Turns out that Tim McGraw and his wife Faith Hill will be working on a new project together…but it isn’t music.
Tim shares, “So excited I can finally share this….I’m joining the Dutton family in the Yellowstone prequel, 1883, coming to Paramount+! And my incredible wife Faith Hill will be playing Margaret Dutton!!”
This exciting news comes as Tim is also dropping his latest single on country radio…
He shares, “‘7500 OBO’ is about a guy who’s trying to get rid of his truck that he loves because there’s too many memories of his girlfriend in it. So ‘7500 OBO’ is ‘or best offer,’ of course. So he’s just tryin’ to get rid of the truck because he can’t get in it anymore because all he thinks about is his girlfriend and all the great fun that they had and the times they had together. He keeps picturing her beside him in the truck, so he’s gotta get rid of the damn truck so he can move on with his life.”
Check out an acoustic version of the track right here…
Darius Rucker shared “We’re BACK to playing live shows!! Can’t wait to hit the stage again this summer.”
Darius returns to the stage tonight with a show in Bethlehem, PA, and then has a schedule that takes him through the end of September as of now.
When asked if he missed getting to be on stage and interacting with fans, Darius replied, “Oh absolutely, that’s an understatement.”
He added, “I mean, touring for years I mean I’ve been playing, music for 35 years, and always on tour every summer, and doing all that stuff and you get used to it. And you always see a show on the page, there’s always a show on the books. There’s always…okay I’ve got a month off but I’ve gotta play a show this weekend. And not having that, is tough, and it’s hard and it’s really made me realize how much I love what I do. Yeah, I like making records, that’s a lot of fun. But I love playing live, it’s all I want to do. It’s who I am, it’s part of my DNA.”
One of the songs that fans will be looking to see Darius Rucker preform live in concert is his current single, “My Masterpiece”
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The long-awaited first day of preseason camp is officially in the books as the 2021 Volunteers hit the ground running bright and early on Wednesday morning at Haslam Field.
During his post-practice press conference, head coach Josh Heupel was quick to praise his team’s energy level during the first official practice of the season.
“I think the thing that stuck out to me today, more than anything, is we had really positive energy,” Heupel said. “The guys were flying around the entire practice. I thought they handled the practice. None of them were completely exhausted as we were walking off the field today. I think they’re in really good shape and they’ve gained strength.”
Heupel also came away impressed by the communication between the players, who could be heard coaching each other up throughout the morning session.
“There’s a culture that is starting to build here about doing things the right way,” Heupel said. “There are players getting on players—in a positive way—and being real with each other. Once it starts taking hold inside of the locker room, that’s where you have a chance to really accelerate.”
“Great day, it was awesome to get out there and be able to go compete with everybody. I thought the energy was really good, we expected that for day one. I thought their ability to take instruction and communicate with each other, you saw a bunch of players coaching each other up and giving positive feedback, I think that is unique and something we are trying to build. A lot of positive things this morning.”
On the importance of the first day…
“You can lose it, before you can win it on day one. The amount of injuries that take place early in training camps and being conscious of building these guys as we go through training camp. We tried to keep guys in short spaces today with how we did some of our drills, even with some of our installing. Obviously, (they) aren’t in shoulder pads either, so you are just being conscious of that. As you go through training camp (we’re) teaching them good habits. It’s the little things that matter and I made a point during a drill today, someone was worried about the end result, it wasn’t positive, but it’s about the little things that take you to the end result we need to be worried about. We are continuing to teach these guys how we want to react in adverse situations.”
On the players that missed spring practices…
“(We) didn’t feel like they hadn’t been out there. Jeremy Banks up in the front of the line when (we got) into the special team drill. Roman (Harrison) did a fantastic job, (Cheyenne) Labruzza looked really good out there. Some guys just have long rehab processes that have come back and are truly at 100 percent. They feel comfortable and confident in what they are doing out there on the football field. I think we’ve got a tremendous staff. I got here and we had a large amount of injuries. We’ve got a tremendous strength and conditioning staff that does a really good job. Dave Young, in particular, leads that force, does a great job in the rehab process and they work extremely well with our medical team, Jeronimo (Boche) and that staff.”
