2024 Tennessee Volunteers football team

American college football season

2024 Tennessee Volunteers football
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 7
APNo. 6
Record3–0 (0–0 SEC)
Head coach
  • Josh Heupel (4th season)
Offensive coordinatorJoey Halzle (2nd season)
Defensive coordinatorTim Banks (4th season)
Home stadiumNeyland Stadium
Seasons
← 2023
2025 →
2024 Southeastern Conference football standings
  • v
  • t
  • e
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 2 Georgia   1 0     3 0  
No. 16 LSU   1 0     2 1  
No. 25 Texas A&M   1 0     2 1  
South Carolina   1 1     2 1  
No. 4 Alabama   0 0     3 0  
No. 7 Missouri   0 0     3 0  
No. 15 Oklahoma   0 0     3 0  
No. 5 Ole Miss   0 0     3 0  
No. 6 Tennessee   0 0     3 0  
No. 1 Texas   0 0     3 0  
Arkansas   0 0     2 1  
Auburn   0 0     2 1  
Vanderbilt   0 0     2 1  
Mississippi State   0 0     1 2  
Florida   0 1     1 2  
Kentucky   0 2     1 2  
Championship: December 7, 2024
As of September 19, 2024
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2024 Tennessee Volunteers football team represents the University of Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Volunteers head coach is Josh Heupel,[1] who is in his fourth year. The team plays its home games at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Offseason

Transfers

Outgoing

Player Position Destination
Gerald Mincey OT Kentucky
Wesley Walker S Louisville
Tamarion McDonald S Louisville
Doneiko Slaughter CB Arkansas
De'Shawn Rucker CB South Florida
Tyler Baron EDGE Miami (FL)
Connor Meadows OL Tennessee State
Addison Nichols OL Arkansas
Mo Clipper Jr. OL Charlotte
Jack Luttrel S Arizona
Brandon Turnage CB Ole Miss
Warren Burrel CB Georgia Tech
Elijah Herring LB Memphis

Incoming

Player Position Former Team
Miles Kitselman TE Alabama
Zalance Heard OL LSU
Jakobe Thomas S Middle Tennessee
Holden Staes TE Notre Dame
Jermod McCoy CB Oregon State
Jaxson Moi DL Stanford
Jalen McMurray CB Temple
Chris Brazzell II WR Tulane
Eli Purcell LB Wofford

