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4-star WR Julian Nixon – Vols 12th 2021 ESP signee

Posted on December 16, 2020

Julian Nixon
(WR) Roswell, GA (Centennial HS)
6’4, 225
Commit: 4/28/20
4-star on 247 Composite/ESPN, 3-star on Rivals

Josh Ward’s Analysis: Nixon is a big receiver who brings a physical presence to the position. Let’s see if he adds weight at Tennessee. Could he play tight end in the future?

Eric Cain’s Analysis: Julian Nixon is a bigger guy who should excel at lining up outside against smaller cornerbacks. He displays good length and ball skills when high-pointing the football. Nixon is a bit of a work in progress, but eyes opportunity still with a mostly young group of unproven receivers.

Bio: Versatile athlete who can play on either side of the ball at the next level … A four-star prospect by 247Sports.com and ESPN.com … The No. 21 player in the state of Georgia and No. 34 at his position nationally by ESPN.com … Pegged as the No. 28 recruit in Georgia and No. 54 wide receiver in the class of 2021 by the 247Sports Composite … Considered the No. 43 recruit in the state of Georgia by Rivals.com … A 2020 SI All-American Football finalist … Totaled 1,090 receiving yards on 82 catches with nine receiving touchdowns in his career … Found the end zone a total of 16 times as a Centennial Knight … Also played basketball … Received offers from 21 different schools … Committed to the Vols in April 2020 … Twitter handle is @JulianNixon11.

3-star OL J’Marion Gooch – Vols 11th 2021 ESP signee

Posted on December 16, 2020

J’Marion Gooch
(OL) Gallatin, TN (Gallatin, HS)
6’6, 330
Commit: 8/31/20
3-star on 247 Composite/Rivals/ESPN

Josh Ward’s Analysis: Gooch is a massive offensive line prospect who originally committed to Auburn. The staff’s interest in Gooch was obvious when the Vols never let up in their pursuit of Gooch, who ultimately decided to stay closer to home at Tennessee.

Eric Cain’s Analysis: Locally, we’ve had a chance to watch Gooch play at TKA. He’s massive (6-9, 345) but can move. The former Auburn commit excels at kicking out defenders on pulls, wash downs and getting up to the second and third layers of the defense. Gooch missed the final two games of his high school career but appears now to be healthy and ready to make an impact.

Article on Gooch

Bio: Promising in-state offensive line prospect with excellent feet and balance … A three-star prospect by Rivals.com and 247Sports.com … The No. 67 offensive tackle in the nation and No. 18-ranked player in the state of Tennessee by the 247Sports Composite … According to 247Sports.com, the 15^th-best player in the state of Tennessee … No. 12-ranked player in the state of Tennessee by ESPN.com … Ranked No. 24 in the state of Tennessee by Rivals.com … 2019 All-Region selection playing on the offensive and defensive lines … Played two years of high school football and has unlimited potential … Played at Gallatin High School and Gallatin’s Station Camp High School before transferring to The King’s Academy in 2019 … Committed to the Vols in August 2020 … Coached by Jonathan Sellers … Committed to Tennessee on Twitter handle is @GoochJmarion.

4-star QB Kaidon Salter – Vols 10th 2021 ESP signee

Posted on December 16, 2020

Kaidon Salter
(QB) Cedar Hill, TX (Cedar Hill HS)
6’2, 185
Commit: 5/10/20
4-star on 247 Composite/Rivals/ESPN

Josh Ward’s Analysis: Salter is a very talented dual-threat quarterback who will compete for Tennessee’s starting position in the spring. Will he be ready as a freshman? Time will tell, but there’s no question Salter has a ton of potential for the future.

Eric Cain’s Analysis: Kaidon Salter was the straw that stirred the drink in Tennessee’s 2021 Class. When things were tough on the field for the Vols, Salter never wavered in his commitment and would call and check up on fellow pledges. Salter will most likely be in the middle of a three-man quarterback competition this spring and next fall and displays mobility and the ability to stretch plays when the pocket collapses. Slater is Jim Chaney’s guy – the first quarterback the soon-to-be third-year UT offensive coordinator has recruited.