“He looked really good. You guys saw him out there, he still has a knee brace on right now for protection, it’s precautionary. I feel like he is at 100 percent and is comfortable running and moving. He will continue to progress. No restrictions on him as we go through training camp.”
“We have Dee at running back because we believe he is a running back. We want to continue to see him progress. I thought during the course of spring ball, his last five practices were his best. He started to understand how to press holes and use blockers in front of him and started to use his body as a true weapon, which means you start playing with a little bit of pad leverage too. As a big, tall body back there that has physical strength, he’s got to be good at using his pads to play pad-on-pad and finish through a tackle. We are going to see where he is at when we get into pads – we will find more out – but certainly, that is where we think he is at.”
On dividing his time at practice…
“In the structure of our practice, early on when we get through our active stretch period, I try to get over to the defense a little bit. It’s my opportunity to see them on the defensive side of the ball and make sure they understand I’m watching them too and have a vested interest in that. During the course of some of the individual work on offense, I make sure I’m with the offensive unit or quarterbacks, at times. Try to always make it to routes to see fundamentals and technique at quarterback. We break it up, sometimes we’ve got two guys going at a time with Coach Halzle. Then there are certain team periods where I try to step back and make sure that the defense feels my presence on positive things they are doing, it may be an individual rep that you see a guy defeat a blocker or get himself into a really good body position. Juju (Juwan Mitchell) in the 7-on-7 drill did a great job today finishing the drill, making sure he is in a position to finish the tackle so when we get to the live situation and practicing with good habits. You want to make sure to celebrate the victories on both sides of the ball.”
On if there is a ‘good cop’ versus ‘bad cop’ scenario with the position coaches…
“There’s no bad cop/good cop scenario here in anything that we’re doing. We try to be real and we feel that that we can be real and transparent in our communication with our players. You do that because you’ve got the ability to have a connection with them and a relationship with them. They know exactly who and what they’re going to get every single day when they walk in the building. There’s no games being played with them.”
On who the largest running back is that he can remember coaching and if he questioned Dee Beckwith’s ability as a running back upon arriving on Rocky Top…
“No, I wouldn’t say that. One of the biggest is probably Adrian Peterson, that I’ve been around, with his length and stature. Running backs are a little bit like quarterbacks. They come in different sizes and different shapes. There’s a great one a couple of hours down the road [Derrick Henry] who is a big human being who imposes his will on people. As I’ve gone through my tenure in coaching, you find different skill sets and different body types. They’re all weapons with the ball in their hands. We need to try to utilize that.”
On his evaluation of freshman Kaemen Marley, who is listed as a defensive back and played wide receiver on day one of fall camp…
“That’s just how he was recruited. I feel like that’s a natural starting point for him. He’s a guy that’s ultra-talented and we’ll find out his skill sets, where he feels comfortable, where his progression goes and how we get him on the field fastest.”
On how he feels the defensive line developed over the summer…
“We’ll find a lot more as we go down the road. I think just through the summer those guys – and really defensively as a whole – I think they’ve gained so much comfort, understanding and the ability to comprehend C-formation, recognize it and communicate at all three levels and truly know their job, know it inside and out. They’re a long ways away from where they ended the spring. They had a great summer. All of those guys up front fit into that teaching pattern too. I’m pleased with what they’re doing and we’re going to find out more as we go watch the video.”
On if a strong-armed quarterback is responsible for learning to throw with touch, or if the wide receivers have to learn to adjust to the speed of the ball…
“There’s certain throws that you’re going to make that require touch. There’s some that you’re going to drive in there—slants at times—and throw the ball with some pace on it into some of those windows. We have strong-handed receivers that will be able to adjust to whichever quarterback’s playing. We’re going to let our quarterbacks be them.”
“Kamal was out there. Trinity is coming back. He’s still rehabbing from a knee injury that he suffered in high school. It’s a process that we feel really good about—his rehab—right now, but he’s not ready to be on the field for us. Princeton will be with us tomorrow.”
