KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – With Super Wild Card Weekend just two days away, 11 former Tennessee Volunteers are gearing up for the NFL Playoffs with six currently on active rosters. Five active players will participate in Super Wild Card Weekend.
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers, Saturday, Jan. 14, 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX The game with the most Tennessee representation is the first one of the 2023 playoffs as five former Vols makeup the two sides’ rosters for Seattle’s battle with San Francisco.
Suiting up for the Seahawks will be defensive back Justin Coleman and defensive end Darrell Taylor. Taylor has played a big role in his second year in the league, wrapping up nine and a half sacks, forcing four fumbles and recovering a loose ball in 2023. He has been in top form as of late, recording 6.5 sacks in Seattle’s final six regular-season games.
On the other sideline is wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who continues to build his role in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. The second-year man has a reception in the 49ers last six games and is gearing up for his first playoff run as a professional.
Also on the respective clubs is defensive back Emmanuel Moseley for San Francisco, who has been on the injured reserve, and linebacker Alexander Johnson, currently on Seattle’s practice squad. Johnson was elevated to the active roster for the first time this season in Week 18, and logged three total tackles in a 19-16 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Los Angeles Chargers at Jacksonville Jaguars, Saturday, Jan. 14, 8:15 p.m. ET, NBC In Saturday’ nightcap, Joshua Palmer gears up for a battle with the AFC South-winning Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field. Palmer finished the 2022 regular season with the second-most receiving yards (769) and second-most catches (72) on the Chargers’ roster. He provided a steady presence throughout much of the season for LA in a receiver room that was battered with injury, playing 16 games, and averaging just under 50 yards per game.
New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Jan. 15, 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX The final former Vol in action this weekend is rookie Theo Jackson of the Vikings. Jackson, who started the year with the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad before being signed to Minnesota’s active roster, has played in 11 games this year, and posted back-to-back contests with a tackle in Weeks 17 and 18.
Elsewhere The Kansas City Chiefs and Trey Smith are off this week after earning the top seed in the AFC and getting the bye, as are the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC and Derek Barnett, who is on injured reserve.
A pair of Vols currently occupy roster spots with the Baltimore Ravens, who will battle Cincinnati on Sunday, Jan. 15, at 8:15 p.m. ET in Cincinnati. Ja’Wuan James has been on the injured reserve for Baltimore while Kahlil McKenzie holds a spot on the team’s practice squad.
For a list of all games and the former Volunteers representing on each team’s roster, see the below list.
Saturday, Jan. 14
Seattle at San Francisco – 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX Seattle Justin Coleman, DB Darrell Taylor, DE Alexander Johnson, LB (Practice Squad)
San Francisco Jauan Jennings, WR Emmanuel Moseley, CB (Injured Reserve)
Los Angeles Chargers at Jacksonville – 8:15 p.m. ET, NBC Los Angeles Joshua Palmer, WR
Sunday, Jan. 15
Miami at Buffalo – 1 p.m. ET, CBS
New York Giants at Minnesota – 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX Minnesota Theo Jackson, DB
Baltimore at Cincinnati – 8:15 p.m. ET, NBC Baltimore Ja’Wuan James, OL (Injured Reserve) Kahlil McKenzie (Practice Squad)
Monday, Jan. 16 Dallas at Tampa Bay – 8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN
The Knoxville County Planning Commission held its monthly meeting this week, where they discussed several issues among land use. One issue being the potential firearms range a Knoxville-based company wants to build in the New Hopewell community of South Knox county.
There were many items on the agenda to discuss regarding land and re-zoning. The planning commission wanted to postpone the use-on-review proposal until next month.
Pelennor Fields LLC. is associated with Jordan Mollenhour, the founder and owner of the Knoxville-based ammunition sales company Lucky Gunner. He made the application and plans on using the gun range for business use only, not open to the public. The property will be used for his creation of weapons, ammunition and for his clients.
Jeff Welch, who is the Director of Knoxville/Knox County Planning, said that this is a tricky situation considering the county does not have any control over firearm ranges.