Article on Salter

Bio: One of the elite dual threat quarterbacks in all of America … A consensus four-star recruit and leader on the field … Gave opposing defenses fits with his athleticism combined with his strong arm and quick release … Tabbed the No. 3 dual threat quarterback in the nation by 247Sports.com and also the No. 46 overall recruit and No. 6 prospect in the state of Texas by the site … Considered the No. 8 dual-threat quarterback in the nation by Rivals.com and also No. 24 overall player in the state of Texas … The top overall quarterback prospect in the talent-rich state of Texas according to 247Sports.com … An Elite 11 finalist and a 2020 National Quarterback Club High School QB of the Year candidate … The leader of a Cedar Hill team that is ranked No. 21 nationally by MaxPreps in 2020 … In a Dec. 11 Class 6A Division II bi-district playoff game win against Bryan, accounted for four touchdowns – one rushing and three passing … Ran for a game-high 93 yards on 12 carries and completed 13-of-19 passes for 180 yards in the same contest … In eight regular season games as a senior in 2020, accumulated 1,546 passing yards and 19 touchdowns to go along with only three interceptions … Also rushed for 521 yards and averaged 6.1 yards per carry during his senior regular season … As a junior, threw for 2,550 yards and 28 touchdowns with another 616 rushing yards and 10 rushing scores en route to District 7-6A MVP honors in 2019 … Guided Cedar Hill to a 9-3 record and a Texas Class 6A D-II second round playoff appearance as a junior … Played his sophomore season at Dallas Bishop Lynch, throwing for 1,266 yards and rushing for 268 yards in 2018 … Shows great athletic ability in track as well, posting a 6-2 high jump, a 21’6 long jump, and a 47’5 triple jump in the spring of 2020 … Racked up 26 offers during his recruiting process … Committed to the Vols in May 2020 … Coached by Carlos Lynn … Twitter handle is @KaidonSalter_7.

Bio:

Dan + Shay are Rocking Around the Christmas Tree with Mariah Carey

Posted on December 16, 2020

Dan + Shay kept themselves pretty busy going into this holiday season by releasing not one, but two new Christmas songs, “Christmas Isn’t Christmas” and “Take Me Home For Christmas.”

The new tracks are quickly becoming Christmas favorites with fans.

Dan Smyers admits that his favorite holiday tune to rock around the Christmas tree with isn’t by a country artist, but it is one of the most popular holiday tracks around, “My favorite Christmas song, I might scare a couple of people away because it’s not a traditional Christmas song…but it’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ by Mariah Carey.”

Dan thinks the song is perfect for any party soundtrack, “That song is awesome, every time you put it on at a party and all your friends are drinking eggnog…that song is just the jam.” He also thinks it doesn’t have to be just a Christmas party to break out the song, “Every time, even if you play it in July, if you play it in September, it gets people fired up and in the spirit every single time you hear it.”

All we want for Christmas now is a Dan + Shay and Mariah Carey duet.

Until that happens, here’s one of the two new Dan + Shay Christmas songs for this year, check out the music video for “Take Me Home For Christmas” right here…

Photo Credit: Catherine Powell

4-star WR Walker Merrill – Vols 9th 2021 ESP signee

Posted on December 16, 2020

Walker Merrill
(WR) Brentwood, TN (Brentwood HS)
6’1, 180
Commit: 3/31/20
4-star on 247 Composite/Rivals/ESPN

Josh Ward’s Analysis: Tennessee’s offense needs more explosive plays. Merrill might offer the most help in that area at receiver in this class. Merrill will add good depth at receiver for Tennessee.

Eric Cain’s Analysis: Speed kills – but Walker Merrill has emphatically told me that’s not all he is. Along with his speed (4.4), the in-state product is a skilled route runner who can stretch the field vertically and horizontally. He’s a guy who can line up everywhere and has held his own in camps and 7-on-7s. Now healthy after battling injuries as a senior, Merrill will have an opportunity to get in the rotation right away with a good spring and fall camp.

