Tag: Tennessee

A way-too-early preview of Tennessee’s 2020 offensive line

A way-too-early preview of Tennessee’s 2020 offensive line.

After a strong end to the 2019 season, in which Tennessee’s offensive line helped the Vols rush for 552 yards and five touchdowns while only allowing one sack in the final three games, the unit entered the offseason with plenty of momentum.

Even with the outgoing transfers of contributors Ryan Johnson and Marcus Tatum, along with the assumed departure of starting left guard Trey Smith to the NFL Draft, the offensive line was poised to be a strength for Tennessee in 2020.

Then, the unexpected happened. Not only did Smith announce his return for his senior season, but Georgia offensive lineman Cade Mays, a former Tennessee commit and Tennessee legacy, abruptly declared he would transfer from Athens to Knoxville for his junior year.

Pending an immediate eligibility waiver, Mays’ lawyer says he is “highly confident” his client will play next season. With Mays’ immediate eligibility, the Vols could potentially have four former 5-stars and a 4-star starting on the offensive line in 2020.

Suddenly, offensive line coach Will Friend has an embarrassment of riches to develop up front.

Smith will be back at left guard, and could play his way into a first round draft grade in his senior season. Arguably the most talented player on Tennessee’s roster, Smith’s battle with blood clots has been well-documented, and was often cited as a reason why most believed he would declare early for the draft. Tennessee put him on a program that held him out of contact in practice throughout the season, and Smith ended 2019 as a first team All-SEC player. Smith believes another complete season at Tennessee could ease NFL scouts’ concern that his health could terminate his career early, and the Vols will benefit greatly from that decision.

Not only does Tennessee return a complete mauler up front as one of the best offensive linemen in the country, but also a leader in the locker room and a fixture in the Knoxville community.

If Mays is immediately eligible this season, the Vols will have the benefit of an experienced, talented and versatile lineman that would have been a sure-fire starter for the Bulldogs in 2020. It seems as though right guard could be the best fit for Mays in Knoxville, but the rising junior started at four different positions along the Georgia offensive line during his two seasons in Athens.

At center, Tennessee received another boost when Brandon Kennedy announced he was granted a sixth year of eligibility on a medical hardship after missing nearly all of 2018 with a torn ACL. The only offensive lineman to start every game at the same position for Tennessee in 2019, the Alabama transfer and former 4-star prospect will bring a veteran presence at one of the most important positions on the field.

The rising sophomore duo of Wanya Morris and Darnell Wright will also return, and are expected to bookend the left and right tackle spots when the Vols kick off 2020 against Charlotte in Neyland Stadium. Morris started 12 games in 2019 and finished the season strong, earning several freshman All-America honors and being named to the Freshman All-SEC team while showcasing his natural ability, particularly as a pass blocker.

Wright came to campus in the summer, and was not as much of a staple as Morris, making six starts at right tackle all season. The former 5-star did join Morris on the Freshman All-SEC list however, and will be expected to make big strides in the lead-up to 2020 with his 6-foot-6, 330-pound frame.

Rising redshirt junior K’Rojhn Calbert and redshirt senior Jahmir Johnson bring experience and depth at both tackle spots, and are both players Tennessee’s staff will trust to step in. Make no mistake, however, all eyes will be on Wright and Morris to become All-SEC caliber players in 2020.

Rising junior Jerome Carvin started the final seven games for Tennessee in 2019, and could be penciled in as the starter at right guard if Mays is ruled ineligible. Carvin could shift over as a backup at center for Kennedy as well, and the Memphis native will be a key part of this unit’s depth. Riley Locklear is another member of the line with starting experience at different positions playing out his senior season in 2020.

Another legacy in Jackson Lampley, the son of former Vol Brad Lampley, redshirted in 2019 while appearing in two games. The former 4-star Nashville native could be called upon to add depth in 2020, along with Chris Akporoghene, Kingston Harris and Ollie Lane.

Tennessee brings in a crop of newcomers to build for the future, and it remains to be seen how the young players fit into the 2020 rotation, especially after the news of Smith and Mays this offseason.

