Them Vols offseason thread
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wU-Tang Vol
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As InsideTennessee first reported last week, redshirt senior offensive tackle Jacob Gilliam was awarded a full scholarship. Yes, It’s a testament to what coaches continually called a “fantastic” spring showing from the former Farragut (Tenn.) High School product. But, don’t be fooled.
Gilliam joining the 85-man scholarship roster isn’t just to reward a player who has worked tirelessly on the scout team for four years. There’s more than a legitimate chance Gilliam is the Vols’ starting left tackle to open the 2014 football season.
One source told IT that if the season was to start today, Gilliam would be protecting the quarterback’s blindside.
Time and time again this spring, Tennessee offensive line coach Don Mahoney praised Gilliam for bringing his “blue collar” work ethic to the practice field, which he believes will translate well onto the playing field.
“The thing with Jacob is, you know, he doesn’t expect anything. Everything he’s earned, he’s worked ten times harder than the next guy for,” Mahoney told IT. “We talk about attack the day, he gives it his all every single practice and, should it happen, I bet he’ll never take a play off in the fall.”
JUCO transfer Dontavius Blair is Gilliam’s only competition for the spot, as the source told IT that Brett Kendrick and Marques Pair are “nowhere close” to game ready.
With that said, Blair isn’t that far from Kendrick and Pair. The former Scout four-star is said to have a “long, long” way to go before he’s even considered to take the field with the starters next fall. According to those close to the situation, Blair has struggled mightily with learning the playbook and has displayed “very poor” mechanics, which some believe is a result of being used to simply being able to overpower JUCO-level talent.
Defensive back Devaun Swafford was the other player to be put on scholarship earlier this week and, like Gilliam, coaches would also caution you not to overlook the Kingsport native.
Swafford, who was moved to safety this spring, has pleased defensive backs coach Willie Martinez with the speed and “smarts” he brings to the position. Martinez isn’t afraid to say last year’s starting safety LaDarrell McNeil had a “disappointing” spring and calls the fight for the job “wide open.”
“(Swafford) brings a nice edge back there,” Martinez said. “He really hit the playbook hard and knows his stuff. People don’t give him enough credit. He can help us back there.”
Swafford played in 12 games last season, starting in two, mostly at the nickelback position. Martinez said given the situation, Swafford played “very well.”
“People need to understand this, and I’m not using this as an excuse, he was a true freshman guarding the best of the best. And he did some good things,” Martinez told IT. “That, I think, is really going to help him in this competition.”
Another aspect that Martinez hopes will “help” Swafford and the other defensive backs in summer camp arrives in just a few weeks. Martinez said he is “beyond excited” to welcome several members of Tennessee’s 2014 class to his meeting rooms.
“We talk about it all the time, we need to have competition. Competition makes champions and it makes everyone that much better,” Martinez said. “These guys may have been feeling a little comfortable during spring, but when the rest of the guys get here, it’s going to be fun. We need that jolt.”
Freshman Neiko Creamer’s transition to linebacker has been filled with ups and downs, according to defensive coordinator John Jancek. Creamer still needs to add weight and learn to play with the correct leverage, as offensive guards blocking at the second level have had success at covering up the newcomer.
“Neiko has a long way to go. He’s playing a spot he’s really just not used to,” Jancek told IT. “But, he’s an athlete. Athletes play. You can never have too many of those. He’ll just need some time and I think he’ll do some big things for us.”
Tennessee tight ends coach Mark Elder fielded question after question about his promising new tight ends — Ethan Wolf and Daniel Helm — this spring. For the most part, Elder answered each inquiry with a smile and said how both newcomers would play a big factor next fall.
But Elder told IT that he hopes the hype surrounding the pair of former Scout four-stars doesn’t overshadow the work of a player he calls the “biggest unsung hero” on Tennessee’s roster. That being utility man Joe Stocstill.
The redshirt sophomore from Lewisburg played in seven games last season, mostly in goal-line formations serving as an extra blocking tight end or fullback. But after what Elder calls a “great” spring, he says Stocstill’s roll will only increase next season.
“He’s just steady-Eddie,” Elder told IT. “You tell him to block a guy, and he gets blocked. We couldn’t do a lot without (Stocstill). He really deserves more credit than he gets.”
Evaluating a season is easy for the fans: If there are considerably more wins than losses the season was a success. Evaluating a season is a bit more involved for the coaches. Asked by IT how he will measure progress this season, Tennessee head man Butch Jones replied: “We have to continue to grow and develop as a football team. We’re going to be exceptionally young, with only 12 seniors, so we must continue to grow and progress from the start of training camp all the way to Game 12.
