Tennessee has signed "AJ Swann" a top player from Vanderbilt Commodores with a massive....

A just two years prior, the Tennessee Titans’ acquisition of Mike Vrabel appeared to be among the most innovative NFL signings in recent memory.

Playing a run-heavy, opportunistic style of football, Vrabel finished with 54 wins in six seasons, 32 of which came during the three-year period (2019–21) in which Ryan Tannehill was the starting quarterback full-time. Tom Brady’s tenure with the New England Patriots came to an end in 2019 as the Titans made it to the AFC Championship Game. In twenty years, professional football in the Volunteer State had not been this good.

But after a disastrous 2022 and 2023, Tennessee shocked the football community on Tuesday morning by firing Vrabel. The Ohio State graduate was quickly the focus of rumours about other positions, including those with the Patriots, the team he won three Super Bowls with.

College football’s “way-too-early” rankings season is upon us. The national championship game last night captured the attention of most people, but this morning it is all eyes on the 2024 season. A few days ago, Brett McMurphy of the Action Network published his preliminary top-25 poll, in which the Tennessee Volunteers were ranked just outside of the 12-team playoff format that would be in place for the next season. The complete article and supporting details by McMurphy are available here.

To a significant extent, the Vols’ 2024 endeavours will depend on how far quarterback Nico Iamaleava can lead them. In the Cheez-It Citrous Bowl, he got off to a great start against the Iowa Hawkeyes, accounting for four touchdowns against one of the top five college football defences.