GoVols247: A Tennessee Volunteers athletics podcast

GoVols247's Wes Rucker, Ryan Callahan and Patrick Brown went into Fort Rucker Studio breaking down another busy week full of Tennessee football news. Star wide receiver Jauan Jennings dropped a hint on Thursday night that he could be back with the Vols after being dismissed from the program late last season by the team's previous coaching staff. What's the latest with Jennings? And what would his return mean for Tennessee? There are plenty of other topics on this episode, as well, including quarterback Quinten Dormady's decision to leave the program, Pruitt seemingly putting the finishing touches on his first Tennessee staff and plenty on recruiting, with National Signing Day just a few weeks away. And ... West Virginia State football? Sure. West Virginia State football. Don't worry. It'll make sense. A new segment answering listener mail also debuts on this episode. 

GoVols247's Wes Rucker and Grant Ramey sat down for an exclusive interview with Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes in this episode. Barnes and his 21st-ranked Vols have made plenty of headlines this season, and the veteran coach thinks his team could be in for a big finish ... assuming it stays on course and continues improving. Barnes, as usual, was candid in this sit-down interview. Topics include the rebuilding of the Tennessee program, the reasons why the SEC finally turned a corner and become a good basketball league again, the under-the-radar recruitment of Vols sophomore star Grant Williams, a recent text message Barnes received from former Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl, the strengths and weaknesses of this Tennessee team, keeping a young team focused on the here-and-now rather than the future, Barnes recently coaching his 1,000th career game and much, much more.

GoVols247's Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Grant Ramey (from GoVols247's Blount County satellite office in Maryville) break down a much-needed bounce-back week from the 24th-ranked Tennessee basketball team. The Vols responded to a two-game losing streak in style, coming from behind to beat then-17th-ranked Kentucky over the weekend in Thompson-Boling Arena and then coming from behind to beat in-state rival Vanderbilt on Tuesday in Nashville. A team that started games so well but struggled to finish them is now a team that doesn't start worth a flip but can close like Mariano Rivera. Will these Vols ever find a way to put together two good halves of basketball in the same day? We don't have an answer for that. But what needs to happen in order for the Vols to do that? We do have answers for that, as well as other pressing questions related to one of the more exciting teams in college basketball — and a team that has a big game this weekend against a desperate-but-talented Texas A&M team that had been ranked as high as fifth nationally before hitting a rut to start SEC play.

GoVols247's Wes Rucker, Ryan Callahan, Patrick Brown and Danny Parker went into Fort Rucker Studio to break down new Tennessee football Jeremy Pruitt's return to Knoxville, but this time on a full-time basis. Pruitt finished the season as Alabama's defensive coordinator, helping the Crimson Tide win another national championship, before putting all of his attention on the Vols — though his attention on Tennessee's recruiting efforts have been there since he took the job last month. Pruitt spoke with reporters in Knoxville on Wednesday, and he had plenty to discuss. He spoke about the impressive staff coming with him to Tennessee, the Vols' recruiting efforts and other interesting topics, including the potential return of star wide receiver Jauan Jennings. There's a lot to unpack from Pruitt's press conference, and this episode is an effort to unpack it.

GoVols247's Wes Rucker, Patrick Brown and Danny Parker went into Fort Rucker Studio to break down the performance of incoming Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt and incoming Tennessee defensive coordinator Kevin Sherrer in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Pruitt (as Alabama's defensive coordinator) and Sherrer (as Georgia's outside linebackers coach) will square off for the national championship after the Crimson Tide's win over Clemson and Georgia's win over Oklahoma on New Year's Day. How should Tennessee fans feel about Pruitt and Sherrer finishing the season with Alabama and Georgia? Do the pros outweigh the cons? And which couple of coaches will Pruitt hire to fill out his first Tennessee staff? Those questions — as well as the impact of Rashaan Gaulden's decision to declare for the NFL Draft — are discussed throughout this week's Friday Pod.

GoVols247's Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Grant Ramey (from GoVols247's Blount County satellite office) break down an inauspicious start to SEC play for the 23rd-ranked Tennessee basketball team. Is there reason to panic after a tough overtime loss at Arkansas and an inexplicable home loss to Auburn, or is there reason to just worry a little bit? Tennessee was one of the biggest surprises in college basketball until the past week, but what should we make of the 0-2 start to conference play? What are the issues? Can they be fixed? There are lots of questions, and we try to answer as many of them as possible.

GoVols247's Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio), Patrick Brown (from Upper East Tennessee) and Ryan Callahan (from Missouri) converge to break down another week full of Tennessee football news — news that was headlined by star running back John Kelly's Friday afternoon announcement that he would forego his final season of eligibility and enter the NFL Draft. What does Kelly's departure mean for new Vols coach Jeremy Pruitt and his staff from a team and recruiting standpoint? But that's just the beginning of this episode. Other topics include the addition of Florida State defensive coordinator Charles Kelly to Tennessee's staff, Pruitt's efforts to coach the Vols while still coordinating the Alabama defense, Tennessee's mid-week addition of four-star junior college offensive lineman Jahmir Johnson and the upcoming all-star game appearances from Tennessee signees, commits and targets. It's been a busy week. Come get the latest on all of it.

GoVols247's Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Grant Ramey (from GoVols247's Blount County satellite office) break down the state of Tennessee basketball heading into SEC play, which starts this weekend. The Vols have won nine of their first 11 games, with the two losses being close losses against two of the best teams in the country, and they're ranked No. 19 nationally heading into this weekend's SEC opener at Arkansas. As well as Rick Barnes' Vols are playing, though, the fact is they could be playing even better. But that's not necessarily a bad thing, especially when you're winning, anyway. What's going right for the Vols? What needs to improve? Will Jordan Bowden ever miss another shot? How tough will the SEC opener at Arkansas be? Those are just some of the many topics in this week's first episode.

GoVols247's Wes Rucker, Ryan Callahan and Danny Parker went into Fort Rucker Studio to break down Tennessee's results from college football's first Early Signing Period. Prospects now have a small window to sign in late December if they choose, and many have chosen to do that. What do we know about the Vols' first Early Signing Period haul under new coach Jeremy Pruitt? What have the Vols added? What do they need to add in the next few weeks leading into National Signing Day in early February? How many needs were met, and how many need to be met in the coming weeks? Those are the main topics of this episode — the final episode before Christmas.

GoVols247's Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Grant Ramey (from GoVols247's Blount County Bureau) convened to break down the 21st-ranked Tennessee basketball team's oh-so-close loss to fifth-ranked North Carolina over the weekend and look ahead to another big week for the legit-contender Vols. Tennessee's nine-point, second-half lead over the Tar Heels didn't hold up, just like the Vols' 12-point, second-half lead over top-ranked Villanova didn't hold up, but Rick Barnes' team has put a big scare into the past two national champions and is one good week away from heading into SEC play as a team on everyone's radar. What is keeping this very-good Tennessee team from breaking through and becoming a great team, and can that breakthrough happen this season? How will the Vols respond from the UNC heartbreak in tough games this week against Furman and Wake Forest? Those are the main questions in this week's first GoVols247 Podcast episode. We'll be back Friday with a look at Tennessee football's Early Signing Period under new head coach Jeremy Pruitt.