“The big thing with this football team is having a theme of One … one practice at a time … one day at a time … one opponent at a time. Everything is about winning that day, winning that moment. That’s how you raise a young football team. I think we’ll see progress each and every day.”
Dave-Te’ Thomas, veteran talent evaluator and director of NFL Scouting Services, says former Tennessee running back Rajion Neal, could be one of the jewels of this year’s undrafted free-agent signing class. Commenting in an on-line chat at Scout’s Green Bay Packers website, Thomas suggested that Neal will take second-year man Johnathan Franklin’s spot on the Pack roster. That’s noteworthy, since Franklin is UCLA’s all-time rushing leader (4,403 yards) and was a fourth-round pick of the Pack in the 2013 NFL Draft.
“Mr. Franklin better pack his bags – Rajion Neal is another FA (free agent) I feel was a great fit,” Thomas wrote, later adding: “LOVE Neal – think the kid is a vastly overlooked talent.”
Neal rushed for 708 yards with a 4.5 per-carry average as a Vol junior and 1,124 yards with a 5.2 per-carry average as a senior. As Green Bay’s No. 3 running back behind Eddie Lacy and James Starks last season, Franklin rushed 19 times for 107 yards and caught four passes for 30 yards. He had two late-season fumbles among his 23 touches, losing one, and did not get a touch in the team’s final two games.
Reports out of Green Bay’s mini-camp suggest Neal is off to a great start and appears a virtual lock to make the roster as a backup running back and special-teams performer.
Speaking of the NFL Draft, three of the last five Vol underclassmen who declared for the draft went unselected. Quarterback Tyler Bray, defensive lineman Darrington Sentimore, plus wideouts Justin Hunter and Cordarrelle Patterson picked the draft over their remaining collegiate eligibility in 2013, then offensive tackle Tiny Richardson did the same in 2014. Only Patterson (Round 1) and Hunter (Round 2) were drafted. A whopping 36 of 98 draft-eligible underclassmen went unselected this spring.
Gilliam joining the 85-man scholarship roster isn’t just to reward a player who has worked tirelessly on the scout team for four years. There’s more than a legitimate chance Gilliam is the Vols’ starting left tackle to open the 2014 football season.
One source told IT that if the season was to start today, Gilliam would be protecting the quarterback’s blindside.
Time and time again this spring, Tennessee offensive line coach Don Mahoney praised Gilliam for bringing his “blue collar” work ethic to the practice field, which he believes will translate well onto the playing field.
“The thing with Jacob is, you know, he doesn’t expect anything. Everything he’s earned, he’s worked ten times harder than the next guy for,” Mahoney told IT. “We talk about attack the day, he gives it his all every single practice and, should it happen, I bet he’ll never take a play off in the fall.”
JUCO transfer Dontavius Blair is Gilliam’s only competition for the spot, as the source told IT that Brett Kendrick and Marques Pair are “nowhere close” to game ready.
With that said, Blair isn’t that far from Kendrick and Pair. The former Scout four-star is said to have a “long, long” way to go before he’s even considered to take the field with the starters next fall. According to those close to the situation, Blair has struggled mightily with learning the playbook and has displayed “very poor” mechanics, which some believe is a result of being used to simply being able to overpower JUCO-level talent.
Defensive back Devaun Swafford was the other player to be put on scholarship earlier this week and, like Gilliam, coaches would also caution you not to overlook the Kingsport native.
Swafford, who was moved to safety this spring, has pleased defensive backs coach Willie Martinez with the speed and “smarts” he brings to the position. Martinez isn’t afraid to say last year’s starting safety LaDarrell McNeil had a “disappointing” spring and calls the fight for the job “wide open.”
“(Swafford) brings a nice edge back there,” Martinez said. “He really hit the playbook hard and knows his stuff. People don’t give him enough credit. He can help us back there.”
Swafford played in 12 games last season, starting in two, mostly at the nickelback position. Martinez said given the situation, Swafford played “very well.”
“People need to understand this, and I’m not using this as an excuse, he was a true freshman guarding the best of the best. And he did some good things,” Martinez told IT. “That, I think, is really going to help him in this competition.”
Another aspect that Martinez hopes will “help” Swafford and the other defensive backs in summer camp arrives in just a few weeks. Martinez said he is “beyond excited” to welcome several members of Tennessee’s 2014 class to his meeting rooms.
“We talk about it all the time, we need to have competition. Competition makes champions and it makes everyone that much better,” Martinez said. “These guys may have been feeling a little comfortable during spring, but when the rest of the guys get here, it’s going to be fun. We need that jolt.”
