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Draft Scout College Football Player News: Tennessee

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08/25/20 - Paxton Brooks, rSr/2023, Tennessee + More +

2020 PRESEASON RAY GUY AWARD WATCH LIST: Paxton Brooks, Tennessee,...Third-year punter and kickoff specialist who has played in 25 career games...Averages 41.7 yards per punt and 61.6 yards per kickoff...69 of his 116 kickoffs have gone for touchbacks (59.5)...Two-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll...Through his leadership efforts, selected to the 2020-21 VOLeaders Academy. - Tennessee Football

rSr/2023

P Paxton Brooks, Tennessee
News Source: Tennessee Football
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08/22/20 - Austin Pope, rSr/2022, Tennessee + More +

Tennessee tight end Austin Pope is progressing toward being ready for the Sept. 26 season opener against South Carolina after he had offseason back surgery on a herniated disc. Pope has practiced this week. "He continues to improve," Pruitt said. "If he continues to improve like he has the last five weeks, he should be ready to play for the opener." The Christian Academy of Knoxville graduate is the most experienced of Tennessee's tight ends. He has played in 33 career games in his career, including 14 starts. Although not heavily involved in the passing game, Pope played an important role last season as a run blocker and in pass protection. - Knoxville News Sentinel

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TE Austin Pope, Tennessee
News Source: Knoxville News Sentinel
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08/21/20 - Brandon Kennedy, rSr/2021, Tennessee + More +

Brandon Kennedy had plenty of reasons to opt out of college football even as the Southeastern Conference prepares for its league-only season. He already has earned a master's degree in sports psychology and will graduate in December with his second in agriculture leadership. The Tennessee center didn't have to take advantage of the rare sixth year of eligibility to graduate after a torn ACL wiped out his 2018 season. Even anud a pandemic, Kennedy just wants to play. "I'm ready to play," Kennedy said Thursday. "I feel like I've worked hard for this senior year and coming back for this sixth year. I'm all in. We know the risks and the challenges, but I feel like we've been educated and they do a great job of helping us."

Kennedy was the only offensive lineman to start all 13 games last season as the Volunteers turned around a disastrous start by winning their final six games, capped by a comeback victory at the Gator Bowl for an 8-5 season. Matching those wins will be a major challenge if the SEC is able to pull off its planned 10-game schedule. The pull of football was just too much for the lineman from Wetumpka, Alabama, to pass up in a career that started at Alabama before he switched schools as a graduate transfer. "Just being able to come back, play another year, get more film on tape and also help the team be successful, I think that's what went into it," Kennedy said of his decision. "Also to be able to get another degree. I will be graduating in December...I'm excited and glad I did. I'm not looking back." - AP College Football

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C Brandon Kennedy, Tennessee
News Source: AP College Football
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08/19/20 - Cade Mays, rSr/2022, Tennessee + More +

Former Vols coach Lane Kiffin, who is in his first season as coach of Ole Miss, took to Twitter on Wednesday to join others advocating for offensive lineman Cade Mays to play this season. The Georgia transfer from Knoxville was denied a waiver for immediate eligibility. "Free Cade Mays! Feel for you Cade," Kiffin wrote, posting a link to a petition that Tennessee fans created for Mays. Tennessee sophomore offensive lineman Wanya Morris also posted a link to the petition. Former UT basketball player Grant Williams of the Boston Celtics also showed his support of Mays. UT is appealing the decision. Mays transferred to Tennessee from Georgia in January shortly after starting at left tackle for the Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl. The former Catholic standout started 18 games in his two seasons in Athens, taking snaps at all five positions along the offensive line. Mays, a junior, was projected as a starter for the Vols this year and is a potential first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. - The Clarion Ledger

rSr/2022

OT Cade Mays, Tennessee
News Source: The Clarion Ledger
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08/19/20 - Cade Mays, rSr/2022, Tennessee + More +

Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt put his Volunteers through that long-awaited first day of preseason practice Monday afternoon but provided some disappointing news afterward. Junior offensive lineman Cade Mays, the former five-star signee from Knox Catholic who played all five positions for the Georgia Bulldogs the past two seasons before transferring to Tennessee in January, had his waiver for immediate eligibility denied by the NCAA. Tennessee is appealing the ruling. Pruitt, who attained immediate eligibility as a defensive back after transferring from Middle Tennessee State to Alabama in 1995, expressed frustration with the verdict.

