A closer look at Tennessee Football's 'Volunteer State' Smokey Grey alternate uniform

There will be multiple firsts for Tennessee Football when it wears its Smokey Grey uniform this season. For the first time in program history, there will be a Tennessee wordmark across the chest and the Vols will use a Tri-Star state emblem on the alternate that pays tribute to The Volunteer State.

The Vols on Saturday unveiled the newest version of the Smokey Grey uniform, the third in a four-year series that is currently set to run through at least 2025.

Last season Tennessee’s Smokey Grey uniform paid homage to former quarterback Condredge Holloway. The Vols wore the original Nike Smokey Grey uniform in 2022.

“Tennessee’s in-house creative agency, 151 Creative, worked in conjunction with the UT equipment staff and Nike to create the new uniforms,” the Vols announced on Saturday.

“VFL Films and the football creative team’s launch of the ‘Volunteer State’ uniform featured a brand campaign with familiar landmarks across the state, including Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, Tri-Cities and Knoxville.”

Tennessee also announced that Smokey Grey merchandise will be available later in July and in early August.

Here’s a closer look at the newest iteration of the Smokey Grey Series:

The Helmet

The traditional Smokey Grey helmet — the orange Power T with a Smoky Mountain design behind it — has been altered with a helmet stripe paying tribute to the Tennessee state flag. The thick orange stripe features an additional white stripe on one side and three stars on the stripe on the back of the helmet.

“The three white stars that comprise the logo represent the three grand divisions of Tennessee: West, Middle and East,” UT wrote in its release. “The white circle bounds them together in one—an indissoluble trinity.”

The Jersey

The grey jersey features orange numbers outlined in white, with the Tennessee wordmark across the chest above the numbers. The collar features a Power T while the sleeves feature the Tri-Star emblem patch, an orange circle with three white stars.

The Vols have never had a Tennessee wordmark across the chest of a jersey more have they featured the Tri-Star logo as part of the uniform.

The Pants

The grey pants feature an orange state of Tennessee on the hip with the Tri-Star emblem in the middle. The pants stripe mirror the helmet stripe, paying homage to the stripe on the state flag with three white stars on the wider orange stripe at the knee.

“Three stars that define us,” the Vols wrote in the uniform launch. “Three stars that unite us. An ode to the Volunteer State.”