The Slice

Senior safety Jaylen McCollough has been an impact player for Tennessee since his freshman year. As a veteran defensive player, he's looking to bring more play making skills and leadership to the 2022 season. The Austell, GA native joins Kasey on The Slice and gets real about his time spent at Tennessee and what he's learned about himself since being on Rocky Top. The Slice is all about the lives of Tennessee Football players and coaches. Take a deep dive into who the Vols are, how they got to Rocky Top, and what drives them to give their all for Tennessee every day. Not only do you get to hear about what is new with the Volunteers, but you get the inside scoop on Tennessee Football. Like what you hear? Hit subscribe and leave us a review!Follow @Vol_Football on social media to stay up to date on the Vols. 

Jalin Hyatt is a speedy wide receiver and explosive playmaker. He delivered an outstanding true freshman season and is one of the Vols' go-to receivers this fall. In this episode, the Irmo, South Carolina native talks about growing mentally and physically during as a player and about how he wants to be a leader this season. The Slice is all about the lives of Tennessee Football players and coaches. Take a deep dive into who the Vols are, how they got to Rocky Top, and what drives them to give their all for Tennessee every day. Not only do you get to hear about what is new with the Volunteers, but you get the inside scoop on Tennessee Football. Like what you hear? Hit subscribe and leave us a review!Follow @Vol_Football on social media to stay up to date on the Vols. 

Defensive lineman Elijah Simmons joins The Slice to talk about his journey to the gridiron. Since joining the Vols in 2019, Simmon has improved his athleticism and his body so he can be a changing factor this season. The Slice is all about the lives of Tennessee Football players and coaches. Take a deep dive into who the Vols are, how they got to Rocky Top, and what drives them to give their all for Tennessee every day. Not only do you get to hear about what is new with the Volunteers, but you get the inside scoop on Tennessee Football. Like what you hear? Hit subscribe and leave us a review!Follow @Vol_Football on social media to stay up to date on the Vols. 

Jerome Carvin is a dominant offensive lineman who has shown his versatility his entire career on Rocky Top. He is seen as a leader amongst his teammates and plans to grow even more in that role this season. In this episode, Jerome talks about his love of his hometown Memphis and what he hopes to accomplish during his final year as a Vol. The Slice is all about the lives of Tennessee Football players and coaches. Take a deep dive into who the Vols are, how they got to Rocky Top, and what drives them to give their all for Tennessee every day. Not only do you get to hear about what is new with the Volunteers, but you get the inside scoop on Tennessee Football. Like what you hear? Hit subscribe and leave us a review!Follow @Vol_Football on social media to stay up to date on the Vols. 

Offensive lineman and Knoxville native, Cooper Mays, joins The Slice to talk about his experience on Rocky Top so far. You'll get to hear what it was like for him to play alongside his brother during the 2021 season, how important his family is to him, and what he's looking forward to most this spring.The Slice is all about the lives of Tennessee Football players and coaches. Take a deep dive into who the Vols are, how they got to Rocky Top, and what drives them to give their all for Tennessee every day. Not only do you get to hear about what is new with the Volunteers, but you get the inside scoop on Tennessee Football. Like what you hear? Hit subscribe and leave us a review!Follow @Vol_Football on social media to stay up to date on the Vols. 

Defensive lineman Omari Thomas joins The Slice to talk about his experience as a Vol so far. The sophomore made his way up the depth chart during the 2021 season and finished the season starting in the last four games. In this episode you'll also hear about Omari's hometown, Memphis, and his close relationship with his teammates.The Slice is all about the lives of Tennessee Football players and coaches. Take a deep dive into who the Vols are, how they got to Rocky Top, and what drives them to give their all for Tennessee every day. Not only do you get to hear about what is new with the Volunteers, but you get the inside scoop on Tennessee Football. Like what you hear? Hit subscribe and leave us a review!Follow @Vol_Football on social media to stay up to date on the Vols. 

