee football team that will take a five-game winning streak into its first bowl appearance in three years. The first segment of this episode is a recap of last weekend’s regular-season-ending, 28-10 over Vanderbilt — a badly needed win for the pride of the Tennessee program — and some discussion on potential bowl destinations and opponents for the Vols. That’s an interesting discussion, because projections for this bowl season are all over the map. A few bowls are the most discussed possibilities for a reason, though, and we discuss the reasons for that. The second segment of this episode features two main discussion points. The first is a discussion on the decisions of three players — veteran offensive linemen Ryan Johnson and Marcus Tatum, and freshman wide receiver/cornerback Jerrod Means — to enter the NCAA transfer portal and likely leave the Tennessee program. The second is a discussing on where things stand for the 2020 Tennessee recruiting class heading into the final two weeks before the opening of the early signing period. Tennessee’s class isn’t rated as high as fans would like at this point in the cycle, but there are still plenty of big possibilities out there for the Vols, and Jeremy Pruitt and Co. showed last season that they’re capable of adding some big names late in the process. Can they do that again this season? We discuss that and much more in that segment. The third segment of this episode is a Thursday-morning-pod staple — answers to questions submitted by members of GoVols247’s CheckerBoard. As always, there were some interesting football questions and some bizarre questions about hand-to-hand combat in the mix. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode — an episode with Wes Rucker, Grant Ramey and Rick Barnes talking Tennessee basketball — will be released Friday morning. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker went to Anderson Training Center to sit down for an exclusive one-on-one interview with Tennessee senior inside linebacker Daniel Bituli — an impressive football player with an even-more-impressive story off the field. Bituli and his family have have a remarkable couple of decades. Just 20 years ago, the Bituli’s had to flee their native Congo as refugees from the war-torn African region, and they spent time at a refugee camp in Cameroon before successfully petitioning their way to the United States of America. They didn’t speak the native language and lived in a tent and then a small apartment before getting their first American home with help from Habitat for Humanity. To say the least, it was a humbling transition for a family led by a father who’d been a mechanical engineer and a mother who also had a stable job as a secretary. Just 20 years after that, the Bituli children are thriving. Their oldest son, Randy, is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University who serves as an active member of the U.S. Navy and is stationed in California. Their middle son, Roland, is a University of Tennessee graduate who works as a financial adviser for Merrill Lynch. Their youngest son, Daniel, is a soon-to-be University of Tennessee graduate who has become one of college football’s best inside linebackers and almost certainly will be an NFL player in a few months. Their two youngest children, a pair of daughters, also have bright futures ahead of them — even though Daniel says with a grin that his youngest sister, the only Bituli child born in the U.S., has always been a little “spoiled.” Bituli’s life before he arrived at the University of Tennessee was fascinating — remember, this is a young man who admittedly looks at the ceiling every night before falling asleep and considers himself blessed to have a roof over his head — but his life at the University of Tennessee has had its own intrigue. Bituli has dealt with coaching changes, injuries and more losses than he ever imagined, but he’s emerged from all of that a better player and person, and he’s dragged plenty of his teammates along with him. In other words, Bituli is someone worth listening to when he decides to speak. His teammates certainly listen to him, and it’s easy to understand their reasons for doing that. He’s a maniac on the field, but he’s a soft-spoken, bespectacled, introspective person when he’s not wearing shoulder pads. And he can speak to you in three languages, too. So he’s got that going for him, which is nice. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Thursday morning, unless breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker and Patrick Brown convened at Anderson Training Center and then Wes went solo at Fort Rucker Studio to discuss the Tennessee football team and basketball team that are playing well at the moment. The first segment of this episode is a general preview of this weekend’s Tennessee-Vandy game at Neyland Stadium, albeit with a few specific themes. Tennessee’s senior class, the matchups to watch in Saturday’s game and few other topics are discussed. The second segment of this podcast is a Thursday-morning-pod staple — answers to questions submitted by members of GoVols247’s CheckerBoard. There were good football and basketball questions submitted this week, as usual, and also some of the hand-to-hand combat questions we’ve been getting for weeks now. Wes went solo for this segment, and it lasted a big longer than expected, but … that just means more Vols talk, right? Hoops takes center stage in the third segment of this episode. The 17th-ranked Vols will head down to Florida to participate in the Emerald Coast Classic in Niceville. An interview with Barnes before Wednesday's morning practice is included in the segment. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Monday morning, unless breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s full staff — Wes Rucker, Patrick Brown, Ryan Callahan and Grant Ramey — went into Fort Rucker Studio and Thompson-Boling Arena to discuss all things Tennessee football and basketball. The Tennessee football team spent the weekend at Missouri — a place it usually struggles — and left Columbia with a 24-20 win over the Tigers. The Vols’ fourth consecutive win also made them bowl-eligible, and that could be a January bowl game in Florida if they take care of Vanderbilt as expected on Saturday at Neyland Stadium. It was wilder than it needed to be at Mizzou, but the Vols found a way to hold on and win a game they comprehensively controlled from a yards-from-scrimmage standpoint. The first segment of this episode is a quick recap and discussion of the good, bad and ugly of the Tennessee-Mizzou game, with an emphasis placed on the good, because these Vols won only one of their first four games and are now back above .500. How has this team managed to get its head back above water? That’s the main talking point in the first segment — a segment with Wes, Patrick and Ryan. Hoops takes center stage in the second segment of this episode, with Wes and Grant courtside at Thompson-Boling Arena breaking down the 17th-ranked Vols’ win over Chattanooga on Tuesday night, plus some major basketball recruiting news. The Vols had a rough night offensively against the Mocs, but Tennessee’s defense stifled Chattanooga and made the game a mostly comfortable one. But what in the world happened to Tennessee’s offense? That’s discussed in detail in a segment that ends with some information on Uruguay native Santiago Vescovi’s commitment to the Vols. An already-star-studded Tennessee recruiting class that was ranked No. 3 nationally got another big boost from Vescovi, who’s currently playing at the NBA Global Academy in Australia and could enroll at Tennessee in January and be eligible to play this season and give the Vols some help at the point guard spot. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Vescovi is the No. 74 overall prospect in the 247Sports rankings, and the newest film on him is really impressive, but can he provide help this season? That’s also discussed in the second segment. Focus shifts back to football in the third segment, with Wes and Pat at Fort Rucker Studio breaking down the recently improved performance of Tennessee junior quarterback Jarrett Guarantano and some possible bowl destination for the Vols. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Thursday morning, unless breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s full staff — Wes Rucker, Patrick Brown, Ryan Callahan and Grant Ramey — convened at Fort Rucker Studio (except one segment at Thompson-Boling Arena) to discuss a Tennessee football team and basketball team that are … well … winning at the moment. The first segment of this episode is a general preview of this weekend’s Tennessee-Missouri game in Columbia, albeit with a few specific themes. Tennessee’s quarterback situation (of course), the nature of this evolving border-battle with the Tigers and some thoughts on how difficult this game is to predict are the main points. Following a quick injury update, the second segment of this podcast is a Thursday-morning pod staple — answers to questions submitted by members of GoVols247’s CheckerBoard. There were good football and basketball questions submitted this week, as usual, and also some of the hand-to-hand combat questions we’ve been getting for weeks now. Hoops takes center stage in the third segment of this episode. The 20th-ranked Vols had a business line, blowout win over Alabama State on Wednesday night at Thompson-Boling, with senior guards Lamonte Turner and Jordan Bowden fittingly reaching the 1,000-career-point mark on the same night. Much of the Tennessee basketball news at the moment is rose-colored, but not all of it. The wait for an answer from the NCAA regarding the eligibility of talented 7-foot-1 forward Uros Plavsic continues, and news emerged Wednesday night that sophomore big man Zach Kent (another 7-footer) has “stepped away” from the program for non-disciplinary reasons, and it’s unclear whether he’ll return. Discussion of the Kent situation and its impact on the Vols’ frontcourt is also included in the third segment. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Monday morning, unless breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s full staff — Wes Rucker, Patrick Brown, Ryan Callahan and Grant Ramey — convened from their various Knoxville-area homes via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss Tennessee football and basketball. Second-year head coach Jeremy Pruitt and his Tennessee football team had their final open date of the regular season last week, and now the stretch run begins for the Vols, who need to beat either Missouri on the road or Vanderbilt at home the next two weekends in order to secure bowl-eligibility for the first time in three years. Obviously the Vols hope to win both of their final two regular-season games, though, and there’s probably a big carrot on the end of that stick if they accomplish that task. The way things are shaking out, it looks like two wins could perhaps get the Vols to a January bowl game in Florida. But Tennessee was at this exact same point after 10 games last season, and we all know how that ended, don’t we? Will this team be any different? Why or why not? That’s the primary discussion point in the first segment of this episode, though there’s also recap from around the SEC, particularly Missouri’s loss to Florida over the weekend in Columbia. Hoops takes center stage in the second segment of this episode, with Grant joining the podcast shortly after he arrived back in the U.S. and got back to the Blount County Satellite Office in Maryville. Grant was in Toronto over the weekend to discuss Tennessee basketball’s 75-62 win over 20th-ranked Washington in the James Naismith Classic. It was a big weekend for Rick Barnes and his Vols, and there’s plenty of good news to discuss on that front. But there are still some questions to answer, and those concerns are discussed, as well. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Thursday morning, unless breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker full crew — Wes Rucker, Patrick Brown, Ryan Callahan and Grant Ramey — convened to discuss some big news for the Tennessee football and basketball programs. Wes, Pat and Ryan convened at Fort Rucker Studio for the first two segments of this episode. The first segment is a recap of Tennessee football’s plans for this final open-date week in the regular-season schedule. Where do the Vols stand at the moment? What’s OK? What needs to improve? What should they do with the quarterback position moving forward? Those are the main discussion points in the first segment. As (almost) always, answers to questions submitted on GoVols247’s CheckerBoard are answered in the Thursday morning podcast episode. Those answers usually come in the third segment of the episode, but they got bumped up to the second segment this week. Hoops takes center stage in segment three of this episode, with Grant joining in from GoVols247’s Blount County Satellite Office in Maryville to discuss Tennessee basketball. There’s a general recap — featuring the good, bad and ugly — of Tennessee’s come-from-behind win over Murray State, and then the discussion shifts toward recruiting. The Vols have the nation’s No. 4 recruiting class, and three of the nation’s top 36 prospects signed with Tennessee on Wednesday, and the Vols might add to that already-ridiculous trio, so there’s tons of good news to discuss on that front. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Monday morning, unless breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s full staff — Wes Rucker, Patrick Brown, Ryan Callahan and Grant Ramey — convened from their own homes throughout the Greater Knoxville Area to discuss another huge win for Tennessee football and a huge week for Tennessee basketball. Tennessee’s 17-13 win at Kentucky was hardly a thing of beautify, and it times it was excruciating, but a goal-line stand and a clutch performance from one-handed quarterback Jarrett Guarantano helped the Vols defeat their Beer Barrel rivals to the North for the 33rd time in the past 35 years. What should we make of Tennessee’s performance in Lexington? So much of the game went so badly, and the Vols made more than a half-dozen awful mistakes that could have lost them the game, but they hung tough and found a way to win it. How should the good be weighed with the bad? There’s plenty of credit to go around for Tennessee in the toughness department, and a few players had outstanding performances, but overall it must be said that the Vols didn’t play well at all. But … a thin team found a way to win for the fourth time in five games, and a team that was 1-4 is now 5-5 and has a precious open date to get some guys some badly-needed rest. All things Vols-Cats and this week’s open date are discussed for most of the first two segments of this episode, but some time is carved out for recruiting to end the second segment for a big reason. The Vols on Sunday night got a commitment from Nate Evans, a 2021 athlete from Virginia Beach, Va., who’s really high on their big board. Football remains the main topic for the first part of the third segment, including descriptions from Grant, who was stood at field level for the goal-line stand that essentially ended the game. Conversation then shifts toward the Tennessee basketball program, though, because the Vols have a big week on the court and the recruiting trail. The Vols have two games this week — a Tuesday game against reigning Round of 32 NCAA Tournament team Murray State, and a Saturday game against Washington in Toronto — and in between they’re scheduled to sign one of the most touted recruiting classes in program history. And they’re probably not done with that ridiculous class, either. So there’s plenty of hoops to discuss, as well. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Thursday morning, unless breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices