Official Countdown to the 2019 Season

67 days

#67, Joe Keeler, OL, RS Junior

tennessee-volunteers-offensive-lineman-joe-keeler-blocking-during-a-picture-id882438434


CAREER HONORS:

Made the 2016 SEC Academic Honor Roll

CAREER STATS:

2015 and 2016 did not play with one counting as a redshirt year
2017 Games Played/Started: 2/0
Played in Tennessee’s season finale vs. Vanderbilt
Made his collegiate debut vs. LSU
Played OL at Christ School in Arden, N.C.
Multi-sport athlete was also a standout for the Christ School baseball team
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
Thank you Grand Vol and YankeeVol. This really helps the boredom of this time of year.
 
Last edited:
66 days

Brant Lawless, DL, Incoming Freshman

35553607001_5486339733001_5486320647001-vs.jpg


Consensus 4 Star recruit
2016 Tennessee Titans Mr. Football finalist
Registered 110 career stops, 32 for loss
Had four sacks as a senior

Kurott Garland, DL, Incoming Freshman

DVeitrPW0AEF6ZP.jpg


Under the radar recruit, rated by 247 as a 3 Star
Finished his senior season with 125 total tackles, 43 for a loss and 12.5 sacks
Garnered 126 tackles, 22 for a loss and 12 sacks his junior season
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
65 days

JJ Peterson, OLB, Incoming Freshman

jj-peterson.jpg


Played at Colquitt County High School in Georgia
Rated as the #1 OLB nationally in the 2018 class at one point. Finished as the #8 overall OLB prospect.
Committed to Tennessee without ever setting foot on campus
Had 110 tackles and five sacks his senior year
Had 199 tackles including 28 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks over hsi high school career
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
64 days.

#18, Princeton Fant, RB, Sophomore

6_7486479.jpg


Took a blueshirt in 2017
Consensus 3 Star recruit from all major services
Attended LaVergne High School in LaVergne, TN
Has trained at TE, LB and RB at Tennessee
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
63 days

The Coaches

Jeremy Pruitt, Head Coach, First Year

20180403_FB_Practice_KZ_017-718x490.jpg


PERSONAL INFO:

Born: May 28, 1974
Hometown: Rainsville, Ala.
Education: West Alabama (’99)
Playing Experience: Middle Tennessee – DB (93-94), Alabama – DB (95-96)
Wife: Casey
Children: Sons: Jayse (22), Ridge (3) and Flynt (1)

CAREER HISTORY:

1997 Alabama Graduate Asst.
1998: Plainview HS Defensive Backs
1999: West Alabama Defensive Backs
2000: Plainview HS Defensive Coord.
2001–2003: Fort Payne HS Asst.
2004: Hoover HS Defensive Backs
2005–2006: Hoover HS Defensive Coord./ DB
2007–2009: Alabama Dir. Player Development
2010–2012: Alabama Defensive Backs
2013: Florida State Defensive Coord./ DB
2014–2015: Georgia Defensive Coord./ DB
2016–2017: Alabama Defensive Coord./ ILB
2018–present: Tennessee Head Coach

CAREER STATS:

5 x National Champion (‘17, ‘13, ‘12, ‘11, ‘09)
44 NFL Draft Picks
13 First Round Picks
18 All-Americans
96-13 Record as an Assistant (.881 winning pct)
18 All-Conference First Team Selections
Coached Nation’s No. 1 Defense in ‘17, ‘16, ‘13
Former Alabama, Georgia and Florida State DC
2 x Broyles Award Finalist
His defenses have allowed only 14.7 ppg since 2013
 
63 days

The Offensive Coaching Staff

Tyson Helton, Offensive Coordinator, First Year

20180322_FB_SpringPractice_KZ_010-718x490.jpg


PERSONAL INFO

Born: June 20, 1977
Hometown: Sugar Land, Texas
Education: Bachelor’s in Business (Houston ‘99)
Playing Experience: Houston - QB (1996-99)
Wife: April
Children: Shelby Grace, Presley, Cole, Clay

CAREER HISTORY

2000: Hawaii, Graduate Assistant
2001-03: Hawaii, Special Teams Coord.
2004-06: Memphis, Special Teams Coord./TEs
2007-11: UAB, Quarterbacks
2012: UAB, RBs/Recruiting Coord.
2013: Cincinnati, Special Teams Coord./TEs
2014-15: Western Kentucky, Offensive Coord./QBs
2016-17: Southern California, QBs/Passing Game Coord.
2018-pres: Tennessee, Offensive Coord./QBs




Will Friend, Offensive Line, First Year

7_8279638.jpg


PERSONAL INFO:

Born: July 20, 1976
Hometown: Philadelphia, Miss.
Education: Bachelor’s in Human Performance (Alabama ’98)
Playing Experience: Alabama - OG (1993-96)
Wife: Carrie
Children: Katie, Brooks, Charlie

