Week of September 1st
Vols Dominate Syracuse, Football Flips Another Commitment, and Titans Season Kickoff
Syracuse Win, Injuries, and ETSU on Sat
Tennessee kicked off the 2025 season with a 45–26 statement win over Syracuse. There were numerous unknowns about this team heading into the season opener, and we got a lot of answers, starting with the man under center.
QB Joey Aguilar played like a veteran, going 16-of-28 for 247 yards and three touchdowns, with no turnovers. Aguilar will look to throw first, but is a willing and capable runner when he needs to be. He broke off a 25 yard run and finished with 6 rushes for 34 yards (5.7 ypc). That style of QB play really excels in Josh Heupel’s offense.
We can always count on Tennessee having a strong rushing attack under this coaching staff, and last Saturday did not disappoint. Star Thomas finished with 92 yards on just 11 carries and a touchdown while DeSean Bishop totaled 82 yards with another score. Peyton Lewis also punched in a goal-line touchdown to round out a deep and versatile backfield.
Offensive line play was quietly dominant with the Vols racking up nearly 500 yards of total offense (246 rushing yards and 247 through the air). Aguilar was kept clean all evening and finished with zero sacks.
On defense, Tennessee started off dominant, and sort of faded as the game went on and some injuries were sustained. However, Tennessee’s secondary really excelled against a talented group of Syracuse receivers.
Despite missing Jermod McCoy and Rickey Gibson leaving the game early with an injury, Colorado transfer Colton Hood and true freshman Ty Redmond showcased how deep & talented the Vols are at CB. With PFF grades of 75.4 & 76.4 respectively, Hood & Redmond were the highest-graded defensive players per PFF.
Hood finished with a fumble recovery for a score and three pass breakups while Remond had two pass breakups and was sticky in coverage all game. Star Jalen McMurray had a sack, seven tackles, and a tipped pass that led to an interception.
Rickey Gibson’s injury appears to be a shoulder, and he is reported to miss an “extended” period of time this season. No timeline has been provided by the coaches, but that would point to Gibson likely missing at least the next month.
There were still some areas for improvement in zone coverage, and Tim Banks will want to clean up some of that communication, but overall the secondary played well.
The front seven played OK, but were slowed down by injuries throughout the game. Jaxson Moi was injured on the first drive and tried to return later in the game but was unable to go. The good news is the coaching staff expects Moi to return in the next 2-3 weeks. The Vols were already without five-star DT Daevin Hobbs who suffered an injury in camp, but is expected to be back somewhere around the Mississippi State game.
Tim Banks was obviously not afraid to play some of the younger players on Saturday, as Ethan Utley, Jaedon Harmon, and Jamal Wallace all played several snaps.
The Vols came out of the opener looking efficient on offense despite breaking in a new QB, offensive line (outside of Lance Heard), and young WR corps. Defensively, Tennessee flashed their talent at times, but will need to get and stay healthy.
This Saturday, ETSU comes to town. It’s a perfect chance to maintain momentum, rest some of the injured starters, and keep sharpening Aguilar’s rhythm. We will also look to see if five-star freshman left tackle David Sanders will make his first start. He was kept out of the opener by the medical staff as a precautionary measure due to a minor injury in practice. It is not expected to be anything significant or long-term.
Recruiting Flips
Tennessee traded some recruits this week as the Vols landed a key defensive target, but also lost out on a offensive line commitment.
On Monday, Top 100 recruit nationally, DE Hezekiah Harris, flipped hit commitment from Auburn to the Vols. Harris had been committed to Auburn for over a year, but Tennessee’s coaching staff never gave up on this one.
Coach Levorn “Chop” Harbin had been working Harris & his family relentlessly dating back to the spring. Coach Chop’s hard work paid and relationships paid off as Harris made his “final” commitment to play in Knoxville.
It wasn’t all positive as offensive tackle JB Shabazz flipped to North Carolina on Thursday morning. The Tar Heels were in desperate need of a tackle and were willing to increase their NIL offer. Tennessee refused to match, so Shabazz decided to go with the Tarheels.
Despite the loss of Shabazz, Tennessee still remains in the Top-10 with the No. 8 recruiting class nationally according to Rivals. The Vols have (2) five-star commitments, (12) four-star commitments, and (10) three-star commitments for a total of 24. Tennessee is one spot behind Alabama and one spot ahead of Ohio State in the recruiting rankings.
Titans Prepare for Season Opener
The Titans took another meaningful step toward Sunday’s season opener against Denver when they returned to practice Thursday at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park. It was a good day, especially for left tackle Dan Moore Jr., whose return likely calmed the worries of Titans fans.
Moore looked sharp on the field, declared himself fully cleared from his ankle issue, and is poised to anchor a rebuilt offensive line. “As a collective, there’s cohesion… hanging around each other, building that relationship… that’s going to play the biggest part in communication on the road on Sunday,” he said. His confidence is a welcome boost for a line that needs to protect rookie quarterback Cam Ward and lay the foundation for the Titans offense.
Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and safety Kevin Winston Jr. both remained limited participants as they work back from injuries, a cautious but encouraging sign. Meanwhile, two rookies in receiver Elic Ayomanor and edge rusher Femi Oladejo, are looking to seize their opportunities in the NFL. Ayomanor called it a dream to simply “get the opportunity… and take advantage of it,” while Oladejo is eager to match the intensity that Week 1 will bring.
Ayomanor was listed as a started on the depth chart at receiver alongside veterans Tyler Lockett and Calvin Ridley. That’s a testament to the rookie’s talent and work ethic as he overtook another veteran, Van Jefferson.
On the opposing sideline, the Broncos’ latest injury report shakes up their Week 1 outlook. DT Malcolm Roach landed on the report with a Grade 2 calf strain, meaning he’s expected to miss multiple weeks, potentially even hit short-term injured reserve. Broncos linebackers Dre Greenlaw (quad) and Dondrea Tillman (hamstring) also were added to the Injury Report as Limited Participants.
The Titans will head to Denver on Saturday and will look to bring a team that is relatively healthy.