“Firing ranges, we have some regulations at the county [level], but the state has other laws that oversee what we can do. We have very limited things we can place on a firing ranges,” said Welch.
The area where the range is potentially going to be is surrounded by several houses and residential communities. The people who live in that area are already voicing their concerns to the planning commission. Welch said this is something they are heavily considering, because the main issue that comes with the range is the noise and proximity to homes.
“Residents around the area, I’m not sure how close to that but within proximity of it, are concerned. As I understand he’s shooting into a closed area and not shooting above anything or above the skyline. So, I think the noise is the biggest issue and pushback for a firing range,” said Welch.
The planning commission’s next meeting will be Feb. 7 at 11:30 a.m. It is open to the public at the City County Building.
The Morgan County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help to find a missing 29 year-old man.
Matthew Hall was last seen the afternoon of January 7 at Mountain Top Bar & Gril in Rockwood.
Hel has hazel eyes and brown hair and was last seen wearing khaki shorts with black shoes and reported to be driving a gold Buick with TN tag #315-BGDJ.
If you have any information you asked to contact authorities.
Knox County district attorney Charme Allen’s office says Albert Thompkins Jr. was babysitting the victim at his home while she was in online schooling, and assaulted her.
Knoxville Police say the victim later came forward to a family member and Thompkins, Jr. made “incriminating admissions,” leading to the conviction.
Thompkins, Jr. also reportedly has prior felony convictions for aggravated assault and sale of counterfeit controlled substances. He was convicted of two counts of rape of a child and two counts of aggravated sexual battery. He is set to serve 33 years in prison without parole.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The fifth-ranked Tennessee men’s basketball team is back home for a clash with rival Kentucky this weekend, set to take on the Wildcats on Saturday at 12 p.m. ET.
Fans can catch Saturday’s game on ESPN and online or on any mobile device through WatchESPN. WatchESPN can be accessed through the ESPN App, or online at espn.com/watch. Dan Shulman (play-by-play), Jay Bilas (analyst) and Holly Rowe (reporter) will have the call.
Fans can also listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp describing the action.
Tennessee (14-2, 4-0 SEC) notched its fifth straight win—and 25th straight inside Thompson-Boling Arena—Tuesday against Vanderbilt, pulling away in the second half for a 77-68 victory over the Commodores. Santiago Vescovi and Julian Phillips tied for the team lead with 15 points apiece, while Zakai Zeigler had seven points and nine assists.
The Vols’ 25 straight home wins now stand as the third-longest home win streak in the nation.
Tennessee is also riding an impressive streak against SEC opponents. Since last season’s loss to Kentucky at Rupp Arena on Jan. 15, 2022, Tennessee has played 20 games against SEC opponents—posting a 19-1 record in those contests. That stretch includes two wins over the Wildcats, one in Knoxville and one in Tampa during the SEC Tournament.
Following Saturday’s rivalry matchup, Tennessee hits the road twice next week—first at Mississippi State on Tuesday. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
THE SERIES • Tennessee trails the all-time series with Kentucky, 158-77, dating to 1910. • The Wildcats have a 54-52 edge when the series is played in Knoxville, but Tennessee has won five of the last seven meetings at Thompson-Boling Arena. • The Vols have won eight of the last 13 meetings, including two of three last season. • Since last season’s 107-79 loss at Rupp Arena on Jan. 15, Tennessee has played 20 games against SEC opponents—posting a 19-1 record in those contests. • A win Saturday would give the Volunteers three straight over the Wildcats. In this series, neither team has authored a win streak longer than two games since 2013. • Vols legend Chris Lofton, a native of Maysville, Kentucky, will have his Tennessee jersey retired at halftime of Saturday’s game. • In three games vs. UK last season, Santiago Vescovi averaged 15.7 points and 4.3 rebounds while shooting .471 from long range.
