Tennessee’s 2025 Nike Smokey Grey football uniforms draw inspiration from the “Volunteer Spirit” tied to the state’s deep military roots.
On July 3, the University of Tennessee revealed the new alternate uniforms through a series of videos shared on X.
The design was created in collaboration with the Tennessee Military Department, the 134th Air Refueling Wing in East Tennessee, and the Tennessee National Guard.
The uniform pays tribute to the U.S. Armed Forces and honors the legacy of Davy Crockett, one of the state’s most iconic volunteers.
The Volunteers will debut the new Smokey Grey look on Nov. 15 during their home game against New Mexico State, part of their annual Salute to Service event recognizing military members, veterans, and their families. The game comes just four days after Veterans Day.
Explaining design of Tennessee Smokey Grey uniforms
The new Smokey Grey uniform features a number of unique design elements. Created by UT’s in-house creative team, 151 Creative, in partnership with the Vols’ equipment staff and Nike, the uniform blends tradition with modern flair.
A standout feature is “The Davy Stripe” — a contemporary nod to Davy Crockett’s iconic fringed attire, reimagined in grey. It runs alongside the orange center stripe on the helmet and appears on the jersey sleeves. The design honors Crockett and more than 30 fellow Tennesseans who bravely fought to the end at the Battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836.
The jersey and pants come in a two-tone Smokey Grey look, meant to evoke the appearance of steel shaped from military-grade artillery. The word “Volunteers” is boldly displayed across the chest, and stencil-style numbers—resembling those used in military fonts—appear on the front, back, shoulders of the jersey, and the back of the helmet.
The “Star Vols” logo is making its first appearance since the early 2000s, featured as a military-style patch on the front of the pants and on the front helmet bumper.
Fans can now purchase “Volunteer Spirit” Smokey Grey merchandise at select retailers, with items coming soon to shop.utsports.com.
Evolution of Smokey Grey uniforms since 2022
This marks the fourth iteration of Tennessee’s Smokey Grey uniforms. The Vols debuted the look during their 2022 victory over LSU.
In 2023, the “Artful Dodger” Smokey Grey uniforms honored former Tennessee quarterback Condredge Holloway, the first Black starting quarterback in SEC history and a true trailblazer for the program.
The 2024 version, known as the “Volunteer State” Smokey Grey uniform, was inspired by the iconic Tri-Star symbol featured on the Tennessee state flag.
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