Special Teams: Summer series on Tennessee football in Vince’s View

Special Teams: Summer series on Tennessee football in Vince’s View

Posted on June 16, 2017

By Vince Ferrara

Special Teams at Tennessee is today’s early summer position focus as I look at the Tennessee football team.

This is the 9th in a series of nine straight days of separate posts by position. Check my blog page daily here at SportsRadioWNML.com for the other positions.

My current projected starters are in bold. I’ve listed the average star rating entering college from the four major recruiting websites (Rivals, 247Sports, Scout and ESPN.)

Vince’s View

Specialists
PK
25        Aaron Medley          K         SR      6’2       194     3*
–           Brent Cimaglia         PK       FR       6’0       215     3*
43        Laszlo Toser             K         R-SO  5’8       181
30        Holden Foster           PK       R-SR  6’0       205
P
93        Trevor Daniel          P         R-SR  6’1       248     2*
36        Grayson Linde          P         R-FR  6’1       180
LS
46        Riley Lovingood     P-LS   R-SO  6’0       209     2*
52        Elijah Medford         K-LS   R-JR   5’9       203
64        Logan Punch            LS       R-FR  6’0       230
59        Jake Yelich               LS       R-FR  6’2       225
H
31        Parker Henry           H         R-JR   6’1       185

Position summary:  Trevor Daniel is a Top 15 punter in the country. It’s the field goal kicking in close games and from distance that’s been a struggle. That’s the case again this season for this season until we see otherwise. Aaron Medley is 9-of-25 from 40+ yards in three seasons and 39 games as UT’s kicker. That includes 0-for-5 from 50+ yards. Butch Jones usually doesn’t even try them anymore. He’s not automatic from short range either. He should be better. We’ll see if incoming freshman scholarship kicker Brent Cimaglia can at least provide competition to Medley, something he honestly hasn’t had yet at Tennessee. UT is solid at holder and long snapper.

Returners
PR
9          Marquez Callaway              SO      6’2       190     4*
10        Tyler Byrd                              SO      6’0       195     4*
25        Josh Smith                            R-SR  6’1       213     3*
8          Latrell Williams                     R-FR  5’11     175     3*
22        Micah Abernathy                 JR       6’0       195     4*
15        Jauan Jennings                   JR       6’3       205     4*
KR
29        Evan Berry                           SR      5’11    207     4*
10        Tyler Byrd                            SO      6’0       195     4*
9          Marquez Callaway               SO      6’2       190     4*
22        Micah Abernathy                 JR       6’0       195     4*
3          Marquill Osborne                 SO      5’11     188     4*
9          Cheyenne Labruzza             FR       5’11     190     3*

Position summary:  Two dynamic punt returners from the last few seasons are gone in Cam Sutton and Alvin Kamara, so this will be an interesting competition to watch. The good news is Special Teams Coordinator Charlton Warren has some dynamic options to choose from. There are only 8 career punt returns from the group listed, Smith with 6 and Callaway with 2. Smith is a safe catcher of the ball. I think UT should go with a game-changer like Callaway or Byrd. One of the 2 punt returns by Callaway went for a touchdown as a freshman last season versus Tennessee Tech.

At kickoff returner, Evan Berry was 2nd team all-SEC last year (32.9 per, 0 TDs) following his 1st-team All-American sophomore season where he averaged 38.3 yards per return with 3 returns for touchdowns. His opportunities were cut-down by 1/3rd to only 14 returns in 2016. UT needs a 2nd weapon back there with Berry to make teams pay for kicking away from him or force teams to pick their poison. Early in the season UT had a “safe” guy back there with Berry, usually Abernathy, Osborne or Foreman. I would look at Callaway, Byrd (10 KRs at 26.3 yds per in 2016,) one of the other fast receivers and maybe an athletic young DB like Cheyenne Labruzza.

