If you thought the transfer portal era was going to get quieter, the last 48 hours in Knoxville just proved you dead wrong. It is mid-January, and while most people are focused on the NFL playoffs, Josh Heupel is basically playing 4D chess with a roster that looks nothing like the one that walked off the field at the Music City Bowl.
Honestly? It's kind of a lot to keep track of.
Between the massive coaching shakeups and the revolving door of players, the latest vols football news has everyone on Rocky Top checking their phones every five minutes. The biggest bomb just dropped this morning: Mike Ekeler, the guy who brought all that "energy" and coached the special teams and outside linebackers, is officially heading back to USC. It’s a gut punch for a staff that prides itself on stability.
The Coaching Carousel Hits High Gear
Heupel isn't just losing assistants; he's actively tearing down and rebuilding the foundation of his defense. We knew changes were coming after the way 2025 ended, but firing Tim Banks and not renewing Kurt Schmidt’s contract? That is a bold, "I’m not playing around anymore" kind of move.
Jim Knowles is the new sheriff in town. Yes, that Jim Knowles—the guy who turned Ohio State’s defense into a brick wall. This is arguably the biggest assistant hire of the Heupel era. Knowles is coming in with a mandate to fix a secondary that occasionally looked like it was social distancing from opposing wide receivers last season.
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There's some drama here, too. Knowles reportedly wants his own guys, which explains why we're seeing so much movement on the staff. Rodney Garner is still around, thankfully, because losing that man’s recruiting prowess would be a disaster. But the rest of the defensive room? It’s basically under construction.
The Quarterback Room: Life After Nico
Let's address the elephant in the room: Nico Iamaleava. His "sudden spring exit" last year still leaves a weird taste in people's mouths, and seeing him pop up in 2026 NFL mock drafts while playing for UCLA is just surreal. But in Knoxville, the focus has shifted entirely to George MacIntyre and the incoming phenom, Faizon Brandon.
Jake Merklinger is gone. He committed to UConn yesterday. You can’t blame the kid—he wants to start, and it was pretty clear he was trailing in the MacIntyre vs. Brandon race.
MacIntyre has been the talk of the town this week. He was just down in Miami with a group of Tennessee receivers, getting extra reps in. That’s the kind of leadership you want to see from a guy who’s likely going to be the QB1 on opening day against Furman. But don't sleep on Faizon Brandon. He's the No. 1 prospect in North Carolina for a reason, and Heupel hasn't been shy about playing freshmen if they’re ready.
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Transfer Portal: The Good, The Bad, and The Baylor Twist
The portal has been a absolute rollercoaster. Just today, news broke that Jack Van Dorselaer is heading to Oklahoma. That hurts.
But it’s not all bad news. The Vols just landed a massive commitment from TJ Metcalf. Getting a safety with his experience is huge, especially since the secondary is basically being rebuilt from scratch. Metcalf is a "plus" starter who instantly upgrades the room.
And then there's the weirdness. Tennessee reportedly lost a transfer commit to Baylor at the eleventh hour. These are the kinds of NIL-era battles that make coaches want to pull their hair out.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Gauntlet
The 2026 schedule is out, and it is absolutely terrifying. For the first time ever, we’re seeing a nine-game SEC slate.
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- Sept 5: Furman
- Sept 12: at Georgia Tech (That's a sneaky tough road trip)
- Sept 26: TEXAS (Neyland is going to be a literal volcano for this)
- Oct 17: ALABAMA (The Third Saturday in October stays sacred)
Hosting Alabama, Auburn, LSU, and Texas in the same season? That’s unheard of. If Knowles can get the defense sorted by September, this team has a ceiling that’s frankly through the roof. But if the transition period takes too long, that October stretch could be brutal.
What You Should Watch Next
If you're trying to stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the remaining open spots on the coaching staff. Knowles still has a couple of hires to make, and those names will tell us a lot about the scheme he plans to run. Also, expect at least one more veteran quarterback to join the roster via the portal—Heupel needs an insurance policy in case of injury.
Go ahead and clear your calendar for that September 26th matchup against Texas. It’s the first-ever regular-season meeting between the two, and the ticket prices are already looking like a mortgage payment.
Stay tuned to the official commitment announcements from the remaining 2026 targets. Landing TK Keys and Gabriel Osenda already has the Vols with a top-10 class, but a few more late-cycle flips could push them into the top five.
The 2026 season officially starts in September, but the work being done in the dark this January is what’s going to decide if the Vols are actually "back" or just another "what if."