On the importance of the positive practice habits that he’s trying to build…
“It’s being able to be really with them and having a clear vision of how you want to play on Saturdays and being able to rewind that and your players understanding what is important. When they understand those things, then they’ve got a chance to grab onto them. If they don’t meet the standard, you communicate real clearly to them. There’s a culture that is starting to build here about doing things the right way. There’s players getting on players—in a positive way—and being real with each other. Once it starts taking hold inside of the locker room, that’s where you have a chance to really accelerate.”
On what he saw from the transfers today and if he focused on helping them become acclimated…
“I think they really are acclimated. Those guys have been here, most of them for June and July. There’s a portion of them that have been here all of May. They’re integrated into our team. Our team welcomed them. They’re good teammates. They do things the right way. The guys that we’ve brought in here, there’s no off-the-field issues with those guys. They’re helping to build the culture that we want inside of the locker room, out on the practice field and ultimately on gamedays. Did they know exactly how the practice was going to unfold? Certainly not, but they weren’t standing out in any way. They went out there and they competed really hard.”
On what he saw from JaVonta Payton on the first day of fall camp…
“Explosiveness—he made a couple of nice, competitive catches. He looks natural, fluid, with strong hands. We did a release drill and he did a good job in that with the ability to see man-press and get off of it too. I feel good about what he did in day one.”
On if there is anything specific that stood out to him after Wednesday’s opening of preseason camp…
“I think the thing that stuck out to me today, more than anything, is we had really positive energy. The guys were flying around the entire practice. I thought they handled the practice. None of them were completely exhausted as we were walking off the field today. I think they’re in really good shape and they’ve gained strength. They all feel really good in their athletic movement and the progress that they’ve made since Coach (Kurt) Schmidt got here in the strength and conditioning area. I think the one thing outside of that that I take away is their ability to communicate with each other and give positive feedback or talk to each other about not using the right technique. I was really excited about that.”
On the retention level of the offense and quarterbacks…
“I really feel like, for pretty much everyone on the offensive unit, we are way ahead of where we finished (the spring). I mentioned that on the defensive side of the ball too, but we’ve continued to become smarter and have more understanding of what we are trying to do and how to operate throughout the summer. Quarterbacks, I saw them all miss throws, I saw them all make throws. It’s day one, you know what I mean? It was a good day. I’m excited to go watch the video with the staff.”
On the excitement level within the coaching staff…
“Our staff is excited to get out there and go compete and start the on-field process of this journey. We have come a long way and we’ve got a long way to go and you’re never satisfied as a coach, but it was exciting to get out there and, for lack a better term, get their hands on guys and start coaching and start that process. It was a lot of fun.”
ESPN announced Wednesday that the Tennessee vs. Texas Tech basketball matchup will lead the Jimmy V Classic doubleheader on Tuesday, Dec. 7. The Vols and Red Raiders tip off at 7 p.m. ET from Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The second game of this year’s Jimmy V Classic doubleheader features Syracuse and Villanova at 9 p.m. ET. Both games will air on ESPN.
The Jimmy V Classic marks Tennessee’s third trip to New York City under head coach Rick Barnes and its first appearance in Madison Square Garden since winning the NIT Season Tip-Off in November of 2011. Tennessee owns a 7-8 all-time record at MSG.
The Volunteers have faced Texas Tech just once previously on the hardwood, with the Red Raiders posting an 88-71 victory in Knoxville on Dec. 3, 1953.
Barnes has a lengthy history with Texas Tech, however. During his 17-year tenure as the head coach at Texas, Barnes led his teams to a 33-4 record in that series.
Mark Adams was promoted to head coach at Texas Tech in April after serving as an assistant and associate head coach with the program for the previous five seasons. Adams helped guide the Red Raiders to the 2018 Elite Eight and 2019 NCAA championship game.
The Red Raiders return their second- and third-leading scorers from last season in junior guards Terrence Shannon Jr. (12.9 ppg) and Kevin McCullar (10.4 ppg), respectively.
Texas Tech also boasts the return of super-senior Marcus Santos-Silva. The 6-7, 250-pound forward played his first three collegiate seasons at VCU. During Tennessee’s win over the Rams at the 2019 Emerald Coast Classic, Santos-Silva totaled 22 points and 11 rebounds—both game-highs.