Hendon Hooker is a dynamic dual-threat quarterback who joined the Vols in 2021. The North Carolina native comes from a family pedigree of quarterbacks, including his dad and his brother. Hendon joins Kasey to talk family, where football has taken him so far and recently becoming a co-author with his brother.The Slice is all about the lives of Tennessee Football players and coaches. Take a deep dive into who the Vols are, how they got to Rocky Top, and what drives them to give their all for Tennessee every day. Not only do you get to hear about what is new with the Volunteers, but you get the inside scoop on Tennessee Football. Like what you hear? Hit subscribe and leave us a review!Follow @Vol_Football on social media to stay up to date on the Vols. 

The Slice is back! New episodes will drop starting February 28th so hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode of The Slice.

Thanks for joining us all year long for Season 2 of The Slice! Before fall camp gears up, Cedric Tillman, Jacob Warren, K'Rojhn Calbert, Paxton Brooks, and Matthew Butler sat down with Kasey to answer your questions, talk food, movies, and more. The Slice is all about the lives of Tennessee Football players and coaches. Take a deep dive into who the Vols are, how they got to Rocky Top, and what drives them to give their all for Tennessee every day. Not only do you get to hear about what is new with the Volunteers, but you get the inside scoop on the new era of Tennessee Football under Head Coach Josh Heupel. Like what you hear? Hit subscribe and leave us a review!Follow @Vol_Football on social media to stay up to date on the Vols. 

Kasey just got back from a 12 day trip to Belize with a group of Tennessee student-athletes, and it was unbelievable. This was the annual VOLeaders Academy trip. Student-athletes selected to be VOLeaders learn how to be a positive force for their team, campus, and communities by using their platform in sport. It's a highly selective class where only a few athletes from all Tennessee sports teams are chosen for each year's cohort. VOLeaders is a year-long course designed to teach personal and socially responsible leadership in sport. The program culminates in a 12-day cultural exchange where the student-athletes travel abroad and serve in the local community. Paxton Brooks, K'Rojhn Calbert, and Alontae Taylor represented the football team, and each day we were able to catch up and talk about their experience serving in Belize.The Slice is all about the lives of Tennessee Football players and coaches. Take a deep dive into who the Vols are, how they got to Rocky Top, and what drives them to give their all for Tennessee every day. Not only do you get to hear about what is new with the Volunteers, but you get the inside scoop on the new era of Tennessee Football under Head Coach Josh Heupel. Like what you hear? Hit subscribe and leave us a review!

Paxton Brooks's journey to playing SEC football began on the soccer pitch.  His transition to the gridiron eventually landed him as the No. 2 punter in the 2018 class. Since arriving on Tennessee's campus, Paxton has been a crucial member of the specialist unit, handling kickoff duties for four straight years. In this episode, Paxton gives an inside look into Coach Mike Ekeler's special teams meetings, why the specialist group should be mic'd up, and more. The Slice is all about the lives of Tennessee Football players and coaches. Take a deep dive into who the Vols are, how they got to Rocky Top, and what drives them to give their all for Tennessee every day. Not only do you get to hear about what is new with the Volunteers, but you get the inside scoop on the new era of Tennessee Football under Head Coach Josh Heupel. Like what you hear? Hit subscribe and leave us a review!Follow @Vol_Football on social media to stay up to date on the Vols. 

Cedric Tillman is looking to make his mark on the 2021 Tennessee Volunteers as a leader and playmaker. The Las Vegas native came to Knoxville as only one of four Tennessee Football players to come from the state of Nevada. In his first two years at Tennessee, Cedric was mentored by VFLs Josh Palmer, Marquez Callaway, and Jauan Jennings. Now, he's looking to put those lessons in action as he helps lead the wideout group. The Slice is all about the lives of Tennessee Football players and coaches. Take a deep dive into who the Vols are, how they got to Rocky Top, and what drives them to give their all for Tennessee every day. Not only do you get to hear about what is new with the Volunteers, but you get the inside scoop on the new era of Tennessee Football under Head Coach Josh Heupel. Like what you hear? Hit subscribe and leave us a review!Follow @Vol_Football on social media to stay up to date on the Vols. 

