Tag: Squirrel White

Vols’ most intriguing offensive skill position players in 2023 fall camp

Tennessee’s most intriguing offensive skill position players in 2023 fall camp.

Tennessee kicked off fall training camp Aug. 2 at Haslam Field in preparation for the 2023 season.

The Vols will open its 2023 season versus Virginia on Sept. 2 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Kickoff between Tennessee and the Cavaliers is slated for noon EDT and will be televised by ABC.

The 2023 season will be Tennessee’s third under head coach Josh Heupel.

Heupel guided Tennessee to a 18-8 (10-6 SEC) record and two bowl appearances from 2021-22.

Tennessee’s 2023 football schedule

Offensive skill position players can be defined as quarterbacks, running backs, tight ends and wide receivers.

2023 will be quarterback Joe Milton’s sixth and final collegiate season. Freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava enters his first collegiate season after being the Vols’ highest-rated recruit in Tennessee’s 2023 signing class.

Following Tennessee’s first week during fall training camp, Vols Wire looks at the most intriguing offensive skill position players ahead of the season. Offensive skill position players, including running backs, tight ends and wide receivers, and excluding quarterbacks, are listed below.

Tennessee football’s highest-graded returning offensive players in 2023

A look Tennessee football’s highest-graded returning offensive players ahead of the 2023 season.

The 2023 season will be Tennessee’s third under head coach Josh Heupel. Heupel has compiled an 18-8 (10-6 SEC) record with the Vols.

The Vols will kick off their 2023 season on Sept. 2 against Virginia at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

Tennessee football: 2023 post-spring game-by-game predictions

As the 2023 season approaches, Vols Wire looks at the highest-graded returning offensive players for Tennessee.

All grades were gathered using the Pro Football Focus (PFF) database and grading system. Data compiled represents a player’s overall offensive grade from the 2022 season, including postseason games.

Student-athletes who played 20 percent of the minimum number of snaps in 2022 were included.

Below are the top-10 highest-graded returning Vols entering the 2023 season.

Squirrel White named one of college football’s next superstars

Tennessee wide receiver Squirrel White named one of college football’s next superstars.

Tennessee wide receiver Squirrel White could be primed to have a breakout season for the Volunteers in 2023.

The Vols will look to replace multiple wide receivers ahead of the 2023 season. Wide receivers Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman have entered the 2023 NFL draft.

Prior to signing with Tennessee, White was a four-star wide receiver and the No. 8 player in the state of Alabama, according to On3 Sports. He signed with Tennessee on Dec. 15, 2021 and received other offers from Georgia, Auburn, Kentucky and Ole Miss.

As a freshman, White finished the season with 30 receptions, 481 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. He led the Vols with 108 receiving yards and a touchdown against Clemson in the 2022 Orange Bowl.

Chris Hummer of 247Sports mentioned White as a college football player set to emerge as superstars in 2023.

“Perhaps the most surprising star of the 2022 season was Jalin Hyatt. He caught just 21 passes for 226 yards as a sophomore in 2021. Then he emerged as a gamebreaker a year later. Hyatt thrived in the slot for Tennessee with his 4.31 speed helping him emerge as CFB’s most potent deep threat. Hyatt opted out of the bowl game, which gave us a preview of the guy who is next in the slot for Tennessee — Squirrel White. All White did against Clemson was catch 9 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown in his true freshman finale.

White isn’t the same type of receiver as Hyatt. He’s a bit smaller and a little shiftier in the open field, but they share one thing in common: Speed. White ran a verified 10.68-second 100-meter dash in high school. He should be a consistent deep threat for Joe Milton in 2023.” –Hummer on White

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Squirrel White explains backstory behind his nickname

Tennessee wide receiver Squirrel White explains backstory behind his nickname.

Tennessee practiced for the second time during fall training camp Tuesday at Haslam Field.

Following practice, freshman wide receiver Squirrel White met with media.

White explained the backstory behind his nickname.

“My great-grandma named me that when I was a baby when she was holding me, so there was a squirrel in her garden and it picked her tomatoes,” White said. “When the squirrel moved, I moved at the same time, so she just started calling me that.”

Following Tennessee’s first fall training camp practice, second-year head coach Josh Heupel discussed the 5-foot-10, 160-pound White.

“Squirrel is competitive, really smart and mature in the way that he handles himself in the building, in the meeting room and physically taking care of his body,” Heupel said. “His ability for the game not to be moving too fast, really almost from day one, in the way that he has handled what we do offensively.

“He needs to have a great camp for us and I believe that he will. He is truly fearless. He’s not the biggest guy, but he is fearless. He is going to stick his face in any physical situation that he needs to.”

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Squirrel White ‘fearless’ in Vols’ fall training camp

Wide receiver Squirrel White is fearless in Tennessee’s fall training camp.

Tennessee kicked off fall training camp at Haslam Field Monday.

Following the Vols’ first practice, second-year head coach Josh Heupel discussed freshman Squirrel White, saying the 5-foot-10, 160-pound wide receiver is not slow.

“Squirrel is competitive, really smart and mature in the way that he handles himself in the building, in the meeting room and physically taking care of his body,” Heupel said. “His ability for the game not to be moving too fast, really almost from day one, in the way that he has handled what we do offensively.

“He needs to have a great camp for us and I believe that he will. He is truly fearless. He’s not the biggest guy, but he is fearless. He is going to stick his face in any physical situation that he needs to.”

Squirrel White (83) during 2022 spring practices. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Tennessee will kick off its 2022 season Sept. 1 against Ball State at Neyland Stadium (7 p.m. EDT, SEC Network).

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Fall camp: Josh Heupel discusses who stands out in Vols’ kick, punt return game

Fall camp: Josh Heupel discusses who stands out in Vols’ kick, punt return game

Tennessee kicked off fall training camp Monday at Haslam Field under second-year head coach Josh Heupel.

Ahead of Tennessee’s first practice during fall training camp, Heupel discussed who stands out as potential candidates in the Vols’ kick and punt return game.

“Dee Williams is somebody that’s new to our roster,” Heupel said. “If you’re asking just about new guys, I think Dee is a guy that is a perfect example of that. Squirrel White is somebody that we feel like has the ability to catch it, but also be dynamic with the ball in his hands. Dylan Sampson is a young guy that we feel like has the opportunity to push and compete for some of that. Feel like all of those guys have great tracking skills, but also have the ability to make explosive plays.

“You look at what Velus (Jones Jr.) was able to bring to our football team a year ago, big plays in the return game, setup scores or create scores. Love what we’re doing with Coach Ek (Mike Ekeler) in developing a group of core individuals, but really our entire roster through the special teams part of it. Looking forward to seeing a bunch of guys compete and earn the opportunity to play. That’s in the return game, but it’s also guys that are setting up those returns.”

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Squirrel White signs with Tennessee

Squirrel White signs with the Vols.

The football early signing period is taking place Dec. 15-17 for the 2022 recruiting class.

Marquarius “Squirrel” White has signed with Tennessee.

The 2022 signing period is the first full class under head coach Josh Heupel.

The Vols were 7-5 (4-4 SEC) in 2021 under Heupel. Tennessee will play in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl against Purdue on Dec. 30 (3 p.m. EST, ESPN).

2022 early signing period: Tracker for Vols’ signees

Marquarius White

Tennessee’s 2022 football commitment tracker

Big board: Tennessee’s 2022 football recruiting class by position

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

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