Christmas has come and gone, and Tennessee football is right back to work. With the Music City Bowl just days away, the Vols have fully turned their attention to a December 30th matchup against Illinois. Preparation is in full swing in Knoxville, but it isn’t without a hiccup.
Versatile In-state Tennessee defensive lineman to explore new opportunities
Tennessee has already lost a plethora of players before the bowl game, and four days before the Music City Bowl, the news continues to hit Josh Heupel. This time, LEO Joshua Jospehs will not be opting out and beginning his preparation for the NFL Draft, according to On3's VolQuest.
JUST IN: Tennessee senior Josh Josephs is opting out of the bowl game he tells @Volquest_On3. He is focusing on the NFL Draft. https://t.co/mzWQm5Mg3Y
— Austin Price (@AustinPriceless) December 26, 2025
Joshua Josephs opting out of the Music City Bowl
This one stings, especially given how impactful Josephs has been along Tennessee’s defensive front over the last few seasons. He’s been a steady difference-maker in the trenches, consistently drawing attention from opposing offenses and anchoring the Vols’ pass rush. He had four sacks in 2025 and three forced fumbles.
With Pro Football Focus ranking Josephs as the No. 9 defensive end and the No. 37 overall player on its big board, the decision makes sense. Preserving his draft stock and shifting fully into pre-draft preparation is smart.
With Joseph now out for the bowl game, it will be a next-man-up mentality. Caleb Herring had four sacks this year and will likely step up into this role. Illinois is a solid team, and this could be a tryout for Herring next fall. If he can produce, it will save the Vols valuable portal money.
I’m confident that even with the loss of a talented player like Joseph, the Vols will be okay up front. There's no question the Vols' line had its struggles in 2025, but it was also fairly deep for them.
Whether fans like it or not, seeing NFL Draft prospects like Josephs suit up for bowl games has become increasingly rare. The opportunity to train on their own and ensure full health now outweighs the risk of suffering a serious injury in what is essentially a meaningless game. NFL teams have enough tape on a player like Josephs. Now he has to prep for the combine and get bigger, faster, and stronger.
Tennessee fans won’t forget what Joshua brought to the program. Best of luck as he takes the next step toward the NFL.