Gameday Today: Eric Berry makes everything better

The legend of VFL Eric Berry continues to grow, a prospect turns the table on Tennessee, and we’re beginning to feel better about the secondary, all in today’s Vols link roundup.

Eric Berry just keeps leveling up in Awesome

My favorite NFL team – Eric Berry – is apparently still engaged in the continuous improvement of his Awesome game, getting to-go food at a Knoxville restaurant while he was in town for the purpose of giving it to some homeless people on his way out. He also reportedly stopped and prayed with them. All of this without any cameras or public relations folks following him around. It’s just Eric Berry living his life, and no one but the people involved would have known if it hadn’t been captured by a random Facebooker:

Recruiting

As Brad posted yesterday, the Vols landed a commitment from top-shelf Class of 2020 running back Miles Friday. The 247Sports follow-up article includes a quote from Friday that makes it sound like he was recruiting Tennessee:

“It’s always been a school that I’ve really looked into and could see myself going to at a young age,” said Friday, who’s expected to be one of the top prospects from Georgia in the 2020 class. “It was a few schools I was basically waiting for — them, LSU — but Tennessee was really just the one I really, really wanted. And when I got it, I was ecstatic.

“They looked at me for a while, since my eighth-grade year. But they were like, ‘You’re too young,’ and stuff. And I just kept pushing. I kept going over there, and every time I’d see the coaches, I would just push for them.

“And when they finally did it, I was just like, ‘It’s time.’”

There were more offers yesterday, too:

Football

Brad also weighed in on his projections for the Tennessee secondary yesterday. And we’re adding this bit from 247Sports to our list of reasons to be excited for this season:

The quartet of seniors Todd Kelly Jr. and Evan Berry, junior Micah Abernathy and sophomore Nigel Warrior recorded a combined 25 starts last season alone, and there’s talent to go along with their experience, as all four are former four-star prospects according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

I’ll keep saying it: Folks are under-appreciating the talent that will take the field for the Vols this fall.

Hey, Tennessee offensive coordinator Larry Scott, how do you keep quarterbacks happy? Teach them about process and patience.

Hey, Lane Kiffin, what do you think about Butch Jones? 

“I think Coach [Butch Jones] has done a great job there,” Kiffin told Saturday Down South. “They really have had some tough breaks down the stretch. They started out really fast with some big wins and it seems like they are right there and need one break to get it done. … Injuries take their toll, especially as the season keeps going on. It’s a tough sport and that’s why it’s one of the hardest sports to maintain winning because of that factor and so many variables.”

Odds and Ends

Grant Williams!

https://twitter.com/Vol_Hoops/status/872904997670973441

UTSports has a roundup of what people who matter are saying about new baseball coach Tony Vitello.

Eight members of the Tennessee women’s golf program will play in 18 different tournaments over the summer.

 

 

Tennessee Recruiting: Friday Comes Early

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Not only is Tennessee’s new-look coaching staff off to a great start in the 2018 recruiting class, it’s also doing work for the future as well.

Earlier in the week, UT got a surprising commitment from Florida sophomore Leonard Manuel, who is one of the top playmakers in the 2020 class who had offers from the Big Three in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State and many, many others. The Vols will have to work incredibly hard over the next three years to keep him in the fold, but he has a great relationship with Tennessee wide receivers coach Kevin Beard, so UT should have a strong chance to hang on.

Then on Thursday, the Vols went ahead and got another pledge from a top-shelf offensive star in that 2020 class. (That’s right, these kids are rising SOPHOMORES IN HIGH SCHOOL). That would be Georgia running back Miles Friday, of Peachtree Ridge High School outside of Atlanta. The 5’11”, 172-pound running back is an elite talent with great shiftiness who had offers from Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State and others.

https://twitter.com/sevenszn/status/872914722978398210

Friday noted a great relationship with UT RBs coach Robert Gillespie, and he could wind up being the same type of player as Alvin Kamara. Of course, there’s a looooooooooong way to go between now and National Signing Day 2020. Friday could turn into the nation’s top recruit or fall off the face of the recruiting world. The Vols could be defending national champion, or Butch Jones, Gillespie and crew could be coaching elsewhere. Heck, Jesus could come.

So, while it’s hard to get giddy about kids in the ’20 class, these are two very, VERY good prospects who are big gets for the Vols.

Not all the news this week has been great. After Mississippi defensive back Jaylon Reed decommitted from this year’s class, he now appears to be looking heavily at Alabama and Ole Miss, among others. He’s keeping Tennessee on his radar, but this smells a lot like the Jashaun Corbin situation, where the running back decommitted from UT and pledged to Florida State not long afterward.

Reed may not get out of the state of Mississippi where the Rebels and Bulldogs are on him, but that Alabama offer is one he likes a lot, too. Look for UT to move on.

Post-Spring Projections: Tennessee Defensive Backs

Let’s continue the series with a look at the Tennessee defensive backs depth chart exiting spring with a prediction of what to expect this September.

Spring practice — like most all the springs before of the Butch Jones era — didn’t tell us much. But after what we saw and read, we can make some prognostications about what we may see, or at least expect to see, once fall practice starts. So, over the course of the next couple of weeks, I’m going to break down position-by-position what we saw, what we read and what I’ve heard about to project who’s gonna play where come opening weekend against Georgia Tech.

We’ll continue this series with our look at the defensive backs.

Tennessee Defensive Backs

A season ago, Tennessee defensive coordinator Bob Shoop and defensive backs coach Willie Martinez didn’t see eye to eye on scheme or philosophy. Fast-forward a year later, and Shoop is getting used to a new DBs coach in former North Carolina assistant Charlton Warren, who hopes to take all that talent the Vols have accumulated on the back end and mold it into something much better than it’s been the past couple of seasons.

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Teaching the defensive backs to turn their heads around and actually look for the ball would be a start. Outside of Cameron Sutton, finding actual, impressive development among UT’s defensive backs during the Martinez era is difficult. The Vols simply struggled at cornerback and safety despite recruiting fairly well at the position.

Now, Warren must try to help those guys regain their form they displayed as top recruits, especially with Sutton now in camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Let’s take a look at what UT has on the third level.

