IRVING, Texas – Tennessee VFL Brandon Kennedy has been selected as a member of the 2021 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society, the NFF announced Wednesday.
Kennedy, who is preparing for an NFL career, is the 16th Volunteer to earn the honor since its inception in 2007.
The NFF Hampshire Honor Society is celebrating its 15th year and is comprised of college football players from all divisions of play who each maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout their college career.
Kennedy was a two-year starter at center for the Vols after transferring from Alabama. The Wetumpka, Alabama, native was a team captain and started eight games last fall, seeing time on 507 offensive snaps and allowing only one sack.
Off the field, Kennedy was a finalist for the 2020 William V. Campbell Trophy, the top academic honor in all of college football. He became the first Tennessee NFF National Scholar-Athlete since Michael Munoz in 2004.
A three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, Kennedy earned a pair of master’s degrees from Tennessee focused on sports psychology and motor behavior in December 2019 and agricultural leadership, education and communications in December 2020.
Tennessee All-Time NFF Hampshire Honor Society Recipients
2007 – James Wilhoit
2008 – Erik Ainge, Jarod Parrish, Casey Woods
2010 – Cody Sullins
2011 – Daniel Lincoln
2013 – Zach Rogers
2014 – Daniel Hood
2016 – Brian Randolph
2017 – Dylan Wiesman
2018 – Parker Henry, Jakob Johnson, Brett Kendrick
2019 – Kyle Phillips
2020 – Riley Lovingood
2021 – Brandon Kennedy
Congrats to Kane Brown on his ACM Video of the Year Award win!
During his appearance on CBS This Morning with Gayle King, Tony Dokoupil, and Anthony Mason, Kane was informed by Anthony that his video “Worldwide Beautiful” was an ACM winner.
See the moment right here…
Country music star @KaneBrown is up for two #ACMAwards and is the first Black country music artist to be nominated for Album Of The Year.
He joins us to discuss the nominations ahead of Sunday’s @ACMAwards and what it will be like to hit the road for his new tour this fall. pic.twitter.com/lTnBfJPA81
It was great to see a start-to-finish football practice of any kind again. We appreciate Josh Heupel and Tennessee for letting everyone into Neyland Stadium to see it after all of the restrictions from COVID-19 since Spring of 2020.
In the latest post from my blog “Vince’s View” here on 991TheSportsAnimal.com, I’m sharing views, opinions and notes from what I saw during the almost three hours of UT football practice viewing, as well as where each position group stands as a whole. These are my opinions, not what anyone else may have said or written.
Players we did not see practicing (excluding six suspended players): RB Jabari Small, DL Omari Thomas, LB Jeremy Banks, LB Roman Harrison, DL LaTrell Bumphus and OL Riley Locklear
Players in black non-contact jerseys, but doing some drills included: DB Doneiko Slaughter, RB Len’Neth Whitehead and WR Jimmy Holiday
Other partial participants that did not practice in team situations: DE/OLB Tyler Baron, RB Tiyon Evans, WR Jalin Hyatt and DL Ja’Quain Blakely
Offense vs. Defense in Team Reps
The offense was much, much better than the defense in all team settings. I don’t recall any negative plays created by this undermanned defense. I only saw one turnover, a sweet over-the-shoulder interception by true freshman DB Christian Charles. It was on a Brian Maurer deep ball that looked like it was going to be complete until Charles hustled and laid out for it, much to the excitement of his defensive teammates. That was maybe the single best catch of the day.
The tempo of the offense, I’m sure, is still an adjustment for all the defensive players, returning and new, but I think because of the personnel, they would struggle versus most offenses based as it sits right now. This new coaching staff has to find ways to develop some individual talent under the tough circumstances.