Cooper Mays, the younger brother of Cade, is the only offensive lineman on campus as an early-enrollee. A 4-star out of Knoxville Catholic, Mays was a key member of Tennessee’s 2020 class. 6-foot-3, 338-pound guard Javontez Spraggins will join Tennessee in the summer, along with 6-foot-4, 323-pound guard James Robinson from Montgomery, Ala.

Tennessee returns all of its running backs in 2020, and has a crowded quarterback room going into spring football to play behind Friend’s unit. For the first time in the Jeremy Pruitt era, the offensive line is arguably the most secure, experienced and talented unit on the offense.

Big 12 announces suspensions after Kansas-Kansas State incident ahead of Tennessee game

Tennessee-Kansas preview.

At the end of an 81-60 victory by Kansas over rival Kansas State on Tuesday, an ugly scene broke out as several players from both teams were involved in a fight that cleared the benches, spilling off the court and into a section of media and fans along the baseline.

Kansas took action quickly, suspending junior forward Silvio De Sousa indefinitely for his role in the incident.

Kansas State v Kansas
LAWRENCE, KANSAS – JANUARY 21: Silvio De Sousa #22 of the Kansas Jayhawks is restrained by head coach Bill Self during a brawl as the game against the Kansas State Wildcats ends at Allen Fieldhouse on January 21, 2020 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

The Big 12 conference has since stepped in, handing out specific suspensions to members of both teams.

While De Sousa was given a 12 game suspension by the conference, Kansas could extend it further with the “indefinitely” label. De Sousa will, however, miss the Jayhawks’ bout with Tennessee on Saturday afternoon in the SEC/Big 12 challenge.

Added to the suspension list by the Big 12 was sophomore forward David McCormack with two games.

At 6-foot-10, 265-pounds, McCormack has had a more significant impact for Kansas this season. Averaging 7.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, the Jayhawks now lose two players that can challenge Tennessee’s length around the rim for Saturday’s matchup in Allen Fieldhouse.

Available for Saturday, however, is 7-foot senior Udoka Azubuike who scores nearly 13 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.

Tennessee enters the game against third-ranked Kansas at 12-6, off a 73-48 dismantling of Ole Miss in Thompson-Boling Arena.

A way-too-early preview of Tennessee’s wide receivers in 2020

A way-too-early preview of Tennessee’s wide receivers in 2020.

KNOXVILLE — Wide receiver was a position of strength for Tennessee in 2020.

With two talented and experienced seniors in Marquez Callaway and Jauan Jennings, the Vols lost over 1,600 yards and 14 touchdowns of production from those two players alone.

Jennings was considered the heart and soul of Tennessee’s football team, as an unquestioned leader that evolved into one of the most exciting players to watch in the SEC with the ball in his hands.

Now, it’s a new era for Tennessee’s wideouts, and role players in 2019 will need to step up to become go-to options in 2020.

It begins with rising senior Josh Palmer, who is Tennessee’s lead returning receiver in 2020. Palmer showed flashes during his junior campaign, playing third-fiddle to Callaway and Jennings. The Canadian native reeled in 34 passes for 457 yards and 1 touchdown.

While no other receiver returns that has the numbers of Palmer, there is talented but unproven depth in wide receivers coach Tee Martin’s unit. Former four-star prospect Ramel Keyton only caught four passes in his freshman season, but two came in the Gator Bowl win over Indiana to total 60 yards. In fact, Tennessee was able to get a slight preview of what’s to come in the bowl game as Palmer and Keyton led the Vols in receiving. Palmer caught six passes for 68 yards.

Among some of the unknown quantities in Tennessee’s wide receivers room is a former defensive back in Deangelo Gibbs. Having never played wide receiver at the collegiate level, Gibbs initially went to Georgia as a highly-touted defensive back and transferred to Tennessee in the offseason before the 2019 campaign.

Gibbs had to sit out the season due to transfer ineligibility rules, but will be available as a wide receiver in 2020. Since taking over at Tennessee, Jeremy Pruitt has not been afraid to switch players from different positions, and it is clear he and his staff believe the 6-foot-1, 200-pound junior has the talent and ball skills to contribute to the Vols at wide receiver in 2020.

Even with the possible NFL talent Tennessee had in Callaway and Jennings in 2019, one thing this unit has missed is a player with pure, straight-line speed that can take the top off of SEC defenses.

