The Tennessee Volunteers‘ annual Orange & White Game will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. ET in Neyland Stadium. This spring game will give fans a first look at Tennessee’s 2025 football roster.
After losing several offensive linemen and wide receivers in the offseason, Tennessee faces several questions entering the 2025 college football season. However, the Vols’ spring game should clarify some of the team’s glaring issues.
Here are a few players and position groups to monitor in preparation for Saturday’s scrimmage:
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Boo Carter
Boo Carter is one of the most exciting players to keep an eye on in Tennessee’s spring. The 2024 SEC All-Freshman defensive back returns to the Vols after entering his name in the transfer portal at the beginning of the offseason.
Carter withdrew his name from the portal and returned to the Volunteers after alleged conversations with Tennessee’s coaching staff about having a role on offense, similar to how Travis Hunter played both ways with the Colorado Buffaloes.
With Tennessee’s roster lacking depth at the wide receiver position, it will be intriguing to see how Carter performs on offense. No one expects him to have a Heisman season like Hunter did in 2024, but Carter’s dynamic playing ability can provide a much-needed spark to a Vols team that only returns three scholarship receivers.
Since spring practices began, Carter has primarily gotten reps at defensive back but still works with the wide receivers on offense. After Tennessee’s second spring camp scrimmage, head coach Josh Heupel said that Carter has “spent a lot of extra time in here learning what we’re doing offensively, being able to handle the structure of the offense.”
Assuming that Carter continues to practice as a receiver, we should see him get offensive reps during Tennessee’s spring game. The Vols sophomore has the potential to be one of the most significant players on Tennessee’s roster in 2025, and it will be intriguing to see how he serves as a wide receiver.
2024 Defensive Stats:
| G | Solo | Comb | TFL | Sack | Int |
| 13 | 28 | 38 | 3 | 1.0 | 1 |
2024 Punt Return Stats:
| G | Ret | Yds | Y / Ret | PRTD |
| 13 | 12 | 198 | 16.5 | 0 |
Wide Receivers
Mike Matthews
As mentioned earlier, Tennessee has a glaring issue with its wide receiver depth. After the 2024 season, the Vols lost every scholarship receiver besides Mike Matthews, Chris Brazzell, and Braylon Staley. So, how will the Volunteers overcome this hurdle?
Luckily, Matthews decided to return to Tennessee after entering the transfer portal following last season. The second-year receiver will likely be quarterback Nico Iamaleava‘s first option heading into 2025.
The former five-star prospect finished his first season with seven catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns in a limited role. Expect to see Matthews play a more significant role in the Vols’ offense in 2025
Amari Jefferson
Amari Jefferson is another receiver to keep an eye on in Tennessee’s spring game. Jefferson is a redshirt freshman transfer from the Alabama Crimson Tide who might make his first appearance as a Volunteer in the Orange & White game. However, Jefferson has been limited in spring practices.
As a Freshman with the Crimson Tide, Jefferson did not record any statistics, so 2025 will likely be Jefferson’s debut in college football. Luckily for Jefferson, he won’t have to compete with many receivers to gain playing time this season.
It will be intriguing to see how the former three-star receiver performs against SEC competition. If Jefferson is cleared to play, expect to hear his name often in the Vols’ spring game.
Braylon Staley
Braylon Staley is also a receiver to watch in Tennessee’s exhibition on Saturday. Staley was buried in the depth chart last season, but with a fresh, new receiver room, he could be one of the Vols’ top targets in 2025.
Staley has garnered high praise in the offseason. After attending one of Tennessee’s spring practices, VolQuest’s Brent Hubbs listed Staley as a player that stood out to him.
“I like him because he catches the ball with his hands,” said Hubbs. “I think he certainly sees an opportunity that he didn’t have a year ago with Squirrel White and other guys that they had that are no longer here. I think he sees this as go time for him. He’s gotten off to a nice start.”
Staley was a former four-star recruit who didn’t see much player time in his first season with the Vols in 2024. As a freshman, Staley finished with three catches for 21 yards. However, in Tennessee’s first College Football Playoff appearance, the young pass-catcher played 51 snaps against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
With so many concerns about Tennessee’s lack of experience on offense, it will be fascinating to see how the Vols’ wide receivers perform in Tennessee’s spring game.
Backup Quarterbacks
Another question leading into the Vols’ spring game is who will be the Iamaleava’s backup in 2025. However, Tennessee’s quarterback situation intensified after On3 reported that Iamaleava was restructuring his contract on Thursday.
On Friday morning, speculation skyrocketed after Iamaleava was absent from Tennessee’s practice. With so much uncertainty about Iamaleava’s future, it will be interesting if any backup quarterbacks step up following Iamaleava’s absence.
Jake Merklinger
One of the quarterbacks who could step up is Jake Merklinger. The sophomore QB enters his second season with the Vols after reserving Tennessee’s third-string spot last season. With the exit of Gaston Moore, Merklinger will likely be the Vols’ second option at QB in 2025.
During his freshman season, Merklinger saw action in two games, finishing with six completions for 48 yards through the air. Although Merklinger hasn’t seen much playing time, he is still Tennessee’s second-most-experienced quarterback besides Iamaleava.
In high school, Merklinger was rated a consensus four-star recruit from the state of Georgia. As a four-year starter, Merklinglinger posted a 42-10 record, including 113 passing touchdowns and 32 rushing yards. In addition to his athleticism on the gridiron, the dual-threat quarterback also played varsity lacrosse and basketball.
Merklinger’s ability to extend plays with his legs contributes to his versatility as a passer. Expect to see the young quarterback showcase these skills on Saturday.
George MacIntyre
Another quarterback you will see on Saturday is freshman George MacIntyre. In high school, MacIntyre was listed as a consensus four-star recruit by every major recruiting service. In addition, On3 rated MacIntyre as the No. 2 quarterback in the class of 2025.
The Brentwood Academy product recorded 8,293 passing yards with 62 touchdowns in 36 games during his high school career. MacIntyre is also the grandson of former Vanderbilt Commodores coach George MacIntyre and son of former college head coach Mike MacIntyre, who currently serves as the Mississippi State Bulldogs‘ Defensive Analyst.
With a family legacy of former coaches, MacIntyre is likely ahead of most first-year athletes in terms of confidence and knowledge of the sport. If Iamaleava transfers or gets hurt, MacIntyre could be a good substitution for the Volunteers.
Regardless of the uncertainty of Imaleava’s contract negotiations, Tennessee still has talented backups ready to play when called upon. However, Saturday’s spring game should be a fantastic way for these young QBs to gain experience and compete for the Vols’ backup quarterback position.