Cornerbacks

The post-Sutton era may be a bit rocky, but it certainly doesn’t have to be, especially considering the Vols got a very big boost with a graduate transfer who should step right in and not only help right away but start. That would be Shaq Wiggins, who will be playing for his third program after starting his career with Georgia before leaving Athens for Louisville along with defensive coordinator Todd Grantham.

Though Grantham and defensive backs coach Terrell Buckley tried to get Wiggins to follow them to Mississippi State, he elected to finish his career in Knoxville, where he has some friends, including former UT running back Alvin Kamara, who helped recruit Wiggins to UT. He’ll have every opportunity to win one of the starting corner jobs, and the Vols are thrilled to have a player with his talent and experience to insert into a rotation needing an alpha. In three seasons, Wiggins has 57 tackles, including 4.5 for a loss and four interceptions. The 5’10”, 172-pound senior needs a big year for Warren on Rocky Top.

Also at cornerback, the Vols have a pair of rising seniors who’ve experienced up-and-down careers at UT and need to finish on a high note. Both are talented enough to, but neither have been very dependable as of yet. I’m talking about Emmanuel Moseley and Justin Martin.

The latter of the two came in with huge fan fare as a 4-star prospect who was recruited by virtually everybody in the Southeast and seemed set to go to LSU before John Chavis left for Texas A&M. As it turned out, the former Overton High School standout came back from his Oklahoma JUCO to Tennessee, and the Vols thought they were getting a stud in Martin. Throughout his first two years, it hasn’t panned out that way. However, he admittedly has grown up a lot. He told GoVols247’s Wes Rucker this spring that the arrival of Warren really helped with a fresh start.

“In particular, I think what made everything click was, really, this is my last year, and I knew I could do it,” he said. “I knew I was talented and capable enough to do it, but just getting a fresh start with the new coaching staff, that was pretty much it. Coach Warren is a real good coach. I appreciate him.”

After a spring where he balled out and was not only one of the best defensive backs but one of the best players on the team, Martin looks poised for a big senior year. It would be big news for UT if he lived up to the athleticism that once had him as an NFL prospect.

As for Moseley, he started his career at UT in just the opposite way. He was a 2-star player committed to Charlotte when the Vols flipped him, and though he wound up a 3-star, he was largely overlooked as a skinny defender. However, Moseley added weight quickly, stepped right in and started some games as a true freshman. It looked like his career was ready to take off. But he sort of plateaued, and he’s never really gotten over the hump. In 2016, he had 57 tackles and 3.5 tackles for a loss but had no interceptions. He’s the poster boy for not getting his head around, and teams have picked on him because of it. If he can get his mechanics down, Moseley could end in good fashion. He’s definitely proven he has the talent to.

Those are the big three at cornerback and the guys who should get the most reps for the Vols if everything falls the way they think. But there’s talent behind them. First, I’m excited to see sophomore Baylen Buchanan develop. He was forced into action too early a season ago, but the son of Ray Buchanan has a lot of talent, and he should get better under Warren’s tutelage. Senior former JUCO transfer D.J. Henderson looks like he’s more of a special teams player, but he could possibly play in a pinch.

At nickelback, the Vols simply must stay healthy and get better play than they had a season ago. Rashaan Gaulden, a 6’1″, 185-pound redshirt junior, has immense potential and was one of UT’s best defenders a season ago with 68 tackles and six tackles for a loss. But he needs more difference-making, game-changing plays. Actually, UT needs that from everybody on the back end, but Gaulden should be a leader who steps up and provides that. Behind him, Marquill Osborne enters his sophomore year with a chance to get on the field and make a difference. He has the versatility to play cornerback or nickel, and Osborne is too talented not to be in the rotation. In a pinch, Micah Abernathy has proven he can play nickelback as well, though the Vols would love for him to stay at safety.

UT wound up with three cornerbacks in the 2017 recruiting class, and though none of the signees were higher than 3-star players, they had huge offer sheets, and the Vols had to fend off big programs to keep them in the fold. It all starts with Louisiana product Cheyenne Labruzza, who was wanted by home-state LSU as well as Florida, but he committed to UT early and stuck through the Vols even when they got rid of Martinez. He has the potential to be an immediate-impact player if some of the upperclassmen falter. Then, there’s little-recruited Shawn Shamburger, who fans gave a collective “WHO?” when he committed. Toward the end of the recruiting process, however, in-state Georgia and Kirby Smart tried to get him to visit Athens and steal him late in the process. He also stayed true to his pledge. Terrell Bailey is another Louisiana product who was coveted by Notre Dame late in the process but came to UT.

The Vols love their cornerbacks class, and those guys are going to have the opportunity to come in and fit in.

“I really am excited to watch these guys,” Shoop said at the Big Orange Caravan stop in Chattanooga recently, according to GoVols247’s Patrick Brown. “I haven’t seen them do anything athletically, I have to say, but Labruzza makes such a positive first impression. We’re talking about a 4.0 student, high character, smart, tough, unselfish. I feel the same way about Sham and Terrell. All three of those guys, they know they’re in a position to compete.”

Safeties

At safety, the Vols should be able to go four deep with a pretty strong unit if they’d play up to their potential, and a pair of youngsters could help as well.

Senior Todd Kelly Jr. needs to have a big year. The 5’11”, 208-pound enforcer has eight interceptions in his career, but he needs to get a step quicker and make a difference on the back end more consistently than he has in the past. Kelly is a sure tackler who had 71 a season ago, and he has the potential to be an elite player on the back end. He just needs to take the next step. He’s more of a linebacker on the third level, and he needs to anticipate plays a little quicker than he has. Still, that’s nitpicking considering TK has been UT’s biggest playmaker besides Sutton throughout his career. He’s a leader and a solid contributor who you can write in ink as a starter. 

He needs to will UT’s secondary to a better season with his play and his leadership.

The guy everybody wants to see is sophomore Nigel Warrior, who took a huge leap this past spring after a freshman year where he struggled to stay on the field due to his inability to get lined up and grasp the scheme quickly. Now, with a year in the system, it appeared a light came on for Warrior during these 15 film sessions. He’s easily the most talented player in Tennessee’s secondary, and if he can click the way many expect he will, he’s a guy who could develop into an All-SEC player in a hurry. There’s a reason why Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, LSU and everybody else wanted him. But Warrior is Dale Carter’s son, and the Vols legend’s legacy seemed destined to wind up in Knoxville. Now, it’s time for him to dominate.