Hope you enjoyed my review of the University of Tennessee football quarterbacks as we sit here in June. Go to my blog page for the rest of the position breakdowns. I have much more to say on UT football than this. Listen for me on Sports Radio WNML, call in and let’s talk some football. Thanks for reading and sharing.

Follow me on Twitter @VinceSports with the same handle on Instagram and VinceSports1 on Facebook.

Defensive Backs: Summer series on Tennessee football in Vince’s View

Defensive Backs: Summer series on Tennessee football in Vince’s View

Posted on June 16, 2017

By Vince Ferrara

Defensive Backs at Tennessee is today’s early summer position focus as I look at the Tennessee football team.

This is the 8th in a series of nine straight days of separate posts by position. Check my blog page daily here at SportsRadioWNML.com for the other positions.

My current projected starters are in bold. I’ve listed the average star rating entering college from the four major recruiting websites (Rivals, 247Sports, Scout and ESPN.)

Vince’s View

Defensive Backs
LCB
12        Emmanuel Moseley           SR      5’11    180     3*
3          Marquill Osborne                 SO      5’11     188     4*
15        Shawn Shamburger             FR       5’11     190     3*
RCB
6          Shaq Wiggins                      R-SR  5’10    173     4*
8          Justin Martin                         SR      6’1       183     4*
38        DJ Henderson                      SR      6’1       180     3*
–           Terrell Bailey                         FR       5’11     180     3*
N-CB
7          RaShaan Gaulden              R-JR   6’1       185     3*
28        Baylen Buchanan               SO      5’11     190     3*
9          Cheyenne Labruzza             FR       5’11     190     3*
FS
18        Nigel Warrior                       SO      6’0       186     4*
29        Evan Berry                            SR      5’11     207     4*
10        Theo Jackson                       FR       6’2       175     3*
SS
24        Todd Kelly Jr.                      SR      5’11    208     4*
22        Micah Abernathy                 JR       6’0       195     4*
4          Maleik Gray                           FR       6’2       195     4*

Position summary:  I’m pretty confident Louisville grad transfer Shaq Wiggins will come right in and start at one corner for the Vols. With the addition of Wiggins, the corners alone have 50 starts of experience. Quality of play is the problem. Looking at tape of Wiggins at Louisville and Georgia, he has the ability to play either side, but I penciled him in at RCB since I saw him there the most in games I saw.

No cornerbacks seized starting spots this spring. Justin Martin was complimented some, and we enjoyed finally being able to interview him, but will that improvement carry over into games or earn him the other starting spot? Moseley is a touch more consistent and a regular with the first team, so I went with him to start for now. Buchanan looked good as a freshmen initially when forced into playing time due to injuries, but then he took his lumps the rest of the way. I like Osborne’s competitiveness, strength and swagger.

Could a freshmen get in the mix like Labruzza, who I think has great upside and athleticism or Shamburger or Bailey? Labruzza could get a look at the nickel position, but he’d be stuck behind returning starter RaShaan Gaulden.

Will new DBs coach Charlton Warren look to experiment with some guys at new positions? Warren has to get this group going though. Too often, Shoop took chances with the blitz, and the guys on the back-end weren’t good enough to hold-up in many ways.

Safety has much better options for this Volunteers defense. Todd Kelly Jr. is the leader of the secondary, and one of the overall team leaders. I think Nigel Warrior is an emerging star. UT needs his play-making, ball-skills and decisiveness at that second safety spot. I think he starts over Micah Abernathy. True freshman Maleik Gray is another potential star safety. How much will he get in the mix. Evan Berry has seen some reserve time at safety as well. This is a solid group overall.

Hope you enjoyed my review of the University of Tennessee football defensive backs as we sit here in June. Go to my blog page for the rest of the position breakdowns. I have much more to say on UT football than this. Listen for me on Sports Radio WNML, call in and let’s talk some football. Thanks for reading and sharing.

Follow me on Twitter @VinceSports with the same handle on Instagram and VinceSports1 on Facebook.

