Tennessee running back to miss remainder of spring practices

Tennessee running back will miss the remainder of spring football practices.

Tennessee scrimmaged for the first time during spring practices at Neyland Stadium on Wednesday.

Fourth-year head coach Josh Heupel met with media following the Vols’ scrimmage. He discussed sophomore running back Cameron Seldon being out for the remainder of spring practices.

“With Cam, unfortunate, just the early part of spring ball, had an injury to his shoulder, had surgery on it,” Heupel said. “We’ll kind of evaluate where we’re at as the rehab process gets started and base our decisions off of that and kind of where we project where he’s going to be.”

Heupel also discussed opportunities for other running backs with the 6-foot-2, 222-pound Seldon being out.

“D-Samp (Dylan Sampson) has been awesome with just energy, leadership, maturity and the understanding of our offense,” Heupel said. “The young guys continue to take steps forward.

“Khalifa (Keith) has done a really nice job. He’s been extremely physical, was today as well. I thought he finished going forward all the time. DeSean Bishop, a young guy that got nicked up last year, his growth inside of our program, for him to get back on the field and showcase his skillset, handled the rehab process extremely well and I love the competition that he’s brought. (Patrick) Wilk and Hunter (Barnes) have done a really nice job.”

Cameron Seldon. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Georgia loses recruiting analyst to Michigan

A Georgia football personnel and recruiting analyst has been hired by Sherrone Moore and Michigan.

Georgia football staffer John Collins has been hired by the University of Michigan to serve as their assistant director of recruiting. Collins has spent the past two years as a recruiting and personnel analyst with the Bulldogs. He helped Georgia secure the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class in the 2024 cycle.

Sherrone Moore and the Wolverines previously made a splash this offseason when they poached Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford to replace Mike Hart. Michigan finished the 2024 recruiting cycle ranked 16th nationally with 26 commits, and currently have three commits in the upcoming class.

For Georgia, this opens another recruiting position for Coach Smart to fill on his staff, something they have already been particularly familiar with this offseason, having already replaced key recruiting assistant coaches in Dell McGee, Fran Brown, and Bryan McClendon. The Dawgs currently hold five commits in the class of 2025 and the nation’s No. 15 overall recruiting class, per 247Sports.

Tennessee offers 2026 safety Jordan Smith

Tennessee football offers 2026 safety prospect Jordan Smith.

Tennessee offered a scholarship to 2026 safety prospect Jordan Smith.

“After a great talk with Steven Ruzic, I’m honored and blessed to receive an offer from the University of Tennessee,” Smith said.

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound safety prospect is from Houston County High School in Warner Robins, Georgia.

There are not recruiting rankings currently for Smith from Rivals, 247Sports, On3 or ESPN.

Tennessee is the only Southeastern Conference school to offer Smith.

Williams has scholarship offers from Tennessee, USF, Georgia Southern, USC, Georgia Tech, Bowling Green, Appalachian State and West Virginia.

USF was the first school to offer Smith a scholarship on Jan. 19.

Potential Huge Recruiting News for Notre Dame Regarding Ohio State Commitment

Flip city?

Notre Dame made an offer to wide receiver Jayvan Boggs at the end of last month despite the talented 2025 prospect already being committed to Ohio State.

Well, might good news be headed Notre Dame’s way in flipping the prospect?

Boggs announced he was no longer committed to Ohio State on Tuesday evening.  He had been a Buckeyes commitment since October.

Boggs is ranked as the 189th player nationally in the 2025 recruiting cycle according to the 247Sports composite ranking.  He’s listed at 6-0, 188-pounds and hauled in 93 receptions for 1,504 yards and 24 touchdowns as a junior.

This is certainly a name to keep a look out for if you’re a Notre Dame fan.

2024 NFL Draft: Joe Alt in the Top 5?

Will Alt crack the top five?

We know that Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt is going to go fairly early in the 2024 NFL draft but just how early might we be talking?

In one mock draft from a former NFL general manager Alt cracks the top-five.  Mike Tannenbaum, the former general manager of the New York Jets projected Alt goes fifth to the Los Angeles Chargers in his latest mock draft.

Says Tannenbaum of the Alt pick:

“The Chargers gave up 43 sacks last season, 13th-most in the NFL. So despite the top receivers all being on the board and a glaring need there after trading Keenan Allenand cutting Mike Williams, I’m choosing to instead protect quarterback Justin Herbert. Alt is 6-foot-9 with great movement traits, and he gave up just six sacks over 2,142 snaps in college. Fortifying the offensive line is the foundation of any Jim Harbaugh team, and that’s especially true after Herbert missed four games last season due to a fractured finger. The WR class is deep, so I’m taking my OT1 now and worrying about the pass-catchers on Day 2.”

