Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd are both songwriters who have been the creative force behind some major country music hits over the past several years.
So, it’s a bit ironic that their first true duet together – neither one had a hand in writing.
“Chasing After You,” written by Brinley Addington and Jerry Flowers, connected with the country music making married couple in a very real way…Maren says, “We really…I guess heard ourselves in the lyrics and it just still rang true today. I feel like whether you’ve been with someone for two seconds or twenty years, you’re always longing for them. I feel like touring and being away from each other gives an element of that, like you’re still chasing me down, I’m chasing you down. So this song will always kind of be fitting.”
Ryan followed with “I’ll still chase after you.”
Maren approved, “Good. Always.”
Ryan performed on the ACM Awards for the first time, last month, and he thought it was very fitting that Maren was there for it…and just recently they made their Late Night With Seth Meyers debut singing their duet “Chasing After You”…check out that appearance here…
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 17, 2020 – Offensive lineman Trey Smith #73 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
It was a quiet NFL Draft, once again, for the University of Tennessee football program.
Two Vols were drafted and one has been signed, at the moment, as an undrafted free agent.
WR Josh Palmer was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 3rd Round (#77 overall.) OL Trey Smith fell all the way to the 6th round when he was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs (#226 overall.) DB Bryce Thompson signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent.
With the help of the Tennessee football VFL and elite broadcaster for CBS & NFL Network, Charles Davis, we’ve shared our opinions on the team and player fits for Palmer, Smith and Thompson here in my blog, “Vince’s View,” on 991TheSportsAnimal.com.
Thanks to Charles, who shared his thoughts on the Tennessee Volunteers with me to pass along to the fans exclusively for my blog.
WR Josh Palmer – Los Angeles Chargers
Charles Davis on Josh Palmer
“Fits what the other WRs look like for the Chargers (Keenan Allen/Mike Williams)…strong, physical, and can play over the top. Chargers have long had “small forwards” as WR’s (Phillip Rivers loved those types), and Palmer looks the part. QB Justin Herbert has even more “catch radius” available to him now.”
Vince’s View on Josh Palmer
I love this fit for Palmer. Keenan Allen (100 catches in 2020) and Mike Williams (48 catches) are the top two guys. After that, there’s room to upgrade the wide receiver room, so the opportunity to rise quickly is there for Palmer. Jalen Guyton (28 catches) and Tyron Johnson (20 catches) provide the toughest competition for the 3rd and 4th WR spots. Joe Reed, KJ Hill, Jason Moore, John Hurst and Eli Stove (UDFA out of Auburn) are the rest of the Chargers receivers.
Palmer brings position versatility at WR. You can play him outside or in the slot where you can get him in some favorable matchups against either smaller or slower defenders. Most importantly, Palmer has a potential future superstar quarterback throwing him the football versus the massive struggles by a bunch of QBs at Tennessee.
Palmer joins former UT DC Derrick Ansley, now Chargers secondary coach in LA. Head coach Brandon Staley is a former Vols football GA under Derek Dooley in 2012. Knoxville native OL Nathan Gilliam (Farragut HS and Wake Forest) is also now his teammate.
Trey Smith – Kansas City Chiefs
Charles Davis on Trey Smith
“Kansas City does a nice job evaluating and coaching young talent. I believe they feel that they got a steal by getting a 2nd round talent in the 6th. The competition has ratcheted up in KC along the offensive line. Smith’s intelligence and toughness will put him right in the mix. Remember, Kansas City drafted, developed and started a future doctor (Laurent Duvernay-Tardif) at guard on their Super Bowl title team.”
Vince’s View on Trey Smith
With the slide to day three in the draft, Smith will surely play with an even bigger chip (or boulder) on his shoulder than normal. He’s also going to a quality, winning franchise with all kinds of talent. That doesn’t mean he can’t win a starting job.
Smith played guard the last two seasons with the Vols and is projected as a guard long-term in the NFL. However, Smith, if more medical testing checks out, will compete for the starting right tackle spot in the completely overhauled Chiefs offensive line. Surprised? Here’s why.