The TTU roster also welcomed transfer-portal additions from Oral Roberts, Hampton, Florida State, UTEP and Winthrop.
Tennessee was scheduled to clash with Gonzaga in last season’s Jimmy V Classic, but the Vols were forced to withdraw due to COVID-19 protocols.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The start of preseason camp has arrived as the Tennessee Volunteers prepare for their first official practice of the fall on Wednesday morning at Haslam Field.
On Tuesday afternoon, head coach Josh Heupel, defensive coordinator Tim Banks and offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Alex Golesh met with the media to discuss the start of fall camp and the excitement surrounding the upcoming season.
“In less than a month we get a chance to run out in that stadium and have an opportunity to play in front of our fans,” Heupel said. “I know I’m excited. I know our players are, too. (We’re) looking forward to getting on the field tomorrow morning and getting training camp started, and (we’re) excited to continue to build the culture that we want to be here at Tennessee individually and collectively as a football team.”
Heupel and his staff harped on the importance of building off of the 15 spring practices and hitting the ground running this fall as they continue to implement new offensive and defensive schemes.
“I think we have a greater understanding and are doing things at a much higher level than we were when we ended, and certainly from when we began here last winter and spring.” Heupel said. “All of our players have had a chance to grow tremendously in understanding who we are and what we’re doing – by skill set, fundamentals and technique, by strength, power and speed and the growth that they’ve made inside of our offseason summer conditioning program – but then also being able to read and digest everything that we’re doing in our playbooks in all three phases of the game.”
It’s no secret that much of the excitement surrounding this year’s team stems from the fast-tempo, high-powered offense that Heupel brings with him to Rocky Top. Continuing to learn the new scheme, gain confidence through repetition and build an offensive identity are among the most important goals during this fall camp.
When it comes to that offensive identity, Golesh had just one word he used to describe it: attack.
“I’m not a big slogan guy or acronym guy. We use one word: attack. An attack legitimately from the outside looking in. What attack means, and it can be quantified, but what attack means is playing harder than your opponent for longer. And within that is the tempo, within that is how we play,” Golesh said.
The quarterback competition was another hot topic during Tuesday’s media availabilities, as the foursome of Harrison Bailey, Hendon Hooker, Brian Maurer and Joe Milton III enter camp battling to earn the status of QB1.
“I think it’s the challenge for every player to earn the trust of the coaching staff and show that they’re going to compete at a consistent and championship level,” Heupel said. “Once kids do that, I think it’s important that you as a coaching staff put them in position to have an opportunity to have a role and play a part of what you’re doing.
“Quarterbacks, just like every other position, those competitive battles that they’re in, you dwindle the reps down and make decisions when guys have shown that they’ve earned the opportunity to become a one or become a two or become a three based on how they perform. And so, as we go through training camp, the players will dictate how that unfolds.”
While Tennessee’s exciting new offense has coaches and fans excited, the Vols will also be debuting a new defensive system under the director of Banks, who is excited to see how his guys respond to getting back out on the practice field after summer workouts.
Banks harped on the importance of building depth on all three levels of the defense in order to combat the plethora of fast-paced, high-scoring offenses in today’s brand of college football.
“I think it’s critical in this day and age with the high-octane offenses that you’re going to see. I think you need to be able to have as much depth as you possibly can,” Banks said. “I also think it’s good for morale. The more guys have roles, the more ownership they have within the program.
“At the end of the day, you get what you earn. We’re not going to put a guy out there if he hasn’t earned it, but if guys have earned the right to get out there and help UT win, we are going to do everything in our power to get those guys out there to give us that chance.”
When asked if he has set any specific goals for his defense for the season, Banks’ answer was simple: “to win.”
“That’s our number one goal. We want to win. We want to find a way to do our part to make sure at the end of the day that UT is successful… We have some core fundamentals and beliefs that we have that we think are critical to us playing great defense, but ultimately, our number one goal is just to win. That’s how we start everything, and that’s how we end everything. What do we need to do to win?”
