The Tusculum University football team has entered its second week of the fall preseason as the Pioneers continue their preparations for the upcoming gridiron campaign.
The Pioneers, under the leadership of head coach Billy Taylor, have over 150 student-athletes on this year’s roster, representing a dozen U.S. States and two countries.
Tusculum began fall camp last Wednesday and started “full pad” workouts on Tuesday morning on the Greeneville campus.
The State of Tennessee has the highest representation with 76 student-athletes from the Volunteer State. Included in that total are three native sons from Greene County. There are also nine student-athletes from counties that border Greene County.
This year’s team also includes student-athletes from Florida (24), Georgia (18), Ohio (11), North Carolina (8), South Carolina (7), Alabama (3), Alaska (1), Louisiana (1), Arkansas (1), Connecticut (1) and West Virginia (1). Three international players are on the TU roster this year including two from England and one from Zimbabwe.
The Pioneers have an even distribution of veteran leadership as well as a young crop of freshmen talent to highlight this year’s roster. Sixteen (16) seniors and graduate students are listed, along with 21 juniors, 21 sophomores and 22 redshirt freshmen. There are also 75 freshmen football student-athletes listed on this year’s club.
Coach Taylor has 26 defensive backs on the roster to go along with 24 linebackers and 20 defensive linemen. Tusculum has also loaded up with 23 offensive lineman, four tight ends, 17 running backs, 20 wide receivers and eight quarterbacks. The special teams feature eight placekickers and punters, as well as four long snappers.
Tusculum will host the first of two fall scrimmages this Saturday (Aug. 16) as preseason practices and drills continue.
The Pioneers will open the 2025 season on Saturday, Aug. 30 when they travel to Bluefield State College for a 7 p.m. contest in the inaugural meeting between the two programs.
For season ticket information, visit their web site at www.TusculumPioneers.com.
