The details.
SEC Media Days are here, which means a couple of things — football is almost here, and we get our first look at updated rosters as we inch closer to fall camp. It’s always interesting to see the various weight and position changes, as well as a handful of number swaps with several seniors now officially out of the program.
On Monday we got our first look at those changes. Here’s what stood out.
Notable Weight Changes
- We’ll start at the most important position. Nico Iamaleava, who has always sported a super slender look, is up nearly ten pounds from last season. Tennessee’s signal caller appears ready to play at 215 pounds this fall.
- Another key offensive piece added some weight ahead of what should be a big workload this season. Dylan Sampson is up over 200 pounds, bulking up to lead the Tennessee backfield this season.
- Tight end Ethan Davis is now pushing 250 pounds after arriving in Knoxville around 230 pounds. Davis should see a ton of work this year, along with Notre Dame transfer Holden Staes.
- Edge rusher Caleb Herring is one of the most dramatic changes, up nearly 25 pounds from his arrival last season. The former four-star prospect is shooting to crack the pass rushing rotation this season behind James Pearce.
- Power possession receiver Bru McCoy is up to 230 pounds, coming off of his season-ending leg injury from one year ago. Depth piece Chas Nimrod is all the way up to 220 pounds, perhaps sealing his place on the depth chart directly behind McCoy in the same role.
Jersey Number Changes
- Squirrel White goes from 10 to 3.
- Bru McCoy moves from 15 to 5.
- Mike Matthews changes from 89 to 10.
- Ethan Davis takes over the No. 0.
- Rickey Gibson moves from 18 to 1.
- Chas Nimrod goes from 81 to 11.
- Andre Turrentine changes from 17 to 2.
- John Slaughter swaps to No. 12.
- Jourdan Thomas goes from 25 to 4.
Transfer Jersey Numbers
- CB Jermod McCoy: No. 3
- CB Jalen McMurray: No. 6
- S Jakobe Thomas: No. 9
- WR Chris Brazzell: No. 17
- TE Holden Staes: No. 19
- DL Jaxson Moi: No. 51
- TE Miles Kitselman: No. 87
Other notes
We didn’t have much in terms of position changes this time around, but there is at least one notable move. Former international prospect Emmanuel Okoye began his career in Knoxville at tight end, but he’s now moved to defensive end. This was always a debate with Okoye, and now it appears the staff has made their final decision.
Okoye will move from No. 27 to No. 98. The raw prospect will move to a position that might be a little easier for him to grasp, heading into just his third season of football played.
Four-star prospect Jeremias Heard will land on the offensive side of the ball, officially. The 2024 signee is listed at a whopping 6-8, 320 pounds.