"Why should we stand in the way of a young man or woman trying to figure out where the right place for them is?" Pruitt said. "Right now that's not the rule, but I hope that it eventually will be the rule. I know that for everybody who has transferred from our place, I have written a letter for a recommendation for them to the NCAA that requested that they be approved for immediate eligibility. "I know it's frustrating for Cade, and it's frustrating for our team." Tennessee senior guard Trey Smith responded to the news by posting on Twitter, "Interesting how other positions get cleared seemingly without hassle," referring to quarterbacks such as Justin Fields, Tate Martell and JT Daniels, who each obtained immediate eligibility after transferring. Mays then asked Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano on Twitter if he could "rock that No. 2 (jersey) for a season." - Chattanooga Times Free Press

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OT Cade Mays, Tennessee
News Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press
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07/28/20 - Trey Smith, Sr/2021, Tennessee + More +

2020 PRESEASON WALTER CAMP SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICAN: OL Trey Smith, Tennessee,...Smith is coming off a dominant junior campaign in which he helped lead the Vols to six consecutive victories to end the season, including a thrilling comeback win over Indiana in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. The Jackson, Tennessee, native received All-SEC first team accolades from the league's coaches and media after starting 12 games in 2019. Making his season even more impressive was the fact that Smith was limited to no contact in practices throughout the season after battling back from blood clots in his lungs that forced him to miss the final five games of his sophomore season. Smith's incredible return to football as well as his impactful work off the field and in the community earned him the 2020 Fritz Pollard Trophy and the 2019 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award. - Tennessee Football

Sr/2021

OG Trey Smith, Tennessee
News Source: Tennessee Football
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07/27/20 - Velus Jones Jr., rSr/2022, Tennessee + More +

2020 PRESEASON PAUL HORNUNG AWARD WATCH LIST: Velus Jones Jr., Tennessee,...A graduate transfer from Southern Cal, Jones was an explosive return specialist for the Trojans and earned second-team All-Pac 12 honors. As a redshirt junior, Jones returned 29 kickoffs for 704 yards and one score in 2019. His yardage ranked 14th in the nation. In his three playing seasons at USC, the Saraland, Alabama, native logged 36 receptions for 347 yards to go along with 1,947 kickoff return yards on a school-record 81 attempts. Heading into 2020, Jones averages 24.0 yards per kickoff return. He finished his USC career second all-time in school history in kickoff return yards, while his 1,947 kickoff returns entering this season make him second among active FBS players and first in the Power 5. - Tennessee Football

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WR Velus Jones Jr., Tennessee
News Source: Tennessee Football
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07/27/20 - Trey Smith, Sr/2021, Tennessee + More +

2020 WUERFFEL TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST: Trey Smith, Tennessee, senior, offensive line,...Smith is one of a record 114 football student-athletes to be placed on the early list and one of 14 players from the SEC to be named. The Jackson, Tennessee, native continued his commitment to the community even during a busy football season. Smith is an active speaker to youth groups, elementary schools and organizations across the state and led coat drives for Knoxville Area Rescue Ministry (KARM) during the 2018 and 2019 seasons where over 1,000 coats were donated each year because of his efforts. - Tennessee Football

Sr/2021

OG Trey Smith, Tennessee
News Source: Tennessee Football
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07/26/20 - Hendon Hooker, rSr/2023, Tennessee + More +

2020 PRESEASON MAXWELL AWARD WATCH LIST: QB Hendon Hooker, Virginia Tech,...Hooker (6-4, 228), started in eight contests in 2019, earning wins in each of his first six starts under center beginning with a thrilling 42-35 win at Miami. For the season, the redshirt junior had a stellar 165.75 efficiency rating after completing 99 of 162 passes for 1555 yards and 13 TDs. He set the program record for passes to begin a career without an INT with a streak of 124 attempts. A dynamic threat rushing the football, Hooker carried the ball 123 times for 356 yards and found the end zone five times. - Virginia Tech Football

rSr/2023

QB Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
News Source: Virginia Tech Football
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07/23/20 - Cade Mays, rSr/2022, Tennessee + More +

2020 OUTLAND TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST: G Cade Mays, Tennessee,...Mays, who will be a junior this season, transferred to UT from Georgia in the offseason after playing a key part on the Bulldogs' offensive line the past two years, playing in 25 games while making 18 starts. Mays was a FWAA Freshman All-American and SEC All-Freshman team selection in 2018. The junior showed his versatility last season, starting at least one game at every position along the offensive line except for center, while helping lead the Bulldogs to a Sugar Bowl victory over Baylor. - Tennessee Football