Linebackers: Summer series on Tennessee football in Vince’s View

Posted on June 16, 2017

By Vince Ferrara

Linebackers at Tennessee is today’s early summer position focus as I look at the Tennessee football team.

This is the 7th in a series of nine straight days of separate posts by position. Check my blog page daily here at SportsRadioWNML.com for the other positions.

My current projected starters are in bold. I’ve listed the average star rating entering college from the four major recruiting websites (Rivals, 247Sports, Scout and ESPN.)

Vince’s View

Linebackers
MLB
34        Darrin Kirkland Jr.              JR       6’1       230     4*
35        Daniel Bituli                          SO      6’3       235     4*
23        Will Ignont                             FR       6’2       230     4*
WLB
53        Colton Jumper                    SR      6’2       224     2*
20        Cortez McDowell                  SR      6’0       235     4*
41        Elliott Berry                            SR      5’11     222     3*
21        Shanon Reid                        FR       6’0       205     3*
38        Solon Page III                       FR       6’2       205     3*
SLB (when in 4-3)
11        Austin Smith                         R-SO  6’3       236     3*
14        Quart’e Sapp                        R-SO  6’2       220     4*
17        Dillon Bates                          R-JR   6’3       220     4*

Position summary:  If healthy, and with a little bit of help, I think Darrin Kirkland Jr. is all-SEC good. Who his running mate will be in the 4-2-5 defense is up in the air. Colton Jumper held that position a good chunk of last year, and was up-and-down. I think he’s best as a reserve. Bob Shoop loves him though. Cortez McDowell was first-team in the spring with Jumper out. Everyone else is either a health question mark (Sapp, Smith, Berry) is also a middle linebacker like Kirkland (Bituli,) has yet to develop (Bates) or is a freshman (Reid, Page III, Ignont.) As you can see above, there’s star talent, but numerous guys have yet to fulfill their potential from the recruiting rankings.

If no one stands out with a great fall camp, I think Shoop and LBs coach Tommy Thigpen go back to their security blanket in Colton Jumper to line-up alongside Kirkland Jr.. I wonder if coordinator and position coach see that 2nd LB spot the same. Eventually, I believe Bituli will surface as the second-best linebacker, and they’ll be forced to play him alongside Kirkland as the best two guys. That may take a while for them to be convinced of that.

When they’re in their 4-3, I think Bituli finds his way on the field as well. Shanon Reid, despite being a freshman, looks to be a playmaker they’re looking for. We’ll see how much bigger he reports for fall camp.

Hope you enjoyed my review of the University of Tennessee football linebackers as we sit here in June. Go to my blog page for the rest of the position breakdowns. I have much more to say on UT football than this. Listen for me on Sports Radio WNML, call in and let’s talk some football. Thanks for reading and sharing.

Follow me on Twitter @VinceSports with the same handle on Instagram and VinceSports1 on Facebook.

Defensive Line: Summer series on Tennessee football in Vince’s View

Defensive Line: Summer series on Tennessee football in Vince’s View

Posted on June 16, 2017

By Vince Ferrara

Defensive Line at Tennessee is today’s early summer position focus as I look at the Tennessee football team.

This is the 6th in a series of nine straight days of separate posts by position. Check my blog page daily here at SportsRadioWNML.com for the other positions.

My current projected starters are in bold. I’ve listed the average star rating entering college from the four major recruiting websites (Rivals, 247Sports, Scout and ESPN.)

Vince’s View

Defensive Line
LDE
1          Jonathan Kongbo              R-JR   6’6       270     4*
5          Kyle Phillips                          JR       6’4       259     5*
94        Mykelle McDaniel                R-FR  6’3       220     3*
44        Ryan Thaxton                       FR       6’4       220     3*
–            Marquez Bembry                  FR       6’2       215     3*
LDT
99        Kahlil McKenzie                  JR       6’3       325     5*
2          Shy Tuttle                              JR       6’2       311     4*
55        Quay Picou                           JR       6’1       277     3*
27        Eric Crosby                           FR       6’1       325     4*
RDT
39        Kendal Vickers                   R-SR  6’3       295     2*
98        Alexis Johnson                    R-JR   6’4       295     4*
97        Paul Bain                              R-JR   6’5       290 *walk-on
95        Kivon Bennett                      FR       6’2       285     3*
RDE
19        Darrell Taylor                      R-SO  6’4       240     4*
13        Deandre Johnson               FR       6’4       235     3*
48        Ja’Quain Blakely                 R-FR  6’2       230     3*
56        Matthew Butler                     FR       6’4       285     3*

