Pair of Vols land on freaks of college football list

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VolForLife83

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“The SEC’s top returning pass rusher wasn’t listed as one of the 10 fastest Vols in the EA Sports College Football 25 video game, but we would put him there after his dazzling display in the Citrus Bowl,” Feldman wrote. “Pearce clocked 23 mph on a pick six against Iowa, turning in one of the fastest GPS measurements of any FBS play all season.

One of his coaches told me that the 6-5, 245 pound junior is a legitimate 4.4 40 threat. According to PFF, Pearce was the SEC’s highest graded defensive end last year at 90.9. He tied for the SEC lead in sacks (10) and was second in tackles for loss (14.5); he’s the SEC’s returning statistical leader in both of those. He had 16 quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and two forced fumbles.”


Squirrel White landed at No. 57 on the list due to his elite speed. An undersized 5-foot-10, 167-pound slot receiver, White can absolutely fly. His big play ability keeps defenses honest and in his sophomore season White proved he can be productive as a target in the intermediate passing game.

Despite a lackluster season from Tennessee’s passing attack, White caught 67 passes for 803 yards and two touchdowns. With the Vols breaking Nico Iamaleava as their starting quarterback this season, White could be in for a bigger junior season.

“The 5-10, 165-pound junior, No. 64 on our list in 2023, is one of the fastest players in the game,” Feldman wrote. “White has been clocked at 23.4 mph and has a 40.6-inch vertical jump. He has run a 1.50-second 10-yard split. Last year, White had 67 catches for 803 yards and averaged 12.0 yards per catch; for his career he has nine catches of 40-plus yards, six catches of 50-plus yards and three receptions of 60-plus yards.”

Thirteen of the 16 SEC teams had at least one player on the list but no school had more players than Tennessee. South Carolina, Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Vanderbilt all had two players on the list. Georgia, Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Texas and Texas A&M had one player.




 
#2
#2
Couple of players on out of conference teams that the Vols face-

Javin Whatley, Chattanooga, receiver​

“Nunu” is only 5-9, 169, but he earned second-team All-America honors after making 55 catches for 977 yards with nine touchdowns in 2023. His 54-yard catch-and-run at Alabama last November was the longest pass play allowed by the Tide in a year. The former high school QB has been clocked at better than 22 mph in game situations, has squatted 455 and benched 275.

Davin Van, NC State, defensive end

Wolfpack strength coach Dantonio Burnette has an impressive track record of producing Freaks, and Vann is the latest in the pipeline. Last year, the former state champion wrestler and track star was ranked No. 40 on our list. Now, the 6-2 Vann has moved up after dropping a full tenth of a second off his 40-yard-dash time to a blistering 4.69 seconds despite weighing 276 pounds. Vann bench-pressed 440 pounds (up from 405 last year), did 31 reps of 225, cleaned 365 and squatted 580 to go with a 33-inch vertical. He has been a disruptive force for the Wolfpack, notching six sacks, seven TFLs and 42 tackles last season.
 
#3
#3
Couple of players on out of conference teams that the Vols face-

Javin Whatley, Chattanooga, receiver​

“Nunu” is only 5-9, 169, but he earned second-team All-America honors after making 55 catches for 977 yards with nine touchdowns in 2023. His 54-yard catch-and-run at Alabama last November was the longest pass play allowed by the Tide in a year. The former high school QB has been clocked at better than 22 mph in game situations, has squatted 455 and benched 275.

Davin Van, NC State, defensive end

Wolfpack strength coach Dantonio Burnette has an impressive track record of producing Freaks, and Vann is the latest in the pipeline. Last year, the former state champion wrestler and track star was ranked No. 40 on our list. Now, the 6-2 Vann has moved up after dropping a full tenth of a second off his 40-yard-dash time to a blistering 4.69 seconds despite weighing 276 pounds. Vann bench-pressed 440 pounds (up from 405 last year), did 31 reps of 225, cleaned 365 and squatted 580 to go with a 33-inch vertical. He has been a disruptive force for the Wolfpack, notching six sacks, seven TFLs and 42 tackles last season.
Good stuff!
 
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#6
#6
Couple of players on out of conference teams that the Vols face-

Javin Whatley, Chattanooga, receiver​

“Nunu” is only 5-9, 169, but he earned second-team All-America honors after making 55 catches for 977 yards with nine touchdowns in 2023. His 54-yard catch-and-run at Alabama last November was the longest pass play allowed by the Tide in a year. The former high school QB has been clocked at better than 22 mph in game situations, has squatted 455 and benched 275.

Davin Van, NC State, defensive end

Wolfpack strength coach Dantonio Burnette has an impressive track record of producing Freaks, and Vann is the latest in the pipeline. Last year, the former state champion wrestler and track star was ranked No. 40 on our list. Now, the 6-2 Vann has moved up after dropping a full tenth of a second off his 40-yard-dash time to a blistering 4.69 seconds despite weighing 276 pounds. Vann bench-pressed 440 pounds (up from 405 last year), did 31 reps of 225, cleaned 365 and squatted 580 to go with a 33-inch vertical. He has been a disruptive force for the Wolfpack, notching six sacks, seven TFLs and 42 tackles last season.
Wonder why Wheatley didn’t hit the portal and pick up some NIL $ with those numbers from last season?
 
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