KC will have a completely new starting five o-line from the team that lost in the Super Bowl with all the injuries, departures and desperate need to upgrade. Enter Orlando Brown (from Baltimore) as the starting LT, Joe Thuney (from New England) as the starting LG, Austin Blythe (from LA Rams) as the starting C and Kyle Long (out of retirement) as the starting RG. There’s already quality depth at guard as well with Dr. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif back from his opt-out. You add Nick Allegretti (last year’s starter at LG in the Super Bowl) and Andrew Wylie (Super Bowl starter at RT) who moves back inside at guard. There’s some depth at guard. Right tackle is the most open position on that line. Mike Remmers (backup last season and Super Bowl starter at LT) and Lucas Niang (2020 3rd round pick) provide the competition for Trey Smith at that RT spot.
The Chiefs know Smith can play tackle. They’ve evaluated him at that position plenty. They are comfortable with him playing there. He can begin at RT, at least short-term, to give them their best five linemen. I think he can do it, so watch for Smith to compete his butt off and have a great shot to start. Obviously, injuries to KC’s guards or health setbacks for Smith could alter those plans along the way.
Bryce Thompson – New Orleans Saints
Charles Davis on Bryce Thompson
“The Saints are looking for a starter opposite Pro Bowl CB Marshon Lattimore. They drafted Paulson Adebo from Stanford in the 3rd and signed Malcolm Jenkins in free agency. The competition will be stiff, but he has a shot, especially if he can play in the slot.”
Vince’s View on Bryce Thompson
The Saints have a proven track record of production from undrafted free agents. That success includes players from the University of Tennessee, like DT Shy Tuttle (potential starter) and WR Marquez Callaway (now possibly 2nd team.) TE Ethan Wolf is also with the Saints as an UDFA. The common thread with what worked with those guys is opportunity with low numbers at a need position. Thompson walks into that in the secondary, specially at cornerback.
As Charles pointed out, there’s proven vets and a fairly high draft pick in that group, but the numbers at CB aren’t deep. The other corners, besides the ones Charles mentioned, that Thompson will compete with are: Patrick Robinson, Keith Washington Jr., Grant Haley and UDFA signee Lawrence Woods. That’s it. If the Saints play Jenkins at SS then that might free up that position a little more. Thompson’s position versatility to play outside corner, Star DB or safety adds to his value. It’s an excellent landing spot for Thompson.
It’s possible his draft stock may have improved a little by returning to UT this season. How would he produce in the new Banks defense that may struggle in year one? If he finally played a full season healthy will that show out in results and influence scouts? How much would the coaching of Willie Martinez help him? Would being another year removed from the legal issues make a difference with NFL teams, assuming he didn’t have any other issues? One scout told me he doesn’t think Thompson going back to school would have made much difference because he’s good in a fair amount of traits but not elite.
Thompson is now also teammates with arguably the most popular VFL in the NFL today, RB Alvin Kamara.
Overall
Trey Smith falling in the draft was due to the NFL not being able to get the medical info to their standards for how Smith’s blood clots will be handled moving forward, not just how he did it at UT. I was told he wasn’t on about half of the teams’ boards and was dropped some on the ones that kept him on their boards. The lack of regular practices slowed his development in the eyes of NFL scouts. He’s going to need to practice, especially before the season, to earn a spot and prove he’s past the medical. Smith was also said to be a better fit for power running gap scheme teams, which cuts down the remaining pool of teams even more.
I imagine the Chiefs and other teams considered Smith earlier in the draft, but may have had other players available to them that they didn’t think would be there when they came back around and took the chance that Smith would be. The draft board dictates slides sometimes and I think that added to his unfortunate situation. In the end though, the KC fit will be a blessing.
The Chiefs are excited about Trey Smith and aren’t afraid to express it. LT Orlando Brown was impressed by Smith at the Senior Bowl.
Chiefs not trying to contain their excitement for ending up w/Trey Smith @Vol_Football
Don't be surprised if he competes for starting spot at right tackle.
I know he's listed as a guard & will eventually be there but he can play tackle, Chiefs know it & that's most open spot. https://t.co/JYUIGHFwqt
UT has had 13 players selected in the last seven NFL Drafts. The Vols have only had 6 players drafted in the first three rounds of those 7 drafts. 6. Alabama had 6 players drafted in the 1st round alone just this year. Alabama has had 46 players taken in the first three rounds of those same last seven drafts. That’s a 40 player difference from Tennessee. Yes, no one matches-up to the bar that Alabama has set in sending players to the NFL through the draft, but that monumental gap is indicative of the struggles of the program since the late 2000s.