The duo of quality backups should be Micah Abernathy, who started a lot of games a season ago, and special teams monster Evan Berry, who spent most of 2016 injured. Abernathy is a quality player who very easily could be a starter as a junior, and he’ll probably be in the lineup in his fair share of games. The 6’0″, 195-pound junior started 10 games a season ago and finished with 69 tackles, three tackles for a loss and two interceptions. Warrior may well be too talented to keep out of the starting lineup, but don’t expect Abernathy to give it up easily. It’s excellent to have a player of his ilk back there, even if he’s a versatile guy who provides quality snaps off the bench.

Then there’s Berry, who is one of the best kick returners in the nation. In the bowl game two years ago, it looked like a light was coming on for him at safety where he was playing fast and furious. Last year, it just never came together. He played in nine games, starting three at free safety. He needs to be a lot more consistent on defense, but if he can be, his elite athleticism will help with key reps.

That leaves the two freshmen, including LaVergne’s Maleik Gray, who is one of the prize recruits of this past cycle. The 4-star player chose UT over tons of offers, and the Vols came on and swept him away from Florida State and USC, his early favorites. He could grow into a linebacker, but the Vols want him to stay at safety, where they expect him to be a playmaker soon. He’ll at least help on special teams this year and has the potential to crack the rotation. Then there’s Theo Jackson, who is also from the Midstate. While he probably needs a year in the weight room and a redshirt, he’s a guy the Vols love, and he could be a steal. Jackson is a player who could start a lot of games down the road.

Conclusion

If you look across this list, you’re probably pretty excited, right? After all, the names above are a lot of guys many of us were excited about when they committed and signed. Names like Warrior, Gray, Abernathy, Kelly, etc., were huge recruiting wins.

It’s time for them to be difference-makers on Saturday.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a lot of fans who were thrilled with Martinez’s coaching the past couple of years, and now that he’s gone, a lot is expected of Warren. He was a good hire by most accounts, and he’s got a lot of talent with which to work. If that sounds familiar, the same was said for Shoop a season ago, and we all know how that worked out.

It’s time for a lot of these kids to play like they deserve scholarships, and it’s time for the coaches to coach like they deserve their salary. Above, you see a lot of big names and some decent statistics, but the Vols need game-breaking, drive-killing plays from their secondary. Those have been missing throughout the past couple of seasons, and UT needs to get back to that. This is the unit that has the potential to carry the defense.

It needs to do it.

Prediction

CB — Shaq Wiggins, Emmanuel Moseley, Baylen Buchanan
CB — Justin Martin, Emmanuel Moseley, Cheyenne Labruzza
NB — Rashaan Gaulden, Marquill Osborne, Micah Abernathy
S — Todd Kelly Jr., Micah Abernathy, Maleik Gray
S — Nigel Warrior, Micah Abernathy, Evan Berry

Gameday Today: A new record, a new coach, and a new assignment for you

 

Christian Coleman sets a new record, Tennessee baseball hires a new coach, and the football program begins summer workouts and apparently expects you to help. This and more in Gameday Today.

Christian Coleman

Breaking news: Tennessee track and field star Christian Coleman is FAST. Coleman set a collegiate record in the 100 meter with a time of 9.82.

https://twitter.com/Vol_Track/status/872653353385205760

Baseball

Tennessee has hired Tony Vitello as its new head baseball coach. The job offer apparently came shortly after a 1:45 a.m. phone call from John Currie to Vitello, who was consoling himself by watching Tombstone after the Arkansas team of which he was an assistant coach had lost in the NCAA Tournament:

“I don’t know how good I am in a formal interview,” Vitello said, “but at 1:45 in the morning you throw everything out the window. It was just chatting about the job and … that turned into a teleconference the next morning and that turned into meeting some place (Tuesday) night.”

If you’re interested in a 12-click slideshow (or have a subscription), GoVols247 has a list of the MLB players Vitello has coached.

Tennessee Football commences summer workouts

Do you remember that old public service announcement about forest fires? We’re introduced to Smokey the Bear, who somberly says that, “Only you can prevent forest fires.” Okay, hold that in your mind a second.

Now, do you remember comedian Steven Wright and his joke about seeing that Smokey the Bear PSA as a kid? You know, this one:

Yeah, that’s the feeling I had at the tail end of UT Football’s latest video showing the players starting the summer strength and conditioning program:

https://twitter.com/vol_football/status/872585221891268609

It’s my turn? Oh, no. Where does one buy a medicine ball?

Other Football

The SEC Network has a video of Cole Cubelic opining on the SEC’s Top 5 offensive lines. His list is Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, Florida, and then a bunch of others grouped together, including Tennessee. I still think the Vols’ o-line is being underrated and undervalued.

Great quote from offensive coordinator Larry Scott:

“I would never sacrifice recruiting. Never,” he said at the Big Orange Caravan stop in Chattanooga on Saturday. “You can be as good a coach as you want to be, but if you ain’t coaching good players and good people, good luck.”

VFLs

This is a great story about how Cam Sutton blew the Pittsburgh Steelers away with his knowledge of the game:

“We hold a dinner for all the NFL head coaches and general managers the night before our NFL Pro Day, when they come to our campus and they test our players,” Jones said. “Mike Tomlin, who’s a great friend of mine, and Kevin Colbert, the GM of the Pittsburgh Steelers, come in and take Cameron Sutton into our defensive back meeting room. Mike Tomlin says to Cam Sutton, ‘OK, pick a game, and I want you to talk about it. You’re gonna tell me your assignment.’ Cam says, ‘I want to watch the App State game, so they put the App State game in, and Cam is telling ‘em the front, the coverage, the defensive line’s responsibilities, the linebackers, the entire secondary.

“Then Kevin Colbert steps in and says, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa. You’re playing us. We don’t go for that game. You’ve rehearsed this. Take that game out. I want the second quarter of the Nebraska game.’ So they put the second quarter of the Nebraska game in, and Cam Sutton does the same thing, saying everyone’s assignment.

