John Adams of the Knoxville News Sentinel joins Caleb Calhoun and Dave Hooker to discuss Nico Iamaleava, Josh Heupel and the portal, Billy Napier and the Florida Gators and Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats. Off the Hook Sports’ Tuesday, April 16 podcast also covers Tennessee Football losing a transfer and the basketball Vols picking up one.
Nico Iamaleava’s quiet spring with Tennessee Football
Despite lots of coverage for other potential stars during spring practice, Tennessee Football quarterback Nico Iamaleava didn’t generate a lot of headlines. Why did the Vols keep stories about him quiet? Is it because his play is top secret, or could there be an issue with him not being as good as they thought?
Josh Heupel talks exit meetings in transfer portal
Speaking about the spring portal plans for Tennessee Football on Saturday, Josh Heupel discussed holding exit meetings with certain players. Is that an admission that he is nudging certain players out the door? How much of a problem is that this day in age with NIL and the portal being so commonplace?
Florida Gators can’t line up in spring game
After drawing the ire of fans multiple times last year for failing to get players lined up on special teams players, Billy Napier did it again in the Florida Gators’ spring game. On an extra point, Florida’s field goal block team only sent 10 guys out there. Is this an overreaction or proof that he’s not as detail-oriented as he was once advertised?
Mark Pope shows off 1996 national title trophy
As the Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball program introduced new head coach Mark Pope at Rupp Arena, the 1996 national championship trophy was put on display since Pope played for that team. Why would UK advertise that, especially since they have won two since then?
LB Elijah Herring leaves Tennessee Football for portal
UT’s first loss of the spring portal season was a major contributor to last year’s team, starting linebacker Elijah Herring. After Keenan Pili went down, Herring became the main mike linebacker for Tennessee Football. However, with Pili healthy and Jeremiah Telander developing, was his role going to be limited this year?
Basketball Vols add Hofstra transfer
Hofstra Pride forward Darlinstone Dubar has officially transferred to Tennessee Basketball. Dubar is an elite scorer on the wing and originally committed to the Iowa State Cyclones as a freshman before transferring out. He averaged 17.8 points per game and just under seven rebounds last year nearly 40 percent from three at 6’6″ 207 pounds.
