Tennessee paused preseason practice on Friday after “a few” more positive COVID-19 tests within the team before resuming practice on Saturday.

Here are five things we learned from Tennessee’s second week of practice.

Quavaris Crouch leads competition for linebacker spot

Sophomore Quavaris Crouch leads the competition for the inside linebacker spot alongside returning starter Henry To’o To’o in what is perhaps Tennessee’s most important preseason position battle.

Jeremy Banks is behind Crouch.

“Those guys are battling tooth and nail for that starting position,” Ansley said.

Crouch played more outside linebacker than inside last season, but by moving permanently to the inside, he can fill an important v...

OAK RIDGE – Flushing Saturday night’s 19-3 loss to Dobyns-Bennett can’t happen soon enough for the Oak Ridge High School football team.

While the sting of the loss was still fresh, his players on a knee looking for direction as a gentle rain fell, Wildcats’ coach Joe Gaddis was adamant about minimizing the damage from the loss.

“Kids are resilient,” Gaddis said. “They’ll take this game to heart, but they know there’s so much out there for them.”

Three critical dropped passes which could have changed the complexion of the game, an offense that generated just 47 net yards and two first downs in the first half, and Dobyns-Bennett’s 6-foot, 197-pound bullish running back Tylar Tesnear (27 carries, 194 yards...

See the scores from Week 2 of the 2020 Tennessee high school football season. 

East Tennessee

Alcoa 55, Austin-East 0 *

Bledsoe Co. 21, East Ridge 14 (Thu)

Bradley Central 37, Walker Valley 34 (Thu)

Brainerd 30, Howard 13

CAK 45, Clinton 13

Claiborne 41, Union Co. 6

Cleveland 38, Hardin Valley 12

Cocke Co. 41, Northview Academy 8

Copper Basin 14, Georgia Force 12

Cosby 26, North Greene 12

Daniel Boone 35, Greeneville 34

Dobyns-Bennett 19, Oak Ridge 3 (Sat)

East Hamilton 31, Soddy-Daisy 0 (Thu)

Elizabethton 58, Sullivan East 7 *

Gibbs 49, Seymour 25 *

Hampton 32, Unicoi Co. 7

Happy Valley 34, Cloudland 18 (Sat)

Harriman 36, Wartburg Central 22 (Thu)

Johnson Co. 31, Sullivan North 8 (Thu)

King’s Academy 39, Gatlinburg-Pittman 13...

Trey Smith has heard plenty of cheers on Saturdays in Knoxville. He did on this one, too, though it was as a public speaker.

The University of Tennessee’s star football player talked about being tired.

Tired of being scared and worrying about seeing a police officer in public. Tired of social media detractors. Tired of racist comments, racist jokes, tired of those who’d condone them “but then it’s OK when he finds out I’m a football player.”

Smith doesn’t want pity. He wants wants to be treated equally, with dignity and respect.

Such an impassioned speech, which ended up across social media, showcased maturity well beyond his 21 years and courage well beyond football. It’s not as easy as Smith made it look.

Trey Smith is tired.

“I’m tired of being scared in my car, seeing a police officer, worrying about seeing a cop in public, having to look over my shoulder. I’m tired of worrying about my cousins, my brothers, my sisters, my aunts, my uncles, my father. I’m tired of seeing Black mothers cry over their dead children,” Tennessee’s star offensive lineman told a massive crowd of mask-wearing demonstrators on the University of Tennessee’s Knoxville campus Saturday.

“I’m tired of hearing racist comments, racist jokes. I’m tired of being told by people not of color that, ‘Hey man, watch out for this guy, he might be a little racist, man,’ but then it’s OK when he finds out I’m a football player.”

Smith was one of several B...

The local chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans is suing the state of Tennessee in an effort to block the removal of a bust of a Confederate general from the Capitol. 

Tennessee’s State Capitol Commission last month voted to remove a bust of Confederate Lt. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, a significant step in a decades-long fight over the controversial fixture that has remained outside the House and Senate chambers.

The new lawsuit, filed last week in Davidson County Chancery Court, argues the commission does not have the jurisdiction to decide the fate of the bust — and if it is removed, the Sons of Confederate Veterans wants it back. 

Installation of the Forrest bust was spearheaded by the late Sen...

With first-day jitters gone and almost a week of school under their belt, Knox County Schools families said they felt more at ease during the pandemic, but they know there are still hurdles ahead.  

Knox News checked in with the families we talked to on the first day to see how things are going. 

Edna Gibson is assisting her three children and her nephew with virtual learning. On the first day, they experienced technical problems. Now, she said things are running smoothly.

She said she appreciates that her children are required to complete virtual learning modules about how to navigate Canvas or take screenshots, but the timing can be a struggle...

We didn’t have Chadwick Boseman in our lives for as long as we’d want, but man, did he make the most of his time onscreen with skill, passion and gravitas.

Boseman, who died Friday at age 43 after a long battle with colon cancer, initially popped up in movies between stints on various TV shows, starting with 2008’s football flick “The Express.” But in the 2010s, he ruled – quite literally a whole country in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Black Panther, the superhero role that he will be synonymous with forever more.

The South Carolina native also proved adept at capturing the fire and personality of Black historical icons, as well as making the most of his smaller roles in ensemble-driven pictures.

Chadwick Boseman: ‘Black Pa...

Here are five takeaways from Week 2. 

Carter’s Justin Pressley gets first win

Pressley was hired in January to replace Scott Meadows, who resigned after one season as coach. Pressley earned his first win as Carter’s coach in a 24-13 win over Campbell County. Wide receiver Anthony Stocker scored the three touchdowns, two rushing and one receiving. Carter (1-1) shut out Campbell County (1-1) in the second half as freshman defensive back Brody Blankenship recorded two interceptions. Pressley is Carter’s third coach in three seasons, and he almost led Carter to an upset of Rhea County in Week 1, but the Hornets lost in overtime, 20-14. 

Greeneville loses to Daniel Boone

Greene Devils’ coach Eddie Spradlen lost his fir...

Here are the top performers from week two of high school football in the Knoxville area.

Top performers can be emailed to [email protected]

CJ Allen, Campbell County, Jr.: Allen rushed 14 times for 69 yards, caught three passes for 37 yards and a touchdown and had an interception in a loss to Carter. 

Brody Blankenship, Carter, Fr.: Blankenship had two interceptions and 2.5 tackles in a win against Campbell County. 

Jake Boudreaux, Grace Christian, So.: Boudreaux had eight tackles and two sacks, as well as a forced fumble and fumble recovery in a win against South-Doyle.

Pierce Browning, Grace Christian, So.: Browning had nine catches for 132 yards and one touchdown in a win against South-Do...