Tennessee took a step to remedy that in early January, bringing in former USC wideout Velus Jones Jr. as a graduate transfer.

Jones was recruited by Tennessee out of high school, and played for Tee Martin when Martin was coaching wide receivers at USC. Although he did not consistently crack the wide receiver rotation in Southern Cal, Jones racked up nearly 2,000 kick return yards and will be certainly utilized in Knoxville as he plays out his final season of eligibility.

Speaking of speed, another player that excites Tennessee’s coaching staff is incoming four-star prospect Jalin Hyatt out of South Carolina. Hyatt helped his Dutch Fork High School team to a state championship in 2019, hauling in 66 passes for 1,361 yards and 26 touchdowns. Expect Hyatt to contribute for Tennessee in 2020, along with four-star Georgia prospect Jimmy Calloway, who joins Hyatt in the 2020 class as a versatile, athletic option.

Also returning for Tennessee in 2020 is Brandon Johnson, who redshirted his junior season for the Vols after only appearing in four games. Many forget Johnson led Tennessee in receiving during the Vols’ abysmal 2017 4-8 campaign under Butch Jones, catching 37 passes for 482 yards and one touchdown.

The Fort Lauderdale, Fla. native will return as an experienced key cog in the 2020 wide receiver rotation.

Finally, 6-foot-3, 211-pound wideout Cedric Tillman returns to Knoxville for his redshirt sophomore season and will compete for more reps after being buried under the depth chart in 2020.

Tennessee’s wide receivers will have a completely new look in Jeremy Pruitt’s third season. 2019 saw a top-heavy unit that had experienced, big bodies who could high-point the football and shed tacklers. In 2020, the Vols appear to have a deeper, albeit inexperienced rotation with more contributors and pure speed.

It will be interesting to see how offensive coordinator Jim Chaney tinkers with this new crop of players, but the primary question is not who will catch the most passes for Tennessee in 2020, but who will be throwing the ball?

As the Vols prepare for spring football, figuring out this team’s starting quarterback will have a direct impact on the success of the wide receiver position.

It will not be a question of talent for Tennessee’s wide receivers in 2020. This group will need to gain experience and find out a true number one option to replace the outgoing Callaway and Jennings.

John Fulkerson leads Vols past Ole Miss, 73-48

Tennessee defeats Ole Miss.

KNOXVILLE — John Fulkerson had a career-high 18 points to lead the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team to a 73-48 Southeastern Conference victory over Ole Miss Tuesday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.

Fulkerson, a redshirt junior post player, also recorded 10 rebounds and was one of four Volunteers to post double figures in the scoring column as Tennessee (12-6 overall, 4-2 in the SEC) started fast, opening a 42-23 advantage by halftime and cruised to victory against the Rebels.

Jordan Bowden looks to slowly becoming out of his season-long scoring slump. He had 11 points. Josiah-Jordan James also contributed 11 points and Olivier Nkamhoua finished the contest with 10 points against Ole Miss, which is coached by defending SEC Coach of the Year Kermit Davis.

The Rebels (9-9. 0-5) has struggled in conference play and is still in search of its first league win despite having the conference’s leading scorer in Breein Tyree.

Tyree, a First Team All-SEC Selection as a junior last year, scored 18 points. He entered Tuesday night’s game averaging 19 points per game this season. The cousin of former New York Giants wide receiver David Tyree, entered the game averaging 29 points per game in SEC tilts this season.

Tennessee Dance claims national championship

Tennessee Dance claims national championship.

ORLANDO — On Friday the University of Tennessee’s cheer team claimed its first national championship in school history by placing first in the Division 1A Game Day Competition.

UT’s dance team also earned a national championship at the 2020 UCA & UDA College Cheerleading and Dance National Championships.

The University of Tennessee’s Spirit program becomes the only Division 1A program to claim a national title in all three spirit categories (cheer, dance and mascot).

UT press release:

Tennessee dance added to its legacy as one of the most decorated programs in the country after claiming its sixth national championship on Sunday at the 2020 UCA & UDA College Cheerleading and Dance National Championships.

The championship came in an unexpected way for the squad. The previous five national championships were the result of the team’s jazz performances, but championship number six came from its pom performance. This was just the third year Tennessee dance competed in the pom category and was the first time the team advanced to finals.