Keon Johnson & Jaden Springer / Credit: UT Athletics
Tennessee has produced five NBA Draft picks in the last three years
For the second time in three years, multiple Tennessee Volunteers heard their names called during the NBA Draft, as Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer were both selected Thursday night.
A total of five Vols have been picked over the last three NBA Drafts.
Johnson was the first Vol off the board, becoming the highest-drafted Tennessee player since 2011 when the Los Angeles Clippers (via the New York Knicks) took him with the 21st overall selection.
Seven picks later, Springer was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 28th overall pick.
Tennessee was just one of two programs in the country with multiple first-round selections this year.
Johnson and Springer’s selections also stand as the first time since 1977 that two Vols have been selected in the first round.
The number of NBA Draft picks produced by Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes now rises to 29 dating to 1990. Among active head coaches, Barnes has developed the sixth-most NBA Draft picks. Over the last 12 years, Barnes has seen 12 of his players selected.
Johnson and Springer bring Barnes’ total number of first-round draft picks to 17.
Barnes has now coached seven one-and-done players as a head coach. Of Barnes’ five one-and-done players already in the NBA, four have won at least one NBA championship.
KEON JOHNSON
NEW YORK KNICKS (to LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS) | FIRST ROUND | 21ST PICK
Coming off a successful, one-year stint in Knoxville, Johnson became Tennessee’s highest NBA Draft pick since Tobias Harris was selected 19th overall in 2011.
Johnson was Tennessee’s 10th first-round NBA Draft pick in program history and also became the seventh UT player with remaining collegiate eligibility to be selected in the NBA Draft.
The Shelbyville, Tennessee, native continues a lengthy history of in-state talent ascending to the highest level of the sport via Rocky Top. Others Vols from Tennessee recently selected in the NBA Draft include Marcus Haislip (1st round, 2002), Vincent Yarbrough (2nd round, 2002), Jarnell Stokes (2nd round, 2014) and Jordan Bone (2nd round, 2019).
Though Johnson was officially selected by the New York Knicks, the pick was immediately traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. Johnson is set to become just the second Vol to ever play for the Clippers, joining Harris, who had a brief stint with the organization from 2017-19.
An SEC All-Freshman Team selection, Johnson was Tennessee’s second-leading scorer—both overall (11.3 ppg) and in SEC play (12.1 ppg).
He appeared in all 27 of the Vols’ games and led the team in fields goals made (111) and attempted (247), shooting .449 overall and .453 during conference play.
During the NBA Draft Combine in June, Johnson set the event’s all-time record in the max vertical jump with a leap of 48 inches, shattering the previous record of 45.5 inches set in 2001.
JADEN SPRINGER
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS | FIRST ROUND | 28TH PICK
Also a 2021 SEC All-Freshman Team honoree, Springer led the Volunteers in scoring overall (12.5 ppg) and in SEC play (12.7 ppg) during his one season in Knoxville.
In addition to his scoring numbers, Springer averaged 3.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.2 steals, while shooting .435 from 3-point range in 25 games with the Vols.
With a 30-point performance against Georgia in February, Springer became just the third Vol freshman since 2005 to score 30 or more points in a game.
Springer is the eighth Tennessee player in program history to be selected by Philadelphia, though only four Vols have suited up for the organization: Garland O’Shields (1947-48), Reggie Johnson (1982-83), Josh Richardson (2019-20) and Harris (2018-present). Harris started a team-high 74 games for the Sixers last season and was the team’s second-leading scorer with 19.5 points per game.
Springer followed Johnson as Tennessee’s 11th first-round draft pick in program history, and he became the eighth Vol with remaining college eligibility ever to get drafted.
A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Springer follows in the footsteps of previous Queen City Vols to become NBA Draft picks, a list that includes SEC Players of the Year Tony White (2nd round, 1987) and Grant Williams (1st round, 2019).
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville Sports Commission announced Thursday morning that Tennessee redshirt senior wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. is one of 57 college football players selected to the watch list for the 2021 Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse.
The Paul Hornung Award is given annually by the Louisville Sports Commission (LSC) to the most versatile player in major college football. The honor is named for former Notre Dame quarterback Paul Hornung, winner of the 1956 Heisman Trophy and No. 1 pick in the 1957 NFL Draft.