There’s going to need to be tremendous player development this season under Josh Heupel’s staff with the Vols. They need to enhance the stock in numerous players and create new draftable candidates than it looks like they have at the moment. If not, the disappointing draft stats will resurface again this time in 2022.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 5 Tennessee is back in action this Friday as it opens a road series at Missouri after a rare five-day layoff between games.
The Vols are coming off their sixth SEC series win of the year last weekend against Kentucky, taking Saturday’s rubber game by a score of 11-2.
Like UT, the Tigers have also had a few days to rest with no midweek game this week after getting swept at Alabama last weekend.
BROADCAST INFO
Friday’s series opener and Sunday’s finale will be streamed live on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app. Saturday’s game will be televised on the SEC Network with John Schriffen (PxP) and David Dellucci (color) calling the action.
Fans can also listen to the official Vol Network radio call for all three games on Sports Radio WNML (FM 99.1 / AM 990), as well as UTSports.com and the UT Gameday app. The Voice of Tennessee Baseball John Wilkerson will have the call.
Overall: Missouri leads, 14-7
In Knoxville: Missouri leads, 8-4
In Columbia: Missouri leads, 6-3
Neutral Sites: N/A
Last Meeting: L, 10-8 (May 5, 2019)
After winning the first two series against the Tigers in 2013 and 2014, the Vols have struggled since, winning just three times in the past 15 meetings between the two programs. Tennessee will be looking to win its first series over Missouri since taking two of three games from the Tigers in Columbia back in 2014.
NOTABLE
Bomb Squad
The Big Orange have turned up the power in a big way over the past three weeks, blasting 27 home runs in their last 12 games, including 24 in their last nine SEC contests. UT hit multiple homers in all three games against Kentucky last week and has gone yard multiple times in seven of its last 10 games.
The Vols lead the conference with 34 long balls in league play. Their 61 total home runs rank 11th nationally and are their most in a season since hitting 81 in 2010.
Relishing Rubber Games
Tennessee has been very successful when it comes to rubber games this season. The Vols have posted a 4-1 record in such games after last Saturday’s 11-2 win over Kentucky and have outscored their opponents 48-28 in those contests.
SEC Success
Tennessee’s 14-7 conference record is its best through 21 games since going 15-6 in 1995. The Big Orange have won six of their seven SEC series so far, including all three on the road, marking the first time they have won their first three series away from home in league play since 1994.
Road Vols
The Vols have been one of the best road teams in the country this season. Their 11-4 record away from home is tied with Arkansas for the best in the SEC. Tennessee has won all four of its road series this season and has won its last four conference road series dating back to 2019.
Beck Takes Home SEC Weekly Honor
Sophomore slugger Jordan Beck was named the SEC Co-Newcomer of the Week on Monday after an impressive series against Kentucky last week.
The Hazel Green, Alabama, native finished the series tied for the team lead with a .538 batting average and seven hits while also totaling three extra-base hits and four RBI.
Beck had at least one hit in all three games against the Wildcats. He went 2-for-4 with three RBI and set a career high with three runs scored in Thursday’s series-opening 14-4 win. His three-run homer in the second inning tied the game and jumpstarted a seven-run outburst for the Vols in the frame. Beck set another career high with four hits in Saturday’s rubber game, including an RBI double that tied the game at one in the second inning.
OPPONENT SCOUT
Missouri Tigers
2021 Record: 12-29 (5-16 SEC)
Rankings: Not Ranked
2019 Postseason: N/A
Head Coach: Steve Bieser (5th season) // Has coached 17 MLB Draft picks while at Mizzou
Predicted SEC Finish: 6th (Eastern Division)
Preseason All-SEC Selections: None
Stat Leaders:
Batting Avg: Andrew Keefer (.284)
Runs: Brandt Belk/Torin Montgomery (22)
Hits: Andrew Keefer (38)
Home Runs: Torin Montgomery (5)
RBI: Torin Montgomery (25)
Stolen Bases: Brandt Belk/Joshua Day (6)
Wins: Seth Halvorsen (4)
ERA (min. 15.0 IP): Ian Lohse (3.27)
Innings Pitched: Seth Halvorsen (54.0)
Strikeouts: Seth Halvorsen (58)
ON DECK
Tennessee returns home to host Tennessee Tech in a midweek matchup next Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The game will be streamed live on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 15 Tennessee softball team makes a quick turnaround after its trip to Starkville when it returns home for a season-concluding series with SEC foe, Missouri, Friday-Sunday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. First pitches from Knoxville are slated for 6 p.m., 2 p.m. and 1 p.m. ET.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Fans can stream all three contests on SEC Network+. SEC Network+ is available on any mobile device through the ESPN App or online at espn.com/watch.