Roster

2024 Tennessee Volunteers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR 1 Dont'e Thornton Jr. Sr
RB 6 Dylan Sampson Jr
QB 8 Nico Iamaleava  Fr
WR 10 Squirrel White Jr
WR 11 Chris Brazzell II  So
QB 12 Jake Merklinger Fr
QB 13 Gaston Moore  Sr
WR 14 Braylon Staley Fr
WR 15 Bru McCoy  Sr
QB 18 Ryan Damron  Fr
TE 19 Holden Staes Jr
RB 20 Khalifa Keith So
QB 21 Navy Shuler  Sr
RB 22 Peyton Lewis Fr
RB 23 Cameron Seldon So
RB 25 DeSean Bishop  Fr
TE 27 Emmanuel Okoye  Fr
RB 28 Patrick Wilk  Jr
WR 29 Jack-Henry Jakobik  Fr
WR 31 Jackson Locke  Jr
WR 35 Garrett Young  Fr
WR 36 Nathan Roberts  Fr
RB 42 Hunter Barnes  So
TE 43 Titus Rohrer  So
TE 44 Luke Shouse  Sr
TE 46 Cody Duncan  Jr
OL 50 William Satterwhite Fr
OL 51 Vysen Lang  Fr
OL 53 Lance Heard So
OL 63 Cooper Mays Sr
OL 64 Ayden Bussell  Fr
OL 65 Parker Ball  Sr
OL 66 Dayne Davis  Sr
OL 68 Masai Reddick  So
OL 69 Gus Hill  So
OL 70 Andrej Karic Sr
OL 71 Max Anderson Fr
OL 72 Jesse Perry Fr
OL 73 Brian Grant  So
OL 74 John Campbell Jr.  Sr
OL 75 Jackson Lampley  Sr
OL 76 Javontez Spraggins Sr
OL 77 Larry Johnson III  So
OL 78 Gage Ginther Fr
OL 79 Shamurad Umarov  Fr
WR 80 Nate Spillman  Fr
WR 81 Chas Nimrod  So
WR 82 Dayton Sneed  Fr
WR 83 Trey Weary  So
WR 84 Kaleb Webb  So
WR 85 Nathan Leacock  Fr
TE 86 Ethan Davis  Fr
TE 87 Miles Kitselman Sr
TE 88 Charlie Browder  Jr
WR 89 Mike Matthews Fr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
LB 7 Arion Carter So
DL 10 Elijah Simmons  Sr
LB 11 Keenan Pili  Sr
DB 12 Jalen McMurray  Jr
DB 13 Jermod McCcoy So
DB 14 Christian Charles  Jr
DB 15 Cristian Conyer So
DB 17 Andre Turrentine  Jr
DB 18 Rickey Gibson III So
DL 19 Joshua Josephs Jr
DL 20 Bryson Eason  Sr
DL 21 Omari Thomas Sr
LB 22 Jeremiah Telander So
DB 23 Boo Carter Fr
DB 24 Jordan Matthews  Fr
DB 25 Jourdan Thomas Jr
DB 26 Edrees Farooq Fr
DB 26 Carson Whitehead  So
DE 27 James Pearce Jr. Jr
DB 28 Kaleb Beasley Fr
DB 29 Christian Harrison Jr
DB 30 Jakobe Thomas  Jr
DL 31 Caleb Herring So
DB 33 John Slaughter So
DB 34 Marcus Goree Jr. Fr
DB 35 Will Brooks  Sr
DB 36 William Wright  Sr
DB 37 Montrell Bandy  Jr
DL 38 Chandavian Bradley  Fr
LB 39 Jalen Smith  Fr
LB 40 Kalib Perry Jr
DL 41 Tyree Weathersby  Fr
DL 42 Tyre West Jr
DB 46 Malik Ganaway  So
LB 47 Edwin Spillman Fr
DL 51 Tim Amet  Jr
LB 52 Eli Purcell Sr
DL 53 Daevin Hobbs So
DL 55 Omarr Norman-Lott Sr
DL 56 Kellen Lindstrom Fr
LB 57 Ben Bolton  So
DL 65 Camron Douglas  So
DL 87 Joshua Helsdon  So
DL 90 Dominic Bailey  Sr
DL 93 Donald Palmer Jr
DL 94 Nathan Robinson  Fr
DL 95 Trevor Duncan  Fr
DL 97 Jayson Jenkins  So
DL 99 Jaxson Moi Jr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
PK 41 JT Carver  Jr
LS 47 Matthew Salansky  Sr
LS 48 Bennett Brady  So
PK 90 Max Gilbert  Fr
P/PK 94 Josh Turbyville  So
P 98 Jackson Ross  So
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Joey HalzleOffensive coordinator/Quarterbacks
  • Tim BanksDefensive coordinator
  • Mike EkelerSpecial teams coordinator/Outside linebackers
  • Alec Abeln – Tight ends
  • Glen ElarbeeOffensive line
  • Rodney Garner – Defensive line
  • William Inge – Linebackers
  • Willie Martinez – Secondary
  • Kelsey Pope – Wide receivers
  • De'Rail Sims – Running backs
  • Max ThurmondSenior offensive analyst

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
August 3112:45 p.m.No. 9 (FCS) Chattanooga*No. 15SECNW 69–3101,915
September 77:30 p.m.vs. No. 24 NC State*No. 14ABCW 51–1072,730
September 147:45 p.m.Kent State*No. 7
  • Neyland Stadium
  • Knoxville, TN
SECNW 71–0101,915
September 217:30 p.m.at No. 15 OklahomaNo. 6ABC
October 5at Arkansas
October 12Florida
  • Neyland Stadium
  • Knoxville, TN (rivalry)
October 19Alabama
November 2Kentucky
  • Neyland Stadium
  • Knoxville, TN (rivalry)
November 9Mississippi State
  • Neyland Stadium
  • Knoxville, TN
November 16at Georgia
November 231:00 p.m.UTEP*
  • Neyland Stadium
  • Knoxville, TN
SECN+/ESPN+
November 30at Vanderbilt

[2]

Game summaries

vs. No. 9 (FCS) Chattanooga

Game One – No. 9 (FCS) Chattanooga Mocs (0–0) vs No. 15 Tennessee Volunteers (0–0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 9 (FCS) Chattanooga 0 0 303
No. 15 Tennessee 24 21 101469