Article on Merrill 1
Article on Merrill 2
Article on Merrill 3

Bio: Fast and athletic wide receiver prospect out of the Nashville area … A consensus top-10 player in the state of Tennessee by 247Sports.com, Rivals.com and ESPN.com … Rated the No. 9 player in the state of Tennessee and No. 57 wide receiver in the country by the 247Sports Composite … A four-star prospect according to Rivals.com and ESPN.com … Was a third-team selection on The Tennessean 2019 All-Midstate Team … Named to 6-6A All-Region team as a junior in 2019 … Played a major role in Brentwood High School’s run to the Tennessee Class 6A State Championship game in 2020 with a record-setting season for the Bruins … As a senior in 2020, set school records for single-game receptions (16), single-game receiving yards (206) and single-season catches (100) … Had 1,173 receiving yards (second most in school history) and caught eight touchdown passes as a senior in 2020 … Helped lead the Bruins to a Class 6A Region 6 championship and the quarterfinals of the state playoffs as a junior in 2019 with 62 catches for 568 yards … Received offers from 23 schools … Committed to the Vols in March 2020 … Coached by Ron Crawford … Twitter handle is @Walker_Merrill1.

3-star OL William Parker – Vols 8th 2021 ESP signee

Posted on December 16, 2020

William Parker
(OL) Nashville, TN (Pearl-Cohn HS)
6’5, 305
Commit: 9/8/20
3-star on 247 Composite/Rivals, 4-star on ESPN

Josh Ward’s Analysis: Griffin-Parker has exactly what Tennessee looks for in a lineman: size. He has played on both sides of the football in high school and should develop into a quality offensive lineman for the Vols.

Eric Cain’s Analysis: The in-state prospect was very important to the Vols at the time of his commit and is viewed as a future option at the tackle position. Griffin-Parker displays good athleticism and bend on the edge and has dropped 20 pounds during the COVID era. With great size (6-5, 310), the Nashville native has a chance to transform his body when arriving to campus and be plugged in as immediate depth on the offensive line.

Bio: Talented in-state offensive lineman who played on both sides of the ball … A three-star prospect by Rivals.com and 247Sports.com with tremendous size … Rated the No. 13 player from the state of Tennessee and No. 52 offensive lineman in the nation by Rivals.com … Tabbed the No. 7 player and the No. 38 offensive tackle in the country by 247Sports.com … As a senior, Led Pearl-Cohen to a 10-2 season, advancing to Tennessee Class3A state semifinals … As a junior, helped his team to a 14-1 record and a Tennessee 3A state championship game appearance … Committed to Tennessee in Sept. 2020 … Coached by Tony Brunetti … Twitter handle is @williamngriffin.

Tenille Arts Still Has Her Favorite Christmas Gift from Her Childhood

Posted on December 16, 2020

Sometimes a Christmas gift can be more than just a trendy toy that a kid will play with for a while, and then stick in the bottom of a toy box.

For Tenille Arts, a gift she received when she was a teenager helped set her life down the path it’s on today.

“My favorite childhood Christmas memory, was when I was 13 and I got my very first guitar on Christmas day.”

Tenille shares, “I remember asking my parents…just begging them to get me a guitar. So, we went and played a few, and I kind of picked out a couple that I liked, and my parents surprised me on Christmas day with one of the most beautiful guitars that I’ve ever had”

Where is that special Christmas gift now? Tenille says “I still have it to this day.”

Using her guitar, and her voice, Tenille is not only climbing the charts with her song “Somebody Like That”, but she also presented fans with a little special Christmas gift for 2020 by releasing her holiday song “A Winter Wonderland” which you can listen to right here…

Photo Credit: Rachel Deeb

3-star TE Trinity Bell – Vols 7th 2021 ESP signee

Posted on December 16, 2020

Trinity Bell
(TE) Albertville, AL (Albertville HS)
6’6, 265
Commit: 5/22/20
3-star on 247 Composite/Rivals/ESPN

Josh Ward’s Analysis: Bell fits the theme of size that Tennessee is looking for in this class. Bell could be a tight end or end up playing on the line of scrimmage (on either side of the ball) depending on how much size he adds in college.