“Mike Tomlin comes out and says, ‘Butch, I need to see you.’ I said, ‘What’s up?’ He goes, ‘In all my years of coaching, I’ve never been through an interview like that. He could tell us everything.’

Woo for Cam.

Peyton Manning is becoming a strategic advisor to helmet-maker Riddell.

Recruiting

There were a whole bunch of new offers extended by the Vols’ coaching staff over the past couple of days:

 

Post-Spring Projections: Tennessee Linebackers

Let’s continue the series with a look at the Tennessee linebackers depth chart exiting spring with a prediction of what to expect this September.

Spring practice — like most all the springs before of the Butch Jones era — didn’t tell us much. But after what we saw and read, we can make some prognostications about what we may see, or at least expect to see, once fall practice starts. So, over the course of the next couple of weeks, I’m going to break down position-by-position what we saw, what we read and what I’ve heard about to project who’s gonna play where come opening weekend against Georgia Tech.

We’ll continue this series with our look at the linebackers.

Tennessee Linebackers

As if you didn’t have enough heartburn after reading about the defensive ends, we now turn our attention to the second level of the defense, where it’s Darrin Kirkland Jr. and a whole lot of unproven players.

All is not lost, however. There is plenty of talent, even if it’s unproven talent. And this is a position where the Vols absolutely must be leaps and bounds better than they were in 2016, which hit the ditch after Jalen Reeves-Maybin was lost for the season following a fluke special-teams injury and Kirkland failed to ever return to form after suffering a high ankle sprain in the Battle at Bristol.

While all the injuries and lack of depth on the defensive interior were a huge factor to UT’s defensive decline, the setbacks at linebacker hurt, too. Those things combined are why Tennessee wound up with the worst rush defense in school history and also ranked No. 95 in the country in total defense (449.2 ypg) and No. 78 in yards per play (5.84).

Those are numbers defensive coordinator Bob Shoop knows must turn around.

“I think I might have built some unrealistic expectations, and when we got guys injured, maybe the guy calling the shots was a little bit stubborn,” Shoop told VolQuest’s Jesse Simonton. “I think I really wanted to force a fit, that, ‘This is my style of defense.’ I probably didn’t do a great job at times of tailoring things.”

That all starts with Kirkland’s progression.

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The Veterans

As the defense’s quarterback, his hand prints are going to be all over this unit. The rising junior middle linebacker burst onto the scene with a memorable freshman year that had many UT fans thinking he would be an All-SEC player at the very least. Following the injury last year, he was mediocre at best. But he also struggled to get lined up and line up others in Shoop’s defense. After a season learning the system and a full offseason of health and weight-room training, the Indianapolis native should return to form. It’s vital that he flies all around the field making tackles, especially now that tackle gobbler JRM is out of the equation.

Kirkland’s expected mate in what generally is a nickel defense with just two ‘backers on the field at once is senior Cortez McDowell, who had an up-and-down year in ’16 but may well have wound up Tennessee’s best linebacker throughout the year, at least from a consistency standpoint. The 6’0″, 235-pound linebacker from Locust Grove, Georgia, needs to have a big year teaming with Kirkland to give UT a formidable duo.

After those two, the Vols still have a bunch of depth and talent. Thanks to the injuries, there are a few guys with experience, too. Former walk-on Colton Jumper isn’t going to thrill a lot of Vols fans with his athleticism, but he’s a steady player who is rarely out of position, even if he isn’t the best guy to have on the field in passing situations. The 6’2″, 224-pound redshirt junior led all second-level players with 61 tackles and added an interception in ’16. Whether you like him or not, he’s a good player who is going to be a great guy to have on the team for the next two years, providing depth, stability and defensive knowledge.

On the Cusp [And Others]

At outside linebacker, there are two talented Georgia boys who are returning from injury and could be depended on heavily. That would be speedy Quart’e Sapp, who suffered a knee injury a season ago that cost him the year. After showing out on special teams as a freshman, the Vols are happy to have him back for three years, and if he can return at full-speed (which he should) he has the chance to be a dynamic player who can get sideline-to-sideline and get after the quarterback from the edge, too.

The other guy is Austin Smith, a 6’3″, 236-pound versatile linebacker who can line up at strong-side in traditional 4-3 sets or even put his hand down at defensive end with the Vols short on depth there. Smith is a guy who was wanted by teams like Florida and Georgia out of high school, and he’s never truly been completely healthy. It’ll be fun to see him now that he is.

An exciting player with a lot of upside is 6’3″, 235-pound sophomore Daniel Bituli, who looked terrific this spring, is really in shape and should provide a lot of depth and talent behind Kirkland in the middle of the defense. If he emerges, he could enable Jumper to shift outside and help out there. Bituli is too talented to keep off the field for a Vols team needing difference-makers on the second level. He’s one of the players I’m most excited to see in 2017.

Though senior Elliott Berry wasn’t expected to make much of an impact in his career as the less-heralded of the two Berry twins, he helped a ton in ’16, lending an able body and playing 13 games while starting four, finishing with 34 tackles and 3.5 for a loss. He’s not an explosive player, but at 5’11”, 222 pounds and with three years under his belt, he can provide much-needed experienced depth and quality snaps.

Still, despite the experience brought by Jumper and Berry, the Vols can put more talented guys on the field. That’s not a knock on those two, but the guys who shone a season ago were on a bad unit that was often shredded by the opponent, even Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Missouri. It also remains to be seen if UT is ever going to get anything out of former 4-star recruit, legacy and heavily recruited outside linebacker Dillon Bates. Also, redshirt freshman Ja’Quain Blakely could wind up being in the equation somewhere, but he’s yet to carve out a firm position in the depth chart.

That’s why the Vols brought in three talented linebackers, and it isn’t out of the question that one or more of them could see the field. 

Youngsters

It starts with mid-term enrollee Shanon Reid of South Florida, who was coveted by LSU, Florida and others. He chose the Vols, and after going through a spring practice, he may be able to provide some help at least on special teams and maybe on the outside in a pinch. He’s 6’0″, 205 pounds, but while he isn’t the biggest guy, he is fast and makes plays.