Quarterbacks Overall
I’d describe the unit as ok, but inconsistent. The overall play at this position, looks like it could be a little better than the 2020 season, but that’s not a high bar of success to improve on. I think the system, the promising skill talent and an apparent improvement in redshirt sophomore Brian Maurer should produce better offensive numbers. Each of the three QBs is a little different, but the group as whole, looks like it can manage things efficiently and at least protect the football. I don’t think there’s a star in this group though. We haven’t seen suspended freshman Kaidon Salter yet, so maybe he is. We’ll see. The QBs did quick-release drills, avoiding dropping heavy bags in the pocket drills and on the run throwing drills (including across the body) more than I can remember the previous staff doing when we were able to see practices in 2019.
Brian Maurer
I had heard that Maurer had looked the best in the closed door portions of practice entering Saturday. What I saw was consistent with that. He looks more confident and relaxed. Maybe this offense and having been recruited by Josh Heupel at UCF as a kid in nearby Ocala, has given Maurer a new sense of opportunity. Maurer is the quickest in his release, has the best escape-ability and has a popular alpha personality you like at that position. He led most of the individual drills and got a fair amount of first team work in team situations. He missed on numerous throws in redzone situations vs. defenders. There were two in a row where he didn’t have appropriate loft on fade routes where he threw them both too much on a line falling incomplete.
Maurer seems to elevate his play in 11-on-11 settings. On one play, he bobbled a snap that popped above his head, he re-gathered, stepped-up in the pocket, eluded the rush by sliding to the right and shooting a ¾ arm slot throw into the endzone for a TD to Princeton Fant. On another play, he scrambled to his right and gunned a TD pass on the run to Ramel Keyton. Maurer also lofted a pretty 30-yard pass in the bucket to true freshman WR Walker Merrill who made an impressive over the shoulder catch against Doneiko Slaughter in 7-on-7 work.
Hendon Hooker
Virginia Tech transfer Hendon Hooker looks like the safest of the quarterbacks. He’s very fundamental, mechanical and tight in his base. He did a nice job of getting off 3 snaps of the tempo offense in 26 total seconds. When you consider the time of the play, getting everyone back from downfield and in a legal formation, that’s impressive. It was an example of the super-fast tempo this offense wants to operate in. He ran with the 1s plenty. He also was accurate on some redzone throws and sailed some as well. Hooker’s nicest throw may have been in 7-on7 where he hit Velus Jones Jr on about a 30-yard go route.
Harrison Bailey
Sophomore Harrison Bailey moved the offense against the undermanned defenses he faced, but they were more check-down throws and leaning on a successful running game. He, like all the QBs, made some solid redzone throws. However, I thought he was the least accurate of the three, not just in completion percentage but in hitting receivers in-stride and in the proper spots. He overthrew receivers, threw some in the dirt and threw behind guys numerous times. I didn’t see a high 4-star QB that’s coming off a freshman season of playing and starting that should have made the sophomore jump. I saw a guy just blended in rather than standing out, like he was expected to. We’ll see if that will develop before the season, but he appeared third-best to me in this setting.
Running Backs
I really liked what I saw from big 6’5, 227 back Dee Beckwith. He bulled over defenders on runs while still showing elusiveness. He has good waist bend to still be effective and not take too much punishment. VFL Will Overstreet brought-up a great point when we were discussing Beckwith on The Sports Source last Sunday on WATE. As a big former receiver now at RB, Beckwith gives you the option to motion him out into a mismatch on either a slower linebacker or a smaller defensive back. UT did motion their single backs to a 5-wide look several times Saturday.
I also like what I’ve seen all camp from true freshman Jaylen Wright. The full practice enforced that for me. He’s fast and could be the breakaway running back among the group. JUCO newcomer Tiyon Evans has massive legs and a powerful frame. He did not take part in team drills. Jabari Small, arguably the most complimented player on the team heading into the open practice, did not practice. Tee Hodge was probably the 3rd back among the scholarship backs in team drills. Len’Neth Whitehead is intriguing as well as another big back, but he continues to be limited.
Every scholarship running back is over 200 pounds. There are numerous power running options in this group that fits Heupel’s offense. Right now, I think it is a good collection of running back by committee.