Freshman Neiko Creamer’s transition to linebacker has been filled with ups and downs, according to defensive coordinator John Jancek. Creamer still needs to add weight and learn to play with the correct leverage, as offensive guards blocking at the second level have had success at covering up the newcomer.
“Neiko has a long way to go. He’s playing a spot he’s really just not used to,” Jancek told IT. “But, he’s an athlete. Athletes play. You can never have too many of those. He’ll just need some time and I think he’ll do some big things for us.”
Tennessee tight ends coach Mark Elder fielded question after question about his promising new tight ends — Ethan Wolf and Daniel Helm — this spring. For the most part, Elder answered each inquiry with a smile and said how both newcomers would play a big factor next fall.
But Elder told IT that he hopes the hype surrounding the pair of former Scout four-stars doesn’t overshadow the work of a player he calls the “biggest unsung hero” on Tennessee’s roster. That being utility man Joe Stocstill.
The redshirt sophomore from Lewisburg played in seven games last season, mostly in goal-line formations serving as an extra blocking tight end or fullback. But after what Elder calls a “great” spring, he says Stocstill’s roll will only increase next season.
“He’s just steady-Eddie,” Elder told IT. “You tell him to block a guy, and he gets blocked. We couldn’t do a lot without (Stocstill). He really deserves more credit than he gets.”
Evaluating a season is easy for the fans: If there are considerably more wins than losses the season was a success. Evaluating a season is a bit more involved for the coaches. Asked by IT how he will measure progress this season, Tennessee head man Butch Jones replied: “We have to continue to grow and develop as a football team. We’re going to be exceptionally young, with only 12 seniors, so we must continue to grow and progress from the start of training camp all the way to Game 12.
“The big thing with this football team is having a theme of One … one practice at a time … one day at a time … one opponent at a time. Everything is about winning that day, winning that moment. That’s how you raise a young football team. I think we’ll see progress each and every day.”
Dave-Te’ Thomas, veteran talent evaluator and director of NFL Scouting Services, says former Tennessee running back Rajion Neal, could be one of the jewels of this year’s undrafted free-agent signing class. Commenting in an on-line chat at Scout’s Green Bay Packers website, Thomas suggested that Neal will take second-year man Johnathan Franklin’s spot on the Pack roster. That’s noteworthy, since Franklin is UCLA’s all-time rushing leader (4,403 yards) and was a fourth-round pick of the Pack in the 2013 NFL Draft.
“Mr. Franklin better pack his bags – Rajion Neal is another FA (free agent) I feel was a great fit,” Thomas wrote, later adding: “LOVE Neal – think the kid is a vastly overlooked talent.”
Neal rushed for 708 yards with a 4.5 per-carry average as a Vol junior and 1,124 yards with a 5.2 per-carry average as a senior. As Green Bay’s No. 3 running back behind Eddie Lacy and James Starks last season, Franklin rushed 19 times for 107 yards and caught four passes for 30 yards. He had two late-season fumbles among his 23 touches, losing one, and did not get a touch in the team’s final two games.
Reports out of Green Bay’s mini-camp suggest Neal is off to a great start and appears a virtual lock to make the roster as a backup running back and special-teams performer.
Speaking of the NFL Draft, three of the last five Vol underclassmen who declared for the draft went unselected. Quarterback Tyler Bray, defensive lineman Darrington Sentimore, plus wideouts Justin Hunter and Cordarrelle Patterson picked the draft over their remaining collegiate eligibility in 2013, then offensive tackle Tiny Richardson did the same in 2014. Only Patterson (Round 1) and Hunter (Round 2) were drafted. A whopping 36 of 98 draft-eligible underclassmen went unselected this spring.
GreatWhiteNorth
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Gilliam repping my high school alma mater.
wU-Tang Vol
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JOHNSON CITY –*Tennessee*football fans worried that Butch Jones was not fully aware of what he was getting into when he left*Cincinnatiof the Big East 17 months ago for the shark tank known as the Southeastern Conference.
They were right.
Facing*Alabama,*Auburn,*Missouri,*Georgia,South Carolina,*Florida,*Vanderbilt*andKentucky*in 2013 proved to be a bit tougher than facing Pitt,*Louisville,*Syracuse,Temple,*Rutgers,*South Florida*and UConn had been in 2012.
Now that he has survived one tour of duty in SEC warfare, however, Jones believes he is better prepared for Year 2 at the Volunteer helm.
“First of all, I know much more about the league in general and about our football program – where we’re at, where we need to go and how we need to get there,” Jones told InsideTennessee during Tuesday night’s Big Orange Caravan stop at Munsey United Methodist Church. “I think that was the big thing … just learning the lay of the land.