Position summary:  As you can see, this is very big group in number of bodies. Unfortunately, there are tons of questions inside and outside. DT Kendal Vickers has 26 of the 31 total starts for 19 players, scholarship and walk-ons, on the defensive line. This is a group that needs to improve with new DL coach Brady Hoke and new strength and conditioning coach Rock Gullickson.

At end, UT’s all-time sack leader, Derek Barnett, must be replaced not only in production but in snaps. He rarely came off the field. You’re next two top ends, Corey Vereen and LaTroy Lewis, are gone as well. Likely stepping into starting roles are Jonathan Kongbo and Darrell Taylor. Kongbo started 2 games at defensive tackle at the end of last season, but has now moved back to his more natural end position where he wanted to play all along. Taylor has been a light rotational player who’s appeared in 8 games his first two playing seasons. Teammates have always referred to him as a freak athlete. Taylor looked good this spring, but starting and playing three or four times the snaps is a different story. After that, there’s 5-star Kyle Phillips who has had an injury and inconsistency plagued career, early enroll true freshman Deandre Johnson and four more freshmen. That’s a lot of hoping for the best.

Inside at tackle, you feel good about veteran Kendal Vickers returning from missing spring practice as a starter. I have Kahlil McKenzie listed as a starter ahead of Shy Tuttle because of the expectation that Tuttle won’t be healthy enough by the season opener. That remains to be seen. Health and level of play are unknowns for both McKenzie, a 5-star signee in 2015, and Tuttle. Tuttle has been better when healthy, but I don’t think he was as good last year before he got hurt as he was before the broken leg two years ago. Spring first teamers Alexis Johnson and Quay Picou are unknowns. I think true freshman DT Eric Crosby is the closest to being physically ready to contribute among the five summer enrolls on the defensive line. I think Crosby is a top 3 impact player on this year’s team from the summer freshmen enrolls.

The development and health of this position group is more connected to UT’s team success this year than even the quarterbacks.

Hope you enjoyed my review of the University of Tennessee football defensive line as we sit here in June. Go to my blog page for the rest of the position breakdowns. I have much more to say on UT football than this. Listen for me on Sports Radio WNML, call in and let’s talk some football. Thanks for reading and sharing.

Follow me on Twitter @VinceSports with the same handle on Instagram and VinceSports1 on Facebook.

Offensive Line: Summer series on Tennessee football in Vince’s View

Offensive Line: Summer series on Tennessee football in Vince’s View

Posted on June 16, 2017

By Vince Ferrara

Offensive Line at Tennessee is today’s early summer position focus as I look at the Tennessee football team.

This is the 5th in a series of nine straight days of separate posts by position. Check my blog page daily here at SportsRadioWNML.com for the other positions.

My current projected starters are in bold. I’ve listed the average star rating entering college from the four major recruiting websites (Rivals, 247Sports, Scout and ESPN.)