Wide Receivers
I like the talent and potential in this group as well. Cedric Tillman made a really nice catch on a fade route in the endzone leaping over CB Kenneth George Jr. The two slapped hands afterwards showing respect. Tillman has had a really nice camp. Velus Jones Jr. had a sweet juke move to get pass his CB in press coverage drills. Jones worked on the outside at WR much of practice along with Tillman, Ramel Keyton and freshman Andison Coby. Former QB Jimmy Calloway looked like a smooth natural hands catcher, working a lot from the slot, making some grabs look easy, although he did have two drops. I liked what I saw from in-state true freshman Walker Merrill. He had the highlight catch from Maurer I mentioned earlier and just looked smooth and precise in his routes. He did have to get repositioned a few times when lining-up, but that’s to be expected. There are a number of guys like Jalin Hyatt and former QB Jimmy Holiday and Malachi Wideman that we’re waiting for them to either get back to full strength or play to their potential.
Offensive Line
Here are how some of the OLs lined-up in some team drills.
LT Cade Mays LG Jerome Carvin C Cooper Mays RG Jackson Lampley RT Darnell Wrigley
LT Dayne Davis LG Jerome Carvin C Cooper Mays RG Jackson Lampley RT Cade Mays
LT K’Rohjn Calbert LG Kingston Harris C Ollie Lane RG Javontez Spraggins RT RJ Perry
LT James Parsons (walk-on) LG Parker Ball (walk-on) C Jacob Brigman (walk-on) RG Chris Akporoghene RT William Parker
This group has had plenty of position shifting, with more likely to come. Much like the D-line, there has to be more development of players than there was last season, if this team is going to get some things done on offense this year. Versus UT’s defense, it was no problem all day for all the units and combinations. I think that speaks to the defense though, more than promise about this group. On one bend and strike drill with contact on a fellow-OL teammate, Jackson Lampley led with his helmet which angered RJ Perry, who shoved him afterwards. Perry took the blow to his rib area and was holding it due to obvious pain. It wasn’t serious, just interesting to watch. Gotta keep your head-up for everybody’s safety.
Tight Ends
It was good to see Austin Pope, who missed last season with a back injury, participating, split-out wide often and catching passes. He made a sweet grab for a TD in redzone work on a corner route. With UT showing 4 and 5 wides, you saw Pope, Princeton Fant and Jacob Warren all split-out wide and able to get out into pass routes, Freshman Miles Campbell is a big body that I didn’t see as much of later in practice. There were a few instances of a standard hand-down tight end along with a second tight end at H-back on the opposite wing together. This is a very small group.
Defense Line
I thought they lined-up like last season a decent amount at practice, 3 down linemen and a stand-up fourth DE/OLB hybrid right at the line as well. The bright spots of the defense are at that hybrid position with JUCO newcomer Byron Young, sophomore Bryson Eason and sophomore Tyler Baron, who did not do any team drills. The defensive line was not effective at all at practice. They don’t even look explosive or fundamentally sound in individual drills. This is a huge concern area with this football team. There doesn’t appear to be a difference-maker in site on this roster, unless someone blossoms that we haven’t seen so far.
Linebackers
With suspensions and injuries this is an insanely thin group that’s relied on walk-ons, former walk-ons and a long snapper to fill spots in team settings. I’m not sure any of the players that are out would make a huge difference, which makes the situation even more alarming. That’s why this is a high target position to try and address in the transfer portal, even though that’s not the easiest position to come in and prosper in quickly.
Defensive Backs
The 1s at CB were Alontae Taylor, Kenneth George Jr and Warren Burrell. Those guys are solid but not elite. Tyus Fields and Doneiko Slaughter saw some time at CB also. There’s experience at safety and Star CB, but again, it’s capped at solid and they’re probably not fast enough, collectively. There was one play where they had to pause the snap because the defense was short a CB on the field until Tyus Fields ran out there.
