Ten Tennessee Volunteers Earn Athlon Sports Preseason All-SEC Honors, Showcasing Depth and Star Power Ahead of 2025 Season

The Tennessee Volunteers are entering the 2025 college football season with heightened expectations, and those hopes were validated when ten players from the program were named to the Athlon Sports Preseason All-SEC teams. Recognition on such a prestigious list is not only a testament to individual talent but also to the program’s trajectory under head coach Josh Heupel. With a mix of returning veterans and emerging stars receiving honors, Tennessee’s presence on this list signals that Rocky Top is preparing to make serious noise in the SEC this fall.

Of the ten honorees, three earned first-team recognition, while the others were spread across the second, third, and fourth teams. This level of representation places Tennessee among the top programs in the Southeastern Conference in terms of preseason accolades and speaks volumes about the talent foundation Heupel and his staff have built through recruiting, development, and the transfer portal.

Leading the way on the first team is linebacker Elijah Herring, who emerged as the cornerstone of Tennessee’s defense last season. After taking a major leap in 2024, Herring is now viewed as one of the top linebackers in the nation, let alone the SEC. He led the Volunteers in tackles last season and showed marked improvement in coverage, helping Tennessee clamp down on opposing offenses during crucial stretches. His sideline-to-sideline range, instincts, and physicality have made him the emotional and tactical anchor of the defense.

Joining Herring on the first team is offensive tackle Gerald Mincey, a returning veteran who continues to build his draft stock as he protects the quarterback’s blindside. Mincey has been a model of consistency and leadership on the offensive line, helping pave the way for Tennessee’s high-octane offense. His ability to neutralize elite pass rushers makes him a critical component of Heupel’s up-tempo attack.

Rounding out the first-team selections is wide receiver Bru McCoy. Despite battling through an injury-shortened 2024 campaign, McCoy returns as one of the most physically dominant wideouts in the SEC. His combination of size, hands, and yards-after-catch ability makes him a nightmare for defensive backs. McCoy’s return to full health is expected to elevate Tennessee’s passing game and provide a steadying presence for whoever lines up under center.

The second-team selections are headlined by defensive lineman James Pearce Jr., who has continued to build on a breakout sophomore season. Pearce has become an elite edge rusher, possessing the quick-twitch athleticism and pass-rushing arsenal to wreak havoc in the backfield. He finished last season with double-digit sacks and is poised to be one of the top defenders in the conference, if not the country.

Joining Pearce on the second team is running back Dylan Sampson, a versatile threat who offers both speed and power out of the backfield. Sampson’s ability to break big runs while also contributing as a receiver has made him a perfect fit for Tennessee’s offensive system. He’s expected to be a centerpiece of the Volunteers’ offense in 2025, with an expanded role that could push him into the conversation for postseason honors.

Cornerback Kamal Hadden also finds himself on the second team after delivering a stellar 2024 campaign. Hadden’s sticky coverage and ball-hawking skills have made him one of the premier defensive backs in the SEC. His ability to match up with the opponent’s top receiver and erase half the field gives Tennessee’s defense a significant tactical advantage.

On the third team, defensive tackle Omari Thomas gets the nod, anchoring the middle of Tennessee’s defensive front. Thomas has developed into a space-eating, gap-controlling force who commands double teams and frees up teammates like Pearce and Herring to make plays. His presence allows the Vols to remain stout against the run and disruptive in passing situations.

Also on the third team is offensive lineman Cooper Mays, who has been the vocal leader of Tennessee’s line. Mays’ intelligence and physicality at the center position keep the offensive engine humming. His ability to read defensive fronts, make the correct calls, and execute with consistency is vital to maintaining the rhythm and tempo Heupel’s offense requires.

The fourth team includes a pair of up-and-coming stars who could easily outplay their current projections. Safety Andre Turrentine is one of them, as he steps into a full-time starting role in 2025. Known for his physicality and ability to diagnose plays quickly, Turrentine is expected to be a tone-setter for the Vols’ secondary. His tackling ability and range make him an ideal fit for a defense that demands versatility from its back-end players.

The final name on the list is wide receiver Dont’e Thornton, a transfer who showed flashes last season and is now expected to be a much more integral piece of the offense. Thornton’s size and speed provide a vertical threat that complements McCoy’s physicality, creating matchup problems for opposing defenses. If Thornton can build on his momentum and carve out consistent production, Tennessee’s receiving corps could be one of the deepest and most dangerous in the conference.

Collectively, these ten selections reflect Tennessee’s balanced and talented roster. The Volunteers aren’t just strong in one area—they feature elite players on both sides of the ball and at multiple levels within each unit. That balance is crucial as they look to contend in a hyper-competitive SEC, especially with programs like Georgia and Alabama perennially in the mix for conference titles and playoff berths.

Moreover, these honors serve as a recruitment and development validation for Heupel. Tennessee has become a destination for top-tier talent and a launching pad for NFL hopefuls. With this level of preseason recognition, there’s also a growing sense of pressure—but it’s the good kind, the kind that comes with being viewed as a legitimate threat.

Tennessee fans have reason to be excited. Not only does the team return seasoned leaders, but it also boasts a roster deep enough to withstand the grind of the SEC schedule. Injuries are inevitable, but with proven performers and hungry young talent on the depth chart, the Vols are in a better position than they’ve been in recent memory.

Off the field, the recognition also boosts Tennessee’s brand on a national level. As preseason watch lists begin to pile up and NFL scouts turn their attention to 2025’s draft-eligible prospects, expect names like Herring, McCoy, Pearce, and Mincey to remain in the spotlight. Their continued performance could help propel Tennessee not only into SEC title contention but possibly into the newly expanded College Football Playoff.

As summer turns to fall and camps begin, these ten Athlon Sports All-SEC selections will carry with them the expectations of Vol Nation. They represent the strength, speed, and swagger that has come to define Tennessee’s football renaissance. With a chip on their shoulders and accolades in hand, the Vols are poised to prove they belong among the elite once again.

Ultimately, preseason honors don’t win games. But they do set the tone. And with ten Volunteers already recognized as some of the SEC’s best, Tennessee has made it clear—this is a program on the rise, and the rest of the conference better be ready.