Vince’s View

Offensive Line
LT
51        Drew Richmond                 R-SO  6’5       301     4*
68        Marcus Tatum                       SO      6’6       285     3*
57        Nathan Niehaus                  R-FR  6’6       295     3*
LG
75        Jashon Robertson             SR      6’3       305     3*
50        Venzell Boulware                R-SO  6’3       306     3*
70        Ryan Johnson                     R-FR  6’6       275     4*
C
55        Coleman Thomas              SR      6’5       301     3*
56        Riley Locklear                       FR       6’5       295     3*
RG
63        Brett Kendrick                     R-SR  6’6       318     3*
66        Jack Jones                            JR       6’4       307     4*
RT
73        Trey Smith                           FR       6’6       313     5*
76        Chance Hall                         JR       6’4       318     3*
77        Devante Brooks                   R-FR  6’5       255     3*
74        K’Rojhn Calbert                    FR       6’5       300     3*

Position summary:  This is the most experienced position group on the football team. They’ve played a combined 162 games with 110 starts. UT has nine offensive linemen that have played in a game, with seven of the nine having started for the Vols. Four linemen have started double-digit games for UT (Robertson, Thomas, Kendrick and Hall) with Jashon Robertson leading the way with 35 starts in three seasons.

I only listed each player once, so the depth chart wouldn’t work exactly like this above, but it can get too confusing seeing guys listed multiple times. For example, if Thomas starts at center and he goes down, the first move would almost certainly be Robertson moving from LG to C and someone else going to LG.

This group is so interesting because of the versatility many of them have. You can make a case for five players that could start at more than one position along the line. That’s impressive. The only position, and likely starter, that I believe is set, if healthy, is left tackle with Drew Richmond.

The first key decision will be at center. Will it be Coleman Thomas or Jashon Robertson starting? Coleman Thomas is the returning starter, but he missed most of spring practice. Jashon Robertson worked impressively at first-team center most of the spring. If it’s Thomas, then that locks Robertson back in at his normal spot at left guard. If Robertson gets the nod at center, than left guard could go to Jack Jones, Brett Kendrick who is expected to work at guard in fall camp or Venzell Boulware. Redshirt freshman Ryan Johnson worked a lot at 1st team left guard in the spring, with a lot of injuries, but I think that still might be early for him with more experienced options.

Right tackle is the next puzzle piece to be decided. Will it be Chance Hall or Trey Smith who gets the starting spot? If it’s Hall, then Smith will be the right guard. If it’s Smith then right guard will likely go to Brett Kendrick or Jack Jones. I said in the first week of spring practice that I thought Trey Smith would start game one. He’s a five-star talent (#1 overall player for ESPN,) and he’s practiced like it. His great spring coupled with gushing compliments from Butch Jones cemented that in my mind. It’s just a matter of what position for the opener against Georgia Tech in Atlanta.

New o-line coach Walt Wells is crushing it in recruiting. Can he make a big difference with the guys he has now. I love that he’s talked about being more physical and firing off the ball. UT has been too passive within its zone and gap blocking schemes. Can they block with a base (or man) mentality while not changing their schemes? Will they adjust their schemes to vary the techniques and incorporate a tougher, more physical mindset? New strength and conditioning coach Rock Gullickson will be critical in trying to make this group not only stronger, but meaner and more athletic.

I think the offensive line will be better this year. How much better will have a lot to do with how good or ineffective the offense will be. It needs to be a lot better to offset the production gone from the 2016 offense. Don’t believe the “we have 6, 7, 8 starters” talk this fall camp from the staff. The starters will start, the back-ups will back-up when called upon. However, you should believe the “finding the best 5” comments from the coaches. They have that luxury this season.

Hope you enjoyed my review of the University of Tennessee football offensive line as we sit here in June. Go to my blog page for the rest of the position breakdowns. I have much more to say on UT football than this. Listen for me on Sports Radio WNML, call in and let’s talk some football. Thanks for reading and sharing.

Follow me on Twitter @VinceSports with the same handle on Instagram and VinceSports1 on Facebook.

Tight Ends: Summer series on Tennessee football in Vince’s View

Tight Ends: Summer series on Tennessee football in Vince’s View

Posted on June 16, 2017

By Vince Ferrara

Tight Ends at Tennessee is today’s early summer position focus as I look at the Tennessee football team.

This is the 4th in a series of nine straight days of separate posts by position. Check my blog page daily here at SportsRadioWNML.com for the other positions.