Special Teams
There’s no doubt that Paxton Brooks is the punter. He had some blasted long punts during practice. He did have one really short line drive punt that I saw, but was good overall. He’s a big guy that’s always acting like a QB or a WR in down time. Remember, we saw him throw some passes last season. In fact, he had as many completions as Brian Maurer did in 2020, two. USC transfer Chase McGrath was slightly more accurate than walk-on Toby Wilson in field goal attempts. The three guys fielding punts were Jalin Hyatt, Jimmy Holiday and Jimmy Calloway. Those are all intriguing options. I did not see a dropped kick when watching them.
Coaching
Josh Heupel is pretty low key at practice. He watches and then sometimes calmly gives directions to players or groups, but you don’t hear him yelling and screaming like Jeremy Pruitt. OC Alex Golesh was the most interesting to watch coach. He is a bundle of energy, running in and out of formations to fix things and even playing the role of defender in some drills against his guys. QB Coach Joey Halzle was constantly coaching and correcting mechanics and techniques. Bailey was getting corrected by him most often. DL coach Rodney Garner is the loudest voice at practices with his yelling and correcting style.
For his Heart, &, Soul projects, Eric Church wanted to mix up the recording process when it came to making the albums.
So, he packed up everything from producer Jay Joyce‘s studio — including Jay, songwriters, studio assistants, and musicians, and headed out of Nashville to North Carolina.
Eric says, “I think that by going to North Carolina and by leaving the environment, leaving Jay’s studio environment, leaving my environment, leaving the band’s environment, leaving the songwriter’s environment that we just we made something that was uncomfortable and unique and new. And that’s kind of what – that’s where creativity thrives, at least for this record, God, it was so refreshing. And I think that you sometimes have to kind of shake it up a little bit to find where you’re supposed to go next.”
The Heart album arrives for fans this Friday, April 16th.
& arrives exclusively for Church Choir members (Eric’s fan club) on Tuesday, April 20th. (You can become a member HERE)
While Soul will be released next Friday, April 23rd.
One of the tracks that fans can find on the Heart album is “Never Break Heart” — check out the studio version video right here…
Cole Swindell knows that everyone has had a stressful year, so when he was looking to put out a new song he wanted to make sure it fulfilled one requirement, “Something fun, and that’s what I wanted to put out.”
“Single Saturday Night” is that fun song that he was looking to share with fans, although, since Cole released it, he does think there’s one thing missing, “Can’t wait to get to playing it live, just see the fans react, that’s been one of my biggest bummers about having a new song, is not really getting to see it grow and see what it’s doing and the audience.”
Cole is still thinking about the fans, and wanted to give them a different experience when it came to “Single Saturday Night,” so he recently released an acoustic version of the track which you can check out right here…
Brett Young recently topped the country music airplay chart with a song that he’s not sure that he can top.
Brett says, “I think I fought really hard to this point to only say things in my music that do connect and resonate with me. Cause I never felt like it was okay to ask fans to feel connected if I wasn’t.”
“Lady” was Brett’s most recent number-1, and it is also one of the most personal songs that he’s recorded up until now in his career. It’s a musical wish to his daughter, about how Brett hopes that she turns out just like her mom. As far as personal songs go, Brett thinks that’s going to be pretty hard to beat, “There are some topics that are gonna be hard to touch, you know, like this is literally a song about my wife to my daughter. I don’t know that I’ll ever do anything that personal. Not because I don’t want to, I just don’t know that there’s something that personal that I can ever do again. So, all the songs are personal in their own way, but yeah, I don’t think this one’s touchable.”
While fans loved the track and it became a huge hit for him, Brett does realize this raises one big problem. He and wife Taylor, are expecting another daughter this summer.
So, his older daughter Presley has her song, it kind of puts pressure on him to create another song for daughter number-2 some day, “Who knows, I mean, maybe my daughter’s gonna be fighting with one of her siblings about which one of their songs is better one day, and I’ll have to figure that out.”