Tennessee also won a battle with LSU, Auburn and others to sign New Market, Alabama, linebacker Will Ignont, who, at one time, was one of the most heavily recruited ‘backers in the country. That was during his junior year, but he put on some bad weight, left for IMG Academy in Florida and then came back home to Buckhorn High School, where he played for a mediocre team. However, after shedding the bad weight and getting back to his old self, several schools turned up the heat recruiting him again. The Vols stayed on him through all that, and he developed a great relationship with position coach Tommy Thigpen which ultimately helped UT land him. Now, the Vols think they’ve got a steal, and he projects to play in the middle with Kirkland and Bituli.

Finally, nobody heard much about Solon Page III during the recruiting process. He was one of UT’s earliest commitments, was firm the whole way and never was heavily recruited by major schools because of it. Though he was a low 3-star player who didn’t get much love from the services, all he did was go out and win Class AAAAA defensive player of the year and first-team all-state honors in Georgia. He was also a Parade All-American, despite not being ranked highly by any of the services. Though he’s just 6’2″, 205 pounds, UT thinks it got a steal out of Page. He will be able to redshirt this season unless he helps on special teams, and the future is very bright for him.

The Vols have no shortage of bodies at linebacker, and considering they normally only have two on the field at once, you’d think they should be able to find two difference-makers who can make things happen and accumulate the tackles that were missed a season ago. If not, it’s an indictment to their recruiting because on paper it sure looks like they’ve got some players with bright futures.

Prediction

MLB – Darrin Kirkland Jr., Daniel Bituli, Colton Jumper, Will Ignont
WLB – Cortez McDowell, Quart’e Sapp, Colton Jumper, Elliott Berry, Shanon Reid
SLB (when needed) – Austin Smith, Colton Jumper, Elliott Berry

Orange Carpet Day (and other) Recruiting Predictions

As we noted a few weeks ago, the Vols continue to have plenty of recruiting momentum as the month of June kicks off.  Since then they’ve added an instate TE with a sky-high ceiling in Jacob Warren and then this past week the nation’s No. 1 punter in Skyler Delong.  And despite the decommitment of Jaylon Reed on Monday, the current class is incredibly strong from top to bottom with a lot of runway left.

With the camp season kicking off and the showcase Orange Carpet Day coming up on the 17th, here are some predictions of what might happen this month, at Orange Carpet Day itself and by position:

Orange Carpet Day

Below is the current list of expected visitors, with the list likely to expand quite a bit as the weekend gets closer:

  • CB Jaycee Horn
  • DB Rayshad Williams
  • DE Azeez Ojulari
  • TE Tommy Tremble
  • RB Lyn-J Dixon
  • RB Anthony Grant
  • DE Jordan Davis
  • OL Jerome Carvin
  • LB Cam Jones
  • DE Caleb Johnson
  • DL Greg Emerson
  • CB Jordan Miner

Predicted (but not unexpected) commits going into the weekend

Cam Jones and D’Andre Litaker. Commitments QB Adrian Martinez and WR (and peer recruiter extraordinaire) Jatavious Harris have said they are coming as well.  I would expect most if not all of the other current commitments to also be there.

Less expected predicted commitments

Tremble – crazy-athletic TE to pair with Warren that finishes off the position for this class

Miner – not 100% sure he’s a take at this point, but he likes the Vols and awful lot and if he is in fact a take for the staff (and how he looks when he comes to Knoxville could play a part) they might put some heat on him

Another prediction: Jordan Davis finally makes it to Knoxville (and brings his family) and the Vols become a real player

RB

Dominos begin to fall and the Vols land at least one RB, but it’s not that simple

There are conflicting reports about how much Master Teague does not want to play with Zamir White.  With both Teague and White high on UGA, this is where it gets interesting.  Especially because while White’s current decision date is set for June 27, there are rumblings that Teague could do something sooner.  The Vols are certainly trending with Teague while Auburn has fallen back to the pack, leaving this a two-horse race. 

Obviously best case scenario for UT is to land Teague and have White pick OSU – both of which are very realistic possibilities. 

Prediction: Regardless of what Teague does, either LJ Dixon or Anthony Grant commit to the Vols by the end of the week after Orange Carpet Day

Prediction: If Vols lose out on Teague and can’t land both Dixon AND Grant, Tae Provens gets the greenlight to commit and does so earlier than his currently scheduled August 11th date

OL

Prediction: Taylor Antonutti shows out at either a satellite camp and/or a camp in Knoxville and becomes a legitimate option at OT regardless of what Jerome Carvin does

Prediction: Speaking of Carvin, with whom it seems like Bama has some momentum, his visit to Orange Carpet Day lifts the Vols back to at least even

DE

Prediction: Dorian Gerald’s visit to campus this week stamps the Vols as a major player going forward and he becomes the #1 target at the position

Prediction: Vols land a DE this month – either Richard Jibunor or Azeez Olujari

Prediction: At least one more legitimate option emerges (Jordan Davis? A new name?)

LB

With likely only one spot after Cam Jones commits, Xavier Peters (my personal favorite still on the board), Matthew Flint and Justice Dingle visit Knoxville and the board shakes out from there

Prediction: Cam Mcgrone commits to ND

Prediction: Jacquez Jones either earns a commitable offer at a camp or he and the Vols part ways (though I’m sure Butch handles it in a way that keep the door open should Jones have a tremendous senior season)

Secondary

Prediction: Trey Dean commits to UGA and the Safety board narrows

This opens the door for either/both of Rayshad Williams or Jarek Campbell to earn commitable offers at the position with camp performances

Williams also has the chance to earn a CB offer if he shows he can play the position with that length.  Especially with the Reed decommitment

Same for Jaylon King, who now has a shot to show out at CB at a camp and earn a commitable offer

Jaycee Horn has become that much more important as arguably the top CB on the board. With him alternating his leader spot between Bama and South Carolina on an almost daily basis, his visit for Orange Day becomes huge.

Gameday Today: CBS thinks the Vols are a good (over/under) bet in 2017

All’s fair in love and officials, CBSSports thinks Tennessee is a good bet, and Derek Barnett’s got good bend. This and more in today’s Vols link roundup.

Hoops

Tennessee basketball leads off today because Rick Barnes is apparently a stickler for honesty — except when it comes to officials. So I guess we can trust him when he tells us fans that power forward Derrick Walker arrived on campus in “better shape than we thought he would be.”