at Neyland StadiumKnoxville, Tennessee

  • Date: August 31, 2024
  • Game time: 12:45 p.m.
  • Game weather: Sunny, 87 °F (31 °C)
  • Game attendance: 101,915
  • Referee: Jason Autrey
  • TV announcers (SECN): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst), and Alyssa Lang (sideline)
Game information
First quarter
  • (11:09) TENN – Dylan Sampson 1-yard run (Max Gilbert kick) (Drive: 11 plays, 65 yards, 3:43; Tennessee 7–0)
  • (08:34) TENN – Ethan Davis 4-yard pass from Nico Iamaleava (Max Gilbert kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 35 yards, 1:03; Tennessee 14–0)
  • (07:18) TENN – Dont'e Thornton Jr. 36-yard pass from Nico Iamaleava (Max Gilbert kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 59 yards, 0:26; Tennessee 21–0)
  • (08:34) TENN – Max Gilbert 36-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 72 yards, 2:28; Tennessee 24–0)
Second quarter
  • (14:03) TENN – Dylan Sampson 3-yard run (Max Gilbert kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 78 yards, 1:59; Tennessee 31–0)
  • (10:14) TENN – Dont'e Thornton Jr. 10-yard pass from Nico Iamaleava (Max Gilbert kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 79 yards, 1:55; Tennessee 38–0)
  • (06:43) TENN – Dylan Sampson 5-yard run (Max Gilbert kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 61 yards, 0:16; Tennessee 45–0)
Third quarter
  • (10:10) UTC – Jude Kelley 43-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 50 yards, 4:50; Tennessee 45–3)
  • (07:15) TENN – Max Gilbert 42-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 45 yards, 2:54; Tennessee 48–3)
  • (01:13) TENN – DeSean Bishop 3-yard run (Max Gilbert kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 63 yards, 1:33; Tennessee 55–3)
Fourth quarter
  • (04:06) TENN – Khalifa Keith 1-yard run (Josh Turbyville kick) (Drive: 17 plays, 80 yards, 7:05; Tennessee 62–3)
  • (01:07) TENN – Jordan Ross 13-yard punt return (Josh Turbyville kick) (Tennessee 69–3)
Statistics Chattanooga Tennessee
First downs 10 36
Total yards 227 718
Rushes/yards 35/92 46/311
Passing yards 153 414
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–24–0 33–44–1
Turnovers 0 1
Time of possession 30:46 29:10
Team Category Player Statistics
Chattanooga Passing Chase Artopoeus 12/23, 141 yards
Rushing Reggie Davis 20 carries, 59 yards
Receiving Sam Philips 5 receptions, 54 yards
Tennessee Passing Nico Iamaleava 22/28, 314 yards, 3 TD
Rushing Dylan Sampson 12 carries, 124 yards, 3 TD
Receiving Dont'e Thornton Jr. 3 receptions, 105 yards, 2 TD

vs. No. 24 NC State

Game Two – No. 14 Tennessee Volunteers (1–0) vs No. 24 NC State Wolfpack (1–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 14 Tennessee 7 13 171451
No. 24 NC State 0 3 7010

at Bank of America StadiumCharlotte, NC

  • Date: September 7, 2024
  • Game time: 7:30 PM
  • Game weather: Sunny, 75 °F (24 °C)
  • Game attendance: 72,730
  • Referee: Kole Knueppel
  • TV announcers (ABC): Rece Davis (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), and Holly Rowe (sideline)
Game information
First quarter
  • (00:09) TENN – Dylan Sampson 9-yard run (Max Gilbert kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 62 yards, 4:10; Tennessee 7–0)
Second quarter
  • (09:04) NCST – Kanoah Vinesett 24-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 40 yards, 2:30; Tennessee 7–3)
  • (06:33) TENN – Max Gilbert 32-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 61 yards, 2:31; Tennessee 10–3)
  • (03:29) TENN – Will Brooks 85-yard interception (Max Gilbert kick) (Tennessee 17–3)
  • (00:00) TENN – Max Gilbert 45-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 18 yards, 1:44; Tennessee 20–3)
Third quarter
  • (10:27) TENN – Miles Kitselman 15-yard pass from Nico Iamaleava (Max Gilbert kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:33; Tennessee 27–3)
  • (06:31) TENN – Max Gilbert 36-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 5 yards, 1:40; Tennessee 30–3)
  • (04:02) TENN – Nico Iamaleava 31-yard run (Max Gilbert kick) (Drive: 3 plays, 34 yards, 0:43; Tennessee 37–3)
  • (02:20) NCST – Aydan White 87-yard interception (Kanoah Vinesett kick) (Tennessee 37–10)
Fourth quarter
  • (14:07) TENN – Dylan Sampson 34-yard run (Max Gilbert kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 60 yards, 3:13; Tennessee 44–10)
  • (08:22) TENN – Holden Staes 18-yard pass from Nico Iamaleava (Max Gilbert kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 34 yards, 2:58; Tennessee 51–10)
Statistics TENN NCST
First downs 22 10
Total yards 460 143
Rushing yards 249 39
Passing yards 211 104
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–23–2 15–22–1
Time of possession 31:28 28:32
Team Category Player Statistics
Tennessee Passing Nico Iamaleava 16/23, 211 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Dylan Sampson 20 carries, 138 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Squirrel White 2 receptions, 67 yards
NC State Passing Grayson McCall 15/22, 104 yards
Rushing Hollywood Smothers 6 carries, 31 yards
Receiving Kevin "KC" Concepcion 5 receptions, 53 yards

vs. Kent State

Game Three – Kent State Golden Flashes (0–2) vs No. 7 Tennessee Volunteers (2–0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Kent State 0 0 000
No. 7 Tennessee 37 28 3371

at Neyland StadiumKnoxville, Tennessee

  • Date: September 14, 2024
  • Game time: 7:45 p.m.
  • TV announcers (SECN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), and Cole Cubelic (sideline)
Statistics KSU TENN
First downs 8 32
Total yards 112 740
Rushes/yards 54 456
Passing yards 58 284
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Turnovers
Time of possession 28:15 31:45
Team Category Player Statistics
Kent State Passing Devin Kargman 9/15, 58 yards
Rushing JD Sherrod 7 carries, 56 yards
Receiving Chrishon McCray 3 receptions, 27 yards
Tennessee Passing Nico Iamaleava