We have faith that Brett will be making a lot more personal hit songs in the future.
Until he does, we can enjoy this number-one hit…its “Lady” — with a music video starring the two current ladies in his life…
Vols DL coach Rodney Garner / Credit: UT Athletics
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The fourth week of Tennessee football spring practice is underway as confidence continues to grow on the lines of scrimmage in the squad’s ninth workout on Tuesday afternoon at Haslam Field.
Following practice, defensive line coach Rodney Garner and offensive line coach Glen Elarbee met with members of the media. Garner called Tuesday’s practice the best he has seen from his unit this spring.
“Actually today, I thought we took a step forward,” Garner said. “I look forward to going up there and watching the film and seeing if that’s true. I really thought today was probably the best practice we had all spring. If that’s the case, then we can come out here again on Thursday and be a little bit better and then again build on that and be better on Saturday. I definitely think we will be trending in the right direction.”
Elarbee’s offensive line is led by returning senior Cade Mays, who has illustrated throughout his career his versatility by playing multiple positions.
“He’s such a talented guy, and he has played so many different positions, and he knows how to use his body, how to move it,” Elarbee said. “Really at the end of the day, he’s probably going to slide in there where it makes us best.”
Tennessee will practice again Thursday before holding a closed scrimmage on Saturday.
The spring culminates with the Chevrolet Orange & White Game at 4 p.m. ET on April 24 in Neyland Stadium. Admission is free, and gates open at 2:30 p.m. Normal game day policies will be in effect, including the clear bag policy.
“I’d say it’s an interesting combination that you’ve got. A lot of older guys that have played ball, and they’re really savvy. Cade Mays and Jerome Carvin, guys that kind of understand the game on a little bit different level and then a bunch of young guys that play really hard and give unbelievable effort and just have to learn the game. They just have to learn where to put their hands, how to step, what the defense is trying to do and when you see what’s going on, try to do that at tempo as well. It’s a good blend. It’s really right now just trying to get the older guys to help bring those younger guys along and all of us get to the point where we want to be at.”
On whether Cade Mays would be a better fit at guard or tackle this upcoming season …
“Really at the end of the day it’s a matter of where he fits best with all of the other guys. He’s such a talented guy, and he has played so many different positions, and he knows how to use his body, how to move it. Really at the end of the day, he’s probably going to slide in there where it makes us best. If that’s at tackle, awesome and we’ll roll on down the road. If it’s at guard, awesome and that’s where we’ll go. To his credit, he has had to do a bunch of different positions. He’s moved a lot and has just been for us, for the team, for doing whatever matters. I really appreciate that part of him. One, because I can move him and two, the way he has responded to it.”
“Dayne (Davis), one, studies the game. I’m not sure there’s been a guy that’s been in extra, especially there in the beginning to try and learn the offense. A great example is he was talking different pass sets stuff and he was trying to play to some of his strengths and change the set. You respect a guy that understands where he’s good and what he has to do, and he plays with great effort and has a great attitude. He’s done a really great job at left tackle. Just as solid as can be. K’Rojhn Calbert one, has an unbelievable personality and is really an enjoyable guy to be around and has great talent. He can twitch and pop and do some things run game wise and do some things body position wise, pass set wise. I think we’ve tried to find the fine line with his knees, his motor every single play. I think that’s where we’ve got to get to with him. But the cool thing is, with both of them competing and both kind of rolling, taking reps. Let the best man win, but also let those guys kind of sharpen each other and push each other competition.
On where the offensive line is this spring, the key to making the offensive line work well with the offense …
“I think we’re in a good spot. The best tell of that would be when we get to scrimmage the second time. It’s always where you make the biggest jump because they get to see how we play with tempo, where they were slowing themselves down inadvertently. You don’t have to be in a panic, but everything is smooth and smooth is fast. Just knowing their awareness. I think that’s where we’ll probably make the biggest jump, and I can tell you if we’re on track or not at that point. If we don’t make the jump then we’ve got a ways to go. But we’ll see there.”