“We knew we could do it when we were first in semifinals (Saturday),” senior dancer Laura Skipper said. “We knew we just had to make a few things better, and that’s what we were able to do.”

With the addition of Tennessee cheer’s first-ever national championship in the Division 1A Game Day Competition on Friday, Tennessee’s Spirit program became the only Division 1A program in the nation to claim at least one national title in all three spirit categories – cheer, dance and mascot. Costumed Smokey has claimed three national titles in the mascot division.

All three teams also earned additional top-10 finishes this weekend, with Smokey finishing sixth in mascot finals, dance claiming fifth place in the jazz dance routine and cheer finishing sixth in cheer routine, their highest finish in that category since 2012. For the second year in a row, only Tennessee and Ohio State placed all three teams in the top-10 of Division 1A.

Vols’ recruiting weekend highlights

Vols’ recruiting weekend highlights.

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KNOXVILLE — National Signing Day is approaching on Feb. 5 to cap off the Vols’ 2020 recruiting class.

The dead period ended Jan. 16 and the current recruiting contact period began Jan. 17 and runs through Feb. 1. Per the NCAA, a contact period is when it is permissible for authorized athletics department staff members to make in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts and evaluations.

Tennessee is also focusing on its 2021 recruiting class and beyond. Many prospects visited the University of Tennessee over the weekend and here are highlights from campus.

NEXT: Highlights from Tennessee’s recruiting weekend

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7

Vols end Vanderbilt’s historic 3-point streak of 1,080 games

Tennessee defeats Vanderbilt.

NASHVILLE — Tennessee traveled to Music City Saturday and defeated in-state SEC foe Vanderbilt, 66-45, at Memorial Gymnasium.

The Vols’ win was a milestone as Tennessee ended Vanderbilt’s historic 3-point streak.

The Commodores came into the contest with a streak of making at least one 3-point field goal in 1,080 consecutive games. The streak dates back 34 years.

Entering the contest, Vanderbilt was one of two teams (Princeton, UNLV) to make a 3-point field goal in every game since the NCAA implemented the 3-point line during the 1986-87 season.

The Commodores ended the game going 0-of-25 from beyond the arc.

The Vols will return to action Tuesday, Jan. 21 against Ole Miss. Tipoff is slated for 9 p.m. ET and will be televised by the SEC Network.

PHOTOS: 2019 Tennessee football highlights

PHOTOS: 2019 Tennessee football highlights

KNOXVILLE — Tennessee finished the 2019 season by winning six consecutive games and seven of its last eight contests.

The turnaround followed a 1-4 start and losing the first two games of the 2019 campaign to Georgia State and BYU.

The Vols concluded 2019 with a 23-22 victory over Indiana in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl played in Jacksonville, Fla.

UT currently holds the nation’s second-longest FBS win-streak of six games, and optimism and excitement surrounds the Tennessee football program heading into the 2020 campaign — Jeremy Pruitt’s third year as the Vols’ head coach.

Tennessee will kickoff the 2020 season on Sept. 5 by hosting Charlotte at Neyland Stadium.

Below are photos from Tennessee’s 2019 season.

UT announces partnership, innovation hub with Volkswagen, ORNL

UT announces partnership, innovation hub with Volkswagen, ORNL.

KNOXVILLE – On Friday the University of Tennessee announced a partnership and innovation hub with Volkswagen and ORNL.

UT press release:

Volkswagen Group of America; the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; the UT Research Foundation; and Oak Ridge National Laboratory today announced a partnership to create Volkswagen’s first innovation hub in North America at the UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm.

The partnership is leveraging the expertise of ORNL scientists and several faculty members within the Tickle College of Engineering at UT to develop lighter vehicle components made from composite materials and to electrify vehicles—two areas where UT is at the forefront of research and expertise.

“Working with the University of Tennessee is a great opportunity to continue growing Volkswagen’s engineering footprint in the North American region,” said Wolfgang Demmelbauer-Ebner, executive vice president and chief engineering officer for Volkswagen’s North American region. “This hub, along with other research institutions here, is an integral part of Volkswagen’s global research and development efforts and can also directly contribute to vehicles in North America.”