Sophomore running back Jabari Small grew up under the constant influence of SEC football. The Memphis native's dad and uncles were standout wide receivers at their respective schools, and Jabari now hopes to make his impact at Tennessee. Kasey and Jabari discuss the running back room, running backs coach Jerry Mack, and the new Tennessee offense under Josh Heupel. The Slice is all about the lives of Tennessee Football players and coaches. Take a deep dive into who the Vols are, how they got to Rocky Top, and what drives them to give their all for Tennessee every day. Not only do you get to hear about what is new with the Volunteers, but you get the inside scoop on the new era of Tennessee Football under Head Coach Josh Heupel. Like what you hear? Hit subscribe and leave us a review!Follow @Vol_Football on social media to stay up to date on the Vols. 

LaTrell Bumphus grew up as a Tennessee fan in small-town West Tennessee. Now, he's living his dream as a Volunteer. In this episode, Kasey and the fifth-year defensive lineman talk about when football "clicked for him," recovering from injury, his role as a leader, and what's ahead for the Vols. The Slice is all about the lives of Tennessee Football players and coaches. Take a deep dive into who the Vols are, how they got to Rocky Top, and what drives them to give their all for Tennessee every day. Not only do you get to hear about what is new with the Volunteers, but you get the inside scoop on the new era of Tennessee Football under Head Coach Josh Heupel. Like what you hear? Hit subscribe and leave us a review!Follow @Vol_Football on social media to stay up to date on the Vols. 

Senior Defensive Back Trevon Flowers grew up in Atlanta, and until his senior year of high school, he was committed to play college baseball. A change of heart led him to Rocky Top, where last season he ranked second on the team in tackles. This spring has given Trevon a chance to step up as a leader, grow as a person, and embrace change. Hear more about his journey in this week's episode of The Slice. The Slice is all about the lives of Tennessee Football players and coaches. Take a deep dive into who the Vols are, how they got to Rocky Top, and what drives them to give their all for Tennessee every day. Not only do you get to hear about what is new with the Volunteers, but you get the inside scoop on the new era of Tennessee Football under Head Coach Josh Heupel. Like what you hear? Hit subscribe and leave us a review!Support for The Slice is provided by First Horizon: The Official Bank of the Vols. 

With spring practice behind him, Jacob Warren is continuing to work on his game and leadership skills ahead of the 2021 season. The redshirt junior appeared in all 10 games during the 2020 season, and started to see more action towards the end of the season, where he recorded his first career touchdown after a 33-yard catch and run versus Texas A&M. In this episode, Jacob talks about his versatility as a tight end, how he fits into Coach Heupel's explosive offense, and how the off season has prepared him to take on a bigger leadership role.The Slice is all about the lives of Tennessee Football players and coaches. Take a deep dive into who the Vols are, how they got to Rocky Top, and what drives them to give their all for Tennessee every day. Not only do you get to hear about what is new with the Volunteers, but you get the inside scoop on the new era of Tennessee Football under Head Coach Josh Heupel. Like what you hear? Hit subscribe and leave us a review!Support for The Slice is provided by First Horizon: The Official Bank of the Vols. 

Veteran defensive back Theo Jackson is working to grow as a leader under new head coach Josh Heupel. Theo, who has played in 44 games and made 12 starts throughout his career, finished the 2020 season with 31 tackles, including a career high 10 tackles, and recovered his first career fumble against Alabama. For his final season on Rocky Top, the Nashville native will play for Coach Martinez, who originally recruited Jackson to Tennessee in high school. You'll also get to hear about spring practice and the fun Theo and his teammates are having under the new staff.