CAREER HISTORY:

2001: West Alabama, Offensive Line
2002: Tuscaloosa Central HS, Offensive Assistant
2003-04: Georgia, Graduate Assistant
2005-06: Gardner-Webb, Offensive Line
2007-10: UAB, Offensive Line
2011-13: Georgia, Offensive Line
2014: Georgia, Running Game Coord./OL
2015-17: Colorado State, Offensive Coord./OL
2018-pres: Tennessee, Offensive Line




David Johnson, Wide Receivers, First Year

20180320_FB_SpringPractice_KZ_012-718x490.jpg


PERSONAL INFO:

Hometown: New Orleans, La.
Education: Bachelor’s Degree (Nicholls State ‘95)
Playing Experience: Nicholls State – WR (1991-93)
Wife: Akeia
Children: Jermaine, De’Von, Karaaz

CAREER HISTORY:

1997-00: John F. Kennedy HS, Offensive Coord./WRs/TEs
2000-05: O. Perry Walker HS, Offensive Coord./WRs/TEs
2005-09: Millsaps College, WRs/TEs/Special Teams/Recruiting Coord.
2009-11: St. Augustine HS, Head Coach/Offensive Coord.
2012-15: Tulane, Running Backs/Tight Ends
2016-17: Memphis, Passing Game Coord./WRs
2018-pres: Tennessee, Wide Receivers




Brian Niedermeyer, Tight Ends, First Year

1524956443_042818d01Niedermeyer0006_t1070_h5159c688486a79bf25b747b9586acf7c13c99760.jpg


PERSONAL INFO:

Born: December 28, 1988
Hometown: Eagle River, Alaska
Education: Bachelor’s (University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff ’12)
Playing Experience: Arkansas at Pine Bluff (2011-13)

CAREER HISTORY

2012: Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Student Assistant
2013: Miami (Fla.), Volunteer Analyst
2014: East Texas Baptist University, Wide Receivers
2015: Georgia, Graduate Assistant
2016: Alabama, Graduate Assistant
2017: Alabama, Asst. Director of Recruiting Operations
2018-pres: Tennessee, Tight Ends




Chris Weinke, Running Backs, First Year

20180320_FB_SpringPractice_KZ_018-718x490.jpg


PERSONAL INFO:

Born: July 31, 1972
Hometown: St. Paul, Minn.
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management (Florida State ’00)
Playing Experience: Florida State - QB (1997-00); Carolina Panthers (2001-06); San Francisco 49ers (2007)
Children: Carter, Mallory

CAREER HISTORY:

2010-14: IMG Academy, Program Director/Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
2015-16: St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams, Quarterbacks
2017: Alabama, Offensive Analyst
2018-pre.: Tennessee, Running Backs
 
63 days

The Defensive Coaching Staff

Kevin Sherrer, Defensive Coordinator, First Year

20180320_FB_SpringPractice_KZ_002-718x490.jpg


PERSONAL INFO:

Born: March 19, 1973
Hometown: Oneonta, Ala.
Education: Bachelor's in Physical Education (Alabama '96) / Master's in Higher Education Administration (Alabama '00)
Playing Experience: Alabama - TE (1993-95)
Wife: Carrie
Children: Kaleb, Kyle

CAREER HISTORY:

1996-97: Tuscaloosa County HS, Defensive Asst.
1998-2000: Alabama, Graduate Asst.
2001-04: Spain Park HS, DBs
2005-09: Hoover HS, Defensive Coord./Defensive Asst.
2010-12: Alabama, Dir. of Player Development
2013: South Alabama, Defensive Coord./DBs
2014-17: Georgia, Outside LBs
2018-pres.: Tennessee, Defensive Coord./Inside LBs




Chris Rumph, Co-Defensive Coordinator / Outside Linebackers, First Year

20180320_FB_SpringPractice_KZ_080-718x490.jpg


PERSONAL INFO:

Born: December 21, 1971
Hometown: St. Matthews, S.C.
Education: Bachelor's Degree (South Carolina '94)
Playing Experience: South Carolina - LB (1991-94)
Wife: Kila
Children: Christopher, Elijah

CAREER HISTORY:

1997 (Spring): South Carolina, Graduate Asst.
1997-2001: Calhoun County HS (S.C.), Head Coach
2002: South Carolina State, DBs
2003-05: Memphis, Outside LBs
2006-10: Clemson, Defensive Line / DEs
2011-13: Alabama, Defensive Line
2014: Texas, Asst. Head Coach for Defense/ DL
2015-16: Florida, Defensive Line
2017: Florida, Co-Defensive Coord. / DL
2018-pres.: Tennessee, Co-Defensive Coord. / Outside LBs




