Tennessee spring football: 3 takeaways from Vols' spring game
Tennessee completed its annual spring game on Saturday afternoon.
The White Team defeated the Orange Team 21-14 behind a strong showing from the Vols’ quarterback and wide receiver rooms. The Vols’ defense also played very well early on in the game.
Here are 3 takeaways from the exhibition:
The QB room looks strong
Nico Iamaleava is the headliner in the quarterback room, but the Vols appear to have plenty of depth at this position going into the 2024 campaign.
Iamaleava started the game and played well. His afternoon was highlighted by a 27-yard TD pass to Chas Nimrod in the corner of the end zone. He looked composed throughout the day as he prepares to enter his first summer as Tennessee’s starting quarterback.
Here’s video of Iamaleava’s touchdown pass to Nimrod:
Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava connects with WR Chas Nimrod for six in the endzone during the spring game. pic.twitter.com/qRqDqXQ4pe
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) April 13, 2024
Backup quarterbacks Gaston Moore and Jake Merklinger also had excellent afternoons.
Moore threw multiple touchdown passes, including a 63-yarder to 5-star freshman Mike Matthews at the end of the first half. He also threw this touchdown pass in the red zone to Dayton Sneed:
Give @DaytonSneed 6!
? » https://t.co/fv7yUVClkJ (SECN+)#GBO ? pic.twitter.com/uIhSyDuC7A
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) April 13, 2024
Merklinger was appearing in his first spring game after signing with the Vols as a 4-star recruit in the class of 2024. His day was punctuated by this impressive touchdown run:
4⭐️ freshman QB Jake Merklinger showing off the wheels today.
This one’s good for a touchdown ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/ZuEzD1YqfZ
— Ryan Sylvia (@RyanTSylvia) April 13, 2024
Newcomers at WR
It’s tough to have good quarterback play without a strong wide receiver room, and it appears the Vols have upgraded at that position this offseason.
Matthews, the No. 24 player in the country for the class of 2024 per 247Sports Composite rankings, looked like he’ll be in line for a significant role in 2024 as a true freshman. At 6-foot-1, 186 pounds, Matthews has the speed and athleticism to create separation down the field.
Here’s an example of that from Saturday:
making BIG plays in Neyland@gaston_moore ➡️ @mike1matthews #GBO ? pic.twitter.com/OaRIIAypVk
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) April 13, 2024
Transfer wide receiver Chris Brazzell II also had a big day as he looks to fight for a role in this offense. Brazzell, who arrived this offseason from Tulane, caught a 71-yard TD pass from Merklinger in the second half.
Here’s video of Brazzell’s big play:
Chris Brazzell Il wanted the ball.
Jake -> Chris for 6. Penalty declined
on the play for a TD.Score update: 21-14 (white team has the lead) pic.twitter.com/kqdxXEcloL
— Ellie (@Ellie_Mai_) April 13, 2024
Tennessee will be looking for more out of its wide receiver room in 2024. Last year, Squirrel White and Ramel Keyton were the only receivers on the team to clear 300+ yards on the season. White and Bru McCoy headline what should be an improved unit for the Vols this coming fall.
Tennessee’s defense answers some questions, but more remain
Tennessee’s secondary was perhaps the program’s biggest question mark coming into Saturday, and the Vols did provide some answers as to who may start on the back end of their defense this fall. Jermond McCoy and Rickey Gibson started at cornerback while Jakobe Thomas and John Slaughter got the nod at safety. Jourdan Thomas started at the Vols’ STAR position.
Tennessee’s first-team defense played well early on, as they forced a three-and-out on Iamaleava’s opening drive. Much of UT’s success on defense can probably be attributed to its strong efforts up front (and perhaps some injuries to UT’s starting offensive line).
The defense will remain an area to watch for as the Vols consider adding reinforcements via the transfer portal this spring. The transfer window is set to re-open on Monday.
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The receivers were pretty much wide open on the scoring plays. I’m guessing that was against the backup DB’s.
LSUSMC…wide-open receivers make any QB look like all-world. But I’m sure the Vols have the “Nico For Heisman” adv-push ready.
I beg t differ, Wide open receivers didn’t help Milton look good last year
Joe Milton was a higher ranked SEC QB for the 23 season than the QB that beat you, Milroe. lol Meanwhile Beck is throwing two pics…in a Spring game lol. Do you all have a QB that will be drafted this season? No..lol. Joe Milton will be drafted higher than SB was. Who was your last QB to be drafted by the way and when was that? lol
No gwhite. Milroe was the higher rated QB. I already walked you to the ESPN stats page. I can not un stupid you
Beck is throwing 2 pics…he also scored more points against that nasty defense than Tenn has in 6 of the last 7 years. So did Gunner btw…
Question for you get…Going up against the number 1 defense in the country everyday in practice do you see Beck (or Gunner) doing better or worse against teams like Tennessee with pathetic defenses on game day?
When was your last championship at anything
Can’t take much away from most spring games. Good workout, nobody got hurt. Success!
LOL @ The Vols. They just aren’t very good
lol @ RTR vols own more space in your tiny brain than than the govt in Yellowstone. When did you turn full troll anyway. I mean there are a lot of bama trolls to keep up with but I don’t recall you being all that until recently. Did smoky hump your boyfriend or something .
It’s just facts. No trolling. Your Vols just sort of stink. Mid on a good day.
U wouldn’t know a fact if it arrived with video instructions
Gabriel. Try using stats as facts moron lol. Your the worst kind of troller, one that bases 100% on emotions and feelins. I got fact stats why your team is less than sir. lol
I don’t understand GWhite…my team always beats the Vols. What do the stats say about that?
Gabriel RTR was a blinky bus child lol. They looked better than UGA in every way and we had most of the starters out lol. Stockton looked better than Beck on the day and the UGA secondary is garbaaage lol Beck 300 years on 46 attempts?! lol 62% accuracy.. 2 picks. NO rushing game to speak of again this year.
gwhite. I select you as the least knowledgeable vol football van that posts on SDS.
Pull for a team that has been mediocre for awhile or be pro rape? Which one will I ever choose from???? We know where Bama fans stand. That was made obvious when they pulled for Brandon Miller who clearly aided in unaliving that lady.
Look at all the hate for a spring game Vols gotem scared already! GB?!!
When was your last championship at anything
I taped and watched several SEC spring games including Tennessee. My evaluation of Nico is far less than what Tennessee fans have posted. I thought one of the back up QBs looked better than Nico in that game. Nico has a lean build. It will be interesting to see how he holds up to the 300 pound DL and 240 LBs. I think Nico could be watching the Tennessee games from the sidelines on crutches. I wish him luck. From his interview he seems like a fine young man and a good team mate.