We’ve reached the first weekend in March, and things are finally starting to come into place for the Tennessee Vols. One major sport begins postseason play today, another one wraps up the regular season this weekend and the football program continues its trajectory into a new era.
Our morning update on Rocky Top leads with that football program, as the final member of Josh Heupel’s first staff was officially introduced on Thursday. We also have a story related to a former staff member and where he has landed.
Beyond football, we have previews in six different sports, including women’s basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball and men’s and women’s tennis. We’ll close out with recognition for a men’s basketball player and a track and field athlete. Let’s start with the football staff, though.
Mike Ekeler introduced as football assistant – Dan Harralson, VolsWire.com
On Thursday, the 10th and final member of Tennessee Vols football coach Josh Heupel’s staff was introduced. Mike Ekeler has been officially added as outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator. He spent last year as the North Texas Mean Green special teams coordinator.
"Ekeler reunites with Heupel after serving as a graduate assistant at Oklahoma from 2003-04. Heupel also was a graduate assistant in 2004 at Oklahoma."
Jim Chaney lands NFL gig – Patrick Brown
For the first time since 2008, Jim Chaney is back in the NFL. Tennessee football’s offensive coordinator the past two years will join the New Orleans Saints as an offensive analyst. Chaney’s last NFL roles were coaching the St. Louis Rams offensive line in 2006 and 2007 and then coaching their tight ends in 2008. He then joined Lane Kiffin’s initial UT staff in 2009.
"Both of Tennessee’s now-former coordinators have landed in the NFL with defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley, who was also the defensive backs coach for the Vols for the past two seasons, now the secondary coach for the Los Angeles Chargers.Former Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt is also in the NFL now as a defensive assistant coach with the New York Giants."
Ole Miss advances to face Lady Vols – AP News
In the women’s basketball SEC Tournament Thursday, the No. 11 seed Ole Miss Rebels upset the No. 6 seed Arkansas Razorbacks to move to 11-10 on the year. That set the stage for the Tennessee Lady Vols’ first matchup in the event Friday evening.
"The 11th-seeded Rebels take on third-seeded and No. 14-ranked Tennessee in Friday’s quarterfinals. The Lady Vols clipped Mississippi 68-67 during the conference season."
Baseball to host Georgia State – Rick Russo, WVLT
Coming off a midweek win over the Austin Peay Governors to improve to 8-2 on the year, the No. 17 ranked Tennessee Vols baseball team returns home for a three-game series against the Georgia State Panthers. UT will face GSU Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
"The Panthers (4-6) have played arguably the toughest schedule of any team in the country thus far, with all 10 of their games coming against ranked opponents. First pitch for Friday’s series opener is slated for 5:30 p.m. and can be seen live on SEC Network + and the ESPN App."
Softball to take part in Reveille Classic – KBTX.com
On Friday, Tennessee Lady Vols softball team will begin the Reveille Classic in College Station, Texas, hosted by the Texas A&M Aggies. The event involves four teams, including UT and A&M along with the Lamar Cardinals and the Campbell Camels. UT will face Campbell and Lamar Friday, A&M and Lamar Saturday and Campbell Sunday.
"No. 25 Tennessee enters the weekend posting a 12-1 mark and are currently sitting on a seven-game win streak. The Lady Vols are led offensively by Ivy Davis and Amanda Ayala, who pace the team with .419 and .405 batting averages, respectively."
Volleyball to host Mississippi State – Ethan Stone, UT Daily Beacon
After losing twice last weekend to the Florida Gators, the Tennessee Lady Vols volleyball program will try to avoid falling below .500 entering this weekend with a 6-6 record. They will host the Mississippi State Bulldogs Friday and Saturday.
"The matches this week against the Bulldogs will be the first unranked series of the spring season for the Lady Vols. Tennessee is 4-2 against unranked teams thus far in the year."
Men’s tennis to visit two ranked teams this weekend – UTSports
At 14-1 and ranked No. 3 in the nation, the Tennessee Vols men’s tennis team has two major road tests coming up. UT will visit the No. 16 ranked South Carolina Gamecocks Friday and the No. 10 ranked Florida Gators Sunday.
"Last time out, the Vols swept past Ole Miss, 7-0 on Sunday afternoon earning victories in all 14 completed sets.In doubles, the duos of graduate student Giles Hussey and senior Mark Wallner and junior Martim Prata and freshman Johannus Monday earned 6-1 and 6-3 results to claim the doubles point and an early 1-0 lead for UT."
Women’s tennis set for two home weekend matchups – UTSports
While the men’s tennis team visits the South Carolina Gamecocks and Florida Gators, the Lady Vols women’s tennis team will host both of them this weekend, facing USC Friday and Florida Sunday. UT comes in ranked No. 20 with a 7-4 record.
"First serve against South Carolina is set for 2 p.m. ET and noon ET for Florida. Last year, the Gamecocks (4-7, 1-3 SEC) and Gators (5-4, 1-3 SEC) were slated for duals in Barksdale Stadium but the matches were canceled due to the COVID-19 global health crisis."
John Fulkerson on SEC Community Service Team – SECSports
Forward John Fulkerson of the Tennessee Vols men’s basketball program was named to the SEC Men’s Basketball Community Service Team. This is the second year in a row Fulkerson earned that recognition from the league.
"Redshirt-senior forward John Fulkerson has logged more than 75 service hours since arriving in Knoxville in the Fall of 2016. He has primarily served at the Emerald Youth Foundation of Knoxville, Tennessee basketball’s annual Hoops for Hope event and at the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital."
Carey McLeod named regional athlete of the year – USTFCCCA.org
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association recognized Carey McLeod as the South Region Indoor Men’s Field Athlete of the Year Thursday for the second straight year. McLeod’s region, which is one of nine, includes all Division I programs from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee.
"McLeod, a junior from Kingston, Jamaica, is ranked first nationally in the triple jump at 17.17m (56-4) and third nationally in the long jump at 8.25m (27-0¾). Both of those marks came at the SEC Indoor Championships and the combined distance of 25.42m (83-4¾) is the third-best single-meet effort in NCAA history."