SCOUTING REPORT • The Vols occupy the No. 2 spot in the NCAA’s NET ratings. • Tennessee ranks among the top five nationally in six different statistical categories. • These Vols have won eight games by 30 or more points. • While UT’s defense gets the headlines, during SEC play, the Vols lead the league in both assists (20.0 apg) and field-goal percentage (.529). • UT owns a +22.5 scoring margin in SEC games. That’s complemented by a +14.5 rebound margin. • Zakai Zeigler is averaging a league-best 7.5 assists during SEC play. • Santiago Vescovi is averaging 16.5 points over UT’s last five games, shooting .604 from the field and .567 from 3-point range. • Olivier Nkamhoua leads the SEC in field-goal percentage during league play, shooting .700. • Tennessee is riding a 25-game home win streak at Thompson-Boling Arena. That includes 12 straight triumphs over SEC opponents. • Tennessee has won 24 of its last 30 games against SEC opponents. That’s an .800 win percentage dating to Feb. 24, 2021.
THE NATION’S BEST DEFENSE • For the seventh straight week, the Volunteers own the best adjusted defensive efficiency in the country per KenPom, allowing only 81.8 points per 100 possessions. • Tennessee owns the best overall field-goal percentage defense (.335) and 3-point defense in Division I (.209). • In 16 games, Tennessee opponents have managed to make only 76 3-pointers—just 4.8 per game. • Nine times this season, the Vols have held their opponents to 50 points or less. Tennessee has now done that 29 times during the Barnes era (2015-present). • Only two opposing players have scored 20 or more points against the Vols this season. • Tennessee trailed at the break only twice this season and is outscoring its opponents 36.4 ppg to 24.8 ppg in first-half action (+11.6 ppg).
ABOUT KENTUCKY • Kentucky (10-6, 1-3 SEC) enters Saturday’s game having lost two straight—falling at Alabama last Saturday and dropping a home contest to South Carolina on Tuesday. • The Wildcats are currently ranked No. 63 in the NET rankings and have dropped all five of their Quadrant I games—on the road at Gonzaga, Missouri and Alabama, and on neutral courts against Michigan State and UCLA. • Kentucky is 0-3 in true road games this season—1-5 in total in games outside of Rupp Arena. • Reigning unanimous National Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe has once again been Kentucky’s leader from a statistical standpoint this season, leading the Wildcats in scoring (15.8 ppg) and rebounding (13.2 rpg). Tshiebwe has recorded a double-double in nine of Kentucky’s 16 games this season. • Tshiebwe’s 13.2 rebounds per game lead the SEC by more than four boards per game and rank second in the nation. The senior is also grabbing 5.7 offensive rebounds per game—tops in the nation. Tshiebwe’s .584 field goal percentage also ranks 39th among all Division I players. • Senior guard Sahvir Wheeler, a 2022 All-SEC second-team selection ranks seventh in Division I with 6.3 assists per game • According to KenPom, as a team, Kentucky is ranked 20th in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency and 93rd in adjusted defensive efficiency. • Prior to Tennessee’s current 25-game home win streak, the Wildcats were the last opposing team to exit Thompson-Boling Arena with a win. Kentucky defeated No. 19 Tennessee on Feb. 20, 2021, 70-55.
SERIES HISTORY & NOTES • The Kentucky series is UT’s oldest and most-played among SEC opponents. The Vols and Wildcats first met on Feb. 5, 1910, and have clashed 235 times over the years. • No program in college basketball has logged more wins over Kentucky than Tennessee (77). • Tennessee has 16 all-time wins over the Wildcats at Thompson-Boling Arena, including victories in five of the last seven. • Kentucky is one of only two SEC schools (Alabama) to lead its all-time series against the Volunteers. • Four Tennessee All-Americans were Kentucky natives: Allan Houston, Chris Lofton, Danny Schultz and Paul “Lefty” Walther. • On Saturday, John Calipari will coach his 35th career game against the Vols. No active collegiate head coach has faced Tennessee more. • Since Calipari returned to the college game in 2000-01 with Memphis, Tennessee has dealt him 15 losses. No team has more wins over Calipari-coached teams during that span. • The Volunteers under head coach Rick Barnes are 5-2 at home against Kentucky, defeating the Wildcats in Thompson-Boling Arena in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022.
