Tag: Jay Graham

Report: Alabama hiring Drew Svoboda to replace Jay Graham

Alabama has found its replacement for Jay Graham. Drew Svoboda is joining the Crimson Tide staff as the new special teams/tight ends coach.

The hole on Alabama’s coaching staff didn’t last long. According to Bama Insider, the Crimson Tide are hiring Drew Svoboda as their new special teams coordinator and tight end coach.

Svoboda has been the special teams coach at Memphis since January after coming over from Rice. It was a short stint, but when you’ve got a chance to join arguably the top coaching staff in the country, it’s hard to pass up.

The position originally became available because the newly hired Jay Graham is stepping away from coaching for mental health reasons. He was only on the job two months, and the timing at least gave Nick Saban and company a little time to find his replacement.

Prior to joining Rice, Svoboda was a high school football in the state of Texas. When he made the jump to the college level in 2018, he started off a the Owls’ running back coach before making the switch to special teams.

It’s been quite the climb, but Saban obviously sees something he likes.

Will Reichard and other special teamers have to be excited to have the void filled.

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Alabama assistant Jay Graham posts statement on sudden resignation

Jay Graham resigned unexpectedly on Wednesday from Alabama’s coaching staff due to mental health reasons.

Earlier on Wednesday, it was announced that Alabama tight ends coach Jay Graham had suddenly resigned from he coaching staff after just two months.

The coach took to Twitter on Wednesday evening with a statement detailing his reason.

Let’s hope Graham gets the help he needs and he comes through all of this fine.

BAMA BEAT: Breaking down the Alabama coaching changes (Ep. 396)

Brett Hudson, Clint Lamb look into the various coaching changes for Alabama this offseason, including Bill O’Brien at offensive coordinator.

Brett Hudson and Clint Lamb take a deep dive into the various coaching changes for Alabama this offseason, including the move from Steve Sarkisian to Bill O’Brien at offensive coordinator.

How did Nick Saban do replacing the five on-field coaches who have left?

 

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Nick Saban discusses adding VFL to Alabama’s coaching staff

Nick Saban discusses adding VFL to Alabama’s coaching staff.

Former Tennessee running back Jay Graham is joining Nick Saban’s coaching staff at Alabama.

Graham will serve as special teams coordinator and tight ends coach for the Crimson Tide.

He was running backs coach for Tennessee in 2020.

KNOXVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 04, 2020 – Running Backs Jay Graham of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Caleb Jones/Tennessee Athletics

“We are pleased to be able to add Jay Graham to our staff,” Saban said. “Jay is well respected across the country for his knowledge of the game and his ability to recruit.

“He has experience at numerous schools across the SEC footprint with a proven track record for his ability to teach the game and develop young men both on the field and in life.”

Graham played running back for the Vols from 1993-96.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join Coach Saban’s staff at The University of Alabama,” Graham said. “The program Coach Saban has built at Alabama is something special, and I look forward to the chance to help continue that success.

“I am excited to begin working with such a talented group of student-athletes as we build toward the 2021 season.”

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Two Tennessee coaches to miss Texas A&M game

Tennessee plays Texas A&M Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

When the University of Tennessee football team plays its regular-season finale today against Texas A&M at Neyland Stadium, it will do so without a pair of assistant coaches.

The Volunteers (3-6, 3-6 SEC) will be without the services of defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley and running backs coach Jay Graham. Both will miss the game due to COVID-19 concerns.

In Ansley’s absence, head coach Jeremy Pruitt will serve as the Vols’ defensive coordinator.

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Before coming to Rocky Top, Pruitt was defensive coordinator at Alabama under Nick Saban.

The Aggies (7-1, 7-1 SEC) enter the game with a shot to play in a New Year’s Six bowl game and a victory over the Vols will  give Texas A&M an outside chance to reach the College Football Playoff.

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Phillip Fulmer, Jeremy Pruitt, Vols’ assistant coach contracts and when they expire

Phillip Fulmer, Jeremy Pruitt, Vols’ assistant coach contracts and when they expire.

KNOXVILLE — Four games remain in the 2020 regular season.

Tennessee (2-4, 2-4 SEC) opened the 2020 campaign with wins at South Carolina and against Missouri. The Vols have since lost to Georgia, Kentucky, Alabama and Arkansas.

Ahead of Tennessee’s next contest against Texas A&M at Neyland Stadium Saturday (7:30 p.m. EST, ESPN), Vols Wire takes a look at Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer, head coach Jeremy Pruitt and the Vols’ assistant coaches contracts and when they expire. Contracts are provided by the University of Tennessee.

Rush Propst discusses the State of the Tennessee program under Jeremy Pruitt

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Phillip Fulmer

  • Through December 31, 2021

NEXT: University of Tennessee football contracts

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8, Page 9, Page 10, Page 11

Dee Beckwith can be used for ‘Taysom Hill type stuff, hand it to him, throw it to him or Wildcat quarterback’

Dee Beckwith can be used for ‘Taysom Hill type stuff, hand it to him, throw it to him or Wildcat quarterback’

KNOXVILLE — Tennessee capped off its 2020 recruiting class Feb. 5, adding Dee Beckwith on National Signing Day.