Eric Cain’s Analysis: Bell is a basketball star who picked up football recently. In fact, Tennessee offered him before he even began playing football in 2019. Bell is raw and still learning how to play – but is a matchup nightmare lined up outside and in the slot. Route running and blocking will be an emphasis for him early on but he’s athletic enough to find the field. Bell could also get a look on the defensive line.

Article on Bell

Bio: A consensus three-star athlete by 247Sports.com, Rivals.com and ESPN.com … Huge upside and could play on either side of the ball … The No. 16 player in the state of Alabama according to the 247Sports Composite … Considered the No. 38 athlete in the country by 247Sports.com … Named a 2021 Sports Illustrated All-America candidate … No. 15 on AL.com’s A-List of top senior recruits in the state of Alabama … Led Albertville High School to the Alabama Class 6A state playoffs as a junior while starring at tight end and defensive end for the Aggies … Made 37 catches for 472 yards and two touchdowns as a senior in 2020 … Had 26 receptions for 415 yards and six touchdowns while also posting 28 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks, seven quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery returned for a touchdown as a junior in 2019 … Has only played two seasons of high school football and received his first scholarship offer before playing a single down of football … Was also a star basketball player for Albertville High School and had multiple scholarship offers to play college basketball … Committed to the Vols in May 2020 … Coached by Cliff Mitchell … Twitter handle is @OfficialTrinnn.

Brad from Old Dominion Was Sorry the Year He Got Coal in His Stocking

Posted on December 16, 2020

When you were a kid, did you ever get told that if you misbehaved Santa would leave coal in your stocking?

Well, Brad Tursi from Old Dominion thought that happened to him once, “My most vivid memory of Christmas was when my parents thought it was funny to put coal in my stocking.”

Brad shares, “So, I came out…you know, we always did the stockings first so I open the stocking and I got a bunch of lumps of coal,” but the story has a happy ending as all Christmas tales do, “In the next room I had presents…skis, I think I got skis that year.”

Santa is dropping a lot more than coal in the 2020 Stockings for Brad, and his bandmates, Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Whit Sellers and Geoff Sprung.

Old Dominion walked away with CMA & ACM Group of the Year wins, and they are ending 2020 by climbing the country airplay charts with their latest track, “Never Be Sorry”–which you can check out the music video for, right here…

Photo Credit: Mason Allen

3-star TE Miles Campbell – Vols 6th 2021 ESP signee

Posted on December 16, 2020

Miles Campbell
(TE) Douglasville, GA (South Paulding HS)
6’3, 235
Commit: 5/18/20
3-star on 247 Composite/Rivals/ESPN

Josh Ward’s Analysis: Campbell will enroll early with the goal of competing for playing time at tight end as a freshman. Campbell could be a good receiver in Tennessee’s offense. If he’s ready to block in the SEC, he could see the field quickly.

Eric Cain’s Analysis: Miles Campbell’s signing is huge for Tennessee considering Hudson Wolfe left the class. They lined him up everywhere in high school to create mismatches – but Campbell really thrives in the slot going against linebackers and safeties. Campbell is hungry, knows there’s opportunity and is out to prove his worth this winter with the early enrollee.

Article on Campbell 1
Article on Campbell 2

Bio: A shifty tight end prospect who has played multiple positions on both sides of the ball … A four-star prospect by 247Sports.com … Rated the No. 11 tight end in the country and the No. 23 overall player in the state of Georgia by 247Sports.com … Considered the No. 22 overall tight end in the nation by Rivals.com … Finished high school career with 1,385 yards receiving, 11 touchdown receptions and five rushing touchdowns … Played quarterback his freshman year and made appearances in the spot as a sophomore and junior (threw four touchdowns and rushed for one) … Named to 2020 MaxPreps Preseason Georgia All-State team as a senior … Caught 25 passes for 232 yards and one touchdown during his 2020 senior season that was shortened to nine games … Named a finalist at his position in the 2020 SI All-America Team … Received offers from 32 schools … Committed to Tennessee in May 2020 … Coached by Jason Nash … Twitter handle is @Miles3campbell.