Official countdown to the 2017 Season

[Grand Vol]

19 days

#19, Jeff George, WR, RS Senior

2016 Games Played/Started: 9/2
Started for second time in career at Vanderbilt
Recorded first catch vs. Tennessee Tech, hauling in one catch for 20 yards
Made first start of Tennessee career vs. Alabama
Made Tennessee debut vs. Appalachian State
Played 2015 season at Dodge City C.C. in Kansas for coach Gary Thomas
Second Team All-KJCCC in 2015
Led his team with 49 receptions on the season for 685 yards and five touchdowns
Helped the Conquistadors reach the Salt City Bowl against Snow College, after posting a 9-2 record in the regular season
Caught nine passes for 190 yards, both career-highs, and one touchdown against Iowa Western

Apologies for the late posting today.

 

[Tin Man]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipc9pL27krs[/youtube]

 

[YankeeVol]

 

[Grand Vol]

18 days

#18, Nigel Warrior, DB, Sophomore

CAREER HONORS:

2016 SEC All-Freshman Team

CAREER HIGHS:

Tackles - 7, twice, vs. Tennessee Tech and vs. Missouri
Tackles For Loss - 1 vs. Tennessee Tech

CAREER STATS:

2016 Games Played/Started: 12/1
Made first start of career at strong safety against Missouri, matching career high with seven tackles (five solo)
Led the Vols with a career-high seven tackles (six solo) and had one tackle for a loss vs. Tennessee Tech
Saw action off the bench and on special teams at South Carolina, recording two tackles
Recorded career-high five tackles against Alabama
Made career debut against Appalachian State
Rated as: 4 Star by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals, 5 Star by Scout
2016 U.S. Army All-American
Participated in The Opening in 2016
Member of ESPN 300
Named First Team Class AAAAA All-Georgia in 2016
Defensive MVP of the RisingSeniors.com All-Star Game

 

[Volview]

This should be a big year for Warrior.

 

[Grand Vol]

17 days

#17, Dillon Bates, LB, RS Junior

Games Played/Started 2016: 13/0
Played primarily on special teams cover units and the field goal/extra point block packages
Made one tackle in win over Nebraska in 2016 Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
Recovered a fumble by Missouri's Josh Augusta on a 4th-and-1 attempt, halting a MU drive at the Tennessee 28.
Had one tackle and one fumble recovery in win over Florida. Recovered fumble by Florida's Antonio Callaway at the Gators' 2-yard line on a punt return in the first quarter.
Games Played/Started 2015: 13/0
Legacy player returning for his second season after an injury redshirt season in 2014
Returned from injury-shortened freshman season and played in all 13 games on special teams and as a reserve linebacker
Games Played/Started 2014: 4/0
Suffered season ending injury due to torn labrum, received red shirt season from NCAA
Backup WILL linebacker as a true freshman, played in all four games, making six tackles
Two stops vs. Arkansas State
Made three tackles vs. Utah State in college debut

 

[YankeeVol]

 

[Grand Vol]

16 days.

I'm a little pressed for time this morning, but I do promise to get a player update at some point today. Until that time, enjoy the spirit team commercial break.

 

[Grand Vol]

Official 16 days.

The Walk Ons

#26, Jay Shoop, WR, Freshman

Played for Father Ryan High School in Nashville
Recorded 500 yards passing and 167 yards receiving
Son of Defensive Coordinator Bob Shoop

#47, Joe Doyle, P, Freshman

PWO for the Vols
Under Armour All-American averaging 41.1 yards per punt in 2016
Played at Farragut High School in Knoxville

#52, Maurese Smith, DL, Freshman

Attended Hazel Green High School in Hazel Green, Al
Lettered his junior and senior years, serving the 2015 season as the Trojans' team captain
Named to Hazel Green High School's Honor Roll and maintained a 3.50 GPA or above during his senior year

#83, Zack Weatherly, WR, RS Freshman

Redshirted at UT Chattanooga in 2016
Switched positions at UT to WR
Made the Dean's List and the AD Honor Roll in both fall 2016 and spring 2017
3A Mr. Football runner-up at Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville, Tn
Threw for 2,124 passing yards, 333 rushing yards, 32 touchdowns and six interceptions as a senior
Two-time all-state and three-time all-district selection
2014 state champion
Compiled over 6,800 career passing yards and 90 TDs

#88, Cooper Melton, WR, Freshman

Attended Walker Valley High School in Cleveland, TN
2017 Region 4-5A Receiver of the Year
Named All-East Tennessee in 2015 and 2016
Also played basketball and ran track in high school

#94, TJ Minnifee, DL, Freshman

PWO
Attended Wilson Central High School in Lebanon, TN
247 Sports: 3-star, Rivals: 2-star

 

[Grand Vol]

15 days

#15, Jauan Jennings, WR, Junior

CAREER HIGHS:

