tOfficial '2015 Tennessee Volunteers' Football Thread

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RUCKER'S RAPID REVIEW

-Out: Justin Martin, Evan Berry, Stephen Griffin, Ehtan Wolf, Pig Howard, Jashon Robertson, Chance Hall. Vickers was back.
-Pearson in green.
-Croom and Saulsberry didn't practice

GOAL-LINE STUFF: Tennessee’s wide receivers ran goal-line routes during an early-practice drill, with the quarterbacks throwing them balls to the corner of the end zone. Sophomore Josh Smith and junior Marquez North showed great footwork, and sophomore Josh Malone made a couple of good plays, as well. Freshman Jauan Jennings seemed to get plenty of extra advice from receivers coach Zach Azzanni during that drill, which makes sense given Jennings’ lack of experience at his new position.
-Smith, Pearson, Sutton returned punts
-Kamara helped Joe Young with a technique issue on footwork drill

 

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VQ QUICK HITS

-out: Robertson, Wolf, Evan Berry, Dylan Wiesman, Marcus Jackson, Pig Howard, Croom, Blanc.
-Preston Williams seen working on his own on indoor practice facility

The offensive line and defensive line did some intense work this morning in some five-on-five situations. The OL was down a couple of key members as noted above and the 'first five,' from left-to-right consisted of Kyler Kerbyson, Brett Kendrick, Mack Crowder, Jack Jones and Coleman Thomas.

As far as individuals during the five-on-five work it was no surprise to see Derek Barnett stand out on the defensive side with a couple of strong reps. Curt Maggitt also had some eye-catching moments. The young D-linemen continue to impress with Shy Tuttle particular showing some nice burst off the line today for a guy his size.

 

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WKU likely landing spot for transferring Vol A.J. Branisel | CollegeFootballTalk

Knoxville radio host Jimmy Hyamstweeted earlier today that Branisel will bevisiting the Western Kentucky campus this weekend. If all goes well, it seems, Branisel will sign on to play for the Hilltoppers.

If that turns out to be the case, the tight end would be forced to sit out the 2015 season to satisfy NCAA transfer rules.

 

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Vols’ Marquez North expected back ‘within a week’ | CollegeFootballTalk

Late last night, a Knoxville radio station reported that Tennessee wide receiver Marquez North sustained a leg injury during Wednesday’s practice that was deemed serious enough to potentially be season-ending. Local beat writers shortly thereafter began tamping down the seriousness of the injury, with national writers joining in this morning.

In a text message to the Knoxville News Sentinel, head coach Butch Jones joined in as well, writing that the Vols “fully expect to have him [back on the practice field] within a week.” The exact nature of North’s injury hasn’t been detailed.

 

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CBS Sports releases preseason bowl projections

Tennessee vs. Duke in Belk Bowl.

 

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Hurd among 18 players held out of Wednesday’s practice - GoVolsXtra Story

 

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Tennessee Vols football veterans appreciating culture change

 

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Mike Strange: Reunited with a brother and a coach - GoVolsXtra Story

He's a brand new Vol. He's known coach Butch Jones longer than any of his teammates. He's played in Neyland Stadium before. He's a college grad. His namesake is a revered Civil Rights leader.

The answer to that puzzle is Ralph David Abernathy IV.

He's a graduate student who played three years and a couple of games at Cincinnati. Now he plays for Tennessee.

Here's how: Abernathy was granted a medical redshirt because an injury curtailed his 2014 season with the Bearcats after two games. He decided to spend his final year of eligibility with Jones and little brother Micah Abernathy, a 2015 recruit, at UT. By finishing his degree in finance at Cincinnati, he is immediately eligible.

"It turned out being a blessing I was able to get a medical redshirt,'' Abernathy said Friday, "because I was able to be here with him (Micah).''

The first thing that strikes you about the 22-year-old running back and return specialist is his name.

His grandfather, Ralph David Abernathy, was at the forefront of the Civil Rights movement and a confidant of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In 1957, Abernathy's house and church were bombed in Montgomery, Ala. He was arrested dozens of times in protests.

When King was assassinated on the Lorraine Motel balcony in Memphis in 1968, he lay cradled in Abernathy's arms.

His grandfather died in 1990, two years before Abernathy was born in Atlanta. But his legacy lives on.

"It's really a blessing and an honor I'm able to carry his name,'' Abernathy said. "It pushes you and puts that extra thought in your head that I have a standard and an expectation that I'm supposed to live up to.''

That understanding applies to football, too. Abernathy knows what Butch Jones is all about.

Jones recruited him to Cincinnati in 2011. As a freshman, he returned three kickoffs in Neyland Stadium against Tennessee, a fact lost in the backwash of a 45-23 UT romp that may have been Derek Dooley's finest win.

Later that year, he had a more memorable return, 90 yards for a touchdown to help beat Vanderbilt in the Liberty Bowl.

"He's exactly the same,'' Abernathy said of Jones. "They want you to practice and play the same way.

"I know the offense already. I know the majority of the coaches. I feel like a veteran. At the same time, I'm coming into a new environment and a new team. ... The culture they have here is different than it was at Cincinnati.''

Knowing Jones means knowing his arsenal of motivational phrases. Sixty-three, check. Power of the position, check.

Brick by brick, though, is a new one.

"At Cincinnati it was ‘eat the elephant,' '' Abernathy said.

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

As for the culture, it's a tad more businesslike here than Cincinnati.

"Here, all eyes are on you all the time,'' Abernathy said. "You have to take extra precaution. In terms of going out, you don't go out. You stick around the team.''

The perks are different, too. Facilities and food are everyday reminders.

"It's like a weekly thing you get a steak or a filet,'' Abernathy said. "That never happened at Cincinnati, unless you won a game.''

There is another perk, the most important one. His name is Micah.

The brothers, four years apart, had never played together in any sport at any level. The first day in pads, Jones summoned the Abernathys to face off in the Circle of Life drill.

"That was actually the first time I ever hit my brother,'' Abernathy said, "because we never really got in fights growing up.''

For a year now, he gets to watch Micah grow up firsthand. For a year now, he's reunited with a brother and a coach.

 

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Pics from open practice earlier:

http://www.utsports.com/view.gal?id=182269

 

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Haven't heard of any injuries so that's good.

 

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