Tag: Justin Hunter

Former Vol Justin Hunter joins Memphis’ coaching staff

Former Tennessee wide receiver Justin Hunter joins Memphis’ coaching staff.

Former Tennessee wide receiver Justin Hunter will serve as an offensive quality control coach at Memphis.

“First step,” Hunter announced. “Thanks Memphis football for the opportunity!”

Hunter played for the Vols from 2010-12. He appeared in 28 games, recording 106 receptions, 1,812 yards and 18 touchdowns. Hunter also recorded four punt returns for 21 yards at Tennessee.

He was selected in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft (No. 34 overall) by the Titans. Hunter played for Tennessee (2013-15), Miami (2016), Buffalo (2016) and Pittsburgh (2017-18).

In 59 NFL games, the former Vol totaled 85 receptions (187 targets), 1,348 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Memphis will kick off its 2023 season on Sept. 2 versus Bethune-Cookman at Simmons Bank Liberty Bowl. The Tigers will play at Arkansas State on Sept. 9 versus former Vols’ head coach Butch Jones.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz9dkec01s6y18 player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

[vertical-gallery id=66363]

Cormani McClain visits Colorado, still no official signing

McClain has been busy, though and the latest news may be a sign of where he intends to play.

The Cormani McClain saga continues into another week. For now, McClain is still officially committed to Miami, but that relationship hardly seems to be on stable footing.

When last we heard from McClain, he told reporters that he would be signing on January 15. That date has come and gone and there’s still been no official move from the second-ranked recruit in the country.

McClain has been busy, though and the latest news may be a sign of where he intends to play. On Friday, Miami’s coaching staff showed up to Lakeland (Fla.) but McClain was nowhere to be found.

Then over the weekend, McClain visited Colorado and several photos emerged on social media of him wearing a No. 7 uniform:

Several media outlets are now predicting that McClain will indeed join Colorado.

McClain is the No. 1 CB in the class of 2023. If he does decide to sign with Colorado, he’d be joining the best corner from last year’s recruiting class, Travis Hunter – who followed coach Deion Sanders over from Jackson State.

More football stories

Texas QB Arch Manning lost his student ID twice

Jackson Arnold named Gatorade Player of the Year

Cedric Baxter Jr. on Cormani McClain: ‘Nobody knows what he’s gonna do but him’

However, McClain did confirm that he is still committed to Miami.

Cormani McClain committed to Miami two months ago. However, when he was expected to sign McClain pulled a no-show, leading to speculation that he’s headed elsewhere.

A cornerback from Lakeland (Fla.), McClain is ranked the No. 2 overall prospect in the class of 2023 behind Texas quarterback Arch Manning, who signed last week. According to one of Manning’s new teammates, nobody knows what McClain is going to do but him. Here’s what Edgewater (Fla.) running back Cedric Baxter Jr. had to say about McClain’s status, per Drew Schott at On3.

“We (were) just telling him, ‘Do what’s best for you… Nobody knows what he’s gonna do but him, literally. That’s the way I look at it.”

McClain himself has declined to comment on his recruitment at the All-America Game. However, he did confirm that he is still committed to Miami.

Alabama, Florida, Ohio State and Florida State were also among McClain’s original top-five finalists. Another potential contender has emerged in Colorado, where new head coach Deion Sanders is leading a red-hot recruiting and transfer streak. They have reportedly been in contact.

More recruiting stories

Cranking up Texas part of the appeal for Arch Manning

Watch: CB Jaylen Thompson commits to Michigan State

[listicle id=101504851]

Cormani McClain delays signing with Miami, Colorado in contact

Nation’s No. 2 overall recruit, CB Cormani McClain delays signing with Miami, Deion Sanders’ Colorado program in contact.

Cormani McClain was expected to officially sign with Miami yesterday after committing to them in late October.

McClain didn’t show for the signing ceremony at Lakeland (Fla.), though. Soon after, his mother shared a message on Twitter that there would be no signing that day and apologized for the inconvenience.

It’s anybody’s guess what McClain’s next move is, but there is one program that’s definitely worth watching. According to a report by Steve Wiltfong at 247 Sports, Colorado is in contact with McClain.

The Buffaloes have been on a recruiting surge since Deion Sanders was hired as their new head coach three weeks ago. They’re also clearly in the market for high-end cornerback talent.

Just yesterday, Justin Hunter announced he’s transferred from Jackson State to Colorado. A hybrid receiver and cornerback, Hunter was the No. 1 overall prospect in last year’s recruiting class. Meanwhile, McClain is ranked No. 2 overall in this class and first among cornerbacks.

Pairing Hunter with McClain at corner has to be a tantalyzing prospect for Sanders, who has an advantage no other recruiter can offer – having played the position as well as anyone in the last 40 years.

The race is far from over, though. Florida and Alabama are also reportedly still in the mix and they were on McClain’s original list of finalists. He has 25 offers all together.

Miami’s 2023 recruiting class currently ranks No. 4 in the country. Losing McClain would drop them two spots.

More recruiting stories

The USA Today HSS top 100 of 2023

Colorado’s 2023 commits under Deion Sanders

Cedric Tillman becomes Tennessee’s first 1,000-yard receiver since 2012

Cedric Tillman becomes Tennessee’s first 1,000-yard receiver since Justin Hunter in 2012.

6-foot-3, 215-pound redshirt junior wide receiver Cedric Tillman totaled 64 receptions for 1,081 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns during the 2021 season.

He produced the first 1,000-yard receiving season for Tennessee since 2012.

Tennessee’s last 1,000-yard receiver was Justin Hunter in 2012. Hunter totaled 73 receptions, 1,083 receiving yards and nine touchdowns during the 2012 campaign.

Tillman announced Dec. 23 he will return to Tennessee for the 2022 season.

The Vols are slated to kickoff its 2022 season against Ball State at Neyland Stadium on Sept. 3.

Tennessee’s 2022 football schedule: Opponents, dates announced

Follow us at @VolsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of University of Tennessee athletics.

[vertical-gallery id=52892]

Tennessee Volunteers: 2010s All-Decade Football Team

Tennessee Volunteers: 2010s All-Decade Football Team

[jwplayer hlC4ngq4-er0jUifI]

KNOXVILLE — With the 2010s decade nearing an end, Vols Wire (collaboration between Dan Harralson and Ken Lay) takes a look at the University of Tennessee’s All-Decade Football Team.

The Vols’ 2010s All-Decade Football Team is composed of the following:

Offense (11 players)

One quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end and five offensive linemen.

Defense (11 players)

Four defensive backs, three linebackers and four defensive linemen.

Special teams (4 players)

One kicker, one kick returner, one punter and one punt returner.

Coaches (3 coaches)

One head coach, one defensive coordinator and one offensive coordinator.

Player of the Decade (1 player)

*All players/coaches based on the years they were at UT during the 2010s (2010-19)

NEXT: Vols’ 2010s All-Decade Football Team (Offense)

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6