“In one year we’ll be so much better, and then in Year 2, Year 3, Year 4 and so on.”
Without saying it in so many words, Jones hinted that the SEC proved even tougher last fall than anticipated.
“There are no off days,” he said. “The competition from top to bottom (is such that) anybody can beat anybody, so you have to be ready to play.”
Teams especially must be “ready to play” when they encounter a quality opponent and a rowdy crowd in places such as Gainesville, Tuscaloosa, Baton Rouge, Auburn, Athens and Columbia. Life on the road in the SEC is not for the faint of heart.
Noting that a huge key to survival in the SEC is “the ability to win on the road,” Jones added: “Every week when you go on the road you’re playing in hostile environments, so you have to be strong mentally and physically, and you have to have great leadership to prove you can win on the road.”
The catch? Leadership generally comes from seniors, and Tennessee is just about void of those these days. That makes winning an SEC road game an even more daunting task for the 2014 Volunteers.
“It’s going to be a great challenge, only having 12 seniors,” Jones conceded. “We’re going to have to grow up in a hurry.”
Veteran teams can overcome an occasional off-day on the practice field. That’s a luxury the fuzzy-cheeked Vols cannot afford.
“We have to focus on the moment, each and every day,” Jones said. “We can never get ahead of ourselves. We have to have great consistency in performance. We have to continue to demand. We have to continue to have every moment be a teaching moment. We have to continue to get bigger. We have to continue to get stronger.”
And the coaches have to continue to be patient. Watching your team take its first shaky steps toward winning is a lot like watching your child take its first shaky steps toward walking – nerve-wracking but ultimately rewarding.
“It’s like raising your kids: It’s invigorating. It’s exciting,” Jones said. “Our patience will be challenged. They (2014 signees) are very, very talented but our older players have really done a great job of building their work capacity. We have more individuals staying here at mini-term than we have in the history of our program. I think that speaks volumes for what’s going on within the four walls of the Anderson Training Center and also in our locker room.”
When Butch Jones talks about “our older players,” he’s including the 14 freshmen and junior-college transfers who enrolled at mid-term and participated in spring practice. They must play like veterans and lead like veterans to set a strong example for the 18 newcomers soon to join the mix. So far, so good.
“Let me tell you something: They (mid-term enrollees) have communicated well with the 18 individuals that will be enrolling here in about a week,” Jones said, specifically mentioning “the standards, the expectations, building up your work capacity and the overall mindset.”
Jones announced that rising senior offensive tackle*Jacob Gilliam*(Knoxville Farragut) and rising sophomore safety*Devaun Swafford*(Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett) are being placed on scholarship. Gilliam worked with the first unit at left tackle much of spring practice. Swafford is a key man in the safety rotation who started two 2013 games at nickel back.
Calling both promotions “very well deserved,” Jones added that a third walk-on probably will be placed on scholarship in the near future.
Asked what specifically set Gilliam and Swafford apart from the other walk-ons, Jones replied: “It’s a work ethic. It’s everything that goes into it … the ability to handle adversity and persevere. They’re very, very consistent in their approach. Not only are they helping us on the field; they’re doing well in the classroom.”
In conclusion, Jones noted that “One of the exciting things about being a coach is being able to present them and their families with a scholarship because I know they’ve worked exceptionally hard for that.”
Jones said*Alton Howard, who missed spring practice for reasons never fully disclosed, continues to make progress toward rejoining the program. Jones said one of the terms of that return is “getting up to speed academically.” Toward that end, “Pig” has decided to stay in Knoxville for the mini-term.
“He’s enrolled in classes; he’ll be working out with the team,” Jones said, adding that the requirements for Howard’s return to the team “will be ongoing throughout the summer months.”
They were right.
Facing*Alabama,*Auburn,*Missouri,*Georgia,South Carolina,*Florida,*Vanderbilt*andKentucky*in 2013 proved to be a bit tougher than facing Pitt,*Louisville,*Syracuse,Temple,*Rutgers,*South Florida*and UConn had been in 2012.
Now that he has survived one tour of duty in SEC warfare, however, Jones believes he is better prepared for Year 2 at the Volunteer helm.
“First of all, I know much more about the league in general and about our football program – where we’re at, where we need to go and how we need to get there,” Jones told InsideTennessee during Tuesday night’s Big Orange Caravan stop at Munsey United Methodist Church. “I think that was the big thing … just learning the lay of the land.
“In one year we’ll be so much better, and then in Year 2, Year 3, Year 4 and so on.”
Without saying it in so many words, Jones hinted that the SEC proved even tougher last fall than anticipated.
