Vols 2019 class signee 3 – TE Sean Brown

Vols 2019 class signee 3 – TE Sean Brown

Sean Brown

TE Sean Brown / Credit: UT Athletics

TE Rome, GA (Coosa) 6’5, 250
Committed: 5/12/18
Stars: 3 by 247Sports / 3 by ESPN / 3 by Rivals

Josh Ward’s Analysis: Brown helps add depth to Tennessee’s tight end group. He’ll arrive at Tennessee this summer and begin competing for playing time.

Highlights from hudl…

The Sports Animal’s interview with Sean Brown’s high school coach, Todd Wheeler

Need to Know:
2018 Coaches All-Region 7-AA selection.
2017 Georgia Sports Writers Association Class AA All-State Second Team selection.
2017 Rome News-Tribune All-Area First-Team selection.

ESPN:
Natl Rank: —
Position Rank: No. 17 TE
State Rank: No. 69 in GA

247 Sports:
Natl Rank: No. 793
Position Rank: No. 37 TE
State Rank: No. 78 in GA

Rivals:
Natl Rank: —
Position Rank: No. 36 TE
State Rank: No. 75 in GA

High School
Starred at Coosa High School in Rome, Ga., playing both tight end and defensive line.
Helped lead Coosa High School to the Georgia Class AA state playoffs in 2018.
In his third game back from injury and Coosa’s regular-season finale, recovered two fumbles, forced a fumble, made six tackles and rushed for 22 yards on three carries to help Coosa secure a playoff spot.
Also plays basketball for Coosa High School.

-UT Athletics

Vols 2019 class signee 2 – TE Jackson Lowe

Vols 2019 class signee 2 – TE Jackson Lowe

Jackson Lowe

TE Jackson Lowe / Credit: UT Athletics

TE Cartersville, GA (Cartersville) 6’5, 242
Committed: 3/30/18
Stars: 4 by 247Sports / 4 by ESPN / 3 by Rivals

Josh Ward’s Analysis: Lowe already has good size at the tight end position, which should improve even more after he enrolls at Tennessee in the spring. The Vols rely on their tight ends both in the passing game and as blockers. Lowe will help with that greatly.

Highlights from hudl…

Hear The Sports Animal’s interview with Jackson Lowe’s high school coach, Joey King…

Need to Know:
2018 Georgia Preseason Class 4A All-State selection.
2017 All-Region 5-AAAA first-team selection.
Helped lead Cartersville to a 14-1 record and an appearance in the state championship game in 2018.

ESPN:
Natl Rank: No. 227
Position Rank: No. 6 TE
State Rank: No. 28 in GA

247 Sports:
Natl Rank: No. 493
Position Rank: No. 22 TE
State Rank: No. 50 in GA

Rivals:
Natl Rank: —
Position Rank: No. 24 TE
State Rank: No. 47 in GA

High School
Starred at Cartersville High School in Cartersville, Ga.
Tallied 340 receiving yards and six touchdowns as a junior in 2017.
As a senior, earned player of the week honors from the Daily Tribune News in Cartersville, Ga. for performance in the second round of the playoffs where he had five receptions for 74 yards and three touchdowns, including one score on fourth-and-10.

-UT Athletics

Vols 2019 class signee 1 – WR Ramel Keyton

Vols 2019 class signee 1 – WR Ramel Keyton

Ramel Keyton

WR Ramel Keyton / Credit: UT Athletics

WR Marietta, GA (Marrieta) 6’3, 185
Committed: 5/16/18
Stars: 4 by 247Sports / 4 by ESPN / 4 by Rivals

Josh Ward’s Analysis: Keyton offers more size to Tennessee’s group of wide receivers and will have a chance to play immediately. Keyton’s ability to make contested catches will be welcomed in Tennessee’s offense. He could also help develop a pipeline for Tennessee at Marietta High School.

Highlights from hudl…

Hear The Sports Animal’s interview with Ramel Keyton’s high school coach, Richard Morgan…

Need to Know:
Selected to play in the 2019 All-American Bowl.
2018 Georgia Preseason Class 7A All-State selection.
2017 Georgia Class 6A All-State Honorable Mention.
Named to Atlanta Journal Constitution’s 2018 Super 11 Football Prospects List.