The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Beckwith is from Florence High School in Florence, Alabama. Beckwith’s high school head coach Will Hester previously discussed how his former player can be used in a variety of ways.

“Coach (Jim) Chaney is talking about Taysom Hill type stuff, whether they hand it to him, throw it to him or be the Wildcat quarterback,” Hester said on the show “Tennessee Two-A-Days.”

During fall training camp ahead of Tennessee’s first game at South Carolina Sept. 26, Beckwith has spent time at running back.

Tennessee running backs coach Jay Graham met with media Wednesday to discuss Beckwith practicing in the Vols’ backfield.

“Dee has done a really good job,” Graham told reporters on a Zoom call. “In high school he did some Wildcat and some things, so he had an understanding of it. When he first moved over, it hadn’t been long, but I tried to stick with what he does naturally and adjust from there. I think he’s done well with it.

“There’s been some times where we had to get him in position and I had to yell some things at him just as far as technique goes, but I think he’s done a really good job so far there. For a taller guy, he has the athleticism to do it and to play the position, so he’s been a really big help for us.”

KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 – Wide receiver Dee Beckwith #21 of the Tennessee Volunteers during 2020 Fall Camp practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Caleb Jones/Tennessee Athletics

Jay Graham receives six-month recruiting penalty

Jay Graham receives six-month recruiting penalty.

KNOXVILLE – The NCAA announced Thursday that Texas A&M violated recruiting and countable athletically related activity rules between January 2018 and February 2019, according to an agreement released by the Division I Committee on Infractions.

Aggies’ head coach Jimbo Fisher also violated NCAA responsibility rules.

Jimbo Fisher
Photo by Dan Harralson

Newly-hired Tennessee running backs coach Jay Graham, who then worked for Fisher at Texas A&M, was also named as a violator. He has received a six-month show-cause penalty that goes through Dec. 31. Graham will not be able to take part in off-campus recruiting activities.

“During the process of hiring Coach Jay Graham, we were made aware of the circumstances at his previous institution, and we vetted it thoroughly in accordance with NCAA and SEC bylaws,” Tennessee athletics said in a statement. “We established and maintain extremely high confidence in Coach Graham’s commitment to compliance and are proud to have him on our staff.”

Jay Graham
Photo by Dan Harralson

Tennessee coaches dominating SEC recruiter rankings

Tennessee coaches dominating SEC recruiter rankings.

KNOXVILLE — Tennessee has taken full advantage of the college football dead period caused by the coronavirus pandemic, having hauled in a number of blue-chip prospects to vaunt its 2021 recruiting class to No. 2 in the country, according to 247Sports.

The Vols are doing so behind a coaching staff filled with experienced and obsessive recruiters, whose prowess has been on full display for the last month. 247Sports rates individual recruiters just as it does recruiting classes, and UT currently occupies the top five spots in the 2021 SEC recruiter rankings.

Defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley leads the way at the No. 1 spot, and he has been the most successful recruiter of this cycle. Ansley has been the primary recruiter in landing 4-star Alabama linebacker Dylan Brooks, 4-star Florida safety Kamar Wilcoxson, 3-star Florida safety De’Shawn Rucker and 3-star Alabama cornerback Jay Jones.

Behind Ansley at No. 2 is recently named running backs coach Jay Graham, who has landed two 4-star running backs in Cody Brown and Tiyon Evans for his alma mater.

Another former Tennessee star in wide receivers coach Tee Martin sits at No. 3 in the SEC after helping land three wideouts so far in the 2021 class, including Alabama 4-star Jordan Mosley.

Tight ends coach Joe Osovet is No. 4, and has been instrumental in recruiting north, earning commitments from two 4-star Baltimore products in defensive tackle KaTron Evans and outside linebacker Aaron Willis.

Finally, inside linebackers coach Brian Niedermeyer rounds out the top five. The former 247Sports National Recruiter of the Year helped the Vols land 5-star outside linebacker Terrence Williams.

Before this stretch of commitments for the 2021 class began, Tennessee fans knew what kind of recruiters it had on its staff. In head coach Jeremy Pruitt, Martin and Niedermeyer, the Vols have three former 247Sports National Recruiter of the Year recipients.

Now with Ansley, Osovet and Graham developing crucial relationships as well, the sky is the limit for what type of players Tennessee can bring to Knoxville, and it is showing so far in the 2021 class.

Vols’ 2021 commitment tracker

Tennessee hosts in-state running back, visits with Jay Graham

Tennessee hosts in-state running back, visits with Jay Graham.

KNOXVILLE — Brentwood Academy running back Jordan James was on Tennessee’s campus Thursday, visiting with the football program as they recruit the Nashville native.

James, a prospect in the class of 2022, already holds offers from Alabama, Nebraska, South Carolina and others.

At 5-foot-9.5 and 200-pounds, James plays for Tennessee private school powerhouse Brentwood Academy that has produced major talents such as Derek Barnett and Jalen Ramsey.

In the visit, James was shown meeting with Tennessee Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer, and new running backs coach Jay Graham. This is the first public photo of Graham in Tennessee gear after being hired away from Texas A&M, and he clearly is already off and running on the recruiting trail for the Vols.