My current projected starters are in bold. I’ve listed the average star rating entering college from the four major recruiting websites (Rivals, 247Sports, Scout and ESPN.)

Vince’s View

Tight Ends/H-Backs
82        Ethan Wolf                           SR      6’6       245     3*
44        Jakob Johnson                    SR      6’3       250     3*
80        Eli Wolf                                  R-SO  6’4       216 *walk-on
–           LaTrell Bumphus                 FR       6’4       245     3*
81        Austin Pope                          R-FR  6’4       230     3*
84        James Brown                        FR       6’4       220     3*

Position summary:  Ethan Wolf (21 rec., 2 TDs in 2016) is one of the most irreplaceable players on the roster. There’s no one behind him that’s like him, as good as him or as experienced as him. That includes his younger, smaller brother Eli. Johnson is a blocking HB/TE who’s a force on special teams, Bumphus is an incoming freshman with the frame to best rise up the depth chart if he develops. Pope is rarely mentioned by coaches. Brown is a raw and undersized freshman TE.

If Wolf stays healthy, cuts down on his drops and the wide receiver position develops to allow him more space in coverage, he could be one of the SEC’s best TEs. New OC Larry Scott still coaches the TEs, so that will only help Wolf shot at getting the football in the passing game.

Hope you enjoyed my review of the University of Tennessee football tight ends as we sit here in June. Go to my blog page for the rest of the position breakdowns. I have much more to say on UT football than this. Listen for me on Sports Radio WNML, call in and let’s talk some football. Thanks for reading and sharing.

Follow me on Twitter @VinceSports with the same handle on Instagram and VinceSports1 on Facebook.

Wide Receivers: Summer series on Tennessee football in Vince’s View

Wide Receivers: Summer series on Tennessee football in Vince’s View

Posted on June 16, 2017

By Vince Ferrara

Wide receivers at Tennessee is today’s early summer position focus as I look at the Tennessee football team.

This is the 3rd in a series of nine straight days of separate posts by position. Check my blog page daily here at SportsRadioWNML.com for the other positions.

My current projected starters are in bold. I’ve listed the average star rating entering college from the four major recruiting websites (Rivals, 247Sports, Scout and ESPN.)

Vince’s View

Wide Receivers
Z
15        Jauan Jennings                  JR       6’3       205     4*
17        Brandon Johnson               SO      6’2       180     3*
19        Jeff George                           R-SR  6’6       195     3*
5          Josh Palmer                          FR       6’2       200     3*
X
9          Marquez Callaway              SO      6’2       190     4*
25        Josh Smith                            R-SR  6’1       213     3*
11        Jordan Murphy                     FR       5’11     170     3*
18        Princeton Fant                     FR       6’2       200     3*
Slot
10        Tyler Byrd                            SO      6’0       195     4*
8          Latrell Williams                     R-FR  5’11     175     3*
–             Jacquez Jones                     FR       5’10     165     3*

Position summary:  I expect the positions within the wide receiver group to change a lot during camp and definitely during games where players will shift to different formations. They cross-train a lot at Tennessee, so I think that will happen, especially with the older guys like Jennings and Smith who have played all of the wide receiver spots. Callaway in the slot for example is something that you could see a fair amount because he has both quickness and size.

This is a 3-star heavy group after the projected starters. Has UT found some under-rated talent that will exceed the rating or will this group lack the elite ability to get back to “Wide Receiver U?” I like Kevin Beard as the new wide receivers coach. He’s young and has a very different personality and style from Zach Azzanni. He embraces cocky receivers with personality as long as you do your job. Coach Z was more about being in-line with everybody else, rolling guys through equally and could perhaps grind on some guys with his tough, demanding coaching. I think a fresh, different approach from Kevin Beard is really good for this group.

How does Jauan Jennings handle the extra attention in coverage? What’s the next level for exciting sophomore Tyler Byrd (15 rec, 209 yds in 2016) this season? Will Byrd or another young receiver bring the offense the run-after-catch playmaking Butch Jones wants and the offense needs? It would also be helpful, if for once, this group wasn’t hit with numerous injuries, especially because they are so young overall.