ESPN:
Natl Rank: No. 113
Position Rank: No. 14 WR
State Rank: No. 15 in GA

247 Sports:
Natl Rank: No. 111
Position Rank: No. 17 WR
State Rank: No. 13 in GA

Rivals:
Natl Rank: No. 159
Position Rank: No. 25 WR
State Rank: No. 14 in GA

High School
Starred at Marietta High School in Marietta, Ga.
Named to the Marietta Daily Journal Dynamite Dozen in 2018.
Tallied 44 receptions for 694 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2018 despite missing the second-half of the season with an injury.
Opened the 2018 season by catching 14 passes for 191 yards and four touchdowns in first game of the season.
Over the course of his entire high school career, totaled 184 receptions for over 3,000 yards and 34 touchdowns, averaging over 100 yards per game.
Led all players in Cobb County with 59 receptions for 1,298 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2017, helping lead Marietta to the state quarterfinals.
Marietta head coach Richard Morgan: “I think Ramel is the most dominant receiver in the state, and I think he’s proven that year after year.”

-UT Athletics

No. 9 Lady Vols Fall to No. 8 Stanford, 95-85

No. 9 Lady Vols Fall to No. 8 Stanford, 95-85

Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Sophomore guard Evina Westbrook tallied a career-high-tying 29 points and dished out 10 assists, as No. 9/8 ranked Tennessee fell 95-85 to No. 8/9 Stanford at Thompson-Boling Arena on Tuesday night.

Sophomore forward Rennia Davis joined Westbrook in notching a double-double (14 points and 10 rebounds), carding her second of the season and 11th of her career. Senior guard/forward Meme Jackson (17) and freshman guard Zaay Green (14) were the other Tennessee players with double-digit points in the contest. Westbrook became the first Lady Vol since Candace Parker in 2007-08 to register four-straight 20-point games.

Stanford (8-1) was led by a 33-point and 13-rebound performance by DiJonai Carrington, as the Cardinal hit 58 percent of their three-point shots (14 of 24). Four other Stanford players scored in double figures, including Alanna Smith and Kiana Williams with 16 each, fueled by 3-of-4 shooting from three-point range. Lacie Hull tossed in 14, hitting four of five treys, while Maya Dodson chipped in 10.

A 3-for-5 start from deep range propelled Stanford to a 13-5 lead in the first five minutes of the game. Tennessee connected on just three of 10 shots to start, with its first 10 points coming from Davis and Cheridene Green. Despite the shaky start, a Jackson 3-pointer and a layup from Westbrook cut the Cardinal lead to 22-17 through ten minutes of play. Green led the Lady Vols with six first-quarter points and three rebounds.

Jackson kicked the second quarter off for Tennessee with a 3-pointer, cutting the Lady Vol deficit to just two points. Stanford, however, answered by hitting its first three shots of the second quarter, including two 3-pointers. Williams notched nine points from beyond the arc, as the Cardinal shot 9-for-15 from deep in the first half. Tennessee cut the Stanford lead to 47-37 prior to the break, with Westbrook leading the Lady Vols with 15 points over the first 20 minutes.

Tennessee fought back within three points of the lead after forcing four turnovers and shooting 5-for-7 from the floor in the first three minutes of the second half. The Lady Vols tallied a 19-8 start behind seven points from Westbrook and took their first lead of the game at the 5:21 mark in the third quarter. The Cardinal responded with a 9-0 run to end the quarter, as Stanford held a 67-62 lead going into the final frame.

Zaay Green scored five quick points for Tennessee to begin the final stanza, but the Cardinal answered back with a 6-0 run. The Lady Vols faced an eight-point deficit with a little over three minutes remaining in the game. A Stanford 3-pointer extended the Cardinal lead to 89-77 with two minutes remaining, and a pair of free throws from Williams iced the 95-85 victory for the Cardinal.

Up Next: The Lady Vols will host ETSU on Friday. The game is scheduled to tip at 7:02 p.m. and will be available for streaming via SECN+.  The contest features a “School’s Out” promotion, with kids 12 & younger receiving complimentary admission at any arena ticket window. It’s also a Big Orange Friday. Download a “BOGO” Buy One Get One Free ticket voucher available exclusively at BigOrangeFriday.com

Consecutive 20s: Sophomore Evina Westbrook has strung together four straight 20+ point performances, becoming the first Lady Vol to do so since Candace Parker had four in a row over the first four games of the 2007-08 season.

