Each week during the quarantine period, The Sports Animal’s Josh Ward and Eric Cain breakdown a certain aspect of Tennessee football.
This session details Tennessee’s draft prospects and those who may hear their name called next week by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
The Sports Animal’s NFL Draft coverage is brought to you by: UT Athletics – visit AllVols.com.
![Luke Combs Debuts New Quarantine-Inspired Tune, “Six Feet Apart” [Listen]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2020/04/06083836/Luke-Combs-TA.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
Luke Combs debuted a new quarantine-inspired tune, “Six Feet Apart,” on April 15.
Penned by Luke, Brent Cobb and Rob Snyder, “Six Feet Apart” features Luke crooning the chorus: “I miss my mom / I miss my dad / I miss the road / I miss my band / Giving hugs and shaking hands / It’s a mystery, I suppose / Just how long this thing goes / There’ll be crowds and there’ll be shows / And there will be light after dark / Someday, when we aren’t six feet apart.”
“New song I wrote yesterday with Brent Cobb and Rob Snyder called ‘Six Feet Apart,'” says Luke. “It’s about the current times and us looking forward to the day all of this is over. I hope y’all like it.”
Watch Luke’s new video below.
photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
Billy Ray Cyrus, Lady Antebellum and Maren Morris have been added to the star-studded broadcast, One World: Together at Home, on April 18. They join previously announced country artists Keith Urban and Kacey Musgraves.
International advocacy organization Global Citizen and the World Health Organization announced the global broadcast to celebrate and support healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Lady Gaga-curated event will feature actors, athletes, musicians, entertainers and more, including Alanis Morissette, Andrea Bocelli, Billie Eilish, Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Burna Boy, Chris Martin, David Beckham, Eddie Vedder, Elton John, FINNEAS, Idris and Sabrina Elba, J Balvin, John Legend, Kerry Washington, Lang Lang, Lizzo, Maluma, Paul McCartney, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Shah Rukh Khan, Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift and more.
The broadcast, which will be co-hosted by Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert, will air live on April 18 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, NBC, CBS and more.
One World: Together At Home will also be a multi-hour digital broadcast streaming online on multiple global platforms, including: Alibaba, Amazon Prime Video, Apple, Facebook, Instagram, LiveXLive, Tencent, Tencent Music Entertainment Group, TIDAL, TuneIn, Twitch, Twitter, Yahoo and YouTube. For information about how to tune in, visit Global Citizen.
One World: Together at Home is not a telethon—but rather a global broad entertainment special to celebrate the heroic efforts of community health workers and support the World Health Organization and the global fight to end COVID-19.
photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com
Russell Dickerson and wife Kailey announced via Instagram on April 15 that they are expecting their first child.
“THE DAD SHOES ARE OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL! WE’RE HAVING A BABY!!” said Russell in the post.
Russell and Kailey were married in 2013.
Russell is trying to score his fourth No. 1 single with “Love You Like I Used To.” The new tune, which is the first sample of new music from Russell’s upcoming sophomore album, serves as a love letter to Kailey.
“The beginning of this song is intentionally different from me,” says Russell. “It makes you think it is a breakup song, but it is really a lead up to how great loves evolve and get better over time. Like all of my songs, I’ve lived it. I started dating my wife 10 years ago, and it is true—I don’t love her like I used to, and I think a lot of people will be able to relate to this song. It’s a really special song that I’m crazy proud of!”
After topping the charts with “Yours” and “Blue Tacoma” in 2018, Russell scored his third No. 1 single with “Every Little Thing” in November 2019. All three of Russell’s No. 1 songs are featured on his 2017 debut album, Yours.
photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
Country stars are trying to do their part to keep us entertained during our self-quarantines (hopefully) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here’s a rundown of what to expect as some of our favorite stars perform live and chat via social media.
April 16 (updated throughout the day)
photo by NCD
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — University of Tennessee women’s basketball head coach Kellie Harper confirmed Wednesday that graduate transfer Keyen Green has signed an athletics scholarship and an SEC Grant-In-Aid agreement to join the Lady Vol program for the 2020-21 campaign.
Green, a 6-foot-1 forward/center, comes to Rocky Top from Liberty University, where she has spent the past four seasons, redshirting in 2018-19 due to an ankle injury. She graduated in May 2019 with a degree in finance and has been working on a master’s degree in business administration. She will have one season of eligibility remaining.
“Keyen brings maturity and game experience to our team,” Harper said. “She is productive in the paint and aggressively rebounds the ball. She provides us another person of high character, and we are excited to welcome her to our program.”
A native of Philadelphia, Pa., and graduate of Phil-Mont Christian Academy, Green averaged 13.1 points and 7.2 rebounds in 93 career games for the Lady Flames, starting 91 of those contests. She connected on a very impressive 60 percent of her field goal attempts during her time in Lynchburg and 48 percent of her rebounds came on the offensive end.
She finished her career at LU ranked No. 9 in program history for points (1,215), No. 10 for rebounds (673) and tied for eighth in both double-doubles (17) and 20-point games (13).
An All-ASUN Conference First Team selection in 2019-20 (Liberty’s first ever), Green bounced back in strong fashion from her injury redshirt season in 2018-19. She paced the Lady Flames in points (13.9 ppg.), rebounds (7.5 rpg.), blocked shots (0.7 bpg.) and field goal percentage (.590). Her field goal percentage ranked No. 1 in the ASUN and No. 11 nationally. Green’s 13.9 scoring average was the highest by a Lady Flame since the 2013-14 season.
As a sophomore, prior to Liberty’s move to the ASUN, Green was the 2017-18 Big South Player of the Year and an All-Big South First Team honoree. She led the Big South and was No. 11 in the NCAA in field goal percentage (.610), while ranking No. 8 in scoring (12.9 ppg.) and No. 3 in offensive rebounds (2.8 rpg.). She also pulled down 6.2 rpg. while scoring in double figures in 22 games and recording five double-doubles.
Interestingly enough, the final contest of Green’s sophomore season came in Thompson-Boling Arena, as Liberty faced off against the Lady Vols in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. While her team fell, 100-60 on March 16, 2018, the Lady Flames standout was perfect from the field (4-4) and two of three at the charity stripe for 10 points in 19 minutes of play. She also contributed two rebounds and a steal vs. Tennessee in the match-up.
Earning Big South Freshman of the Year, Big South All-Freshman and All-Big South Second Team recognition in 2016-17, Green was the league leader in field goal percentage (.598), offensive rebounds (3.6 rpg.) and double-doubles (9), while ranking second in rebounding (8.1), fourth in blocked shots (1.0 bpg.), sixth in defensive rebounds (4.5 rpg.) and 10th in scoring (12.3 ppg.). She was the first player in history to win eight Big South Freshman of the Week honors.
Green was a three-star prospect and the No. 47 forward in the prep class of 2016, according to espnW HoopGurlz. She tallied more than 1,400 points and 1,100 rebounds at Phil-Mont Christian, averaging 21.0 ppg. and 13.0 rpg. to earn all-state honors in Pennsylvania and Bicentennial Athletic League (BAL) Co-Player of the Year accolades as a senior.
The signing of Green marks the third incoming graduate transfer in Lady Vol history and the first committing to UT during the Kellie Harper era. The most recent was Lou Brown, a 6-3 forward from Washington State, who inked with the Big Orange in April 2018, sat out a year due to injury and played the 2019-20 campaign. The first was Schaquilla Nunn, a 6-3 forward who came to Tennessee from Winthrop and played on Rocky Top during the 2016-17 season.
Green joins fall signees Tess Darby (6-1, G/F, Greenfield, Tenn. ) and Destiny Salary (6-0, G, Jonesboro, Ark.). To read about Darby and Salary, please click here.
-UT Athletics
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee head football coach Jeremy Pruitt has accepted Peyton Manning’s “ALL IN Challenge.” Vol fans can now enter to win an unforgettable Tennessee game day traditions experience package at allinchallenge.com/
The “ALL IN Challenge” was launched by Fanatics founder and Executive Chairman Michael Rubin, giving fans a chance at once-in-a-lifetime experiences with celebrities, personalities, athletes and coaches. All proceeds from the challenge go to COVID-19 relief and will help eliminate food insecurity during these challenging times. The “ALL IN Challenge” aims to be the world’s largest digital fundraiser in history by raising tens of millions of dollars to feed those in need.
Tennessee fans can enter at allinchallenge.com/
The sweepstakes is valid for participants ages 18 or older, and the game will be mutually agreed upon. A $10 donation will grant you 10 entries into the sweepstakes. Fans choosing to donate more will gain more entries into the sweepstakes. For more information visit, allinchallenge.com.
-UT Athletics
Runaway June’s Jennifer Wayne revealed via Instagram on April 15 that she has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Along with a statement that describes why she decided to reveal the news and how she’s been combating the virus, Jennifer shared a photo of herself holding a “3 Things I’m Grateful For” sign.
Jennifer’s entire statement is below:
“I’ve been struggling with whether or not to share, because to be honest it’s kind of rocked me and I wasn’t sure that putting it on a public platform was right for me. But as I’ve been telling people, I’ve had so many people reach out and say they have/had the virus and what did I do, what were my symptoms etc. So anyway, I am sharing this because I did contract Covid 19 (I’m assuming from the grocery store, it’s the only place I’ve been?!) and I had some great advice from doctors and friends and family (@travelingwithfinn !)… and this helped me kick this things ass. Everyone is different, and each body’s immune system fights it off in a different way, so I am definitely not saying I have any answers… just wanted to share what I did in case it helps. I loaded up on Vitamin C, Vitamin D3, B complex; chaga mushrooms and ZINC! Lots of Zinc. I also drank more water and Gatorade then I ever have in my life. I wanted to flush that thing out of my system. Those vitamins and staying hydrated and rest were a lifesaver for me. I’ve read lots of articles about what to do as far as self isolation etc… but not so many on what to do to combat it because there is so much unknown. But that seemed to really help me and I really felt I needed to share. Next up, donating my blood and plasma to help others. Sorry for the long post, and sending LOTS of love to all of you and hope you are staying healthy and safe!”
Runaway June—comprised of Naomi Cooke, Hannah Mulholland and Jennifer Wayne—released their new album, Blue Roses, in 2019, which featured Top 5 single, “Buy My Own Drinks.”
photo by JPA, AFF-USA.com
Scotty McCreery will present a virtual concert via Club Cooee, an online chat community where members create avatars and interact socially. Club Cooee will host Scotty—transformed into a 3D avatar—in concert for a limited time over two weekends on April 24–26 and May 1–3.
“In this unsettling time where everyone has to be physically isolated because of COVID-19, it’s great to find a fun way to bring people together for some entertainment in the virtual world of Club Cooee,” said Scotty. “I never thought I’d become a game avatar, but I’m always up for trying something new. Looking forward to seeing everyone at Club Cooee!”
Club Cooee is available for free on Google Play and the Apple App Store. Once installed, the user will select a starter 3D avatar and nickname and then be taken to the app’s main dashboard where they will find Scotty-branded buttons. During the event, there will also be a special “Live Now!” button so users can directly join the virtual concert.
Scotty will be the first musical artist to perform in Club Cooee and the first country music artist ever to host a virtual concert in any gaming world.
photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com
IRVING, Texas – Tennessee long snapper Riley Lovingood was selected as a member of the 2020 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society, the NFF announced Wednesday.
Lovingood joins 12 other VFLs who have received the honor since its inception in 2007.
Qualifications to join the NFF Hampshire Honor Society include achieving a 3.2 cumulative grade point average throughout entire course of undergraduate study, being a starter or significant contributor during the 2019 season and meeting all NCAA-mandated progress towards degree requirements.
Lovingood was the primary long snapper for all 13 games of the 2019 season for the Vols. He handled two different punters and snapped for All-SEC Second Team kicker Brent Cimaglia, who made 23 of 27 field goal attempts and was perfect on extra points. During the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, the Hendersonville, Tenn., native injured his knee after snapping on the game-winning extra point, but returned for a crucial snap on a punt in the final minutes.
He was a four-time SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient while also completing his master’s degree in communications studies in December 2019 with a 3.21 GPA.