Hope you enjoyed my review of the University of Tennessee football wide receivers as we sit here in June. Go to my blog page for the rest of the position breakdowns. I have much more to say on UT football than this. Listen for me on Sports Radio WNML, call in and let’s talk some football. Thanks for reading and sharing.

Follow me on Twitter @VinceSports with the same handle on Instagram and VinceSports1 on Facebook.

Manning Helps Dedicate Carmen and Deborah Tegano Dining Hall

Manning Helps Dedicate Carmen and Deborah Tegano Dining Hall

Posted on June 16, 2017
Carmen Tegano, Peyton Manning and more / Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Carmen and Deborah Tegano were recognized Friday morning for their countless hours of service on Rocky Top at the dedication of the new dining facility in Stokely Hall named in their honor.

A gift from Peyton and Ashley Manning, longtime friends of the Teganos, paved the way for the naming of The Carmen and Deborah Tegano Dining Hall. Carmen Tegano is a longstanding Associate Athletics Director, and his wife, Deborah, was one of Manning’s professors at UT.

“When I think of Carmen and Debbie Tegano, two words come to mind: friendship and service,” Peyton Manning said. “I know I speak for everyone in this room and many others when I say how lucky we all are to call both of you our friends.”

Carmen Tegano has served in the Tennessee Athletics Department since 1985, making numerous connections and friendships with student-athletes. Still serving as Associate AD, Tegano has also spent time at Tennessee as an adjunct professor, a member of the Office of Development and the Associate AD for Student Life.

Tegano has had many different responsibilities at Tennessee, staying directly involved for 32 years. Now, his primary focus is overseeing the Tennessee baseball program, which just recently hired and introduced new head coach Tony Vitello.

“We go through life and do things to add days to our life. We do the little things, but that’s not the way it should be,” Carmen Tegano said. “We should address every day as adding life to that day.

“You [Peyton] have added a lot of life and joy to my days, but nothing like today.”

Deborah Tegano served 22 years at Tennessee as a teacher and researcher in the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences. Teaching many student-athletes in her time on Rocky Top, Tegano had the opportunity to teach Manning in a class that visited various elementary schools across the area.

Through the Peyback Foundation, Manning has lived out Tegano’s teachings, donating millions of dollars to programs that provide leadership and growth opportunities for students in Knox County and across the country.

“I love this university. Carmen and I love this university, and I believe we share that feeling with everybody in this room today, and we especially share that with Ashley and Peyton,” said Deborah Tegano.

Concluding a morning of laughter and emotion highlighted by a video featuring many former student-athletes, coaches and former athletics director Doug Dickey, a crowd of family and friends packed into the ground floor of Stokely Hall to see the unveiling of the plaque that now adorns the wall of The Carmen and Deborah Tegano Dining Hall.

With the dining hall officially dedicated, current and future Tennessee students will be able to enjoy meals in a setting that helped make the Teganos an influential presence on campus.

-UT Athletics

 

2017 Peyton Manning Scholars Recognized

Posted on June 16, 2017
Peyton Manning and award winners / Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — An exclusive club of current and past Tennessee students welcomed new members on Friday as four incoming freshmen were awarded the Peyton Manning Scholarship at Neyland Stadium.

Manning and University Provost John Zomchick presented Emma Kate Hall of Lebanon, Grace Neiman of West Point, Nebraska, Sydney Peay of Spring Hill, and Blake Turpin of Knoxville with plaques celebrating the efforts they have shown throughout their academic careers—efforts that have earned them the title of 2017 Peyton Manning Scholars. With the induction of its four newest members, the Manning Scholarship, which originated 20 years ago, has now been awarded to 33 UT Knoxville students.

“I hope this program has provided each and every recipient with an extra edge to maximize their time here at Tennessee and beyond,” Manning said. “It really means a great deal to me knowing how much students appreciate the opportunity, but also to witness their progress and their successes, both personally and professionally.”