Lady Vols faithful can also listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate or online at UTsports.com to listen to VFL Brian Rice describing the action.
The senior day ceremony will take place after the game which is slated for a 2 p.m. ET first pitch.
LADY VOLS FINDING FOOTING IN WEEKEND SEC PLAY
After dropping its first two SEC series’, Tennessee softball has won at least two-of-three games in its last four SEC sets against Kentucky, South Carolina, Georgia and Auburn.
In those four series victories, the Lady Vols have seen increased production from sophomore Callie Turner who has picked up a trio of victories during that span.
The Orange & White have also had to win in a variety of ways during this stretch of contests, claiming a trio of one-run victories and four wins by four or more runs.
OOOOO SHE (STILL) STEALIN’
Sophomore outfielder Kiki Milloy continues to lead the SEC in stolen bases by a wide margin, having swiped 35 bases through 48 games.
The Woodinville, Washington native also leads the league in stolen base attempts with 36 for an insane percentage of .972.
Last Outing: A 9-3 victory for the Lady Vols in Columbia on April 1, 2019 to give the Orange & White the series win.
Key Player/Stat: Missouri arrives in Knoxville for the final SEC series of the year following a season very similar to the Lady Vols during league action. The Tigers are 13-8 with four series victories just like the Lady Vosl. On the stat sheet, Mizzou features six regular starters hitting .300 or above through 48 games played, led by freshman standout Jenna Laird who’s knocking the ball at a clip of .408 with 62 hits, 35 RBI and 20 extra-base-hits on the year.
UP NEXT
Following this weekend’s slate, the Lady Vols will travel south to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for the 2021 SEC Tournament, May 11-15.
STARKVILLE, Miss. – The No. 15 Tennessee softball team dropped its doubleheader at Mississippi State Wednesday, falling in game one, 2-1, and in game two, 6-2, at Nusz Park.
Tennessee (38-10, 11-9 SEC) played the midweek conference doubleheader as a result of a COVID-19 pause earlier this season.
Ashley Rogers pitched game one for the Lady Vols, allowing two runs on four hits, striking out nine and tossing her 19th complete game of the season. The Athens, Tennessee, native is now 22-7 on the year after suffering the loss.
In game two, Callie Turner took the ball and pitched three innings, surrendering five runs on three hits and struck out one. Turner suffered just her second loss of the season and stands at 10-2 in 2021.
Mississippi State (29-22, 5-15 SEC) received a pair of solid pitching performances from Emily Williams and Annie Willis. Williams started in the circle for game one, tossing a complete game and allowing just one run on six hits and striking out seven.
Willis got the start in game two and pitched four innings, surrendering two runs on five hits. Alyssa Loza came on in relief and picked up the save as she tossed three innings and notched a pair of strikeouts.
GAME ONE: Tennessee 1, Mississippi State 2
A scoreless game through four innings was ended in the bottom of the fifth when MSU plated two runs on a hit. The Bulldogs’ Montana Davidson struck out, but reached base on a wild pitch and scored later on in the inning off a Carter Spexarth double that also pushed Fa Leilua across the plate for MSU’s second and game-winning run.
In the top of the seventh, Tennessee scored once on two hits as Amanda Ayala doubled to center field to score Anna Fox to give the game its final margin at, 2-1.
GAME TWO: Tennessee 2, Mississippi State 6
MSU scored all six of its runs in the bottom of the first as the Bulldogs used four hits and a pair of Tennessee errors to jump out to the early lead.
Leilua hit a two-run home run to open the scoring and jump start MSU’s big inning.
The Lady Vols punched back in the second and third, scratching across one run in both innings. Kiki Milloy reached on a leadoff single to begin the second, before stealing second base and advancing to third on a error. She was brought home on a sacrifice fly from Madison Webber for UT’s first run in game two.
In the third, Ayala singled and advanced to second on an error to set up Tennessee’s next score. Ashley Morgan then pushed Ayala across the plate with a RBI double to right.