Hitting From Long: Meme Jackson has hit three or more treys in five of nine games this season, while Evina Westbrook has contributed at least two in four contests.

Dynamic Duo: Jackson and Westbrook have combined for 281 points through nine games, and Tennessee has been led in scoring by a member of the pair on seven occasions.

Turning Them Over: Stanford entered the contest at UT averaging only 13.3 turnovers per game. The Lady Vols forced them into 20 turnovers, marking the eighth time this season Tennessee has forced 17+ turnovers. Comparatively, the Cardinal committed just 10 turnovers in its upset win over then-No. 3 Baylor on Saturday.

 

UT Athletics

Hoops Central: #3 Tennessee vs. Samford

Hoops Central: #3 Tennessee vs. Samford

Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 3 Tennessee returns to Thompson-Boling Arena Wednesday night for a matchup against Samford, marking the first of a four-game homestand for the Vols.

The game will tip at 7 p.m. ET and can be streamed online through SEC Network+ and WatchESPN. Fans can also listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp describing the action. Tickets for Wednesday and most remaining Tennessee home games are available at AllVols.com.

Tennessee (8-1) is coming off its first true road game of the season, topping in-state foe Memphis in front of a sell-out crowd, 102-92. It was the first time since Appalachian State in 2016 that UT had eclipsed to 100-point margin in a game. Through nine games, the Vols have scored at least 85 points in six games and average 84.9 points per game, which ranks 19th in the country

Samford boasts a 10-2 record on the season, with its lone losses coming against Ohio State on the road and Belmont in overtime. The Bulldogs defeated Houston Baptist Monday, 85-61, to cap its best start after 12 games since the 1960-61 season. The offense has scored at least 75 points in seven games, including three performances with more than 90

Admiral Schofield enters the game on a hot streak, scoring 30 and 29 points in back-to-back games to fuel UT’s offense. The efforts earned him SEC Player of the Week accolades twice. The senior wing is the first Vol to score 25 points in consecutive games since Kevin Punter Jr. did so in 2016.

THE SERIES
• Tennessee won its only previous meeting with Samford, as the Vols posted an 83-79 home win on Nov. 28, 1977, at Stokely Athletics Center.
• The Vols are 93-17 all-time against current members of the Southern Conference.

A WIN WOULD…
• Extend Tennessee’s win streak to five games.
• Extend UT’s home win streak to 14 games. It’s the longest such streak of the Barnes era.
• Preserve Tennessee’s perfect record this season at Thompson-Boling Arena.

STORYLINES
• Samford is a private Christian university founded in 1841 and located in Homewood, Alabama
• Wednesday’s contest vs. Samford marks the start of a four-game homestand that extends through the first week of January.
• Many UT students are gone now that Fall exams concluded last week. Tickets for most remaining Tennessee home games are available at AllVols.com.
• In Tennessee’s last two games, junior wing Admiral Schofield has totaled 59 points, with 10 made 3-pointers.
• Senior forward Kyle Alexander needs just one block to move into the top five on Tennessee’s all-time blocks list.

LAYUPS
• According to KenPom, Tennessee ranks in the top 20 in both offensive efficiency (10th) and defensive efficiency (18th).
• Tennessee ranks second in the country with 21.1 assists per game and also ranks among the top 10 nationally in assist/turnover ratio (9th, 1.68) and blocks (10th, 6.0 bpg).
• Grant Williams leads the SEC in scoring (19.8 ppg), ranks second in field-goal percentage (.571), fourth in rebounding (8.7 rpg) and seventh in assists (4.7 apg). He also owns the team’s best plus-minus (per 40) rating at +21.91.
• Reigning SEC Player of the Week Admiral Schofield is the SEC’s second-leading scorer (19.1 ppg). He has made multiple 3-pointers in each of UT’s last six games, with 20 total makes during that span.
• Guard Lamonté Turner remains sidelined with a left shoulder injury and has appeared in only three games this season.

