The Vols are projected to have to have four players selected in the NFL Draft, which begins Thursday (8 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN, NFL Network).

Defensive lineman Matthew Butler, cornerback Alontae Taylor, wide receiver Velus Jones Jr., and offensive lineman Cade Mays are expected to be mid- to late-round picks. Tennessee likely won't have any players selected in either of the first two rounds. 

On this edition of "The Volunteer State," Blake Toppmeyer of the USA TODAY Network and the News Sentinel's Adam Sparks debate how Tennessee would be affected if Heupel's program begins to increase its level of NFL talent.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 

Connect on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/

Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe

The Vols are projected to have to have four players selected in the NFL Draft, which begins Thursday (8 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN, NFL Network).
Defensive lineman Matthew Butler, cornerback Alontae Taylor, wide receiver Velus Jones Jr., and offensive lineman Cade Mays are expected to be mid- to late-round picks. Tennessee likely won't have any players selected in either of the first two rounds.&nbsp;
On this edition of "<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-volunteer-state/id1275710426" data-cke-saved-href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-volunteer-state/id1275710426">The Volunteer State</a>," <a href="https://twitter.com/btoppmeyer" data-cke-saved-href="https://twitter.com/btoppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a> of the USA TODAY Network and the News Sentinel's <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSparks" data-cke-saved-href="https://twitter.com/AdamSparks">Adam Sparks</a> debate how Tennessee would be affected if Heupel's program begins to increase its level of NFL talent.
Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 
Connect on Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/">https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/</a>
Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer. The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessee.

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer. The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessee.

A Tennessee Vols podcast from the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee.

The Volunteer State

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer.

What the NFL Draft tells us about Josh Heupel and Tennessee football

The Lady Vols are all in on Kim Caldwell's upside.

Tennessee athletic director Danny White didn't want to miss the boat on Caldwell or delay hiring a coach whose career is on an upward trajectory. Two years ago, Caldwell led Division II Glenville State to its first national championship. This season, her first as a Division I coach, she took Marshall to the NCAA Tournament.

Now, she coaches a blueblood. Caldwell's fast track matches her teams' high-octane style of play.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Cora Hall and John Adams review Caldwell's introductory presser, outline what success looks like in Year 1 and grade the hire.

The verdict: Not an 'A' hire, but a passing grade.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Cora (@corahalll) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 

Connect on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/

Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe

The <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/columnists/university-of-tennessee/john-adams/2024/04/09/kim-caldwell-lady-vols-basketball-coach-danny-white/73239676007/" aria-label="Link Lady Vols are all in on Kim Caldwell's upside.">Lady Vols are all in on Kim Caldwell's upside.</a>
Tennessee athletic director <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/womens-sports/2024/04/09/danny-white-pat-summitt-lady-vols-basketball-coach-kim-caldwell/73238477007/" aria-label="Link Danny White">Danny White</a> didn't want to miss the boat on Caldwell or delay hiring a coach whose career is on an upward trajectory. Two years ago, Caldwell led Division II Glenville State to its first national championship. This season, her first as a Division I coach, she took Marshall to the NCAA Tournament.
Now, she coaches a blueblood. Caldwell's fast track matches her teams' high-octane style of play.
On today's episode, hosts <a href="https://twitter.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/corahalll" aria-label="Link Cora Hall">Cora Hall</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/johnadamskns" aria-label="Link John Adams">John Adams</a> review Caldwell's introductory presser, outline what success looks like in Year 1 and grade the hire.
The verdict: Not an 'A' hire, but a passing grade.
Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Cora (@corahalll) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 
Connect on Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/">https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/</a>
Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe

Grading Lady Vols' hire of Kim Caldwell: Not an 'A,' but passing grade

Danny White faces a big decision – his biggest decision, in fact, since he hired Josh Heupel in 2021.

White is conducting a Lady Vols coaching search that will reshape the direction of the program. Kellie Harper maintained the program as an NCAA Tournament regular, but she repeatedly peaked in the Sweet 16, and the Lady Vols were eliminated in the second round this year. Recruiting momentum had stalled.

White acted boldly by firing a coach who played for Summitt and who won 20 games this season.

Now, he must be bold in his quest to hire just the fourth coach in program history. The last two Lady Vols coaches came from the Pat Summitt tree. Will White look outside the Lady Vols family for this hire? That seems likely.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Cora Hall and John Adams weigh in on the Lady Vols search.