Football

CBSSports’ Tom Fornelli thinks that Tennessee is the best over/under value play for 2017.

Class of 2018 3-star cornerback Jaylon Reed has decommitted from the Vols. 247Sports has a list of Tennessee’s best remaining options at the position. Bob Shoop is excited about his new batch of recruits for this year, at least.

Tennessee has offered a scholarship to Class of 2020 defensive end Samuel Anaele, from Miami, Florida.

Saturday Down South asks whether Tennessee’s passing game could be better in 2017. I’m pretty tired this morning — I’m catching #Predneck fever — so I didn’t actually see an answer, but I do like the question.

All for Tennessee waters the seed, saying that Tennessee’s defensive line is better than people think. The best evidence for this opinion is a junior class that includes Shy Tuttle, Jonathan Kongbo, Kahlil McKenzie, and Kyle Phillips.

And John Adams says that Tennessee shouldn’t have to play Alabama every year. He actually makes some valid points, namely that it makes things much more difficult for Tennessee, but you don’t chuck a 100+-year tradition because of one bad decade.

 

VFLs

Eagles defensive coordinator is loving Derek Barnett’s bend. So what you’re saying is that being able to maintain your balance around a tight corner is maybe more important for a defensive end than a 40-time or a vertical leap? Huh. Who knew?

The Detroit Free Press has a nice feature on VFL Jalen Reeves-Maybin, who’s happy to be injury-free and back on the field.

Miscellaneous fun stuff

Breaking: Lane Kiffin speaks non-inflammatory words, saying there was no reason not to let Tennessee coaches come to his camp.

The headline says that former players (plural) are complaining about the way Tennessee treats them, but the article focuses on a single tweet by a single player. Maybe it’s overblown, but if Penn State does something better than Tennessee, we should fix that, stat.

Tennessee golfers Nolan Ray and Hunter Wolcott qualified for the 111th Southern Amateur Championship, while former Vol AJ Newell tied for fourth place by shooting a six-under 207 through three rounds of the Symetra Tour’s Fuccillo Kia Classic this weekend. 

Tennessee track and field is sending 14 athletes to the NCAA Outdoor Championship from June 7-10 in Eugene, Oregon.

Gameday Today: Sensible quotes on Rocky Top, but no plans for Dubai

Gameday Today is awestruck at all of the sensible things said on Rocky Top over the weekend and disappointed at news the Vols will not be playing in Dubai anytime soon. This and more in today’s Vols link roundup.

Football

So the Vols hire a public relations expert and suddenly everybody’s saying all of the right things.

Bob Shoop falls on his sword, taking responsibility first:

“[M]aybe [I] was a little bit stubborn right there . . . I really wanted to force-fit, this is my style of defense or whatever. I probably didn’t do a great job at times of tailoring things.”

But ending on a positive note:

“The bowl game was the one game we really put together that looked like my vision for the defense.”

And then he’s making music when talking about the linebacker position as well:

“Kirkland had a good spring,” Shoop said before Saturday’s Big Orange Caravan Stop at Chattanooga’s First Tennessee Pavilion. “He’s hopefully the Derek Barnett, the alpha male of the defense. He’s vocal. He’s a good leader. He’s good high football intelligence. He’s smart, tough, unselfish and he wants it. I think he’s a little bit like Kongbo and myself.

“I mean, I don’t think 2016 went the way Darrin Kirkland, Jonathan Kongbo and Bob Shoop wanted. We talk about that all the time, and Darrin’s got a chip on his shoulder and he’s really determined.”

Offensive coordinator Larry Scott also gets in on the action with this sensible tone-setter for the incoming guys:

“Let’s start by being on time and being where you’re supposed to be when you’re supposed to be there, and then making sure that when you’re there, you’re 100 percent locked in and you’ve giving the very best effort you have.”

Even new athletic director John Currie managed to deftly walk the narrow ledge in voicing his opinion about Butch Jones:

“I believe you look at what has been accomplished and where we stand today versus where we were four years ago,” Currie told GoVols247. “We’ve made incredible progress in our program — academically, athletically, talent, engagement. There’s no measure where we’re not better than we were four years ago.

“We want to win every single game. There are going to be some years, eventually, where we do win every single game. But we have to make sure that the fundamentals that are in place to continue to build towards those championships that we all want to win, we have to make sure that those fundamentals continue.

. . . .

“I’m very impressed with recruiting organization. I’m impressed with the energy. I’m impressed with creativity and thought.”

And coach Jones, well, he answered questions about the quarterback battle by saying nothing and keeping his feet far away from his mouth. One interesting note in that article is that Quinten Dormady is practicing with NFL quarterback Jeff Christensen and Jarrett Guarantano is practicing with George Whitfield Jr.

More good news

The defensive line is healing up quite nicely, thank you.

Shoop thinks that the late addition of graduate transfer Shaq Wiggins is going to make a big difference, and he’s excited about all of his options at linebacker.

Tennessee will be getting its new QBs (and its secondary) a little extra practice by allowing some 7-on-7 drills this summer.

Breaking news

The Vols will not be playing in Dubai.

Hoops

Rick Barnes thinks SEC basketball is ” probably in the best shape it’s been since back in the early 2000s.” John Fulkerson, though, is not yet back from injury.

Miscellaneous fun stuff

We’ve already been over oddsmaker Danny Sheridan saying that he thought Kentucky would beat Tennessee this fall, but this article from 247Sports orders the guy’s quotes in a way I found amusing. Paraphrased: “I was wrong last year. I can confidently say what’s going to happen this year.”

Class of 2020 Receiver Leonard Manuel has committed to Tennessee. Yeah, he’ll be a sophomore in high school this year.

There were nearly 1,000 people at the Big Orange Caravan in Chattanooga Saturday.

VFLs  Chad Clifton, Willie Gault, Haskel Stanback, Graham Vowell, and Al Wilson were all enshrined into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Saturday.

Here’s a look at the new-look Big Orange Caravan:

 

Post-Spring Projections: Tennessee Defensive Line

Let’s continue the series with a look at the Tennessee defensive line depth chart exiting spring with a prediction of what to expect this September.