“There are no off days,” he said. “The competition from top to bottom (is such that) anybody can beat anybody, so you have to be ready to play.”
Teams especially must be “ready to play” when they encounter a quality opponent and a rowdy crowd in places such as Gainesville, Tuscaloosa, Baton Rouge, Auburn, Athens and Columbia. Life on the road in the SEC is not for the faint of heart.
Noting that a huge key to survival in the SEC is “the ability to win on the road,” Jones added: “Every week when you go on the road you’re playing in hostile environments, so you have to be strong mentally and physically, and you have to have great leadership to prove you can win on the road.”
The catch? Leadership generally comes from seniors, and Tennessee is just about void of those these days. That makes winning an SEC road game an even more daunting task for the 2014 Volunteers.
“It’s going to be a great challenge, only having 12 seniors,” Jones conceded. “We’re going to have to grow up in a hurry.”
Veteran teams can overcome an occasional off-day on the practice field. That’s a luxury the fuzzy-cheeked Vols cannot afford.
“We have to focus on the moment, each and every day,” Jones said. “We can never get ahead of ourselves. We have to have great consistency in performance. We have to continue to demand. We have to continue to have every moment be a teaching moment. We have to continue to get bigger. We have to continue to get stronger.”
And the coaches have to continue to be patient. Watching your team take its first shaky steps toward winning is a lot like watching your child take its first shaky steps toward walking – nerve-wracking but ultimately rewarding.
“It’s like raising your kids: It’s invigorating. It’s exciting,” Jones said. “Our patience will be challenged. They (2014 signees) are very, very talented but our older players have really done a great job of building their work capacity. We have more individuals staying here at mini-term than we have in the history of our program. I think that speaks volumes for what’s going on within the four walls of the Anderson Training Center and also in our locker room.”
When Butch Jones talks about “our older players,” he’s including the 14 freshmen and junior-college transfers who enrolled at mid-term and participated in spring practice. They must play like veterans and lead like veterans to set a strong example for the 18 newcomers soon to join the mix. So far, so good.
“Let me tell you something: They (mid-term enrollees) have communicated well with the 18 individuals that will be enrolling here in about a week,” Jones said, specifically mentioning “the standards, the expectations, building up your work capacity and the overall mindset.”
Jones announced that rising senior offensive tackle*Jacob Gilliam*(Knoxville Farragut) and rising sophomore safety*Devaun Swafford*(Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett) are being placed on scholarship. Gilliam worked with the first unit at left tackle much of spring practice. Swafford is a key man in the safety rotation who started two 2013 games at nickel back.
Calling both promotions “very well deserved,” Jones added that a third walk-on probably will be placed on scholarship in the near future.
Asked what specifically set Gilliam and Swafford apart from the other walk-ons, Jones replied: “It’s a work ethic. It’s everything that goes into it … the ability to handle adversity and persevere. They’re very, very consistent in their approach. Not only are they helping us on the field; they’re doing well in the classroom.”
In conclusion, Jones noted that “One of the exciting things about being a coach is being able to present them and their families with a scholarship because I know they’ve worked exceptionally hard for that.”
Jones said*Alton Howard, who missed spring practice for reasons never fully disclosed, continues to make progress toward rejoining the program. Jones said one of the terms of that return is “getting up to speed academically.” Toward that end, “Pig” has decided to stay in Knoxville for the mini-term.
“He’s enrolled in classes; he’ll be working out with the team,” Jones said, adding that the requirements for Howard’s return to the team “will be ongoing throughout the summer months.”
Scotty's Flat Top
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Rumor on 247 that Riley is gone
LotteryPick
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As you say, 'cause Vols.
Scotty's Flat Top
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Exactly.
Scotty's Flat Top
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Trying to get word from my buddy to see if there is any substance to this
Scotty's Flat Top
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"I have received conflicting info on this. A lot of people over there telling me he is done. I received a text from someone else who said nothing has been decided.
As far as possible reasons why, the grade situation would make sense but I also know he violated team rules last fall and was upset by not being named the starter coming out of spring."
wU-Tang Vol
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Really? Wow what a dumbass thing to be upset about. It's a competition for a reason
Scotty's Flat Top
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He is pretty sure it is PT based now.
LotteryPick
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I don't think we can afford to take Gibson at this point.
That's two projects coming in with Dobbs being the only guy that can play, pretty much.
That's two projects coming in with Dobbs being the only guy that can play, pretty much.
wU-Tang Vol
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Yep. #FrancoisForFieldGeneral
Allvol
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Damn.. Not even gonna try to win the job?
wU-Tang Vol
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Smh. Ridiculous. He has an easy shot to win the job