Graduate transfer wide receiver and return specialist Velus Jones Jr. is taking advantage of his free year of eligibility and is ready for his second season as a Vol. Velus finished the 2020 season ranking top three in receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and finished first in kickoff return yards for the Vols. Not only did he put up numbers for Tennessee, but he became a leader and used his experience to help Tennessee's young group of wideouts. This season, Jones Jr. is looking to continue to grow as a leader and compete in Coach Heupel's offense, which he describes as "a wide receiver's dream."

Tim Banks boasts over 14 years of experience as an FBS defensive coordinator, and he's planning to bring an aggressive defense to Rocky Top. In this episode, Coach Banks and Kasey dive into the philosophies that guide his coaching, growing up in Detroit, being coached by current Tennessee secondary coach Willie Martinez in college, and his path to Knoxville. 

Alex Golesh begins his first year on Rocky Top as Tennessee's offensive coordinator and tight ends coach. In this episode, Coach Golesh talks about immigrating to the United States at the age of seven, how he found his love of football and how that love led him to coaching. He also talks about the people who influenced him, how he has developed as a coach and why he wants to use football to develop young men. 

Dr. Danny White boasts a literal lifetime experience in intercollegiate athletics and he's bringing his innovative and competitive spirit to Rocky Top. The Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics sits down with Kasey to talk about his journey to becoming Tennessee's AD. He talks about what it was like growing up with a dad who was also an Athletic Director and how he himself got involved in athletic administration. He also discusses his time as an AD at Buffalo and UCF and how those stops prepared him for Tennessee, the vision he has for Tennessee Athletics, and what his first month has been like since becoming a Vol. 

Head Coach Josh Heupel is committed to bringing championships back to Rocky Top. In this episode you'll hear about his journey to finding success in his own football career, how his coaching career began and what he wants to build at Tennessee. You'll also get to hear about his family, why he thinks football should be fun, and what he's learned during his first week on the job. 

The Slice is back! Not only is this a new season of The Slice, but it's also a new era of Tennessee Football – under Head Coach Josh Heupel.  This will be the place where you'll really get to know Coach Heupel and his players – and what is happening on Rocky Top.New episodes will drop starting February 8th so hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode of The Slice.

The Slice is back with a bye week bonus episode. Quavaris Crouch and Elijah Simmons join Kasey during the bye week to talk about the transition from freshman to sophomore year and the back half of the 2020 season. 

2020 Preseason Special: We made it to game day! Before the Vols face-off against South Carolina, Kasey is joined by Trevon Flowers, Theo Jackson, and Jarrett Guarantano to talk about fall camp and their mindset heading into the season. 

In part two of our season finale, members of the Tennessee Football program continue a discussion on racism, changes they want to see in their communities, and how they plan to be a part of it. You'll also hear about the new Culture Committee and how the players plan to use their platform to create conversations and change. Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Engagement Tyvi Small also joins us. Thank you for listening all season long! If you've enjoyed the podcast, leave us a five star review, and let us know who you'd like to hear from when we're back. 

The purpose of The Slice is to bring you all a slice of our players lives, but in this episode we are bringing you a slice that is usually hidden. The murder of George Floyd and subsequent protests have brought to life an ugly American truth: the open wound of racism. This is a truth lived by our Black student-athletes every day. In part one of our two-part series "Can We Be Real?" we have members of the Tennessee Football program who want their voices to be heard on this issue. We want to warn listeners that this episode contains sensitive content including stories of racism and racial slurs. 

Senior defensive lineman Matthew Butler is heading into the 2020 season ready to give his all for Tennessee. The North Carolina native led all Tennessee defensive linemen with 45 tackles during the 2019 season, ranking seventh overall among the Vols. Matt is also an off-the-field standout who was a member of the 2018-2019 Vol Leaders Academy. In this episode, Matt goes into detail about his experience with Vol Leaders and how their trip to Rwanda changed his outlook on life.  