Spring practice — like most all the springs before of the Butch Jones era — didn’t tell us much. But after what we saw and read, we can make some prognostications about what we may see, or at least expect to see, once fall practice starts. So, over the course of the next couple of weeks, I’m going to break down position-by-position what we saw, what we read and what I’ve heard about to project who’s gonna play where come opening weekend against Georgia Tech.

We’ll continue this series with our look at the defensive line

Defensive end

Life without Derek Barnett isn’t going to be easy.

Though Tennessee is beginning to recruit to the defensive line very well again with Brady Hoke replacing Steve Stripling coaching the position, there’s going to be a bit of a lull in 2017 along the defensive front as the Vols look to replace generational pass-rusher Barnett — who wound up a first-round pick by the Eagles — and Corey Vereen, who did a nice job coming off the other edge. LaTroy Lewis, who is looking to latch on with the Raiders, was an underrated loss, too.

So, while UT could be in excellent position in the interior if the defensive tackles come back strong and remain healthy, getting to the passer is going to be an issue unless some unknowns emerge and live up to their massive potential.

Staying on the outside, let’s discuss some of those names who must have impact seasons for the Vols to be strong on the defensive front. Jonathan Kongbo, a 6’6″, 270-pound lineman who was moved around and played a lot on the interior of the line a season ago, is going to move back to defensive end where he was the nation’s top-ranked JUCO player a season ago. Though he had just 11 tackles and a sack in 2016, he began to tap into some of that limitless potential at the end of the season. He intercepted a Drew Lock pass and took it back 59 yards for a touchdown to show his athleticism, and after a year in the weight room, he looked strong this spring at defensive end. The Vols need for him to make his presence felt early and often.

The other two guys who were top-shelf recruits who haven’t yet touched what they were supposed to be are junior Kyle Phillips and redshirt sophomore Darrell Taylor. Both will have every opportunity to play a lot of snaps at end if they’re healthy. Let’s start with Phillips, a former 5-star talent wanted by everybody in the country who chose UT over LSU and others. Though his first two years have been disappointing and injury-riddled, the 6’4″, 259-pound lineman has the opportunity to show everybody why he was so heavily recruited. To do that, he needs to move past the shoulder injuries and produce on the field. As for Taylor, he’s got another year of eligibility considering he redshirted a year, and the 6’4″, 240-pound edge-rusher with a strong burst should lock down a starting role right away.

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Beyond Kongbo, Phillips and Taylor, it’s anybody’s guess where the depth will come. Deandre Johnson is a mid-term freshman who originally committed to Mississippi State before the Vols flipped him. The Miami product was coveted by a bunch of high-profile teams when he committed to the Vols, and he looked like he could possibly help out this spring. With so few bodies, he almost has to. At 6’4″, 235 pounds, he needs to get into the weight room and work out as if he’s going to be in the two-deep rotation because he just might. Redshirt freshman Mykelle McDaniel is another player who may wind up in the rotation. He was a late addition to UT, and after being disciplined in December for a violation of team rules, it was unclear what his future would be with the team. If he’s back and in good stead, he may wind up being a player for the Vols.

Of all the prospects UT has coming in (Matthew Butler, Kivon Bennett, Ryan Thaxton and Marquez Bembry), Butler without question has the clearest path and the best chance at immediate playing time. At 6’4″, 280 pounds and built like a brick wall, the Garner, North Carolina, native has impressed coaches early with his in-shape arrival. He’s a guy who the Vols were thrilled to get, and Butler may wind up contributing right away. He may have to along with Johnson. Bennett — the son of former Alabama and Buffalo Bills great Cornelius “Biscuit” Bennett — is a likely redshirt candidate to do some body reshaping, and though the Vols would love for a speed-rusher like Bembry to be ready in ’17, coming off a knee injury, he may need some extra time as well. That leaves Thaxton, who looked great in street clothes at the spring game, but he wasn’t one of the two guys defensive coordinator Bob Shoop mentioned at a recent Big Orange Caravan stop in Chattanooga.

That would be Butler and Johnson.

“Probably the guy who’s maybe the most ready for the 2017 season as a rookie is the Butler kid, Matt Butler,” Shoop said Saturday afternoon during Tennessee’s opening big Orange Caravan stop at First Tennessee Pavilion, according to GoVols247’s Ryan Callahan. “He’s kind of come in on a mission. He’s very mature, very driven, has a mindset as if he wants to — it’s not in his mindset to redshirt. That’s not part of his vocabulary.

“He’d like to compete with these guys and see what happens.”

That would mean a defensive end rotation of Kongbo, Phillips, Taylor, Butler and Johnson with the potential of the Vols going to a jumbo package and moving a guy like Quay Picou or perhaps Alexis Johnson out there. It’s also possible outside linebacker Austin Smith, who played some defensive end a season ago before getting hurt, could play with his hand down as well. The Vols could use another body or two at the position, but the youngsters need some time to develop.

Defensive tackle

At tackle, it has the potential to be a completely different story if Kahlil McKenzie and Shy Tuttle come back healthy. For McKenzie, that shouldn’t be an issue. It’s just a matter of playing at the form of his former 5-star recruit status. So far, he’s not come anywhere near matching the “can’t-miss” label he had when he came in to Knoxville. He lost weight before his first season, and after working on his technique last year, he’s a junior and a prime breakout candidate. The Vols certainly need him to be the big, strong run-stopper he was tabbed to be. He played in just seven games before tearing his pectoral muscle against Alabama and being lost for the season. 

Tuttle, on the other hand, has shown flashes of being one of the most dominant defensive players on the team when he’s healthy during his first two seasons. Problem is, he hasn’t been healthy much, suffering season-ending injuries both years. The 6’2″, 311-pound junior has played just 13 games in two years, and the Vols desperately want to see him healthy and on the field. Still, his status is up in the air entering the fall.

Beyond those two, the Vols have plenty of strong-looking depth on the inside. One of the most underrated players on the entire team is rising redshirt senior Kendal Vickers, who reshaped his body from a defensive end late arriver as a freshman to a quality contributor the past two years on the interior of the line. He’ll start for the Vols in 2017, and he’s got the potential to anchor a very strong unit up the middle, especially if Tuttle and McKenzie come back healthy. Vickers is not spectacular, but he’s a steady player who is a quality starter for the Vols and a third guy if McKenzie and Tuttle live up to their potential.

