University of Tennessee Athletics
Four Vols Named to the Coaches’ Freshman All-SEC Team
December 11, 2025 | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – On Thursday, the Southeastern Conference announced that four Tennessee freshmen were named to the 2025 Coaches' Freshman All-SEC Team.
Ty Redmond, David Sanders Jr., Edwin Spillman and Braylon Staley earned the honors, marking the second consecutive year Tennessee placed four players on the freshman team.
A true freshman thrust into the starting lineup, Redmond held down a starting corner spot all season. The only player in the conference named to the All-SEC and All-Freshman Team, he totaled 39 tackles with one TFL, three interceptions and 10 pass breakups. His 13 passes defended are tied for first in the SEC, while his 10 PBUs lead all Power Four freshmen this season. Additionally, his three interceptions tied for fourth in the conference, and his 80.0 PFF coverage grade ranked fourth among SEC cornerbacks.
Playing in eight games with five straight starts to end the season, Sanders Jr. played a key role on the offensive line during his true freshman season. He helped the Vols produce strong offensive performances, as Tennessee racked up 504 yards of total offense at Kentucky and 452 yards at Florida. He played 49 snaps against No. 6 Alabama without allowing a pressure, while earning an 84.1 pass-block grade from Pro Football Focus.
Spillman established himself as one of the top young defensive players in the SEC, leading all freshmen – true or redshirt – with 80 tackles. A redshirt freshman, he played in all 12 games, including 5 consecutive starts to end the season, and added 3.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.5 sacks. Spillman posted a career-best 15-tackle performance against Kentucky and recorded his first interception against Oklahoma.
Staley, a redshirt freshman, had a breakout season during his second year with the program, ranking sixth in the SEC in receiving yards (806) and receiving yards per game (67.2). Staley led all SEC freshmen in both of those categories and also finished tied for the league lead among freshmen with six receiving touchdowns.
A complete breakdown of 2025 postseason honors for UT players is listed below.
2025 Tennessee Postseason Honors (as of Dec. 11)
RB DeSean Bishop
Burlsworth Trophy Semifinalist
All-SEC Second Team (Coaches)
WR Chris Brazzell II
Biletnikoff Award Semifinalist
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Semifinalist
All-SEC First Team (Coaches)
LB Arion Carter
Witten Award Semifinalist
All-SEC Second Team (Coaches)
OL Lance Heard
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches)
DB Colton Hood
Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches)
DB Ty Redmond
Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Semifinalist
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches)
Freshman All-SEC Team (Coaches)
P Jackson Ross
Ray Guy Award Semifinalist
OL David Sanders Jr.
On3 True Freshman All-America Team
Freshman All-SEC Team (Coaches)
LB Edwin Spillman
Freshman All-SEC Team (Coaches)
WR Braylon Staley
SEC Freshman of the Year
Freshman All-SEC Team
Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Semifinalist
KOS Josh Turbyville
All-SEC Second Team (Coaches)
Ty Redmond, David Sanders Jr., Edwin Spillman and Braylon Staley earned the honors, marking the second consecutive year Tennessee placed four players on the freshman team.
A true freshman thrust into the starting lineup, Redmond held down a starting corner spot all season. The only player in the conference named to the All-SEC and All-Freshman Team, he totaled 39 tackles with one TFL, three interceptions and 10 pass breakups. His 13 passes defended are tied for first in the SEC, while his 10 PBUs lead all Power Four freshmen this season. Additionally, his three interceptions tied for fourth in the conference, and his 80.0 PFF coverage grade ranked fourth among SEC cornerbacks.
Playing in eight games with five straight starts to end the season, Sanders Jr. played a key role on the offensive line during his true freshman season. He helped the Vols produce strong offensive performances, as Tennessee racked up 504 yards of total offense at Kentucky and 452 yards at Florida. He played 49 snaps against No. 6 Alabama without allowing a pressure, while earning an 84.1 pass-block grade from Pro Football Focus.
Spillman established himself as one of the top young defensive players in the SEC, leading all freshmen – true or redshirt – with 80 tackles. A redshirt freshman, he played in all 12 games, including 5 consecutive starts to end the season, and added 3.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.5 sacks. Spillman posted a career-best 15-tackle performance against Kentucky and recorded his first interception against Oklahoma.
Staley, a redshirt freshman, had a breakout season during his second year with the program, ranking sixth in the SEC in receiving yards (806) and receiving yards per game (67.2). Staley led all SEC freshmen in both of those categories and also finished tied for the league lead among freshmen with six receiving touchdowns.
A complete breakdown of 2025 postseason honors for UT players is listed below.
2025 Tennessee Postseason Honors (as of Dec. 11)
RB DeSean Bishop
Burlsworth Trophy Semifinalist
All-SEC Second Team (Coaches)
WR Chris Brazzell II
Biletnikoff Award Semifinalist
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Semifinalist
All-SEC First Team (Coaches)
LB Arion Carter
Witten Award Semifinalist
All-SEC Second Team (Coaches)
OL Lance Heard
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches)
DB Colton Hood
Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches)
DB Ty Redmond
Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Semifinalist
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches)
Freshman All-SEC Team (Coaches)
P Jackson Ross
Ray Guy Award Semifinalist
OL David Sanders Jr.
On3 True Freshman All-America Team
Freshman All-SEC Team (Coaches)
LB Edwin Spillman
Freshman All-SEC Team (Coaches)
WR Braylon Staley
SEC Freshman of the Year
Freshman All-SEC Team
Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Semifinalist
KOS Josh Turbyville
All-SEC Second Team (Coaches)
Players Mentioned
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