Brent Cimaglia has gone from being told "you're not good enough" by his middle school coach to becoming one of the best kickers to ever wear the orange and white. During the 2019 season, Brent captured All-SEC Second Team honors after ending the season ranked second in the league in both field goals made and field goal percentage. His outstanding performance led him to complete one of the greatest seasons ever by a Tennessee kicker. In this episode, you'll learn about the highs and lows that have gotten Brent to where he is today, the brotherhood of the specialist group, and how he plans to lead in his last season on Rocky Top. 

Wanya Morris proved to be one of the best true freshmen offensive linemen in the nation during the 2019 season after starting 12 of 13 games, and collecting SEC All-Freshman accolades and True Freshman All-American honors from 247Sports. Wanya, along with the entire offensive line, helped paved the way for a season-high 297 yard rushing performance against Vanderbilt. In this episode, Wanya talks about his freshman season and who influenced him the most growing up. You'll also get to hear about his relationship with his teammates and why he wanted to play for Coach Jeremy Pruitt. 

Brandon Johnson will enter the 2020 season as one of the most experienced players on Tennessee's team. After playing four games, then redshirting for the remainder of the 2019 season, Brandon wants to make sure he is being the leader his team needs for his final season on Rocky Top. In this episode, you'll learn more about Brandon's childhood and what it was like growing up with a dad in the MLB, how football became his one true love, and the home atmosphere he feels at Tennessee.

After a season-ending injury in 2018, Brandon Kennedy came into the 2019 season as one of the biggest leaders of the Vols offensive line. He paved the way for some of Tennessee's biggest rushing and passing performances of last season, and did so while also competing in the classroom and earning his Master's Degree in Sport Psychology. Kennedy is now coming back for his sixth season of eligibility because he believes there is more work to be done. In this episode, you'll learn about Brandon's selflessness, his love of watching film and why Tennessee was the best fit for him and his education. 

Bonus Episode: Kasey is joined by Big Cat, the co-host of the popular Barstool Sports podcast Pardon My Take. Also known as Coach Gus Duggerton, Big Cat discusses who the fictitious college coach is, how he came to be head coach of the Vols on his NCAA Football 14 campaign, and his plans for the season.

Eric Gray will head into his sophomore season with high expectations after a stellar freshman year. Gray was a huge contributor in Tennessee's last two games of the 2019 season, after rushing for 246 yards in the Vols' win against Vanderbilt, the most by any true freshman, and scoring the game-winning touchdown in the Taxslayer Gator Bowl. The sophomore running back talks about the ups and downs of his freshman year and how he developed through his first year of college football. You'll also get to hear about why he decided to stay in-state and why coming to Tennessee was the best decision for him.

Alontae Taylor was an instrumental part of Tennessee's season-ending six-game winning streak. The junior cornerback started playing on the defensive side of the ball once he got to UT and has now become one of the most valuable players in the Vols' secondary. Alontae talks about learning a new position and how Coach Pruitt has made him a better player. He talks about everything from growing up in a small town to becoming the Vice-Chairman of the SEC Leadership Council. 

Josh Palmer is returning as the top receiver for the Vols in 2020 after having an impressive junior season, tallying 34 receptions to go along with 457 yards and one touchdown. In this episode, you will learn more about Josh's work ethic, leadership skills, growing up in Canada and his Jamaican background. 

Trey Smith is a standout offensive lineman who returned from a career threatening injury to capture All-SEC First Team honors in 2019. Trey made the decision to come back for his senior season to obtain his degree, improve his draft stock and help lead this Tennessee football team. His college journey has not been easy by any means and it's something we dive into during Episode 2 of The Slice. You'll also get to hear about Trey's journey to Tennessee, how his family helped shape him into who he is today, and what kept him motivated during uncertain times. 

Henry To'o To'o had one of the best freshman seasons out of any player in the country. He came in second on the team in tackles and ended the season hungry for more. In our first episode of The Slice, we caught up with Henry and recapped his first season under Coach Pruitt, what the recruiting process with Tennessee was like and checked in to see how he's been doing since moving back home due to COVID-19.

The Slice launches Monday, April 20. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode!