Official Countdown to 2016 Kickoff:

[Grand Vol]

So is it just a coincidence that Ben Bates looks just like Dillon Bates? I mean they're not even brothers are they?

Did I screw up? When I Googled Ben Bates, that's one of the only pictures that came up.

If it's wrong, I'll correct it post haste.

 

[Grand Vol]

I think he couldn't find a picture of Ben bates, so he used a picture of Dillon Bates instead. That's definitely Dillon Bates in the photo- #17

Not intentionally, no.

 

[Iam4utalways]

Not intentionally, no.

So you couldn't recognize either of them out on the street, too.

 

[Dudleys87]

The Berry brothers are juniors already? Damn were did time go?

 

[Power T-Rev]

Not intentionally, no.

No big deal. Appreciate the work you do

 

[Titan&Volfan4life]

I also greatly appreciate the good work you do my friend.

I love getting more info and stats on all our players.

VFL...GBO!!!

 

[Grand Vol]

40 days until it's football time in Tennessee!

#40, Dimarya Mixon, DL, Junior

Games/Starts: 13/0 in 2015
True sophomore backed up Derek Barnett at defensive end, played in all 13 games with seven tackles
Moved outside in 2015 after playing inside as a freshman, dropping more than 20 pounds
Career best four tackles vs. Western Carolina
Games/Starts: 12/0 in 2014
Backup defensive tackle to senior Jordan Williams
Played in 12 games, made four tackles
Three stops vs. Arkansas State
One of 21 true freshmen to debut vs. Utah State, had a quarterback hurry

 

[Grand Vol]

Thanks for being understanding, folks.

 

[Grand Vol]

39 days until it's football time in Tennessee!

#39, Kendal Vickers, DL, RS Junior

Games/Starts: 13/13 in 2015
Starting at defensive tackle in third year in the program, started all 13 games with 20 tackles and 1.5 TFLs and a half-sack in 2015
Posted a half-sack in Outback Bowl win vs. Northwestern
Three tackles at #8 Alabama
Two tackles at Florida
Four tackles and TFL for four yards vs. W. Carolina
First career start came vs. Bowling Green as he made first four tackles of his career
Awarded the John Stucky Award for Power at the 2015 Orange and White Game
Games/Starts: 5/0 in 2014
Redshirted in 2013

 

[Grand Vol]

38 days until it's football time in Tennessee!

#38, Jaye Rochelle, WR, RS Junior

Games/Starts: 3/0 in 2015
Saw action in three games as a reserve, playing vs. Western Carolina, North Texas and Vanderbilt


And a double dose for today, we have one of our two newest commitments that I don't have a number for yet, or one hasn't been announced.

Jeremy Lewis, RB, Incoming Recruit (unknown class)

Led the state of Oklahoma in rushing as a senior, racking up 3,066 yards and 51 touchdowns on the ground

“I’m very excited because, for one, it means something being a running back at the University of Tennessee, and I take great pride in that,” said Lewis. “I’m truly blessed. But playing in front of 100,000-plus people will be just fine. That’ll be the least of my worries."

“I’ve prayed so much for times like this. This is a tough conference but that is why I came here so I can compete every day and develop my game to the best as possible.”

 

[Grand Vol]

37 days until it's football time in Tennessee!

#37, Jayson Sparks, RB, RS Junior

Games/Starts: 3/0 in 2015
Earned his first career carry late vs. Vanderbilt, picking up three yards
Walk-on, joined the Vols in Fall of 2014

 

[YankeeVol]

 

[Grand Vol]

36 days until it's football time in Tennessee!

#36, Gavin Bryant, LB, RS Sophomore

Games/Starts: 10/0 in 2015
Appeared in 10 games as a reserve linebacker and on special teams making five tackles
Made tackles in last two games at Missouri and vs. Vanderbilt
Posted two tackles and forced a fumble in first game action with Vols vs. Western Carolina

 

[Grand Vol]

And in a special supplemental list today, it appears I have overlooked some of the incoming freshmen in my overall list. This is not all the incoming freshmen, but rather the ones I missed when making the countdown list some time ago. So without further ado...

#86, Andrew Craig, TE, Incoming Freshman

Helped lead Webb School to Division II-A state championships in 2013 and 2014
Two-time all-state defensive lineman who can also play tight end

#81, Austin Pope, TE, Incoming Freshman

Consensus 3 star recruit
Lettered at Christian Academy of Knoxville in Knoxville, Tenn.
PrepStar All-Southeast Region selection
Honored with Courtney Courage Award in 2015
Hauled in 54 catches for 622 yards, scoring 10 touchdowns as a senior in 2015
Playing H-Back, rushed 13 times for 43 yards scoring five touchdowns
On defense, made 34 tackles with two sacks as a senior
As a junior in 2014, had 68 catches for 809 yards with seven receiving scores, also carried five times, scoring three rushing touchdowns
Had 39 tackles on defense as a junior

#97, Jackson Morris, PK, Incoming Freshman

Joined Vols as a Preferred Walk On
Rated the No. 56 kicker in the Class of 2016 by Kohl's Professional Camps

#28, Baylen Buchanan, DB, Incoming Freshman

Consensus 3 star recruit
Lettered at Peachtree Ridge High School in Suwanee, Ga.
PrepStar All-Southeast Region selection
Posted 32 tackles and had two interceptions and a fumble recovery as a senior in 2015
As a junior in 2014, had 33 tackles with an interception and fumble recovery
Father Ray starred at Louisville and played in the NFL with Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons and Oakland Raiders, earning All-Pro honors twice in 1994 and 1998

#36, Grayson Linde, P, Incoming Freshman

Joined Vols as a Preferred Walk On
Averaged 36.7 yards per punt as a senior in High School
Rated the No. 20 punter by Kohl's Professional Camps

#64, Logan Punch, LS, Incoming Freshman

Ranks as the nation's No. 32 long snapper in the 2016 class by Kohl's Professional Camps
Played all four years for Knoxville Catholic

Mykelle McDaniel, DE, Incoming Freshman

(Unknown jersey number at this time)

#41 on ESPN's list of Defensive Ends
Had 13 sacks his senior year in high school

 

[YankeeVol]

 

[Knox-a-rue]

Mykelle McDaniel - that hair... could it be ALIENS?

 

[Grand Vol]

35 days until it's football time in Tennessee!

#35, Daniel Bituli, LB, Incoming Freshman

Consensus 4 Star recruit
Lettered at Nashville Christian School in Nashville
PrepStar 150 Dream Team
Member of ESPN 300
2015 Class 1A Mr. Football Lineman of the Year in Tennessee
Two-time Tennessean All-Midstate selection as a senior and junior
Helped Eagles to 2015 Class 1A State BlueCross Bowl Championship, first state title in school history
As a senior, racked up 89 tackles including 20 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks
Also recovered six fumbles, forced two fumbles and had an interception return for a touchdown
Scored 10 touchdowns, seven rushing, one receiving, one interception return and one fumble return
Rushed 15 times for 283 yards with seven touchdowns in 2015
As a junior in 2014, had 61 tackles with 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception
Also rushed for 619 yards on 90 carries with a touchdown in 2014

 

[TNsnyper20]

It's getting so close....

 

[YankeeVol]

 

[Grand Vol]

Thanks to Yankee for adding in some pictures of some great historical players!

 

[Grand Vol]

34 days until it's football time in Tennessee!

#34, Darrin Kirkland Jr., LB, Sophomore

Career Highs

Tackles - 9 vs. South Carolina, 11/7/15
Sacks - 1 three times, last vs. Northwestern, 1/1/16
Tackle for Loss - 1.5 at Florida, 9/26/15 & vs. Northwestern, 1/1/16
Interceptions - 1 at Kentucky, 10/31/15
Fumble Recovery - 1 at Missouri, 11/21/15

Games/Starts: 13/10 in 2015
Played in all 13 games with 10 starts at middle linebacker as a true freshman, making 66 tackles (fourth on team) with 6.5 TFLs and 3.0 sacks, an interception and five quarterback hurries
Fourth in career tackles by a true freshman at Tennessee with 66
Second in SEC in tackles by freshmen
31 tackles in final five season games
Posted six tackles with 1.5 TFLs and a sack in Outback Bowl win over Northwestern
Career-high of nine tackles vs. South Carolina
First career interception along with six tackles at Kentucky
First career start came vs. Western Carolina, made four tackles
As one of 15 true freshmen to debut vs. Bowling Green, made three tackles including a 9-yard sack
Named to 2015 SEC All Freshman Team on defense

Consensus 4 Star recruit, playing at Lawrence Central, Indiana
Played in U.S. Army All-American Game in 2015
Named MaxPreps All-American in 2014
Participated in The Opening in 2014
Named to Indianapolis Star Super Team as a senior in 2014
Honored as all-state in Indiana in both 2013 and 2014
First team all-conference as a junior and senior
Had 367 tackles in his three-year prep career

 

[YankeeVol]

Travis Stephens

Herman Lathers

James Berry

 

[Coach_Z]

Yankee Vol, do you think you could include player names for some of us younger bucks?

Both of you: keep up the great work! Go Big Orange!

 

[Power T-Rev]

Kirkland Jr is going to be a stud LB

 

[Grand Vol]

Kirkland Jr is going to be a stud LB

Going to be?