LAST MEETING WITH KENTUCKY • Timely baskets in the second half and a stellar start to the game on the defensive end led Tennessee to a hard-fought win over Kentucky on March 12, 2022, in the SEC Tournament semifinals, 69-62. • Kennedy Chandler (now with the Memphis Grizzlies) scored a team-high 19 points for the Volunteers on 8-for-16 shooting. Zakai Zeigler had 11 points, while Josiah-Jordan James added 10. • Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (has since transferred to Louisville) scored eight points on 4-for-7 shooting in 22 minutes. Uros Plavsic had six points on 3-for-4 shooting and a team-high eight rebounds. • With Tennessee leading by 12 points with 2:40 remaining, Kentucky strung together an 11-3 run to draw within three points at 65-62—the game’s closest margin since the 16:59 mark of the first half. • After Kentucky cut it to three points on two TyTy Washington Jr. free throws, Chandler missed a 3-point attempt on the other end, but Santiago Vescovi grabbed a huge offensive rebound with 58.4 seconds left. The first-team All-SEC selection hit one of two free throws to push the lead back to two possessions. • On the ensuing Kentucky trip down the court, Tennessee forced missed 3-pointers from Keion Brooks Jr. and Kellan Grady—the latter of which was rebounded by Zeigler, who sank three of four free throws in the final 29 seconds to seal the win.
BARNES + CALIPARI = 1,500+ WINS • Saturday’s game features the two winningest coaches (total career Division I wins) in the SEC. • John Calipari is the league’s active leader in career wins, with 778. Rick Barnes is a close second with 768 victories to his credit. • Among all active Division I head coaches, Calipari and Barnes rank tied for fourth and sixth, respectively, in total head coaching wins. • Barnes and Calipari became friends while working a Pitt basketball camp in the late 1970s. The star player at that camp? Current Xavier head coach Sean Miller.
RIVALRY RECHARGED • Since Rick Barnes‘ arrival on Rocky Top (2015), the border rivalry with the Kentucky Wildcats has been recharged in a major way. • Barnes has led the Volunteers to a 10-7 overall record against the Wildcats, including at least one win in each of the last seven seasons. • Since current UK coach John Calipari has been in Lexington, Tennessee is the only program to have logged wins over Kentucky for seven straight seasons. • Tennessee is the first program to defeat Kentucky at least once for seven straight seasons since the Vols beat the Wildcats in seven straight years from 1979-85. Alabama managed an eight-year win streak over UK from 1978-85. The Vols could match that this season. • Spanning the first seven years of the Barnes era at UT, the Vols are 5-2 against Kentucky in Knoxville, 3-4 vs. the Cats in Lexington and 2-1 against UK in neutral-site clashes at the SEC Tournament.
CONTEXTUALIZING TENNESSEE’S SUCCESS VS. UK UNDER BARNES • From 1995-2015—a period that spanned the tenures of six UT head coaches—Tennessee’s record against Kentucky was a combined 9-33, including a 7-26 mark against ranked UK squads. • The Vols under Rick Barnes are 10-7 vs. Kentucky over seven seasons, with a 9-5 record against ranked UK teams. • For five of UT’s Barnes-era wins over the Wildcats, Kentucky was ranked in the top five of the AP Top 25.
CHRIS LOFTON: BORN IN KENTUCKY, MADE A LEGEND IN TENNESSEE • Chris Lofton, the SEC’s All-Time 3-Point King, becomes UT’s fifth men’s basketball player to be permanently honored in the Thompson-Boling Arena rafters. He joins Bernard King, Ernie Grunfeld, Allan Houston and Dale Ellis. • A native of Maysville, Kentucky, Lofton suited up for the Volunteers from 2004-08 and scored 2,131 career points—the fourth-most in program history. • Lofton was recruited and signed by Buzz Peterson and played his final three seasons under Bruce Pearl. • Lofton’s 431 career made threes remain an SEC record and ranked third in NCAA Division I history at the time of his departure from Tennessee. • Despite undergoing cancer treatments between his junior and senior years, Lofton authored a senior campaign that earned him a spot on the 2008 Wooden All-America Team. He completed his degree in 2010. • Look for several noteworthy names to be in attendance Saturday to witness Lofton’s banner raising.