On being a successful offensive lineman in this offense …
“I think it starts mentally. Guys have to be able to process fast. It is a quick tempo offense or fast tempo, whatever you want to call it. The play is coming in, we are ID the front and the ball is snapped. If you can’t process, you’re going to struggle. I think in this league and the way we do run the ball, you’ve got to have wide hips and physicality. If you don’t like trying to knock somebody off the ball and don’t enjoy moving a man from point A to point B, all the clichés you can think of, and have the ability to run block, you’re not going to be very good at this offense either. You’ve got to be a tough guy. After that, I think it comes down to redirection. At some point, your guy slid in pass sets and in the run game you’re going to be in a man-block and have to change direction. For me, can you think, are you a tough dude who can move guys off the ball and can you redirect? If you can do those three things, you can start to build from there.”
“Cooper (Mays) has made a big-time leap. I think one in his footwork and base. You go back and look at the first couple of practices just where he was in the run game to where he is now. He enjoys it every single day. The guy has juice. He has energy. I think he is trying to fix and be a better player every day. His technique, body position, hands. Whatever it is you ask, he tries to go work on it and get it fixed. (Javontez) Spraggins has an unreal motor. The guy plays a thousand miles an hour. He doesn’t necessarily have to slow down, but learn how to play that fast with technique, with first step, second step, hands. Understand where I’m trying to put the defender and keep my leverage. He is going to be a great player and really all of those guys. You look where they were day one to right now, they’ve just leaps and bounds and you’ve got to keep going that way. (William Parker) hasn’t made as big of a jump. It’s hard when you first come in, but what an unbelievable kid and a great human being. He plays freaky fast, like freaky fast. He is just raw to the game. He just has to learn what to do, how to do it. But the fact that he plays so fast when the ball is snapped, he’ll be just fine.”
“They are a group that is eager. Obviously, they are taking coaching, and I think the guys are buying into it. It is a little bit different, especially schematically. Last year they were more near step. This year we are more attack and react. The guys are really buying into it and taking the coaching, trying to understand what we want, trying to play vertical and trying to play two yards on the other side of the line of scrimmage. Actually today, I thought we took a step forward. I look forward to going up there and watching the film and seeing if that’s true. I really thought today was probably the best practice we had all spring. If that’s the case, then we can come out here again on Thursday and be a little bit better and then again build on that and be better on Saturday, I definitely think we will be trending in the right direction.”
On the standouts …
“(Bryon Young) has definitely continued to improve and get better. He takes coaching. He works on the little things that we point out in the film sessions. Right now, he is a guy that is trending upwards. There are several guys that are working, and they are pointing in the right direction. We just got to collectively get better so we can achieve goals and dreams that we have set for ourselves.”
On going up against this offense …
“Obviously, it is going to pay dividends, teaching those guys how to stay poised, how to play with confidence with how they get their feet and eyes set, and they have to be able to execute and communicate. This is definitely going to help us going forward because in this league there are several teams that are doing pace in the hurry up, no huddle. It is definitely going to get us acclimated for the fall.”
On teaching the defensive line …
“I don’t know that I would say it’s about bad habits. Schematically, they were different than what we are. We are just trying to teach them the fundamentals and the technique that is required for them to play in our scheme and getting them to understand how everything fits and how it all ties together. Getting those guys to play with relentless effort, with physicality and understanding the accountability of making sure that they are in their gaps and they win their gaps.”
On recruiting Tennessee …
“Tennessee is a great product. It has always been a great product. It will always continue to be a great product. We just have to continue to get out here, and we have to roll our sleeves up and we have to work. I think Coach Heupel has a great staff that has a lot of chemistry. Everybody is working hard to recruit at a championship level to get UT back to elite status. That’s the goal. We are not going to lose sight of that goal, and we are going to work. I do feel that with determination, being diligent and staying on task, I think we will be successful. This is such a great program with a great history and great tradition. It has just hit a little rough spot. There are some pieces here. We have to find some elite pieces to put with it to help us get back to the level that we want to play at.”