The scholarship, which was sought after by more than 300 applicants this year, covers nearly the full cost for tuition during the students’ time at Tennessee. According to Zomchick, the process by which the four students were selected was rigorous and thorough.

“Manning scholars must demonstrate academic excellence through their class ranking, GPA, ACT or SAT test scores and through nomination and recommendation,” Zomchick said. “Recipients must have established appreciation for active involvement with school and community activities.”

For Hall, who was Student Government president and a member of the National Honor Society at Lebanon High School, the award will serve as an opportunity to make a difference both on campus and in the community. However, Hall made sure to recognize how surreal it was to be honored by a Tennessee legend.

“Growing up in Tennessee, everybody knows the name Peyton Manning,” she said. “A popular phrase in my house was ‘the Lord is our shepherd, and Peyton Manning is our quarterback.’”

The Manning Scholarship also made it possible for Peay to pursue her academic goals on Rocky Top. After competing in the National Chemistry Olympiad and serving as the president of the Gay Straight Alliance organization in high school, Peay intends to study sociology and is grateful to be a part of the campus culture at Tennessee.

“To be a Volunteer, and to be a member of a community that so strongly values that service means the world to me,” she said. “I would not be able to take on that opportunity without the honor of this scholarship.”

Turpin, who moved to Knoxville from Montgomery, Alabama, three years ago, said he could not imagine leaving what has become home to him. Turpin was treasurer of his Student Government Association his senior year, served as a member of Youth Leadership Knoxville and plans to major in civil engineering. However, similar to Manning, he hopes he can make a larger impact in the community after his graduation.

“It’s truly inspiring and an amazing feeling to see someone who I have idolized over the years care enough about me, the University of Tennessee and this community to provide his support,” Turpin said. “I think this honor would mean a lot coming from anyone, but to see that Mr. Manning provides it is a testament to what I truly believe, and that it that Knoxville is a very special place, and this university is a very special place.”

Neiman, on the other hand, will be beginning her freshman year as a newcomer in the Volunteer State. Although being a member of her high school’s concert band and the National Honor Society would indicate there was a lot to leave behind in West Point, she has found the kind of warm welcome in her short time spent in Knoxville that has kept Manning coming back for the past two decades.

“(Peyton’s) gift helps us to chase our goals as we reach this pivotal point in our lives,” Neiman said. “From the minute I stepped onto this campus, I felt welcomed. I can think of no better place to pursue my education. Though it may be true that there is no place like Nebraska, I know that Rocky Top will always be home sweet home to me.”

The tradition of the Manning scholarship began in 1998, when he decided to form an endowment out of the scholarship money that came along with his on-field awards. What started out as an annual recognition of one student has progressed to a ceremony that now features four recipients, and as Tennessee Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics John Currie has observed, the relationship between Manning and the university continues to serve as a standard for returning student-athletes.

“Peyton Manning embodies the Volunteer tradition,” Currie said. “The idea that this has been going on for 20 years and he has continued to be so incredibly engaged, understanding the impact that he has on the students… it is very special.”

-UT Athletics

 

Watch Zac Brown Band’s New Lyric Video for “My Old Man,” Featuring Fans & Their Dads

Watch Zac Brown Band’s New Lyric Video for “My Old Man,” Featuring Fans & Their Dads

Posted on June 16, 2017

In honor of Father’s Day, Zac Brown Band released a new lyric video for their current single, “My Old Man.”

The new clip features photos from ZBB’s fans and their dads as the song’s lyrics are displayed onscreen.

“He was a lion / We were our father’s pride / But I was defiant / When he made me walk the line / He knew how to lift me up / And when to let me fall / Looking back, he always had a plan / My old man,” Zac sings in the song.

“My Old Man,” which was penned by Zac, Niko Moon and Ben Simonetti, is currently No. 18 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.

Watch the new lyric video below.

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