A versatile receiver and dynamic return specialist, Jones enters his second season on Rocky Top and sixth at the collegiate level this fall. The 6-0, 200-pound wideout is UT’s leading returner from the 2020 campaign in receptions (22), receiving yards (280) and receiving touchdowns (3). The Saraland, Alabama, native notably ranks first among active Division I FBS career leaders with 2,345 kickoff return yards.
Jones made an immediate impact for the Vols last season, playing in all 10 games and starting the final six games of the year. His top performance came against Vanderbilt with a career-best seven catches, 125 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. In addition to his production at receiver, Jones led the SEC in kickoff return yards (398) and was second in the league in kickoff return average (22.11).
Prior to Tennessee, Jones spent four seasons at Southern California where he earned All-Pac-12 honors as a return specialist each year from 2017-19. He finished his USC career second in school history in kickoff return yards (1,947) and owns a share of the program record for longest kickoff return with a 100-yard house call against Fresno State on Aug. 31, 2019.
After the completion of week 12 in the regular season, LSC staff will provide a list of candidates to the Paul Hornung Award Selection Committee that will be narrowed down to three finalists on Nov. 17. The winner will be formally announced Dec. 8, with the award officially presented at a banquet in March 2022.
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. – Tennessee senior defensive lineman Matthew Butler was one of 93 players named to the watch list for the 2021 Wuerffel Trophy on Thursday.
Named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel, the Wuerffel Trophy is presented annually to recognize college football’s top community servant. The trophy exists to honor college football players who serve others, celebrate their positive impact on society and inspire greater service in the world.
Butler enters his final season on Rocky Top as one of the Volunteer’s unquestioned leaders on and off the field. The veteran defensive lineman has been one of the team’s most productive players over the past two seasons, totaling 88 tackles, six tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, three pass breakups and one forced fumble in that span. Butler has also excelled off the field, earning a spot on the SEC Academic Honor Roll four times while also garnering CoSIDA Academic All-District honors in 2019.
The Raleigh, North Carolina, native was part of the exclusive VOLeaders Academy during the 2018-19 academic year. The select group of Tennessee student-athletes culminated their year-long leadership program with a service trip to Rwanda, where they participated in leadership and service opportunities focused on community development and social change through sport.
Butler added to his reputation as one of the SEC’s top scholar-athletes when he was named the recipient of a 2021 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and a nominee for the 2021 H. Boyd McWhorter Student-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship, which is awarded annually by the SEC to the league’s top male and female scholar-athletes.
Semifinalists for the Wuerffel Trophy will be announced on Nov. 2 and finalists will be announced on Nov. 22. The formal announcement of the 2021 recipient will be made on Dec. 9 and the presentation of the 2021 Wuerffel Trophy will occur in Feb. 2022 in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
The complete watch list for the 2021 Wuerffel Trophy can be seen HERE.
Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes announced Wednesday that local 7-foot prospect Handje Tamba (pronounced: AHN-jay TAHM-buh) has reclassified to the Class of 2021, signed with the University of Tennessee and will enroll next month.
Originally a member of the Class of 2022, Tamba—an elite academic performer who plans to major in biology with aspirations to pursue medical studies—will be a freshman for the Volunteers this season.
“Handje is a rim protector who can block and alter shots, and he plays with a ton of energy,” Barnes said. “He has the potential to become a strong rebounder, and he moves well for a player of his size who has only been playing basketball for four years. He’s going to provide added stability for our interior defense.”
As a junior last season at Knoxville Catholic High School, Tamba—who emigrated from Africa’s Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2017—averaged 10.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. He scored 22 points in a win over then-undefeated Bearden High School on Dec. 10, 2020. He went on to earn DII-AA All-State acclaim from the Tennessee Sports Writers Association and All-PrepXtra second-team honors from the Knoxville News Sentinel.
Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tamba helped lead the Irish to the 2020 TSSAA Division II-AA state championship as a sophomore.
Tamba, who speaks fluent French, played his AAU ball with the BMaze Elite program, founded by former Tennessee point guard Bobby Maze (2008-10).