COMPREHENSIVE EXCELLENCE • Tennessee’s men’s hoops squad isn’t the only team enjoying routine success on Rocky Top. • During the 2021-22 academic year, Tennessee won the SEC Men’s All-Sports Trophy and finished second in the SEC Women’s All-Sports standings. The Vols and Lady Vols captured five SEC team titles in 2021-22. • Tennessee teams currently ranked in their respective national top 25 polls include baseball (preseason No. 2), men’s basketball (No. 5), football (No. 6), men’s swimming & diving (No. 6), men’s tennis (No. 6), men’s golf (No. 7), women’s swimming & diving (No. 14), men’s cross country (No. 20) and women’s tennis (No. 24). • Tennessee football defeated No. 7 Clemson in the Capital One Orange Bowl on Dec. 30, 31-14. With that triumph, the Vols’ 2022 season featured victories over three of the previous four national champions.
Lisa Marie Presley, who died on Jan. 12, lived most of her life under the public eye as the singer was the sole daughter of Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley. But growing up with the King of Rock ‘n Roll as her father made things “very exciting,” she said.
“He’d always wake me up to sing in the middle of the night, get on the table and sing,” Lisa Marie recalled during an interview on Good Morning America in 2009, People reported. “I remember him as my dad, but he was a very exciting dad.”
The iconic couple had Lisa nine months after their wedding, and she was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on Feb. 1, 1968.
Her time with Elvis in the home was fun, she explained, as she recalled during an interview with The Associated Press in 2012 that he would ride her around on golf carts through the neighborhood.
She also recalled seeing his extravagant entrances as he came down the stairs.
“He was always fully, fully geared up. You’d never see him in his pajamas coming down the steps, ever,” she told the outlet in 2012. “You’d never see him in anything but ‘ready to be seen’ attire.”
Her parents divorced, however, in 1973, when Lisa Marie was 4, and she and her mother moved to Los Angeles.
It was out West where Lisa Marie met Michael Jackson during one of her father’s Las Vegas concerts when she was 7. She and the King of Pop later married.
Elvis died years later, in August 1977. He was 42.
She stayed at Graceland that night and recalled kissing her father goodnight before he collapsed and never recovered. She found him the next morning on the bathroom floor.
“I just had a feeling,” she told Rolling Stone in 2003. “He wasn’t doing well. All I know is I had it (a feeling), and it happened. I was obsessed with death at a very early age.”
His death made her the joint heir to his estate, and, when her grandfather, Vernon Presley and great-grandmother, Minnie Mae Hood Presley passed away in 1979 and 1980, she became the sole heir to the Graceland residence.
Lisa Marie Presley, Priscilla Presley & Elvis Presley (Magma Agency/WireImage)
American rock legend Elvis Presley with his daughter Lisa-Marie Presley. (Frank Carroll/Sygma via Getty Images)
Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie Presley & Elvis Presley (Magma Agency/WireImage)
Lisa Marie followed in her late father’s footsteps in picking up an interest in music and carried his legacy. Her father heavily influenced her music.
“It’s been all my life,” she told The Associated Press in 2012, referencing his influence. “It’s not something that I now listen to and it’s different. Although I might listen closer. I remain consistent on the fact that I’ve always been an admirer. He’s always influenced me.”
She married Danny Keough, a Chicago-based musician, in October 1988.
The two welcomed two children, daughter Riley in 1989 and son Benjamin in 1992, and divorced in May 1994.
Less than a month later, she and Jackson got married.
“I am very much in love with Michael, I dedicate my life to being his wife. I understand and support him,” she explained at the time, People reported. “We both look forward to raising a family.”
The relationship lasted two years.
This August 16, 1994 file photo shows US pop star Michael Jackson and his then wife Lisa-Marie Presley arriving at the airport in Budapest. (AFP via Getty Images)
Michael Jackson and wife Lisa Marie Presley in 1995 at Versailles, France. (Michel Dufour/WireImage)
“The one thing that correlates with Michael and with my father on this subject is that they had the luxury of creating whatever reality around them they wanted to create,” Lisa Marie told Oprah Winfrey in 2016, according to HuffPost. “They could have the kinds of people who were going to go with their program or not go with their program. If they weren’t, then they could be disposed of.”