Mike Tannenbaum, ESPN

The Chargers have been a recent landing spot for several Notre Dame players. Safety Alohi Gilman signed a contract to stay with the Chargers this off-season while Jerry Tillery and Drue Tranquill were both selected by the squad in 2019.

Happy Birthday Ray Zellars!

Happy birthday Ray!

Birthday wishes go out to former Notre Dame running back Ray Zellars today.

Zellars spent from 1991-1994 in Notre Dame’s backfield, getting the vast majority of his playing time as a junior and senior.  He totaled 1,135 career rush yards and nine touchdowns at Notre Dame.

The most memorable of those nine scores came in his senior year against Purdue as his run is still talked about in certain circles.

Heck, one of our staffers here at Fighting Irish Wire called it his favorite Notre Dame play of all-time.  If you haven’t seen it before or would just like to watch it again (who wouldn’t?) then check out below.

The Pittsburgh product would go on to spend four years in the NFL, rushing for 11 career touchdowns between stops in New Orleans and Cincinnati.

Happy birthday Ray!

John Campbell Jr. discusses switching positions during spring practices

Tennessee offensive lineman John Campbell Jr. discusses switching positions during spring practices.

Redshirt senior offensive lineman John Campbell Jr. enters his second season at Tennessee.

He started nine games at left tackle for the Vols in 2023.

The 6-foot-5, 330-pound offensive lineman will play right tackle after Lance Heard transferred to Tennessee from LSU. Heard is slated to play left tackle.

“The transition has been smooth, just been going through it, trusting my coaches and everything they have been telling me,” Campbell Jr. said of switching positions. “When they came up to me, I’m just a team guy, so I’ll do whatever to help the team grow. I’m just here for the team.”

Campbell Jr. transferred to Tennessee from Miami ahead of the 2023 season.

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Tennessee offers 2026 quarterback Dia Bell

Tennessee offers 2026 quarterback Dia Bell.

Tennessee offered a scholarship to 2026 quarterback prospect Dia Bell.

“I am grateful and blessed to have received an offer from the University of Tennessee,” Bell said.

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound quarterback prospect is from American Heritage High School in Plantation, Florida.

There are not recruiting rankings for Bell from 247Sports, Rivals, On3 or ESPN.

Bell has offers from Tennessee, FIU, Western Carolina, BYU, Florida, Miami, West Virginia, Penn State, Houston, Vanderbilt, Ohio State, Nebraska, USF, Florida A&M, Western Michigan, Campbell, Auburn, Arizona, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ole Miss, Utah, Washington, Colorado, Louisville, LSU and Texas.

FIU was the first school to offer a scholarship to Bell on Jan. 21, 2023.

2025 Illinois defensive lineman includes Vols in top 12

2025 Illinois defensive lineman includes Tennessee in top 12.

2025 defensive lineman Nathaniel Marshall announced his top 12 schools.

Tennessee, AuburnAlabama, Miami, Michigan, Penn State, Illinois, Ohio State, USC, Texas, Florida and Oregon are Marshall’s top 12 schools.

The 6-foot-4, 265-pound defensive line prospect is from Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois.

Tennessee offered a scholarship to Marshall on March 9, 2023. Kent State was the first school to offer a scholarship to Marshall on Oct. 25, 2022, while Missouri was the first Southeastern Conference school to offer the 2025 prospect.

The Vols have six commitments in its 2025 recruiting class: Quarterback George MacIntyre, tight end Jack Van Dorseiaer, cornerback Dylan Lewis, running back Justin Baker, wide receiver Joakim Dodson and cornerback Tyler Redmond.

Mike Tomlin: Cameron Heyward’s surgery shouldn’t be a factor by Steelers training camp

Steelers veteran Cameron Heyward had surgery to repair a groin injury in February.

Mike Tomlin expects one of his ailing defensive leaders to be ready for training camp this summer. Cameron Heyward, who missed Weeks 2 through 8 of the 2023 season with a groin injury, underwent surgery in February.

“I’m not anticipating it to be a factor by the time we get to training camp,” Tomlin told reporters, via The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo, at the NFL owners meetings in Orlando, Florida, on Monday.

Heyward initially suffered a less severe injury on the first day of training camp, but just 14 snaps into the season-opening loss to the San Fransisco 49ers, the groin tore completely off the bone.

The 2011 first-round pick was given a 12-week recovery prognosis after surgery but returned in half the time. While the quick turnaround was commendable, it turned out to be far too soon. Favoring his right groin by overcompensating with his left (and a bum knee), Heyward was a shell of his usual productive self, and his two sacks were the fewest since becoming a starter a decade ago.

Heyward, who turns 35 in May, is only one season removed from 10.5 sacks, so it’s not impossible to think he can still make an impact.

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