The Volunteer State USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

Three Tennessee football players were selected in the NFL Draft last week.

Cause for celebration, or concern?

The four qualifying teams for last season’s College Football Playoff combined for 44 draft picks. 

That suggests that if Tennessee wants to go from competitive program to national championship program under Josh Heupel, he needs to start producing more NFL talent.

And yet, consider that Tennessee finished 9-4 despite not having a single player selected within the draft’s first three rounds. That speaks to Heupel’s coaching ability.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Adam Sparks and John Adams unpack Tennessee’s production in the draft and why they think Jaylen Wright will become UT's most productive NFL player from this draft class.

They also preview next year’s draft class, highlighted by edge rusher James Pierce, who profiles as a potential No. 1 overall pick.

And, they consider this question: Is Tennessee’s draft performance cause for concern?

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

 

Tennessee football can rest easy about its starting quarterback situation. Not only is Nico Iamaleava the starter, he's a star in the making. Iamaleava's tidy performance in Saturday's spring game reiterated that all is well with Tennessee's QB1.

Elsewhere on the roster, it's more of a mixed situation. The Vols face areas they could solidify entering this spring transfer portal window.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and Adam Sparks review the spring game and address some lingering burning questions.

Which areas of the roster look like strengths? Where does Tennessee require reinforcements? Who's the backup quarterback, and should Tennessee trust him?

Let's dive in.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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The Lady Vols are all in on Kim Caldwell's upside.

Tennessee athletic director Danny White didn't want to miss the boat on Caldwell or delay hiring a coach whose career is on an upward trajectory. Two years ago, Caldwell led Division II Glenville State to its first national championship. This season, her first as a Division I coach, she took Marshall to the NCAA Tournament.

Now, she coaches a blueblood. Caldwell's fast track matches her teams' high-octane style of play.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Cora Hall and John Adams review Caldwell's introductory presser, outline what success looks like in Year 1 and grade the hire.

The verdict: Not an 'A' hire, but a passing grade.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Cora (@corahalll) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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Danny White faces a big decision – his biggest decision, in fact, since he hired Josh Heupel in 2021.

White is conducting a Lady Vols coaching search that will reshape the direction of the program. Kellie Harper maintained the program as an NCAA Tournament regular, but she repeatedly peaked in the Sweet 16, and the Lady Vols were eliminated in the second round this year. Recruiting momentum had stalled.

White acted boldly by firing a coach who played for Summitt and who won 20 games this season.

Now, he must be bold in his quest to hire just the fourth coach in program history. The last two Lady Vols coaches came from the Pat Summitt tree. Will White look outside the Lady Vols family for this hire? That seems likely.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Cora Hall and John Adams weigh in on the Lady Vols search.

First, they address the candidacy of Duke's Kara Lawson. Verdict: Lawson should not be viewed as the frontrunner.

Then, each offers two swing-for-the-fences candidates, plus a fallback option.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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Rick Barnes and the Sweet 16 go hand and hand.

The Vols are back among the NCAA Tournament’s final 16 teams standing in March Madness for the second straight year and the third time during Barnes’ tenure.

But, this round of March Madness remains a familiar pitfall for Tennessee, which has never made a Final Four.

Barnes’ lone Final Four appearance came in 2003 at Texas. He’s in the Sweet 16 for the ninth time.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Mike Wilson and John Adams handicap the hurdles remaining in Tennessee’s path to the Final Four.

One host says Purdue is the biggest obstacle, while the other two hosts make the case for Creighton. They also debate whether they're more or less confident in Tennessee after two rounds of March Madness.

Tap the link in bio for more details.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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Tennessee’s early SEC Tournament exit cost the Vols a likely No. 1 NCAA seed.

The silver lining: Tennessee won’t have to meet No. 1 overall seed UConn in the NCAA Tournament until the national championship. Also good news: Rick Barnes possesses his best team in a handful of years.

But, Tennessee’s NCAA Tournament history remains an elephant in the room. The Vols never have reached a Final Four, and the program’s lone Elite Eight came in 2010, with Bruce Pearl as coach.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Mike Wilson and John Adams assess Tennessee’s NCAA Tournament draw and handicap the Vols’ chances of making a deep run.

Tennessee is the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region, where Purdue is the No. 1.

But, it's not Purdue that comes to mind first when predicting stumbling blocks for the Vols. Beware of Creighton. 

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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