Receptions - 6 vs. Nebraska
Receiving Yards - 111 vs. Florida
Receiving Touchdown - 2 vs. Missouri
Rushes - 2 vs. Western Carolina & vs. Nebraska
Rushing Yards - 14 vs. Nebraska
Pass Attempts - 1, 3x, at Florida, vs. Florida & at Texas
Pass Completions- 1 at Florida & at Texas A&M
Passing Yards - 58 at Florida
Passing Touchdowns - 1 at Florida & at Texas A&M
Interceptions (Playing Defense) - 1 vs. Kentucky

CAREER STATS:

2016 Games Played/Started: 13/9
Enjoyed breakout sophomore campaign, tying for second on the team with 40 catches and ranking second with 580 yards (14.5 average) and seven touchdowns
Recorded career-high six receptions for 59 yards and rushed for career-high 14 yards on two carries in win over Nebraska in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
Caught four passes for 67 yards and two scores against Missouri, including a 49-yard TD pass in the first quarter and a five-yard TD pass in the third.
Against Kentucky, had one catch for 19 yards, one rush for seven yards and made an interception on a UK Hail Mary in the closing seconds of the second quarter
Caught three passes for 20 yards vs. Alabama
Threw a four-yard pass to Joshua Dobbs in the first quarter at Texas A&M. Set new career high with five receptions that totaled 68 yards.
Caught game-winning 43-yard Hail Mary with no time left to lift Vols to comeback win at Georgia. Out-jumped UGA defenders at front left side of end zone to make the catch. Finished with three catches for 71 yards and the winning touchdown.
Recorded first 100-yard performance of career and the first of any Vol in 2016 season with three catches for 111 yards and a career-long 67-yard touchdown in win vs. Florida
Scored on a five-yard pass from Joshua Dobbs in the first quarter against Virginia Tech, pulling the Vols to within 14-7
2015 Games Played/Started: 11/6
Converted quarterback emerged as a surprise of training camp with move to receiver
Played in 11 games with six starts at receiver
Had 14 catches for 149 yards along with seven rushes for 15 yards and a 58-yard passing touchdown
Also made five tackles as a special teams gunner
Returned to action in Outback Bowl vs. Northwestern after missing two games due to injury, had a catch for seven yards in a start
26-yard reception to set up TD vs. North Texas
Threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Dobbs at Florida for first pass attempt and completion
Caught two passes for 15 yards, also ran two times for 13 yards out of Wildcat QB formation vs. W. Carolina
In college debut, in return to Midstate, had three catches for 56 yards vs. Bowling Green
Became first true freshmen to start an opener at receiver since Marquez North in 2013
One of 15 true freshmen to debut in 2015 opener, only one to start
After working as quarterback as a early enrollee, arriving at UT in January, moved to receiver at start of camp
Had his black stripe removed on Aug. 17

 

[AF_VOL]

Saw this on Twitter.

 

[tn4elvis]

Saw this on Twitter.

The man

 

[Grand Vol]

14 days

#14, Quart'e Sapp, LB, RS Sophomore

2016 Games Played/Started: 2/0
Made one tackle vs. Appalachian State
2015 Games Played/Started: 4/0
Recorded three special teams tackles in four games during his freshman season
Made two tackles in college debut vs. Bowling Green
Rated as consensus 4 star recruit by all major recruiting services
Member of ESPN 300
Participated in 2014 The Opening
Named to 2014 Atlanta Journal-Constitution 6A All-State First Team in Georgia

 

[YankeeVol]

 

[Grand Vol]

13 days

#13, Deandre Johnson, DL, EE Freshman

Consensus 3 Star Recruit by all major recruiting services
Attended Miami Southridge Senior High School in Miami, FL
Was a one-year captain at Miami South Ridge Senior High School
Helped lead Miami Southridge to the 2016-17 8A State Championship and a 12-2 record
Had 15 sacks as a Senior

And certainly has a don't quit attitude:

https://www.seccountry.com/tennessee/tennessee-football-deandre-johnson-stabbing

 

[Grand Vol]

12 days

#12, Quinten Dormady, QB, Junior

CAREER HONORS:

2015 SEC Academic Honor Roll

CAREER HIGHS:

Completions: 9 vs. Tennessee Tech
Attempts: 13 vs. Tennessee Tech
Passing Touchdowns: 1 vs. Western Carolina
Passing Yards: 109 vs. Tennessee Tech
Rushing Attempts: 4 vs. North Texas
Rushing Yards: 10 vs. Bowling Green

CAREER STATS:

2016 Games Played/Started: 4/0
Saw action off the bench in 55-0 rout of Tennessee Tech, finishing 9-of-13 for 109 yards and rushing once for three yards
Entered in relief in the fourth quarter against Alabama, finishing 2-of-4 for 39 yards, including a season-long 36-yard throw
Saw playing time in fourth quarter of win over Virginia Tech in Battle at Bristol
2015 Games Played/Started: 6/0
Played in six games in true freshman season, completed 13-of-22 for 209 yards with a touchdown pass
In Outback Bowl, was 2-of-4 for 28 yards vs. Northwestern
Finished regular-season finale win vs. Vanderbilt with 52 yards on 2-of-4 passing
Played late vs. North Texas and completed 3-of-5 for 36 yards with four carries for six yards
Threw first touchdown pass, 24-yard score to Preston Williams, vs. Western Carolina, as he was 6-of-8 for 93 yards
One of 15 true freshmen to play in 2015 opener vs. Bowling Green
Rated at 4 Star Recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals.
3 Star Recruit by Scout.
Totaled nearly 6,000 passing yards in two varsity seasons with 59 touchdown passes

 

[Blazer2100]

ESPN posted some pretty cool comic book posters for the big matchups the first couple weeks.

