Tennessee Announces SEC Media Day Participants

The Tennessee Volunteers are preparing for SEC Media Days, and head coach Josh Heupel has three high-ranking members of the team joining him for the festivities.
Tennessee Announces SEC Media Day Participants
Tennessee Announces SEC Media Day Participants /
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SEC Media Days are right around the corner. The Tennessee Volunteers are at the podium on Thursday, July 20. They will be accompanied by Ole Miss and South Carolina, with the Vols going last in that grouping. Head coach Josh Heupel always brings something interesting to the table, but he's also bringing three players with unique stories.

Starting quarterback Joe Milton III is one of those attendees. Milton has patiently waited his turn in line, initially winning the starting gig in 2021 before getting benched in favor of Hendon Hooker. Instead of hitting the transfer portal for the second time in as many years, Milton stayed in Knoxville and worked to ensure that he would be ready when Heupel ultimately did call his number. He did that in 2022, throwing for 971 yards and ten touchdowns against zero interceptions in spot-starting duty.

Defensive lineman Omari Thomas is the only Tennessee defender heading to Nashville this summer. Thomas was a consensus top-100 player in the 2020 recruiting cycle and has contributed in all three seasons with the team. In 2022, Thomas tallied 26 tackles, two sacks, and 2.5 TFLs. He's registered 19 starts in his 36 career games and has become an integral part of the defensive line rotation entering his fourth season on Rocky Top.

Tennessee TE Jacob Warren during warmups against South Alabama on November 20, 2021
Tennessee TE Jacob Warren during warmups against South Alabama on November 20, 2021

The final member joining Heupel will be tight end Jacob Warren, a sixth-year senior exercising his Covid-year of eligibility. Warren has played a lot of college football and will be a leader in the tight end room this season. Tight ends coach Alec Abeln is in his first season in charge of the room, and with young players like Ethan Davis around, along with first-year contributor McCallan Castles, many will look to Warren.

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Evan Crowell
EVAN CROWELL

Evan Crowell is the lead publisher of Sports Illustrated-FanNation's Volunteer Country, serving as a beat reporter covering football, basketball, and recruiting. He previously worked as the lead publisher of Sports Illustrated-FanNation's Gamecocks Digest.