Them Vols offseason thread

Butch will sell drew richmond on us really needing someone to block for Nate Peterman or some shi*
 
After the way the reps were doled out in the Spring Game, I can't really say any of this is all that shocking. It was obviously all rumors so less than 1% of it was probably true but there was talk about his attitude earning him all the reps with second team guys and being the only one to have any blitz packages dialed up by the coaches to give him a wake up call/attitude adjustment.
 
The competition at quarterback for*Tennesseethis spring did not result in a confirmed starter with four right-handers all showing signs of being “the guy” at times.

That race became three-headed Tuesday afternoon as InsideTennessee sources confirm that redshirt freshman*Riley Ferguson*is not expected to be with the team this summer or when camp gets underway in August.

The Matthews, N.C., product would depart Knoxville without having played an official snap for the Orange & White. The former Scout three-star prospect has four years of eligibility remaining.

Ferguson completed 7 of 12 passes for 83 yards with a touchdown and an interception during April’s Orange & White game in Neyland Stadium. He was sacked three times and totaled minus-7 rushing yards on six attempts.

The 6-foot-3, 189-pounder’s expected exit comes just weeks shy (June 14) of the two-year anniversary of his verbal commitment to the Vols out of Butler (N.C.) High School.

Remaining at signal-caller for Team 118 on scholarship are senior*Justin Worley, redshirt sophomore*Nathan Peterman*and sophomoreJoshua Dobbs. Each of the three started at least one game for Tennessee last fall.

Worley was 11 of 13 passing for 151 yards with a TD in the spring scrimmage finale. Peterman hit on 8 of 11 for 81 yards with a score. Dobbs dazzled with a 59-yard touchdown run and completed 6 of 9 passes for 199 yards and three TDs.

Enrolling with the 2014 class as walk-on quarterbacks are Dyersburg’s Will Bradshaw and Knoxville’s*Devin Smith.

Tennessee offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Bajakian has gone on record with IT saying that he prefers to have five scholarship triggermen on campus. If Ferguson does not return and with Worley graduating after this fall, the Orange & White are scheduled to have just two scholarship QBs available for the 2015 season.

Sources close to IT indicate that the Tennessee staff plans to sign two quarterbacks with the 2015 class. Scout five-star*Torrance Gibsonhas gone on record naming the Volunteers as his leader. Four-star*Travis Waller*and three-star*Sam Darnold*confirmed to IT that they both plan to visit Rocky Top in June.
 
Kameel Jackson confirmed as a walk on. Second set of WRs will probably be Croom Pig and Jackson or Smith... Devrin will mix in with both sets.

Not there yet from a depth standpoint, but on the way.
 
Tennessee welcomed 17 more signees to campus this week. That gives the roster 31 of 32 players from Scout’s No. 4-ranked recruiting class in the nation on campus. The one missing piece is four-star JUCO linebacker Christopher Weatherd. If the Texan can get everything squared away academically, he has a terrific shot of starting.

The decision to redshirt offensive guard Marcus Jackson last year will play major dividends in Tennessee’s upcoming season, according to — well — virtually everyone.

Tennessee offensive line coach Don Mahoney dubbed Jackson his “most impressive” lineman at the end of spring camp, praising him for his smarts, mean streak and work ethic.

“I don’t even want to think about what that group would be without (Jackson),” Mahoney told InsideTennessee. “He really had the exact type of spring I expected from him. He’s a leader. He’s just consistent.”*

Added offensive line cohort Kyler Kerbyson: “(Jackson) is the badest of all the O-line. We all know it.”

Mahoney isn’t shy to say the task of replacing all five starters along the offensive line would be that much more daunting without Jackson having an extra year of eligibility.

“We’re shuffling pieces around. That group is far from set, besides really him and (Mack Crowder),” Mahoney said.

But Jackson draws praise from more than just coaches and his offensive teammates. Time and time again throughout spring camp, Curt Maggitt called Jackson the hardest lineman to go up against.

Tennessee’s roster is spiked with even more talent with the arrival of the rest of the 2014 class. Some interesting notes: Evan Berry is listed as an defensive back and his brother, Elliott, as an “athlete.”

At the end of last season, Tennessee linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen told IT that Kenny Bynum was “a long, long way” away from making an impact, let along cracking the two deep depth chart.

If you asked Thigpen about Bynum today, his answer would be much different after what he calls a “very impressive” spring showing.

“(Bynum) really surprised me most of anyone,” Thigpen said. “He attacked spring with an attitude. He improved each day. I saw really big things from him.”

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Drae Bowles and Marques Pair.

Sources tell IT Pair, a 6-foot-5, 321-pounder, had a fast start this spring and looked to be a threat to push for playing time but took major steps backward as practices progressed.

Bowles, according to receivers coach Zach Azzanni, continues to struggles with the basic of simple route-running and inconsistent play.

Congratulations to director of football operations Chris Spognardi as he and his wife welcomed their second child, Maximus Davide Spognardi (8 oz., 19 inches).
 
I said from day one drae bowles is not a receiver. I should bump that thread in the recruiting forum.
 
GreatWhiteNorth said:
Just booked my hotel, flights, and rental car in OKC for the OU game. Stoked.
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Mrs Verc and I were going to go -- had the weekend babysitting lined up and everything -- and then right before I started shopping for flights, the Asian Sensation called me from California and said he was going to be in Atlanta that weekend and planned to stay with us. I gnashed my teeth about it but dumped the Oklahoma trip. Guy's like a little brother to me. Bastard.
 
Vercingetorix said:
Mrs Verc and I were going to go -- had the weekend babysitting lined up and everything -- and then right before I started shopping for flights, the Asian Sensation called me from California and said he was going to be in Atlanta that weekend and planned to stay with us. I gnashed my teeth about it but dumped the Oklahoma trip. Guy's like a little brother to me. Bastard.
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That sucks. I am pumped about this trip, even though we will probably get curb-stomped that night. Just a cool opportunity to see DEM VOLS play against another traditional powerhouse outside of the SEC.
 
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