Jackson died on June 25, 2009.
Lisa Marie also got engaged to musician John Oszajca in 2000, but broke it off when she met actor Nicolas Cage.
Two years later, Lisa Marie and Cage were married. They held a secret ceremony on the 25th anniversary of Elvis’ death in Hawaii but split up less than four months later.
“I’m sad about this, but we shouldn’t have been married in the first place,” Lisa Marie explained through her publicist, Paul Bloch.
Lisa Marie married again in 2006 to Michael Lockwood, and the two welcomed twin daughters, Harper and Finley, in 2008.
Singer Lisa Marie Presley (L) and musician Michael Lockwood arrive at the “Mad Max: Fury Road” Los Angeles Premiere at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX on May 7, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage)
Lisa Marie Presley and performs on stage with husband and guitarist Michael Lockwood at the Triple Door Theater on August 28, 2013 in Seattle, Washington. (Mat Hayward/Getty Images)
Their relationship also ended when Marie filed for divorce in June 2016. The two separated, and the divorce was finalized in 2021. A lengthy custody battle was fought over the children.
Lisa Marie was “ferociously protective” of her children, she told Healthy Living in 2014.
“I just smother them in love,” she added. “They are my priority. That’s what I do. That’s what I care most about. I keep them close to me and make sure they are happy and healthy.”
In 2020, Lisa Marie lost her son Benjamin to suicide. It fundamentally changed her life.
“My beautiful, beautiful angel, I worshiped the ground you walked on, on this earth and now in Heaven,” she wrote on Instagram after his passing. “My heart and soul went with you. The depth of the pain is suffocating and bottomless without you every moment of every day.”
She expressed her grief openly in the years since, most recently in an essay for People Magazine in 2022.
“I’ve dealt with death, grief and loss since the age of 9 years old. I’ve had more than anyone’s fair share of it in my lifetime, and somehow, I’ve made it this far,” she wrote at the time.
“But this one, the death of my beautiful, beautiful son? The sweetest and most incredible being that I have ever had the privilege of knowing, who made me feel so honored every single day to be his mother? Who was so much like his grandfather on so many levels that he actually scared me? Which made me worry about him even more than I naturally would have?” her essay continued. “No. Just no … no, no, no, no…”
“It’s a real choice to keep going, one that I have to make every single day and one that is constantly challenging, to say the least … But I keep going for my girls,” she wrote. “I keep going because my son made it very clear in his final moments that taking care of his little sisters and looking out for them were on the forefront of his concerns and his mind. He absolutely adored them, and they him.”
Lisa Marie Presley and her children Benjamin Keough (R), Riley Keough (L), and her half-brother Navarone Garibaldi (back) attend the premiere of “Lilo and Stitch” at the El Capitan theatre in Hollywood on June 16, 2002. (CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images)
Lisa Marie died on Thursday, Jan. 12, after being transported to the hospital following a possible cardiac arrest. Priscilla confirmed the death that evening.
“It is with a heavy heart that I must share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us,” Priscilla said in a statement. “She was the most passionate, strong and loving woman I have ever known.”
Those across the country immediately felt the loss as Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, John Travolta and others mourned her death.
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Fox News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
For the first time ever, the NFL Players Association released its All-Pro Team with a pair of former Tennessee Volunteers, Cordarrelle Patterson of the Atlanta Falcons and Morgan Cox of the Tennessee Titans, making the inaugural list in special teams positions.
Patterson was voted an All-Pro kick returner by his peers after proving to be the most dangerous return-man in the pro game in his 10th year in the league. Though he only had nine opportunities to run back a kick in 2022, he was electric when he did, averaging 31.6 yards per return and housing his ninth-career kick return against the Chicago Bears in Week 11. That 103-yard return broke a tie for the NFL record in career kick return scores with Josh Cribbs and Leon Washington.