On the leadership on the defensive line …
“We have some guys that are trying and buying in. Matthew Butler wants to be a leader. He is a coach pleaser, and he tries to do things the right way. I definitely think he’s a guy. (Ja’Quain) Blakely is another guy that is an older guy that wants to go out and change the narrative of what his career has been like here. He holds on to every word that we say and tries to do it right. Both of those kids, as far as being older, I think they have set the tone there. A young guy would probably be (Bryon Young). You just see him hang on to every single thing that you say. He takes it from the film room to the field and tries to correct it. They’re all working hard, and it’s a process. I told them, they have to embrace the process, not just tolerate the drills. Go out there and try to get better. Try to become a master of their craft. That’s the challenge. Every day we hit that field, let’s try to be a little bit better.”
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – No. 3 Tennessee put on an offensive show in a wild 14-12 midweek win over Western Carolina in Cullowhee on Tuesday night.
The Vols scored in every inning but the first and racked up 16 hits on the night. Five different players had multiple hits and drove in runs for the Big Orange.
No player had a more impressive night than Max Ferguson, who batted leadoff for the Vols and went a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs, a homer and six RBI, finishing a triple short of the cycle.
Jackson Greer (two hits, two RBI), Jake Rucker (three hits, one run, one RBI), Jordan Beck (two hits, two runs, two RBI, one home run) and Kyle Booker (three hits, three runs, one RBI) also had big nights at the dish.
The homestanding Catamounts jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead with three runs in the bottom of the first and kept the pressure on UT throughout the night despite trailing for the majority of the game.
WCU (18-8) briefly tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the sixth, but the Vols responded with four runs in the top of the seventh to take the lead for good. All four runs in the inning came with two outs.
Redmond Walsh pitched an inning of relief and earned the win to improve to 3-1 on the year while Kirby Connell recorded the final out of the game to earn his second save.
Despite the loss, shortstop Pascanel Ferreras led an explosive attack for the Catamounts, finishing 4-for-5 with a homer and four RBI on the night. Tuesday’s loss was just the second at home for Western Carolina this season after entering the game with a 13-1 record at Hennon Stadium.
Next up for the Vols is a highly anticipated matchup with in-state and SEC rival No. 2 Vanderbilt this weekend at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. First pitch for Friday’s series opener is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPNU.
NOTABLE
FERGIE’S BIG NIGHT: Junior second baseman Max Ferguson had a career night on Tuesday, finishing a perfect 4-for-4 with a walk, a homer and six RBI while finishing a triple short of the cycle. Ferguson’s four hits and six RBI both were career highs.
TWO-OUT RUNS: Eight of Tennessee’s 14 runs on Tuesday came with two outs.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Due to the threat of inclement weather Wednesday evening, Tennessee softball’s doubleheader against Tennessee State has been moved up to earlier in the day.
First pitch for game one from Sherri Parker Lee Stadium is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. ET, with game two beginning approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of game one.
Tickets for Wednesday are still valid with the time change. If single-game purchasers can no longer attend, please call the ticket office for a refund at (865) 656-1200.
For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee softball, follow @Vol_Softball on Twitter and Instagram.
It was March of 2019 that Carrie Underwood placed call to Ashley McBryde a couple of weeks before the 54th ACM Awards to let her know that she was named the New Female Artist of the Year.
The moment when Ashley gets the news from Carrie was captured on video…
This Sunday, April 18th, Ashley McBryde is once again an ACM nominee at the 56th Annual ACM Awards – she’s nominated in the categories of Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year (Never Will), and Song of the Year (“One Night Standards”). To see if she wins, catch it live on CBS, 8 PM ET/ 7 PM CT , and available to stream live on Paramount Plus.
Here’s the music video for Ashley’s ACM nominated song, “One Night Standards.”