Charles Kelly, Special Teams Coordinator / Safeties, First Year

20180320_FB_SpringPractice_KZ_004-718x490.jpg


PERSONAL INFO:

Born: Sept. 8, 1967
Hometown: Ozark, Ala.
Education: Bachelor's in Secondary Math Education (Auburn '90) / Master's in Education (Troy '02)
Playing Experience: Auburn - DB (1986-89)
Wife: Kristy
Children: Caroline, Kathleen, Charli Grace

CAREER HISTORY:

1990-92: Central HS - Asst. Coaching
1993: Auburn - Graduate Asst.
1994-98: Jacksonville State - Defensive Coord. / DBs /RBs
1999: Henderson State - Defensive Coord.
2000-01: Eufaula HS - Defensive Coord.
2002-05: Nicholls State - Defensive Coord. / DBs
2006-12: Georgia Tech - Defensive Coord. (Interim) / DBs / Special Teams
2013: Florida State - LBs / Special Teams Coord.
2014-17: Florida State - Defensive Coord. / DBs




Terry Fair, Cornerbacks, Third Year (kinda), VFL

4P9T3137.jpg


PERSONAL INFO:

Born: July 20, 1976
Hometown: Phoenix, Ariz.
Education: Bachelor's Degree in Psychology (Tennessee '10)
Playing Experience: Tennessee - DB (1994-97); Detroit Lions (1998-01); Carolina Panthers (2002); St. Louis Rams (2005)
Wife: Sherlone
Children: Herandre, Delon, Ariyah

CAREER HISTORY:

2010-12: Phoenix College - DBs
2013-14: Tennessee - Defensive Quality Control
2015-17: Colorado State - DBs




Tracy Rocker, Defensive Line, First Year

6_8261629.jpg


PERSONAL INFO:

Born: April 9, 1966
Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.
Education: Bachelor's Degree (Auburn '92)
Playing Experience: Auburn - DL (1985-88))
Wife: Lalitha
Children: Kumar

CAREER HISTORY:

1992-93: Auburn HS, Defensive Coord.
1994-96: West Alabama, Defensive Line
1997-01: Troy, Defensive Line
2002: Cincinnati, Defensive Line
2003-07: Arkansas, Defensive Line
2008: Ole Miss, Defensive Line
2009-10: Auburn, Defensive Line
2011-13: Tennessee Titans, Defensive Line
2014: Georgia, Defensive Line
2015-16: Georgia, Assoc. Head Coach / Defensive Line
 
63 days

The Support Staff

Craig Fitzgerald, Director of Strength and Conditioning

Tennessee-strength-coach-Craig-Fitzgerald-1-2018-spring-game-DLP_8319_dqy6db.jpg


Drew Hughes, Director of Player Personnel

Hughes_Drew.jpg


Danny Stiff, Assistant Director of Player Personnel

Stiff_Danny.jpg


Todd Watson, Director of Football Operations

Watson_Todd.JPG


Brandon Sheppard, Assistant Director of Football Opoerations

Sheppard_Brandon.jpg


Brett Thiesen, Assistant Director of Recruiting

F5hIYvFh_400x400.jpg


Kevin Simon, Player Development

Simon_Kevin.JPG


Joe Osovet, Player Development

163705_20180308_FB_JoeOsovet_JG_0001.jpg


Patrick Abernathy, Player Development

1359_Abernathy_Patrick.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
63 days

The Support Staff Continued

Bert Biffani, Quality Control Analyst

Biffani_Bert.JPG


Carter Blount, Quality Control Analyst

Blount_Carter.JPG


Montario Hardesty, Quality Control Analyst (also VFL)

Hardesty_Montario_.jpg


Vince Lewis, Quality Control Analyst

Lewis_Vince_.jpg


Kevin O'Brien, Quality Control Analyst

O_Brien_Kevin.JPG


Tino Sunseri, Quality Control Analyst

Sunseri_Tino.JPG


Brandon Deaderick, Quality Control Analyst

166552_20180328_FB_Headshot_KZ_001.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
63 days

The Support Staff Concluded

Cameron Clemmons, Offensive Graduate Assistant

72618_20160125_FB_Headshots_DP_003.jpg


Caleb Cox, Offensive Graduate Assistant

72617_72617_20160125_FB_Headshots_DP_002.jpg


Jon Shalala, Defensive Graduate Assistant

91933_20160731_FB_Headshots_DP_CB_012.jpg


Rachel Pfister, Director of Sports Nutrition for Football

eCzxCzvP_400x400.jpg


Jason McVeigh, Director of Sports Medicine - Football

JasonMcVeigh.jpg


Myra Miles, Executive Assistant to the Head Coach

166554_20180328_FB_Headshot_KZ_003.jpg


John Lilly, Assistant to the Head Coach

166553_20180328_FB_Headshot_KZ_002.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
Advertisement



Back
Top