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Tennessee football spring game live updates: Vols move on without Nico Iamaleava
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- Tennessee football spring game live updates: Vols move on without Nico Iamaleava
Tennessee football is playing its Orange & White spring game without quarterback Nico Iamaleava , who is no longer part of the program.
Coach Josh Heupel told the team that UT is moving forward without Iamaleava , who is expected to enter the transfer portal when it opens on April. 16. Heupel will address the situation after the spring game.
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Iamaleava did not attend practice on Friday amid reports of his NIL negotiations and cut off communication with coaches. It's a massive storyline surrounding the finale of spring practice and the upcoming portal window.
Redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and freshman George MacIntyre will get all the reps at quarterback in the spring game. UT could add a quarterback in the transfer portal.
NICO'S REPLACEMENTS: What to know about Tennessee quarterback situation
Tennessee football 2025 spring game live updates
Josh Turbyville, Max Gilbert nail long field goal
On the final two plays of the scrimmage, placekickers Josh Turbyville and Max Gilbert made 47-yard field goals.
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That conclude the spring game about 1 hour, 20 minutes after the workout began.
Radarious Jackson's catch, Jack Van Dorselaer's third TD
Freshman wide receiver Radarious Jackson made a one-handed catch on a 30-yard pass from George MacIntyre. Jackson pulled in the ball over the shoulder of a defender and held on as he hit the ground at the 1-yard line.
A few plays later, MacIntyre connected with freshman tight end Jack Van Dorselaer for a 3-yard TD pass. It was the third touchdown of the day for Van Dorselaer. The drive was kept alive when freshman running back Justin Baker broke off a run of almost 20 yards for a first down.
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Jack Van Dorselaer makes second TD catch
Freshman tight end Jack Van Dorselaer caught a 25-yard TD pass from George MacIntyre on a crossing route.
It was Van Dorselaer's second TD catch of the scrimmage. He's competing for a role in the rotation while starting tight end Miles Kitselman rehabs a pectoral injury.
Jake Merklinger throws interception on fourth down
Jake Merklinger was picked off by safety Jakobe Thomas on a fourth-and-5 pass.
The drive had reached inside the 30-yard line, but it stalled there. Before that, walk-on receiver Trey Weary made a diving catch over the middle and Merklinger scrambled for a 12-yard run.
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George MacIntyre to Jack Van Dorselaer for touchdown
George MacIntyre hit freshman tight end Jack Van Dorselaer on a short touchdown pass off play-action.
It capped a long scoring drive that featured MacIntyre completions to freshman tight end DaSaahn Brame, walk-on receiver Kyle Miller and Alabama transfer receiver Amari Jefferson to keep the chains moving.
MacIntyre also had a 15-yard scramble while playing against the second-team defense.
Hendon Hooker , Joshua Dobbs among VFLs at game
During a break in the scrimmage, former UT players were introduced on the field.
Quarterback Hendon Hooker, quarterback Joshua Dobbs, tight end Princeton Fant , safety Eric Berry and linebacker Al Wilson got a loud ovation. Hooker was in the facility Saturday morning when Heupel addressed the team about the Iamaleava situation.
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Jake Merklinger takes his first snaps of scrimmage
Quarterback Jake Merklinger got a big ovation from the crowd when his name was announced.
Linebacker Jeremiah Telander sacked Merklinger on the second play. Merklinger then hit freshman Travis Smith for 15-yard pass for a first down. But the drive stalled, and Merklinger went 1-for-4 passing.
George MacIntyre tosses TD pass on opening drive
Freshman George MacIntyre played the first drive, albeit with backups, and got a big ovation from the crowd. It's not an indication that he's ahead of Jake Merklinger, only that reserves played the opening drive.
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MacIntyre went 5-for-5 passing on the opening drive, connecting with Radarious Jackson for a 26-yard TD pass. MacIntyre also scrambled for a 12-yard run.
Max Gilbert goes 3-for-3 on field goals
Max Gilbert nailed a 46-yard field goal. He is the frontrunner for the vacant placekicker job. He then made a 37-yarder and a 21-yarder. Gilbert was 3-for-3 on field goals in the drill.
Josh Turbyville missed a 21-yard field goal and made a 37-yarder. He then missed a 46-yard field goal, wide left.
Jake Merklinger to Mike Matthew for 35-yard TD
It was just a 7-on-7 drill, but Merklinger showed his touch by connecting with Mike Matthews on a 35-yard TD pass.
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Matthews got a step ahead of the defender on a sideline route, and Merklinger hit him in stride at the goal line.
Jake Merklinger tosses touchdown, interception
In red-zone passing drills, Merklinger tossed a touchdown pass to Matthews on a fade route. It was a well-placed throw by Merklinger and a nice grab and toe-tap by Matthews.
Merklinger tossed an interception on his first pass of 7-on-7 drills. He overthrew the receiver over the middle, and safety Andre Turrentine picked it off.
Fans fill up half of Neyland Stadium
The spring game format is modified and abbreviated. We'll tell you what's happening during the scrimmage sessions.
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There's about 45,000 fans at Neyland Stadium. Tickets were limited due to ongoing renovations.
Nico Iamaleava has been deleted from Neyland Stadium
Iamaleava's No. 8 jersey was nowhere to be found in the team store in Neyland Stadium. It had been one of the most popular items.
On the updated roster distributed to media, he was also deleted. There is no other No. 8 on the team.
And look closely and it's apparent that Iamaleava no longer appeared in videos played during pregame on the jumbotron.
Rickey Gibson to miss spring game due to illness
Cornerback Rickey Gibson will not play in the spring game due to illness, a UT spokesman told Knox News. He has been out for multiple days while battling sickness.
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In February, Gibson considered entering the transfer portal amid NIL negotiations, On3.com reported. But he was on the field to start spring practice, he's led the secondary throughout.
UT coaches expected him to miss the spring game while he recovers from an illness that's sidelined most of the week.
Radio broadcast with Mike Keith, but no TV
The spring game will not be televised or live streamed. But the Vol Network radio broadcast will be on air at 2 p.m. ET across radio affiliates, the Tennessee Athletics app and UTsports.com. The new UT broadcast team , led by "Voice of the Vols" Mike Keith , will discuss spring practice storylines.
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Orange & White spring game format
Offense will wear white jerseys and be on the home sideline. Defense will wear orange jerseys and be on the visiting sideline. Quarterbacks will wear Smokey Grey jersey tops.
There will be normal game scoring, with offense alternating possessions for Orange and White. There will be a 10-minute halftime, and award recipients from the 2024 team will be recognized.
Spring game schedule of events
9:30 a.m. – Free game-day parking shuttles begin from Ag Campus
10:30 a.m. – Vol Village opens in Lot 9
11:50 a.m. – Vol Walk at corner of Peyton Manning Pass and Phillip Fulmer Way
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Noon – Pep rally on Vol Village stage with Pride of the Southland Band and Spirit Squad
12:15 p.m. – Matt Stillwell performs on Vol Village stage
1 p.m. – Gates to Neyland Stadium open
1:05 p.m. – Warm-ups begin on field
1:30 p.m. – Vol Village closes in Lot 9
2 p.m. – Orange and White Game
Tennessee football injury updates
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These players have been out or limited during spring practice:CB Jermod McCoy (ACL); DB Jourdan Thomas (knee); TE Miles Kitselman (pectoral); LB Arion Carter; LB Jaedon Harmon; Jadon Perlotte; DB Christian Charles; DL Daevin Hobbs; DE Caleb Herring; DL Nathan Robinson; DL Jamal Wallace; DL Mariyon Dye; DL Jayden Loftin; DE Christian Gass; DE Emmanuel Okoye; OL Jeremias Heard; OL Gage Ginther; TE Cole Harrison (limited); WR Amari Jefferson (limited).
Tennessee spring game weather update
The forecast calls for 55 degrees and sunny skies at kickoff.
Tennessee football schedule 2025
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Aug. 30:Tennessee vs. Syracuse (in Atlanta)
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Sept. 6:ETSU at Tennessee
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Sept. 13:Georgia at Tennessee*
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Sept. 20:UAB at Tennessee
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Sept. 27:Tennessee at Mississippi State*
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Oct. 11:Arkansas at Tennessee*
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Oct. 18:Tennessee at Alabama*
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Oct. 25:Tennessee at Kentucky*
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Nov. 1:Oklahoma at Tennessee*
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Nov. 15:New Mexico State at Tennessee
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Nov. 22:Tennessee at Florida*
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Nov. 29:Vanderbilt at Tennessee*
Denotes conference game*
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com . X, formerly known as Twitter @AdamSparks . Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe .
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football spring game, live updates minus Nico Iamaleava
