INDIANAPOLIS – University of Tennessee head football coach Jeremy Pruitt will address more than 1,500 high school and youth football coaches and administrators from across the country at the USA Football 2019 National Conference in Orlando, Florida, Feb. 22-24, Pruitt joins Ret. Navy SEAL Cdr. Mark Divine and University of Minnesota head football coach P.J. Fleck as keynote speakers.

Pruitt became the University of Tennessee’s 26th head football coach in December 2017 and led the Volunteers to two wins over top 25 teams in 2018 (No. 21 Auburn and No. 11 Kentucky). Prior to his arrival in Rocky Top, Pruitt served as Alabama’s defensive coordinator, helping the Crimson Tide win the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship.

Recognized as one of the nation’s top defensive coordinators, Pruitt has five national championships to his credit. During his initial tenure with Alabama, Pruitt worked as the director of player of development (2007-2009) and defensive backs coach (2010-2012) and was a part of three national championships (2009, 2011, 2012). In 2013 he was Florida State’s defensive coordinator, helping lead the Seminoles to an undefeated National Championship.

In between Florida State and his return to Alabama, Pruitt was the University of Georgia’s defensive coordinator from 2014-2015. He owns a 96-13 (.881) record as an assistant coach and was twice a Broyles Award Finalist, given annually to the nation’s top assistant. As the coach of 44 NFL draft picks, including 13 first rounders and 18 All-Americans, Pruitt’s defenses consistently ranked in the top 10 nationally in total defense. His defense ranked No. 1 nationally in 2013, 2016 and 2017.

“Coach Pruitt’s ability to teach, lead and inspire is extraordinary and lifts everyone around him,” USA Football CEO Scott Hallenbeck said. “We’re excited to have him address leaders across America’s football family at our National Conference in Orlando.”

“Beyond capturing imaginations, USA Football opens minds to forward thinking across our game,” Pruitt said. “I’m humbled by every youth and high school coach – every mom and dad – at the National Conference. These men and women enrich the lives of our sons and daughters through the fun and joy of the ultimate team sport. I can’t wait to be with them, sharing our love for our kids and our game.”

February marks the sixth annual USA Football National Conference, an education and networking opportunity for high school and youth football administrators and coaches to gain insight on best practices, innovation and smarter play. The conference drew more than 1,500 leaders across the sport in 2018, including international participants from Canada, Mexico, Scotland and Sweden. A member of the U.S. Olympic Committee and the sport’s national governing body, USA Football trains more high school and youth coaches combined than any organization in the United States.

Past USA Football National Conference speakers include Pro Football Hall of Famers Tony Dungy, Bill Polian, Cris Carter and Mike Singletary as well as Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden, Green Bay Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy, and others.

The latest news about USA Football’s 2019 National Conference may be found on Twitter by following @USAFootball and #USAFootball19.

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ATLANTA – This Sunday will mark the 10th consecutive season the University of Tennessee will be represented in the Super Bowl with New England Patriots wide receiver/kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson and Los Angeles Rams running back John Kelly facing off in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The duo gives the Vols 63 all-time players on active NFL rosters to appear in Super Bowls since the NFL-AFL merger (1970) – the most of any SEC team and tied for the second-most all-time.

The Patriots and Rams arrived in Atlanta for Super Bowl week on Sunday night.

Patterson, who is one of the fastest players in the NFL, was a do-it-all player in his first year with the Patriots. He averaged 28.8 yards on 23 kick returns with one score. Patterson tallied 21 receptions for 247 yards and three touchdowns and added 228 rushing yards and one touchdown on the ground on 42 carries.

Patterson played one season at Tennessee in 2012 under the direction of offensive coordinator Jim Chaney. In 12 starts, Patterson posted 1,858 all-purpose yards and 10 total touchdowns, finding the end zone as a receiver, rusher, kick returner and punt returner.

Kelly, a rookie, totaled 74 rushing yards on 27 carries for the Rams this season. He has played in both playoff games on special teams, recording one tackle.

At Tennessee, Kelly had a breakout junior campaign in 2017, leading the Vols in rushing (778 yards) and receptions (37) in 11 games. He had nine touchdowns and opened the season with a 128-yard, four-touchdown performance in a double overtime win over Georgia Tech. For his career, Kelly rushed for 1,573 yards and 15 touchdowns.

All-time, Tennessee Vols have won 46 Super Bowl championships and have accounted for 91 total Super Bowl appearances.

Last season, defensive end Derek Barnett helped the Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl, marking the ninth straight season a Vol has won the championship.

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Sophomore guard Rennia Davis tied her season high of 24 points to power the Lady Vols past LSU, 74-65, on Sunday afternoon at Thompson-Boling Arena for their annual “Live Pink, Bleed Orange” game.

Sophomore forward Kasiyahna Kushkituah added a career-high 14 points and eight rebounds, while Zaay Green finished with 10 points and five assists. Davis also racked up seven rebounds while notching her fourth 20+ point game of the season. True freshman Jazmine Massengill also registered a career-best 12 points.

Tennessee (13-7, 2-5 SEC) forced 25 turnovers, recorded 44 points in the paint and grabbed 19 offensive rebounds in the win.

The Tigers (12-7, 3-4 SEC) had three players with double-digit points, with guard Khayla Pointer leading the pack with 17 points and five assists. LSU junior forward Ayana Mitchell logged a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds.

The Lady Vols sparked an 8-0 run to start the game behind a pair of jumpers from Zaay Green. Tennessee forced four turnovers and held the Tigers in a scoring drought for nearly three minutes out of the gate. Midway through the first quarter, the Lady Vols had three players with four points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field and a 14-8 lead. Each of Tennessee’s five starters scored within seven minutes of play, as the Lady Vols forced eight first-quarter turnovers. Davis led Tennessee early on with eight points, giving the Lady Vols a 22-17 lead going into the second quarter.

After playing more than three minutes in the second quarter, the teams had combined for just six points while committing a total of seven turnovers. Tennessee hit its stride by holding LSU to a two-minute scoring drought to take a 32-25 lead with three minutes remaining in the first half. Eight of the Tigers’ 12 points in the quarter were notched at the charity stripe, as LSU hit just 2-of-10 shots from the field. Going into the half, the Lady Vols tallied 16 points off turnovers, 22 points in the paint and forced 15 turnovers en route to a 36-29 halftime lead. Davis led Tennessee with 10 points at the half, while Kushkituah and Green each registered eight points apiece.

The Tigers jumped out to a quick 7-2 run to start the second half, but a jump shot from Green got the Lady Vols back on track. Tennessee responded with an 8-0 run over the next minute, with an and-one from Massengill to cap it off and give the Lady Vols a 46-36 lead. Tennessee finished the third quarter with an alley-oop to Davis, who converted to give the Lady Vols a 52-43 lead going into the final quarter of play. Tennessee held LSU without a field goal for the final four minutes of the third quarter, as Davis led the Lady Vols with six points and three rebounds.

Tennessee was challenged early in the fourth quarter, as a 3-pointer from Mercedes Brooks of the Tigers cut UT’s lead to just three points. Davis hit a pair of free throws to give Tennessee a 60-52 lead at the halfway point of the fourth quarter. A Cheridene Green layup at the 4:12 mark finished a 6-0 run by the Lady Vols, who extended their lead to double-digits. Kushkituah gave Tennessee its largest lead of the game with a layup with under three minutes remaining in the game. The Lady Vols hit their final three shots from the floor to ice the game and notch the 74-65 win at home.

Up Next: The Lady Vols play their fourth straight home game on Thursday, hosting Florida at 7 p.m. The game will be available for streaming online via SECN+.

Back To Her Double-Figure Ways: With a season-high-tying 24 points, Rennia Davis logged her 14th double-digit performance and fourth 20+ effort of the season, breaking a four game stretch in which she scored nine points or less. She opened the season by scoring double figures in 13 of her first 14 contests.

Kasi’s Baaaack: Kasiyahna Kushkituah notched a career-high 14 points, recording her first double-digit game since leaving the lineup due to an injury in late November. Prior to being injured she’d scored 10 or more points in four of UT’s first five games.

Owning The Paint: Tennessee outscored LSU in the paint 22-6 in the first half and went on to stretch the margin to 20 points, ending the day with a total of 44 points in the paint to LSU’s 24 points. UT has outscored 13 of 20 opponents in the paint this season.

Turn ‘Em Over: The Lady Vols forced 25 turnovers against LSU, the most committed by a UT opponent since FAMU (32) and tying as the highest turnover total by the Lady Tigers this season. Tennessee capitalized on those turnovers, converting them into 23 points.
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