UP NEXT
Tennessee has a quick turnaround at it welcomes Missouri to Sherri Parker Lee Stadium for the final regular season series. The series runs May 7-9 with first pitch Friday coming at 6 p.m. ET.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Lady Vol standout Rennia Davis has been named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Women’s College Basketball Player of the Year in the state, the organization announced on Wednesday.
Davis, a 6-foot-2 guard/forward from Jacksonville, Fla., averaged 17.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game to pace Tennessee in both categories this season. She shot 48.0 percent from the field and 85.3 percent at the free-throw line. Even better in SEC play, Davis put up 20.0 ppg. and 9.0 rpg. while shooting 52.3 percent from the floor and 85.2 at the charity stripe.
Her worksheet also included 10 double-doubles and 10 games of 20 or more points, leading UT to a 17-8 final record, a third-place mark of 9-4 in SEC play, a No. 13 AP national ranking and advancement to the NCAA Tournament Second Round for the first time since 2018.
Davis, the No. 9 overall pick by the Minnesota Lynx in the recent WNBA Draft, earned All-SEC accolades for the third time in her career, including first-team honors the past two seasons, and picked up her third WBCA All-America Honorable Mention nod and second such honor from both AP and the USBWA. She also was the winner of the Senior CLASS Award and was a finalist for the Cheryl Miller Award and a repeat candidate as well for the Wade Trophy, Naismith Trophy and John R. Wooden Award.
From a career standpoint, Davis concluded her UT tenure fourth all-time among Lady Vols in double-doubles with 39. She trailed only Chamique Holdsclaw (57), Mercedes Russell (46) and Candace Parker (45). She was fifth in career 20-point scoring games with 23 and drained an incredible 15 career buzzer-beating shots, including two game-winners, four at the half, seven at the end of the third quarter and two at the end of the first quarter.
Elsewhere on the Lady Vol record book career list, Davis wound up ninth in scoring (1,815) and points per game (15.4), 10th in rebounds (947) and sixth in rebounds per game at 8.03 rpg. Additionally, she finished sixth in free-throw percentage (.816), eighth in field goals attempted (1,477) and ninth in field goals made (696). Davis joined Holdsclaw, Parker and Tamika Catchings as the only Lady Vols to currently rank in the UT career top 10 in points, points per game, rebounds and rebounds per game.
Did you catch Luke Bryan‘s recent appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show?
Luke chatted with Ellen about their COVID experiences, American Idol, his ACM Entertainer of the Year Award win, his documentary , and most importantly…Luke cleared up that he is NOT the father of Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd’s baby.
Watch the conversation here…
Here’s the music video for Luke Bryan‘s current single “Waves”…
Talking about her song, “Come In (But Don’t Make Yourself Comfortable)” Caroline Jones says “It’s very sassy, and sexy, flirty and empowering and strong.”
And now she’s releasing a music video that captures that same spirit, “This video is a barn burner!!”
Previously Caroline shared with fans the studio performance video of the track, but now everyone can check out the official music video, which is a big step-up from her other releases, “It is our largest video production to date, and as my fans will see, it’s very different from all of my previous music videos.”
This video was a new experience for Caroline for another reason as well…it was not filmed in America.
At the beginning of quarantine Caroline had the option to travel to and stay in New Zealand, so she took it. That’s where the song and video were created.
While it’s a beautiful country, and she’s loved her time there, Caroline did admit “It was a challenge to find a country and western bar in New Zealand, but we did it! Working with an all-New Zealander cast was especially refreshing as they were all very joyful, pure, and genuine people. I believe that energy comes across in the dancing and throughout the video too.”
Check out the music video for “Come In (But Don’t Make Yourself Comfortable)” from Caroline Jones right here…
Jon Pardi‘s climbing the country airplay chart with his new one, “Tequila Little Time.”
When it comes to a fun, summer, party time song — Jon thinks this one is good for any and everywhere, “I feel like this goes great on a boat, a lake or pool and just any kind of atmosphere of having a good time.”
Jon adds, “It’s about picking up a girl that’s down and maybe, maybe we want to do a shot of tequila? There’s no answer, but maybe. She starts feeling better, and it’s fun. It’s just a fun song.”
And for a fun song, you need a fun music video — and that’s what “Tequila Little Time” is…check out it out here…