Alexis Johnson looked this spring like he is going to be a big help, if not a potential sleeper starter. At 6’2″, 295 pounds, he’s in shape and plays with a burst. After missing all of last year after being suspended for personal issues, Johnson will start his UT career on the field a season late, but if he can emerge as the kind of player the Vols wanted when he was offered by Alabama, Georgia and others as one of the top JUCO defensive tackles in the country, he’ll pay major dividends.

Picou’s athleticism is something that is exciting to project as well. He was forced into action as a true freshman long before he was ready, and that essentially burned a year of his eligibility. Now, the 6’1″, 277-pound lineman should be firmly in the rotation as a junior, and there’s at least a possibility he could slide outside some though he doesn’t have the speed to get to the quarterback much. He’s a player who should help the Vols a lot in his final two years. Finally, Paul Bain is a 6’5″, 290-pound redshirt junior who transferred from Tusculum and is a guy who showed flashes in orange a year ago. Though he isn’t a sexy pick, Bain is a good football player who will help the Vols in his final two years. All the guy does is make plays when he’s on the field, so expect him to be there.

Conclusion

A glance at Tennessee’s defensive line depth chart probably doesn’t give you the warm-and-fuzzies like it did a season ago. But with Hoke at the helm and some talent with which to work, the Vols could piecemeal a good group. Will they dominant? No, probably not. And there are A TON of ifs. But…

IF Shy Tuttle and Kahlil McKenzie return to form on the defensive interior and…

IF Darrell Taylor, Jonathan Kongbo and Kyle Phillips can show everybody why they were recruits everybody in the nation wanted and…

IF Matthew Butler and Deandre Johnson can step right in and play meaningful, quality snaps and…

IF Alexis Johnson and Kendal Vickers are more than just nice, steady players but impact SEC linemen, then…

The Vols could wind up with a good defensive line. There are plenty of reasons to worry on the defense, and though Hoke is bringing in some marquee recruits, those guys can’t help in 2017. Some magic needs to happen, and players need to step up.

Prediction

DE – Jonathan Kongbo, Kyle Phillips, Matthew Butler
DT – Shy Tuttle, Kahlil McKenzie, Paul Bain
DT – Kendal Vickers, Alexis Johnson, Quay Picou
DE – Darrell Taylor, Deandre Johnson, Mykelle McDaniel

Gameday Today: Public relations is apparently important on Rocky Top

Gameday Today welcomes a public relations expert to Rocky Top, weighs in on redshirts and graduate transfers, and marvels at what Derek Barnett can do with a cheap pen. All this and more in today’s Vols link roundup.

Football

Tennessee has hired Zach Stipe as Director of Football Communications, which I’m guessing is fancypants language for public relations specialist. Stipe will ” work closely with head coach Butch Jones to implement and execute communications strategies aimed at promoting and publicizing Volunteers football.” The jokes here sort of write themselves, but I’m going to refrain from making any of them because I think this is a great addition to the staff. Stipe, who spent three years on the Tennessee media relations staff from 2008-11, returns to Rocky Top off a stint at Florida State, where he had worked since 2010 and had supervised the promotion of Seminoles football since 2013. He also got promoted to Director of Football Communications in 2015, so he’s an up-and-comer. Tennessee hasn’t exactly been Champions of PR, but now they can at least compete. Okay, so I won’t refrain from every joke.

You have to love incoming linebacker Will Ignont’s confidence:  “I want to come in and not have a freshman mindset,” Ignont told GoVols247 this week. “I want to come in like I’m already a Tennessee Vol. Because I know I can play.” I like this guy already.

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Former Vols QB Sheriron Jones has decided on the community college route and will transfer to Independence Community College in Kansas. He’ll need to play there a year before returning to another FBS program, at which point he’ll have two more years to play. Best of luck, young man.

Oddsmaker Danny Sheridan is predicting that Tennessee will lose to Kentucky this year. I don’t know whether he’s putting pennies or dollars or kneecaps on the line, so I don’t really know what to make of this. The Wildcats are going to be better this year than they were last, but I still like the Vols in the matchup. 

247Sports is playing the What If Game, Josh Dobbs edition, asking what historical dominoes might have fallen if Dobbs had not changed his mind about Arizona State and come to Rocky Top. Just thinking of the last few years without Dobbs makes me pouty.

SEC coaches are apparently “positively inclined” toward allowing players to participate in up to four games without burning their redshirts. Currently, players lose their redshirt seasons with the first snap they take unless they are injured in the first four games of the season, in which case the medical redshirt rule kicks in to save the day. This proposed new rule would apply the same four-game rule to all players regardless of injury. It would allow coaches to get players experience while still preserving eligibility, and to the extent it matters (which is NONE), I am positively inclined to support the rule change as well.

I have a rule against allowing Paul Finebaum’s face on the TV at the store, but this is a good discussion of graduate transfers, and so we’ll hold our noses and wash our hands afterwards. Tennessee was in a bit of a dilemma here, as the proper stance was to support the relaxation of the rule so the SEC is on a level playing field with other conferences, but doing so right now (which is what they reportedly did yesterday) is likely going to result in former Notre Dame quarterback Malik Zaire playing for the Florida Gators this fall. Boo. I like Florida teams without good quarterbacks.

Gridiron Now has ranked every conference by their respective wide receiving units. The SEC ranked second to the Pac-12, and the site put Tennessee’s Jajuan Jennings in the “2nd tier, now or potential” category The headliners of the conference are Texas A&M’s Christian Kirk, Alabama’s Calvin Ridley, Florida’s Antonio Callaway, South Carolina’s Deebo Samuel, and Missouri’s J’Mon Moore. Go get ’em, Jennings.

Hoops

Rick Barnes says that Tennessee has added confidence and competition to the roster with the transfers this season. Good news.

VFLs

NFL.com has ranked the best Tennessee draft picks since 2000 and put Jason Witten at the top of the list. Eric Berry is second. Peyton Manning was before 2000, in case you’re flipping out.

And Derek Barnett’s deal with the Philadelphia Eagles is officially official:

That is a man with a pen, right there. More specifically, it’s a man signing a piece of paper worth $12,850,772 with a ten cent Bic. Woo.