Tag: Jaylen Wright

Music City Bowl: Josh Heupel discusses controversial no touchdown call in overtime

Josh Heupel discusses the controversial no touchdown call in overtime against Purdue in the Music City Bowl.

Tennessee (7-6, 4-4 SEC) lost to Purdue (9-4, 6-3 Big Ten), 48-45 in overtime, Thursday in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl.

A controversial play took place in overtime when Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright ran from the one-yard line and was ruled short of the end zone. Replay showed Wright never touched the ground and was able to extend the football into the end zone.

First-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel discussed the controversial call after the game.

“They said the forward progress had been stopped,” Heupel said.

Below is video and photos of the controversial play.

Tennessee ‘has great confidence, trust’ in Jaylen Wright

Tennessee ‘has great confidence, trust’ in Jaylen Wright.

Tennessee (1-0) will host Pittsburgh (1-0) Saturday in the Johnny Majors Classic at Neyland Stadium.

Kickoff is slated for noon EDT. ESPN will televise the Week 2 matchup.

First-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel met with media Thursday and discussed freshman running back Jaylen Wright.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound freshman totaled 14 rushing yards on four attempts in Tennessee’s Week 1 contest against Bowling Green.

“Everyone in this program has great confidence in him,” Heupel said of Wright. “Based on what we have seen from him, consistently, he’s continued to grow from his first practice on the field to who he is now.

“We expect him to play on a really high level when given the opportunity and everyone has a great trust in him.”

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Jaylen Wright discusses his ‘cheetah mentality’

Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright discusses his cheetah mentality.

Jaylen Wright enters his first season at Tennessee in 2021.

He is from Southern High School in Durham, North Carolina and took part in spring practices as an early enrollee freshman.

Wright joined the show “Tennessee Two-A-Days” and discussed how student-athletes can now benefit from their name, image and likeness.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound running back created a logo for his NIL.

“My logo actually means the cheetah mentality,” Wright said. “It means you have to be able to have ability to think fast, faster than the opponent, be faster in all aspects. I have been fast all my life, so I think the logo really fits me well.”

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Wright mentioned he has been clocked at 6.25 in the 55m dash and 4.28 in the 40-yard dash before arriving at Tennessee.

The entire show with Wright can be listened to here or below. Wright discusses his speed, NIL, academics and running backs he looks up to.

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Jaylen Wright debuts jersey number for Tennessee

Freshman running back Jaylen Wright signed with Tennessee during the early signing period.

Freshman running back Jaylen Wright signed with Tennessee during the early signing period on Dec. 16.

He is an early enrollee during the 2021 spring semester.

On Friday, Wright showcased his jersey number for Tennessee on Twitter, wearing No. 23.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound running back is from Southern High School in Durham, North Carolina.

The Vols will kick off spring practices on March 23.

Tennessee will conclude spring practices with its annual Chevrolet Orange & White Game on April 24 at Neyland Stadium.

Josh Heupel was hired as the Vols’ head coach on Jan. 27. He comes to Tennessee after serving in the same capacity at UCF from 2018-20.

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North Carolina running back signs with Tennessee

Tennessee Vols’ football recruiting news.

The early signing period has kicked off and goes through Dec. 18.

Tennessee secured another signee of the early signing period on Wednesday.

3-star running back Jaylen Wright has signed with the Vols. The 5-foot-11, 187-pound running back is from Southern High School in Durham, North Carolina.

Wright committed to the Vols on March 30.

Wright attended Tennessee’s junior day on March 7. He was offered by the Vols on Feb. 4. Along with the Vols, he held Power Five offers from Syracuse, Arizona State, Miami and Rutgers when he committed.

The early signing period takes place Dec. 16-18 for the 2021 recruiting class. National signing day is slated for Feb. 3.

University of Tennessee’s early signing period tracker

University of Tennessee’s 2021 commitment tracker

University of Tennessee’s 2022 commitment tracker

Fab Four: Selecting Tennessee football’s Mount Rushmore of all-time recruits

Jaylen Wright commits to Tennessee

Jaylen Wright commits to Tennessee.

2021 prospect Jaylen Wright has committed to Tennessee.

Wright is a 5-foot-10, 190-pound running back from Southern High School in Durham, N.C.

“First thing first I would like to thank god for this whole recruiting process and the ability he gave me to be athletic and be the student athlete I am,” Wright Tweeted. “After a long talk with my family I have decided to commit to the university of Tennessee.”

Wright attended Tennessee’s junior day on March 7 and was offered by the Vols on Feb. 4. Along with the Vols, he holds Power 5 offers from Syracuse. Arizona State, Miami and Rutgers.