Tennessee Fans Fired Up! Josh Heupel’s Controversial Player Picks for 2025 SEC Media Days Spark Major Buzz and Backlash
KNOXVILLE, TN
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel has never been one to shy away from bold decisions, but his latest move has the entire college football world talking. With the highly anticipated SEC Media Days just around the corner, Heupel shocked fans and analysts alike by selecting three unexpected Volunteers to represent the program — and let’s just say, folks aren’t exactly keeping their opinions to themselves.
This year, instead of rolling with the usual high-profile stars or NFL-bound veterans, Heupel tapped junior quarterback Caleb Pressley, redshirt freshman linebacker Treyvon “T-Bone” Miles, and senior wide receiver Jalen Brooks, whose performances last season were more steady than standout.
Many Vol fans expected to see household names like running back Deuce Harmon or cornerback Kendrick Walker, both of whom were preseason All-SEC picks and are considered team leaders. But Heupel clearly had a different vision in mind.
“This is about growth, leadership, and character — not just highlight reels,” Heupel said at a press briefing on Monday. “These guys embody what Tennessee football is all about right now. They’ve earned their seat at the table.”
It didn’t take long for message boards, Twitter (or “X,” if you prefer), and sports radio talk shows across the South to light up with hot takes. While some fans applauded Heupel’s decision to give under-the-radar guys a chance to shine, others were straight-up furious.
“Caleb Pressley? The kid barely played last year! This is the SEC, not some charity banquet,” one longtime Vols fan wrote on a popular forum. “We need leaders who’ve been through the fire — not players still learning the playbook.”
Another user chimed in with a more optimistic take: “Heupel’s building something special. He knows what he’s doing. If he believes in these guys, I’m ridin’ with him.”
College football analysts, meanwhile, are just as divided. ESPN’s Paul Finebaum called the selections “one of the most curious decisions in recent SEC Media Day history,” adding, “You’ve got talent on that roster that could be first-round picks next April, and you leave them at home? That’s a head-scratcher.”
Others, like SEC Network’s Jordan Rodgers, defended the move. “Heupel’s playing chess, not checkers,” Rodgers said during a segment. “He’s sending a message — to his locker room and the rest of the league — that this team isn’t about big names, it’s about the next wave.”
Behind all the controversy might be a smart psychological play. By putting younger, lesser-known players in the spotlight, Heupel could be trying to build internal confidence and set the tone for the season. Caleb Pressley, for instance, is expected to take over the starting QB job this fall. What better way to show trust than to send him to Birmingham as the face of the program?
And T-Bone Miles? Though he’s yet to play a down in a Tennessee uniform, insiders say the linebacker has been tearing it up in spring ball and is already becoming a vocal leader in the locker room.
As for Jalen Brooks, he may not have posted eye-popping numbers last year, but coaches rave about his work ethic and presence off the field — something that may carry weight in the media circus of SEC Media Days.
Love it or hate it, Josh Heupel has once again proven that he’s going to run Tennessee his way — not by the book, not by what the critics say, and definitely not by social media consensus.
Will this bold decision pay off when the Vols take the field this fall? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure: the spotlight is burning hot, and all eyes will be on Pressley, Miles, and Brooks when they hit that SEC Media Days podium.
So buckle up, Vol Nation. It’s gonna be one wild ride to kickoff.