ABOUT SAMFORD
• The Bulldogs’ 2018-19 roster looks almost completely different from last season’s squad, as Samford’s top five scorers are gone.
• Josh Sharkey is one of just three returners who saw action last year. Sharkey, along with Stefan Lakic and Kevion Nolan, combined for a total of 15 starts and accounted for just 18 percent of the Bulldogs’ total scoring last season.
• With significant turnover, former first-round NBA Draft pick and Kentucky standout Scott Padgett brought in one of the most touted recruiting classes in program history, signing seven players. To go along with the large class, a pair of transfers from last season will be eligible to play this year, including Brandon Austin from Alabama.
• Sharkey (14.7 ppg, 6.0 apg, 3.4 rpg, 2.6 spg) and Austin (11.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg) are two of four Bulldogs averaging double-digit scoring per game. Junior college transfer Myron Gordon (11.8 ppg) has been a solid addition for Samford this year.
• However, the biggest impact has been from redshirt senior Ruben Guerrero. The 7-foot center transferred from USF last year but was forced to sit out. This season, he leads the Bulldogs in scoring (15.0 ppg), rebounding (8.4 rpg), blocks (1.9 bpg) and shooting percentage (.664).
• Samford boasts a 10-2 record on the season, with its lone losses coming against Ohio State on the road and Belmont in overtime. The Bulldogs opened the season with a five-game winning streak. The offense has scored at least 75 points in seven games, including three performances with more than 90.

LAST MEETING VS. SAMFORD
• Acting Tennessee head coach Cliff Wettig—filling in for the legendary Ray Mears, who sat out the season due to nervous exhaustion—led the Volunteers to an 83-79 win over Samford at UT’s Stokely Athletics Center on Nov. 28, 1977.
• Tennessee took a 38-34 lead into halftime.
• Reggie Johnson led the Vols with 22 points—11 in each half—and eight rebounds. Point guard Johnny Darden added 18 points and eight assists, while Terry Crosby scored 17.
• Bert Bertelkamp, who now serves as the color analyst for Tennessee games on the Vol Network, 10 points, six rebounds and an assist in the win.
• Guard Ervin Terry was the Bulldogs’ top performer, totaling 22 points, seven assists and four rebounds.
• Sid Hankins was the official timer for that game, and he will be serving in the same capacity Wednesday night.

AUSTIN HAS FACED UT BEFORE
• Samford redshirt junior guard Brandon Austin faced Tennessee during his time at Alabama.
• In Alabama’s win over the Vols in Tuscaloosa on Jan. 26, 2016, Austin played four minutes off the bench and was 0-for-1 from the field.
• After two seasons with the Crimson Tide, Austin transferred to Samford.

TENNESSEE DUO AMONG TOP 80 ON NCAA SCORING LEADERBOARD
• Tennessee’s imposing duo of Grant Williams (19.8 ppg) and Admiral Schofield (19.1 ppg) make the Vols one of only four teams with two players ranked among the top 80 scorers in Division I.

TEAM                                   PLAYERS                    PPG
South Dakota St.         M. Daum/D. Jenkins             45.9
Duke                           RJ Barrett/Z. Williamson       44.6
Coll. of Charleston     G. Riller/J. Brantley                42.8
Tennessee                G. Williams/A. Schofield      38.9

 

UT Athletics

“Women Want to Hear Women With Elaina” Featuring Cam

“Women Want to Hear Women With Elaina” Featuring Cam

I can’t believe we’ve come to the finale episode of Season 1.

I’m so excited about what we’ve accomplished since launching this podcast in June—and that includes YOU listening, watching and reading this. We will definitely keep things going in 2019, but we have the perfect way to wrap things up in 2018. Our guest this week is Cam, a woman who has been at the top of my guest list since starting the show. Cam has been a huge inspiration to me, and a wonderful friend and supporter of the show. You’ll hear more specifics when you listen to this episode. It is a great one! Cam did not hold back, which is one of the reasons I love her.

I hope you enjoy, and thank you for the best experience during Season 1 of Women Want to Hear Women.

Show Participants:

  • Cam
  • Elaina Smith, host of WWTHW


Videos:

  • Cam “Plays It Forward” by covering Lori McKenna’s “Halfway Home.”
  • Cam performs her 2017 single, “Diane.”


Cam’s Women Want to Hear Women Playlist


Need a refresher what #WomenWantToHearWomen is all about?