First, they address the candidacy of Duke's Kara Lawson. Verdict: Lawson should not be viewed as the frontrunner.

Then, each offers two swing-for-the-fences candidates, plus a fallback option.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 

Connect on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/

Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe

<a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/columnists/university-of-tennessee/john-adams/2024/04/01/kellie-harper-lady-vols-basketball-coach-danny-white-tennessee-pat-summitt/73168896007/" aria-label="Link Danny White">Danny White</a> faces a big decision – his biggest decision, in fact, since he hired Josh Heupel in 2021.
White is conducting a <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/womens-basketball/2024/04/03/tennessee-lady-vols-basketball-search-coach-candidate-kellie-harper-danny-white/73112456007/" aria-label="Link Lady Vols coaching search">Lady Vols coaching search</a> that will reshape the direction of the program. Kellie Harper maintained the program as an NCAA Tournament regular, but she repeatedly peaked in the Sweet 16, and the Lady Vols were eliminated in the second round this year. Recruiting momentum had stalled.
White acted boldly by firing a coach who played for Summitt and who won 20 games this season.
Now, he must be bold in his quest to hire just the fourth coach in program history. The last two Lady Vols coaches came from the Pat Summitt tree. Will White look outside the Lady Vols family for this hire? That seems likely.
On today's episode, hosts <a href="https://twitter.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/corahalll" aria-label="Link Cora Hall">Cora Hall</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/johnadamskns" aria-label="Link John Adams">John Adams</a> weigh in on the Lady Vols search.
First, they address the candidacy of Duke's Kara Lawson. Verdict: Lawson should not be viewed as the frontrunner.
Then, each offers two swing-for-the-fences candidates, plus a fallback option.
Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 
Connect on Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/">https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/</a>
Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe

Who should Lady Vols hire? Here are 6 swing-big options, plus a fallback plan

Rick Barnes and the Sweet 16 go hand and hand.

The Vols are back among the NCAA Tournament’s final 16 teams standing in March Madness for the second straight year and the third time during Barnes’ tenure.

But, this round of March Madness remains a familiar pitfall for Tennessee, which has never made a Final Four.

Barnes’ lone Final Four appearance came in 2003 at Texas. He’s in the Sweet 16 for the ninth time.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Mike Wilson and John Adams handicap the hurdles remaining in Tennessee’s path to the Final Four.

One host says Purdue is the biggest obstacle, while the other two hosts make the case for Creighton. They also debate whether they're more or less confident in Tennessee after two rounds of March Madness.

Tap the link in bio for more details.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 

Connect on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/

Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe

<a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/mens-basketball/2024/03/24/dalton-knecht-stats-tennessee-texas-sweet-16-bracket-ncaa-tournament/73013399007/" aria-label="Link Rick Barnes">Rick Barnes</a> and the <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/columnists/gentry-estes/2024/03/23/tennessee-basketball-texas-rick-barnes-march-madness-defense/73013168007/" aria-label="Link Sweet 16">Sweet 16</a> go hand and hand.
The <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/mens-basketball/2024/03/23/tennessee-texas-score-march-madness-bracket-update-ncaa-tournament/73013407007/" aria-label="Link Vols are back among the NCAA Tournament’s final 16 teams">Vols are back among the NCAA Tournament’s final 16 teams</a> standing in March Madness for the second straight year and the third time during Barnes’ tenure.
But, this round of March Madness remains a familiar pitfall for Tennessee, which has never made a Final Four.
Barnes’ lone Final Four appearance came in 2003 at Texas. He’s in the Sweet 16 for the ninth time.
On today's episode, hosts <a href="https://twitter.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ByMikeWilson" aria-label="Link Mike Wilson">Mike Wilson</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/johnadamskns" aria-label="Link John Adams">John Adams</a> handicap the hurdles remaining in Tennessee’s path to the Final Four.
One host says Purdue is the biggest obstacle, while the other two hosts make the case for Creighton. They also debate whether they're more or less confident in Tennessee after two rounds of March Madness.
Tap the link in bio for more details.
Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 
Connect on Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/">https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/</a>
Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe

What the NFL Draft tells us about Josh Heupel and Tennessee football

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