Big Orange Report March 19, 2026

 

Time to Buckle Up

Tennessee's players have returned from spring break and it is time to get drills underway. This is the unofficial start to the 2026 football season and UT has several new additions to both the staff and the roster this year. On the defensive side of the ball, the staff was overhauled and the new coaches then recruited transfers that they either coached or were familiar with from the past couple of seasons.

Some fans are saying that this is a crucial spring and season for head coach Josh Heupel. Yes, it is important but crucial might be too strong an adjective to apply. Obviously Heupel's main focus over the next five weeks will be to locate his next field general and establish that quarterback as the player that will lead the offense this fall. Other work in progress will be to locate the starters on the right side of the offensive line, the rotation at wide receiver and determine the best option for the top backup at running back. Heupel has put the defense squarely in the hands of veteran coordinator Jim Knowles and his handpicked assistants. Knowles is a planner and teacher and he wants a physical, hardnosed defensive unit to be prepared and motivated by the opening game of the season. Word is that both Heupel and Knowles have been very pleased with the work of new Director of Strength and Conditioning Director, Derek Owings and his re-vamped staff. The weight and training rooms have taken a serious turn and the strict diets are being followed with no questions asked.

Knowles top priority will be constructing a secondary that has only one returning starter this year. However, that player, sophomore Ty Redmond, looks like a future star and all league player at one of the cornerbacks. Safety Edrees Farooq played a significant role last season and certainly he will battle for the nod at one of the safeties or the rover position.

The Orange and White spring scrimmage will take place on April 11th and admission will be free to all Vol fans.  

Time to Dance

The Tennessee basketball squads will begin play in the NCAA tournaments this week with a desire to rebound from losses in the SEC tourney and deliver a strong showing on the national stage. Both teams will be on the road and the first goal on the agenda is to fight their way through the first weekend of action.

Coach Kim Caldwell's Lady Vols have endured a tough and testy six weeks and now they have an opportunity to get a couple of wins and finish with an eye to the future. Tennessee is the only women's team in college ball to be invited to every NCAA tournament since its inception.

Coach Rick Barnes' squad has the tools to make a deep run if they get all the gears turning at the same time. This team is strong in the paint and when Nate Ament and the guards are hitting from behind the arc, the Vols can whip just about any team they face. However, they have been damaged by dis-jointed performances, missed foul shots and foul trouble by the big men a bit too often as of late.

Diamond Vols

The baseball team limped back to Knoxville after dropping two of three to No. 8 Georgia over the weekend. The Vols' bullpen couldn't hold an early 5-0 lead and the Bulldogs won the finale 8-7. The Vols are currently in 11th place in the conference standings.

Coach Karen Weekly's softball team grinded their way to a series win against No. 12 Mississippi State after seeing their winning streak snapped on Saturday. The team celebrated the return of ace Karlyn Pickens, who had been out for 11 days with an arm/shoulder strain. Pickens tossed a one hitter to propel her team out of town with the series win. The offense had been exploding for most of this season but struggled against three MSU pitchers on a staff that has got to be one of the best and deepest in the SEC this year.

Tennessee gets a much needed week off for rest before heading to face the league leading Florida Gators this weekend. Florida is 29-1 this season. The game on Sunday will be televised on ESPN2 with the first pitch slated for around noon.  

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