Volunteer Country

Halftime Report: Orange and White Game

The Tennessee Volunteers are halfway through their annual spring game.

Evan Crowell

Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) during Tennessee's Orange & White spring football game
Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) during Tennessee's Orange & White spring football game / Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA

The Tennessee Volunteers are halfway through their annual spring game.

Tennessee's annual "Orange and White" spring game kicked off earlier this afternoon in front of a lively crowd at Neyland Stadium. Stadium capacity was limited due to renovations, but the energy inside the building was still high. Tennessee faithful has many expectations for the 2024 season, especially with quarterback Nico Iamaleava and edge rusher James Pearce Jr.

That pairing didn't play much in the first half, as head coach Josh Heupel explained that he wanted to get the younger players reps. Freshman wide receiver Mike Matthews and quarterback Jake Merklinger have each made plays during the first half that excited fans. Merklinger scored the lone touchdown for his side on a quarterback scramble, while Matthews has consistently separated all afternoon.

These spring games are primarily used to develop younger players, so the action hasn't been overly thrilling, but these are the games that build confidence in depth for your football team. Tennessee needs strong depth to field a substainable run during this upcoming season.

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Evan Crowell
EVAN CROWELL

Evan Crowell is currently pursuing a journalism degree from the University of Missouri and has various media experiences throughout his young career. He's been committed to marrying the fan's perspective of the game of football to the technical intricacies installed in each game by coaches and players. Crowell has been working at Fan Nation since 2020 and has covered high-profile college football games, recruiting events, and more during that five-year tenure. While he never played football, he's worked relentlessly to continue improving his understanding of the game while still covering the unique stories of each individual he covers.

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