Much-maligned Jumper turning corner for Vols

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Much-maligned Colton Jumper turning corner for Tennessee Vols football

Much-maligned Jumper turning corner for Vols
Wes Rucker
Colton Jumper has two functioning ears and two functioning eyes, and either would suffice as a full requirement for anyone in Tennessee to understand how much Average Joe Vols Fan didn’t want him in the lineup.

The junior former walk-on linebacker from Chattanooga-area Signal Mountain Tenn., blocked it out as best he could, though, avoiding social media, local sports talk radio and Tennessee fan message boards, choosing instead to keep his focus on his job and the unyielding support he received from coaches and teammates.

Whatever Jumper did, eventually it worked.

The much maligned, 6-foot-2, 224-pound junior stepped back into the starting lineup for injured sophomore Darrin Kirkland Jr. on Saturday against then-19th-ranked Florida and collected a team-high eight tackles — including one huge tackle for loss on a key, third-and-short play in the second play — in the Vols’ wild, come-from-behind, 38-28 win over the Gators.


“I try to block out that noise,” he said. “I don’t really listen to too much, and I kind of stay off social media and just try to block that stuff out. It doesn’t really affect me too much.”

 

[NEO]

Whoa nelly that was a long post....


31 paragraphs to state he played better and blocked out the haters....

Good for him!

 

[butchna]

Whoa nelly that was a long post....


31 paragraphs to state he played better and blocked out the haters....

Good for him!

Got about 15 bibles worth of fan hate to respond to.

 

[GoalDancer]

As I read through the threads over the last weeks regarding Jumper, I honestly thought, "man that kid is busting his ass, and these jerks who probably have a hard time getting off the couch are slamming him"
I know we live in a critical world, whatever, short of looking down my nose at you *******s that raked him over the coals, I really think these are our Vols, be in the business of building up, not tearing them down. I'm glad he doesn't go on here much, but we know other recruits do, they see how a fan base is. I wished our fanbase wouldn't sink to the level of some others, where we think we're so and so, or we beat so and so and have the entitlement mentality that we ought to beat everyone, or anyone who plays here ought to be 5 stars and the best on the field. Fact: The great Reggie White was average at TN until his Senior year. If y'all would've been around then, how would you have treated him? (I know hypothetically speaking, Al hadn't invented the internet back then) Man, these kids, especially TN kids who love our program, and who grow up dreaming about playing here, sure as hell don't need a bunch of washed up, has beens busting their balls. They are doing everything they can to get better as quickly as possible. GBO!!!

 

[VonVol]

As I read through the threads over the last weeks regarding Jumper, I honestly thought, "man that kid is busting his ass, and these jerks who probably have a hard time getting off the couch are slamming him"
I know we live in a critical world, whatever, short of looking down my nose at you *******s that raked him over the coals, I really think these are our Vols, be in the business of building up, not tearing them down. I'm glad he doesn't go on here much, but we know other recruits do, they see how a fan base is. I wished our fanbase wouldn't sink to the level of some others, where we think we're so and so, or we beat so and so and have the entitlement mentality that we ought to beat everyone, or anyone who plays here ought to be 5 stars and the best on the field. Fact: The great Reggie White was average at TN until his Senior year. If y'all would've been around then, how would you have treated him? (I know hypothetically speaking, Al hadn't invented the internet back then) Man, these kids, especially TN kids who love our program, and who grow up dreaming about playing here, sure as hell don't need a bunch of washed up, has beens busting their balls. They are doing everything they can to get better as quickly as possible. GBO!!!

Wrong about White. He was far better than average. He led the team in sacks his Sophomore and Junior years. As for the rest of the post, I agree. I was worried about Jumper, honestly. But I also really just wanted to see him succeed.

 

[dduncan4163]

Jumper got me Jumping Saturday

 

[BigOrangeD]

Colton == Resiliency​

Signed: Butch Jones

 

[albedo33]

You can't argue with results. If he led the team in tackles Colton was doing his job. Good for him.

 

[livefaith]

I think he just needs to continue to grow in confidence of his reads of each play. Film junkies(Sutton/JRM) and photo memories(DK) get a player using all their speed and ability. Jumper has been thinking a bit too much out there it appears. He really seemed more comfortable and effective Saturday. But, I still saw a few tackles and one TFL missed by hesitancy. That said, some of that can be confused with gap discipline as well.
Bottom line, he played a good game. He's fast but looks more like 6'1" 215-220 to me. So, with his increasing confidence, unquestionable grit, and solid speed and fundamentals, I am a excited about his future contribution.

Proud of the young man. Sad that he has to avoid places where his own fans post b/c so many are disrespectful.