Gaston Moore

10/16, 173 yards, 1 TD

4/4, 94 yards, 2 TD

Rushing DeSean Bishop

Dylan Sampson

7 carries, 120 yards, 2 TD

13 carries, 101 yards, 4 TD

Receiving Dont'e Thornton Jr

Chris Brazzell II Mike Matthews|| 2 receptions, 64 yards 2 receptions, 63 yards, 1 TD 2 receptions, 35 yards, 1 TD

at No. 15 Oklahoma

Game Four – No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers (3–0) vs No. 15 Oklahoma Sooners (3–0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 6 Tennessee - - --0
No. 15 Oklahoma - - --0

at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial StadiumNorman, Oklahoma

  • Date: Saturday, September 21, 2024
  • Game time: 7:30 p.m.
  • TV announcers (ABC): Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), and Holly Rowe (sideline)
Statistics TENN OU
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Tennessee Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Oklahoma Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Arkansas

Game Five – Tennessee Volunteers (0-0) vs Arkansas Razorbacks (0-0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Tennessee - - --0
Arkansas - - --0

at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback StadiumFayetteville, Arkansas

  • Date: Saturday, October 5, 2024
Statistics TENN ARK
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Tennessee Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Arkansas Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Vs. Florida

Game Six – Florida Gators (0-0) vs Tennessee Volunteers (0-0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Florida - - --0
Tennessee - - --0

at Neyland StadiumKnoxville, Tennessee

  • Date: Saturday, October 12, 2024
Statistics FLA TENN
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Florida Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Tennessee Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Vs. Alabama

Game Seven – Alabama Crimson Tide (0-0) vs Tennessee Volunteers (0-0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Alabama - - --0
Tennessee - - --0

at Neyland StadiumKnoxville, Tennessee

  • Date: Saturday, October 19, 2024
Statistics ALA TENN
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Alabama Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Tennessee Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Vs. Kentucky

Game Eight – Kentucky Wildcats (0-0) vs Tennessee Volunteers (0-0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Kentucky - - --0
Tennessee - - --0

at Neyland StadiumKnoxville, Tennessee

  • Date: Saturday, November 2, 2024
Statistics UK TENN
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Kentucky Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Tennessee Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Vs. Mississippi State

Game Nine – Mississippi State Bulldogs (0-0) vs Tennessee Volunteers (0-0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Mississippi State - - --0
Tennessee - - --0

at Neyland StadiumKnoxville, Tennessee

  • Date: Saturday, November 9, 2024
Statistics MSU TENN
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Mississippi State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Tennessee Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Georgia

Game Ten – Tennessee Volunteers (0-0) vs Georgia Bulldogs (0-0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Tennessee - - --0
Georgia - - --0

at Sanford StadiumAthens, Georgia

  • Date: Saturday, November 16, 2024
Statistics TENN UGA
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Tennessee Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Georgia Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Vs. UTEP

Game Eleven – UTEP Miners (0-0) vs Tennessee Volunteers (0-0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
UTEP - - --0
Tennessee - - --0

at Neyland StadiumKnoxville, Tennessee

  • Date: Saturday, November 23, 2024
Statistics UTEP TENN
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
UTEP Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Tennessee Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Vanderbilt

Game Twelve – Tennessee Volunteers (0-0) vs Oklahoma Sooners (0-0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Tennessee - - --0
Vanderbilt - - --0

at FirstBank StadiumNashville, Tennessee

  • Date: Saturday, November 30, 2024
Statistics TENN VAN
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Tennessee Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Vanderbilt Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415Final
AP151476
Coaches151297
CFPNot releasedNot released

References

  1. ^ "Josh Heupel - Head Coach - Staff Directory". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  2. ^ "2024 Football Schedule". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  • v
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Tennessee Volunteers football
Venues
  • Baseball Park (1892–1893)
  • Fountain City Park (1894)
  • Baldwin Park (1895–1900, 1902–1905)
  • Chilhowee Park (1901, 1907)
  • Baker-Himel Park (1906)
  • Waite Field (1908–1920)
  • Neyland Stadium (1921–present)
Bowls & rivalries
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Seasons
National championship seasons in bold