Interdisciplinary Engagement

The work—some of the most innovative applied research of its kind being done anywhere in the world—is being led by UT-ORNL Governor’s Chair for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Uday Vaidya. His team in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering is focused on several research and development activities to support prototyping, develop a sheet molding compound, and evaluate materials and their properties for use in Volkswagen vehicle components.

From the Min H. Kao Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Min H. Kao Professor Leon Tolbert and Associate Professor Daniel Costinett are focusing on research that has been pioneered by their counterparts at ORNL—the wireless charging of parked electric vehicles as well as dynamic charging, in which roadways are embedded with a system that charges electric vehicles as they move. A second project involves packaging wide bandgap power electronics in order to increase power density and efficiency. The realization of these technologies will reduce battery size and vehicle weight, resulting in longer driving distances between charging.

Other EECS faculty involved include Associate Professor Kevin Bai, Professor and Condra Chair of Excellence in Power Electronics Fred Wang, and Assistant Professor Helen Cui.

From the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Peebles Professor Dayakar Penumadu is providing his expertise in materials characterization for lightweight composites.

“It is truly gratifying to be involved in developing this VW partnership with UT, which is providing our students and staff with industrially relevant research and development opportunities that are bound to have significant economic and environmental benefits for Tennessee and the country,” said Penumadu.

Student Engagement

As part of the partnership, Volkswagen has awarded fellowships to doctoral students Andrew Foote and Nathan Strain from EECS and William Henken from CEE.

“The collaboration is providing unique opportunities for our undergraduate and graduate students and researchers in advanced materials and manufacturing. Working alongside Volkswagen engineers and managers in this real-world experience is extremely valuable for their career paths,” said Vaidya.

Economic Impact

Today’s announcement is another accomplishment for a region that is known for its strengths in the areas of advanced materials and additive manufacturing.

“The partnership between UT, ORNL, and Volkswagen strengthens Tennessee’s position as a significant source of innovation and talent for the Volkswagen North American manufacturing base, especially at the flagship Chattanooga facility,” said UT System Interim President Randy Boyd. “These types of partnerships are transforming the Tennessee Valley Corridor into a global innovation leader.”

Volkswagen has been a valued partner of UT since opening its Chattanooga Assembly plant in 2011. The Chattanooga facility produces the Volkswagen Passat sedan and Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport SUVs, specifically designed for the North American market. This past fall Volkswagen of America broke ground on a new electric vehicle production facility, which includes a 564,000-square-foot body shop addition and up to 1,000 new jobs in Tennessee.

Volkswagen also is a member of the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), which is supported by the US Department of Energy’s Advanced Manufacturing Office. A team of IACMI undergraduate and graduate students and researchers led by Vaidya created a novel composite liftgate for the Volkswagen Atlas that reduces weight by 35 percent, with lower investment costs and an improved environmental footprint compared to a conventional part. Researchers from ORNL, Purdue University, and Michigan State University were integral collaborators on the effort.

“The innovations stemming from the IACMI partnership with Volkswagen have a direct and immediate impact on vehicle design and manufacturing right here in Tennessee,” said UT Knoxville Chancellor Donde Plowman. “These collaborative discoveries demonstrate the real-world potential of public-private partnerships.”

The new innovation hub in Knoxville will join Volkswagen’s larger global innovation ecosystem. This includes innovation centers in Belmont, California; Wolfsburg, Germany; and Beijing, China, along with innovation hubs in Barcelona, Spain; Tel Aviv, Israel; and Tokyo, Japan.

Inside the Tennessee-Vanderbilt basketball series

Tennessee-Vanderbilt basketball series.

NASHVILLE — Tennessee will travel 181 miles to Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn. and take on in-state Southeastern Conference foe Vanderbilt Saturday.

Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. ET and will be televised on the SEC Network. Kevin Fitzgerald and former Vol Dane Bradshaw will have the call.

Tennessee leads Vanderbilt in the all-time series, 122-75. The series dates back to 1922 and Saturday’s matchup is the 198th meeting.

The Commodres lead the series over UT, 54-42, in games played in the Music City. Tennessee has won six of the last seven contests in the series, including four consecutive wins.

The Vols have won eight of its last nine games against in-state opponents and are 15-5 against Volunteer State schools during Rick Barnes’ tenure at UT.