BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The University of Tennessee is represented by 38 student-athletes on the 2019-20 Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll, which was announced Thursday by league commissioner Greg Sankey.

The women’s swimming and diving program led the way with 18 making the list. The men’s swimming and diving team followed with 12 members earning academic honors, while the women’s basketball team had five and men’s basketball saw three members garnering accolades.

A total of 710 student-athletes were named to the 2019-20 Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll. It includes the sports of basketball, equestrian, gymnastics and swimming & diving. It is based on grades from the 2019 Spring, Summer and Fall terms.

Any student-athlete who participates in a Southeastern Conference championship sport or a student-athlete who participates in a sport listed on his/her institution’s NCAA Sports Sponsorship Form is eligible for nomination to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.

The  following  criteria  will  be  followed:  (1)  A  student‐athlete  must  have  a  grade point average of 3.00 or above for either the preceding academic year (two semesters or three quarters) or have a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or above  at  the  nominating  institution.  (2)  If  a  student‐athlete  attends  summer  school, his/her grade point average during the summer academic term must be included in the calculation used to determine eligibility for the Academic Honor Roll.  (3)  Student‐athletes  eligible  for  the  Honor  Roll  include  those  receiving  an  athletics scholarship, recipients of an athletics award (i.e., letter winner), and non‐scholarship student‐athletes who have been on a varsity team for two seasons. (4) Prior to being nominated, a student‐athlete must have successfully completed 24 semester  or  36  quarter  hours  of  non‐remedial  academic  credit  toward  a  baccalaureate degree at the nominating institution. (5) The student‐athlete must have been a member of a varsity team for the sport’s entire NCAA Championship segment.

University of Tennessee 2019-20 Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll Members 

Men’s Basketball (3)
Jacob Fleschman – Finance
John Fulkerson – Recreation and Sport Management
Brock Jancek – Civil Engineering

Women’s Basketball (5)
Lou Brown – Journalism & Electronic Media
Rae Burrell – University Exploratory Track
Rennia Davis – Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism
Kamera Harris – Journalism & Electronic Media
Kasiyahna Kushkituah – Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism

Men’s Swimming & Diving (12)
Taylor Abbott – Marketing
Benjamin Blevins‐Boor – English
Luke Brice – History
Alec Connolly – Forestry
Owen Devine – Kinesiology
Matthew Garcia – Accounting
Marc Hinawi – Chemical Engineering
Gleb Ionichev – Sociology
Parker Kaye – Supply Chain Management
Nathan Murray – Food & Agricultural Business
Tim Raab – Mechanical Engineering
Matthew Wade – Business

Women’s Swimming & Diving (18)
Mallory Beil – Marketing
Mary Cayten Brakefield – Retail & Consumer Sciences
Erika Brown – Kinesiology
Madison Graham – Anthropology
Bailey Grinter – Biological Sciences
Hannah Holman – Audiology & Speech Pathology
Carrie Johnson – Management & Human Resources
Danika Katzer – Kinesiology
McKenna Morello – Kinesiology
Stanzi Moseley – Psychology
Amanda Nunan – Nutrition
Tjasa Pintar – Kinesiology
Nikol Popov – Psychology
Trude Rothrock – Biological Sciences
Megan Sichterman – Food Science
Meghan Small – Sociology
Emily Sykes – Recreation/Sport Management
Alexis Yager – Child & Family Studies

-UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Multiple Tennessee Vols are ready to take the next step in their football careers as the 2020 NFL Draft takes place Thursday through Saturday live on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network.

Round 1 airs beginning at 8 p.m. ET Thursday. Rounds 2 and 3 will be held Friday with a 7 p.m. start. Rounds 4 through 7 get underway at noon Saturday. Follow Vol football social media channels for exclusive content during the three-day event: Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, prospective NFL Vols have had the ability to meet virtually with teams and submit video workouts.

Edge rusher Darrell Taylor is expected to the first Tennessee player off the board. Taylor, who ranked second in the SEC in sacks in 2019 with 8.5, has been projected as high as a second-round selection. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah tabbed Taylor as one of four players who are expected to go higher than originally anticipated according to multiple general managers.

One of the top 10 edge rushers available, Taylor concluded his Vol career with 19.5 sacks, which ranks 10th-most in school history. He is seeking to be the highest drafted Tennessee player since Derek Barnett went No. 14 overall in 2017.

“Right now I am in Virginia with my family and excited to share this great experience with them,” Taylor said in a VFL Films interview the day before the draft. “It still feels unbelievable to me right now, but I know I have worked hard to get to this point, so I am just cherishing every moment I have and staying happy about it and hoping for the best for my situation going into the draft.

“They (coaches) taught me so much. I learned a lot from them the last two years of my career at Tennessee. They coached me really hard and prepared me for what I’m about to go into now.”

Since the common draft era began, a total of 37 Tennessee wide receivers have been selected. Jauan Jennings and Marquez Callaway could add their names to that storied list this weekend. No draft-eligible wide receiver broke more tackles in 2019 than Jennings did with his 30 according to Pro Football Focus.  The versatile Callaway notched 1,646 career receiving yards and 16 touchdowns – 13 through the air and three via the return game.

Other Vols who could have an opportunity this weekend include linebacker Daniel Bituli, defensive back Nigel Warrior and tight end Dominick Wood-Anderson. Any players not selected during the three-day event could sign undrafted free agent contracts.

-UT Athletics