Cox, on the other hand, is one of the most widely-respected long snappers in the league. Cox was named to his fifth-career Pro Bowl just three weeks ago and reached a milestone 200 career games played on Oct. 30. Cox had the third-most snaps of any long snapper this season, successfully delivering 147 this year. He also added a tackle against Houston in Week 16.
For Patterson, it marks his eighth-career All-Pro nod, earning first-team acclaim in 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2020 while taking home second-team honors in 2015, 2018 and 2019. Cox was voted a first-team All-Pro during the 2020 season.
The voting for the first-even NFLPA All-Pro Team was done by active players from across the league. Players could not vote for themselves or for their teammates and only voted for the position group they play in as well as the players lining up against them on the other side of the ball. All players were eligible for votes as long as they did not miss five or more games as of Week 15 of the season and two special teamers were nominated by leaders from each team.
The first-ever NFL Players Association All-Pro Team in its totality can be found below.
Offense QB: Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City) RB: Josh Jacobs (Las Vegas) FB: Kyle Juszczyk (San Francisco) WR: Justin Jefferson (Minnesota), Davante Adams (Las Vegas) TE: Travis Kelce (Kansas City) LT: Trent Williams (San Francisco) LG: Joel Bitonio (Cleveland) C: Jason Kelce (Philadelphia) RG: Zack Martin (Dallas) RT: Lane Johnson (Philadelphia)
Defense EDGE: Nick Bosa (San Francisco), Myles Garrett (Cleveland) DL: Chris Jones (Kansas City), Aaron Donald (LA Rams) NT: Dexter Lawrence (New York Giants) LB: Fred Warner (San Francisco), Roquan Smith (Baltimore) CB: Pat Surtain II (Denver), Darius Slay (Philadelphia) FS: Minkah Fitzpatrick (Pittsburgh) SS: Derwin James Jr. (LA Chargers)
Special Teams KR: Cordarrelle Patterson (Atlanta) PR: KaVontae Turpin (Dallas) CORE: Jeremy Reaves (Washington), Justin Hardee (NY Jets) K: Jason Myers (Seattle) P: Tommy Townsend (Kansas City) LS: Morgan Cox (Tennessee)
-UT Athletics
Morgan Cox and Cordarrelle Patterson / Credit: UT Athletics
For the first time ever, the NFL Players Association released its All-Pro Team with a pair of former Tennessee Volunteers, Cordarrelle Patterson of the Atlanta Falcons and Morgan Cox of the Tennessee Titans, making the inaugural list in special teams positions.
Patterson was voted an All-Pro kick returner by his peers after proving to be the most dangerous return-man in the pro game in his 10th year in the league. Though he only had nine opportunities to run back a kick in 2022, he was electric when he did, averaging 31.6 yards per return and housing his ninth-career kick return against the Chicago Bears in Week 11. That 103-yard return broke a tie for the NFL record in career kick return scores with Josh Cribbs and Leon Washington.
Cox, on the other hand, is one of the most widely-respected long snappers in the league. Cox was named to his fifth-career Pro Bowl just three weeks ago and reached a milestone 200 career games played on Oct. 30. Cox had the third-most snaps of any long snapper this season, successfully delivering 147 this year. He also added a tackle against Houston in Week 16.
For Patterson, it marks his eighth-career All-Pro nod, earning first-team acclaim in 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2020 while taking home second-team honors in 2015, 2018 and 2019. Cox was voted a first-team All-Pro during the 2020 season.
The voting for the first-even NFLPA All-Pro Team was done by active players from across the league. Players could not vote for themselves or for their teammates and only voted for the position group they play in as well as the players lining up against them on the other side of the ball. All players were eligible for votes as long as they did not miss five or more games as of Week 15 of the season and two special teamers were nominated by leaders from each team.
The first-ever NFL Players Association All-Pro Team in its totality can be found below.