Past episodes: 

  1. Kacey Musgraves
  2. Dolly Parton
  3. Carly Pearce
  4. Shawna Thompson of Thompson Square
  5. Tegan Marie
  6. Clare Dunn
  7. Stephanie Quayle 
  8. Sarah Darling
  9. Rachel Reinert
  10. Carrie Underwood
  11. Abby Anderson
  12. Runaway June
  13. Kalie Shorr
  14. Rachel Wammack
  15. Jessie Chris
  16. Tenille Townes
  17. Delta Rae
  18. Logan Brill
  19. Maren Morris
  20. RaeLynn
  21. Heather Morgan
  22. Leah Turner
  23. Danielle Bradbery
  24. Season 1 Review
Garth Brooks’ Musical Catalog Is Getting the Vinyl Treatment

Garth Brooks’ Musical Catalog Is Getting the Vinyl Treatment

Audiophiles who have longed for more Garth Brooks’ records are in for a treat in 2019.

Garth revealed on his Inside Studio G Facebook series on Dec. 17 that he’ll be releasing more of his music on vinyl in 2019. Currently, only Garth’s first three albums—his 1989 self-titled debut, 1990’s No Fences and 1991’s Ropin’ the Wind—are available on vinyl.

“Get ready for vinyl,” said Garth. “But get ready for it in a lot of different ways, like you’ve never seen before. Remember, we were lucky enough to record in analog and we’re lucky enough to be in the digital world, as well. So, this will be something like nobody else has . . . which you guys should have.”

While Garth didn’t offer any details regarding which of his albums will be made available, he did mention that “it’s coming in a way I’ve never seen before. It’s so friggin’ cool. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

photo by Jason Simanek

Chris Stapleton, Eric Church, Emmylou Harris, Jimmy Buffett & More Added to Willie Nelson Tribute Concert

Chris Stapleton, Eric Church, Emmylou Harris, Jimmy Buffett & More Added to Willie Nelson Tribute Concert

An all-star cast of performers will hit the stage to pay tribute to country icon Willie Nelson at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Jan. 12.

The tribute concert—Willie: Life & Songs of an American Outlaw—will feature newly announced performances by Chris Stapleton, Emmylou Harris, Eric Church, Jimmy Buffett, Bobby Bare, Jamey Johnson, Lukas Nelson, Margo Price, Micah Nelson, Nathaniel Rateliff, Ray Benson and Steve Earle. Previously announced performers include Alison Krauss, The Avett Brothers, George Strait, Jack Johnson, John Mellencamp, Kris Kristofferson, Lee Ann Womack, Lyle Lovett, Norah Jones and The Little Willies, Sheryl Crow, Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks, and Vince Gill. Willie is also set to take the stage.

The event will honor Willie and feature some of his greatest hits performed by today’s biggest musical stars. The concert will be televised on A&E at a later date in 2019.

Additional tickets have been released and are on sale now.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Dylan Scott Gets Busy in Louisiana Hometown in New “Nothing to Do Town” Video [Watch]

Dylan Scott Gets Busy in Louisiana Hometown in New “Nothing to Do Town” Video [Watch]

After the Top 5 success of previous singles “My Girl” and “Hooked,” Dylan Scott will return to radio airwaves on Jan. 14 with his new single, “Nothing to Do Town.”

Co-penned by Dylan, Cole Taylor and Matt Alderman, the new tune looks to be the lead single from Dylan’s upcoming sophomore album.

“I’m really excited about the release of my new single, ‘Nothing To Do Town,’” says Dylan. “Growing up in a very small town in northeast Louisiana, we had to create our own entertainment since we didn’t have malls or movie theaters. That is what this song is all about and I wouldn’t trade the way I grew up for anything. I know there are going to be a lot of people who hear the song and feel the same way I do.”

The Bastrop, Louisiana, returned to his hometown to film the single’s new video, which features Dylan and his friends and family enjoying a day of duck hunting, dining, off-roading and hanging out by a bonfire.

Dylan will also embark on the Nothing to Do Town Tour in 2019. Kicking off on Jan. 17 in New York City, the 17-date tour will make additional stops in Boston, Detroit, Nashville, Atlanta and more. Seth Ennis will serve as the opener.

Watch Dylan’s new video for “Nothing to Do Town.”

 

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

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