Wide receiver Braylon Staley made waves for the Tennessee football program all season long, and one of the payoffs finally hit when Staley was awarded the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year Award.

Yet the Staley news was not the only story to enter the hemisphere over the week, despite no football being played. Let’s dive into the storylines of the week:

Entering this season, the wideout position was one of some concern for Vols fans, but the sudden emergence of Staley has brought ease to those worries.

Staley, 6-foot, 190,  stepped onto the scene with potential, but also room to grow. The growth took place in the downtime from his first to second year on campus, because Staley broke out for a strong 806 yards over 12 games this season.

While he didn’t lead the team in receiving yards, Chris Brazzell II did with 1,017 yards. Staley still laid a foundation for what is possible to come next season.

Staley is now the third Tennessee Vol to earn the honor of Freshman of the Year, following Jamal Lewis (1997) and Peyton Manning (1994).

Tuesday night in Las Vegas, a Tennessee defensive star John Henderson, was formally inducted into the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame.

Joining the class of 2025, Henderson became the 27th Vol to be inducted into the hall of fame, and the third in the last five years.

Henderson played under Phil Fulmer, where he tallied 20.5 career sacks, 38.5 tackles for loss, and 162 tackles. He ranks among the top defensive players in Tennessee history.

The Vols began a search for a new defensive coordinator after firing former DC Tim Banks on Monday. Within two days, they dialed in on former Ohio State and now Penn State DC Jim Knowles.

Knowles spent his last season with Penn State after departing from Ohio State. While with the Buckeyes, Knowles played an instrumental role in bringing a championship to Columbus.

During that period from 2022-24, Knowles coached 11 draft picks on a defense that allowed just 14.9 points a game. 

"Hiring Jim Knowles was our top priority from the start of this process," said Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said. "Jim has a proven track record of developing elite defenses that play with an edge, and we got to see that first-hand during the 2024 College Football Playoff. His defenses are always physical, well prepared, and can adapt quickly in-game against today's complex offenses.”

Staley wasn’t the only freshman to be recognized for his on-field success this week. The Coaches All-SEC team was released, with four total Vols reaching the list.

Along with Stayley, he was joined by OT David Sanders Jr, CB Ty Redmond, and LB Edwin Spillman.

All four have cemented their roles on the 2026 team as contributors after big campaigns. Spillman and Redmond took off on the defensive side this season, while Sanders Jr. held his own for five straight starts on the offensive line to end the season.

Wide receiver Chris Brazell II will bypass the Music City Bowl and has declared for the NFL Draft.

He had himself quite the 2025 campaign, leading the team in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Brazzell is now set to become the next product of the Josh Heupel offense to go the The League. Last season it was RB Dylan Sampson and WR Dont’e Thornton.

The dates have been announced for Tennessee's 2026 football season. Specific times won't be available until much later.

SEPTEMBER: 5 -- Furman at Tennessee; 12 -- Tennessee at Georgia Tech; 19 -- Kennesaw State at Tennessee; 26 -- Texas at Tennessee.

OCTOBER: 3 -- Auburn at Tennessee; 10 -- Tennessee at Arkansas; 17 -- Alabama at Tennessee; 24 -- Tennessee at South Carolina.

NOVEMBER: 7 -- Kentucky at Tennessee; 14 -- Tennessee at Texas A&M; 21 -- LSU at Tennessee; 28 -- Tennessee at Vanderbilt.