Offense QB: Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City) RB: Josh Jacobs (Las Vegas) FB: Kyle Juszczyk (San Francisco) WR: Justin Jefferson (Minnesota), Davante Adams (Las Vegas) TE: Travis Kelce (Kansas City) LT: Trent Williams (San Francisco) LG: Joel Bitonio (Cleveland) C: Jason Kelce (Philadelphia) RG: Zack Martin (Dallas) RT: Lane Johnson (Philadelphia)
Defense EDGE: Nick Bosa (San Francisco), Myles Garrett (Cleveland) DL: Chris Jones (Kansas City), Aaron Donald (LA Rams) NT: Dexter Lawrence (New York Giants) LB: Fred Warner (San Francisco), Roquan Smith (Baltimore) CB: Pat Surtain II (Denver), Darius Slay (Philadelphia) FS: Minkah Fitzpatrick (Pittsburgh) SS: Derwin James Jr. (LA Chargers)
Special Teams KR: Cordarrelle Patterson (Atlanta) PR: KaVontae Turpin (Dallas) CORE: Jeremy Reaves (Washington), Justin Hardee (NY Jets) K: Jason Myers (Seattle) P: Tommy Townsend (Kansas City) LS: Morgan Cox (Tennessee)
-UT Athletics
Morgan Cox and Cordarrelle Patterson / Credit: UT Athletics
Dollywood Parks & Resorts is gearing up for an exciting 2023 season, one which includes the opening of a new roller coaster—Big Bear Mountain—as well as a new resort, by hosting a number of hiring events over the coming weeks. Exciting perks—including 100% free tuition, competitive wages, free lunch, and more—add to the reasons why The Dollywood Company is the perfect fit for anyone regardless of their career aspirations.
From part-time positions for students to full-time careers with ample chances for advancement and everything in between, working at Dollywood may very well become a lifetime home for those looking for something that provides a little bit more than the “regular” job. Positions are available at each of the company’s properties, with most event attendees being hired on the spot with a position for the 2023 season at either Dollywood, Dollywood’s Splash Country, Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa. Later this year, positions will become available at the new Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort.
Available positions will be posted at Dollywoodjobs.com on January 16. The first major hiring event of 2023 takes place Saturday, Jan. 28 at Sevier County High School from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Additional hiring events take place at Jefferson County High School (Saturday, Feb. 4), Sevierville Civic Center (Saturday, Feb. 18) and Seymour Heights Christian Church (Saturday, Feb. 25). All hiring events take place from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Applicants are encouraged to attend the earliest hiring event possible for the largest selection of available opportunities.
Positions are available for the entire length of the 2023 operating season, as well as shorter peak season openings, which are perfect for applicants looking for a fun summer position or for those looking to earn a little extra money during the Christmas holidays. Applicants must be 14 years of age or older.
Positions are available on several teams including Dollywood’s award-winning culinary and merchandise teams, as well as park operations positions including ticketing, transportation, house and grounds, and more. Among the openings at Dollywood’s Splash Country are house and grounds, lifeguards and culinary services positions. Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa also has a number of openings available including food and beverage, front desk, bell/valet, and housekeeping positions.
Interested applicants may view opportunities, as well as job descriptions and basic requirements for each position, at dollywoodjobs.com. Applicants can signify their interest in a position by following the online instructions to complete the application process. Technical support will be available at the hiring events to assist applicants.
Dollywood Parks & Resorts plans to host a number of hiring events throughout the season to give potential employees an opportunity to attend at the time that best suits their individual needs. Additionally, new job opportunities are posted throughout the year at dollywoodjobs.com.
Dollywood Parks & Resorts employees receive a variety of unique benefits including 100% free tuition through Herschend’s GROW U. program, access to the Dollywood Family Healthcare Center, along with complimentary Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country admission for family and friends. Hosts are provided free meals for every working shift, and also take part in Dollywood’s Park Perks program which provides free or reduced admission to a large number of regional attractions, theaters and experiences. A comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision, is available for qualified full-time employees. Dollywood also pays a portion of childcare costs for hosts whose children are cared for at a WeeCare-affiliated provider. Numerous development opportunities also are available to help employees develop leadership skills, including an apprenticeship program in conjunction with Walters State Community College.
In 2022, Forbes named The Dollywood Company as one of the best employers in the country, according to a ranking on their website. Additionally, the company received a national Top Workplaces award from USA Today/Gannett.
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