Here is the Vol's vs. GT:

 

[Blazer2100]

Excited to see what Dormandy can do this season, with or without long sleeves!

 

[Grand Vol]

11 days

#11, Austin Smith, LB, RS Sophomore

2016 - Redshirted
2015 Games Played/Started: 13/1
As a true freshman, played at SLB in place of injured Curt Maggitt
Played all 13 games of 2015, as one of 17 true freshmen to play in 2015, making three tackles
Drew first start, sixth true freshman to start in 2015, in regular-season finale vs. Vanderbilt
One of 15 true freshmen to make his Tennessee debut in the season-opener vs. Bowling Green
Made first tackle at Florida

 

[scout_finch]

Some people decorate for the holidays. I decorate for football season. Ready for next Monday!

 

[Tin Man]

 

[Grand Vol]

10 days

#10, Tyler Byrd, WR, Sophomore

CAREER HIGHS:

Receptions - 3 vs. Florida & at Texas A&M
Receiving Yards - 60 at Texas A&M
Long Reception - 44 vs. Kentucky
Rushing Attempts - 2 at Texas A&M & vs. Missouri
Rushing Yards - 24 vs. Missouri
Long Rush - 22 vs. Missouri
Kick Return Total Yards - 99 at Vanderbilt
Long Kick Return - 67 at Vanderbilt
All-Purpose Yards - 99 at Vanderbilt

CAREER STATS:

2016 Games Played/Started: 13/0
Had one rush for nine yards and one kick return for 34 yards against Nebraska in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
Returned three kickoffs for 99 yards (33.0 average) at Vanderbilt, including a career-long of 67
Against Missouri, posted two catches for eight yards, two rushes for 24 yards (career-long 22-yard run) and two kick returns for 43 (long of 24)
Made a career-long 44-yard catch vs. Kentucky and returned two kickoffs for 31 yards
Caught three passes for a career-high 60 yards and rushed twice for 11 yards against Texas A&M. With 1:49 remaining in the fourth quarter and Tennessee down 35-28, caught a pass from Joshua Dobbs over the middle, spun out of a tackle and turned up field for a 43-yard gain that set the Vols up for the tying score.
Had three catches for 40 yards in comeback win vs. Florida with all three receptions resulting in first downs
First career reception was a four-yard pass from Joshua Dobbs in second quarter vs. Ohio
Had one carry for five yards vs. Virginia Tech
Made collegiate debut vs. Appalachian State, coming off the bench

 

[Iam4utalways]

Some people decorate for the holidays. I decorate for football season. Ready for next Monday!

Is that a moose?

 

[Grand Vol]

9 days

#1, Marquez Callaway, WR, Sophomore

(shown in previous year's number)

CAREER HIGHS:

Receptions - 1 vs. Tennessee Tech
Receiving Yards - 13 vs. Tennessee Tech
Long Reception - 13 vs. Tennessee Tech
Punt Return Total Yards - 114 vs. Tennessee Tech
Long Punt Return - 62 vs. Tennessee Tech
All-Purpose Yards - 127 vs. Tennessee Tech

CAREER STATS:

2016 Games Played/Started: 6/0
Made first catch of career vs. Tennessee Tech, a 13-yard grab, and had two punt returns for 114 yards and one 62-yard touchdown
With 62-yard punt return touchdown, became the first Vol freshman to return a punt for a touchdown since Devaun Swafford
Made collegiate debut at South Carolina
Consensus 4 Star Recruit by all major services
Lettered at Warner Robins High School in Warner Robins, GA
Played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in 2016
Member of ESPN 300
PrepStar 150 Dream Team
Named to Atlanta Journal Constitution All-State Class AAAAA First Team as a defensive back in 2015
Honored as an All-State selection on both sides of the ball by Georgia Sports Writers, as an athlete and defensive back as a senior

 

[Grand Vol]

8 days

#8, Latrell Williams, WR, RS Freshman

Rated as: 247 Sports and Scout 3 Star Recruit, ESPN 4 Star Recruit
Lettered at Columbia High School in Hialeah, FL
Helped Lions to 12-2 record as a senior in 2015 as team advanced to Florida state semifinals
Has been clocked with a 4.27 in the 40-yard dash
Caught 68 passes for 1,035 yards with nine receiving touchdowns as a senior
Returned 11 kickoffs for 395 yards (35.9 yards per return) with two touchdowns, had three returns for 94-plus yards
Also ran 20 times for 155 yards and two rushing scores
Named USA Today Athlete of Week on Dec. 2, 2015