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OT Cade Mays, Tennessee
News Source: Tennessee Football
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07/22/20 - Trey Smith, Sr/2021, Tennessee + More +

2020 OUTLAND TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST: G Trey Smith, Tennessee,...Smith is coming off a dominant junior campaign in which he helped lead the Vols to six consecutive victories to end the season, including a thrilling comeback win over Indiana in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. He was one of eight SEC players named to the first team, the most of any conference. The Jackson, Tennessee, native received All-SEC first-team accolades from the league's coaches and media after starting 12 games in 2019. Smith's incredible return to football as well as his impactful work off the field and in the community earned him the inaugural Fritz Pollard Trophy and the 2019 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award. During the offseason, Smith elected to forgo the NFL Draft and return to school for his senior year. - Tennessee Football

Sr/2021

OG Trey Smith, Tennessee
News Source: Tennessee Football
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07/18/20 - Austin Pope, rSr/2022, Tennessee + More +

Austin Pope, the Tennessee Vols' most experienced tight end, had surgery Thursday on a herniated disc. The Vols senior wrote on Twitter that had been dealing with "nerve pain" stemming from his lower back. It is his second herniated disc procedure, as Pope said he had another two years ago. "I had surgery this morning and am recovering at home right now," Pope said. "I really would appreciate any support in these tough times." Pope shared that he had an MRI on Monday morning, leading to unexpected results. He was informed he had a herniated disc. "I've been very down and disappointed because I already had back surgery two years ago on a different disc," Pope wrote. Pope did not indicate a timetable for return. - Knoxville News Sentinel

rSr/2022

TE Austin Pope, Tennessee
News Source: Knoxville News Sentinel
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07/16/20 - Austin Pope, rSr/2022, Tennessee + More +

Tennessee tight end Austin Pope says he had surgery Thursday to repair a herniated disk in his back. Pope shared the update in a Twitter post, saying he had been dealing with a lot of nerve pain stemming from his lower back. An MRI exam on Monday showed Pope had a herniated disk between the L3-L4 vertebrae, requiring surgery. Pope also had a different herniatated disk two years ago repaired surgically. "I love this game, my teammates, and my coaches and I will do anything to help this program succeed," Pope wrote. "Prayers would be appreciated. Minor setback for a major comeback." The 6-foot-4, 235-pound redshirt senior has started 14 of his 33 career games and is primarily a run blocker. He had four catches for 21 yards last season. - AP College Football

rSr/2022

TE Austin Pope, Tennessee
News Source: AP College Football
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06/28/20 - Hendon Hooker, rSr/2023, Tennessee + More +

Virginia Tech quarterback Hendon Hooker is back on campus looking to pick up where he left off. The Hokies started voluntary workouts on June 16, but Hooker was one of the players that left campus back in March and wasn't brought back until last week. Before the COVID-19 pandemic turned the sports world upside down, Hooker went into the offseason looking to build on his successful stint as starter. He helped turn Tech's 2019 season around going 6-2 under center with 1,900-plus total yards and 18 touchdowns. Hooker focused his early efforts on further cementing himself as a locker room leader by frequently popping into the weight room to support his teammates before and after his own workout. Tech's strength and conditioning staff split the team up into three groups for the winter offseason conditioning program.

On one particular 'big squat Friday' in February, Hooker worked out in the early morning and was back in the weight room a couple hours later for the afternoon weight-lifting session to cheer on the likes of Maxx Philpott, Austin Cannon, Keshon Artis and Brock Hoffman lift upwards of 600 pounds. When the team parted ways a few weeks later, Hooker returned home to Greensboro where his focus shifted from building camaraderie to staying physically prepared while the team was apart. "He was always comparing what he would be doing back on campus (in a normal year)," Hendon's father Alan said in a phone interview with The Roanoke Times. "He was training hard, he was pushing himself because he was worried he wasn't doing enough. If he was at school he would have coaches constantly pushing him, so he always went a little harder." - Roanoke Times

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QB Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
News Source: Roanoke Times
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06/10/20 - Cade Mays, rSr/2022, Tennessee + More +

Tennessee football played the waiting game last summer as defensive lineman Aubrey Solomon sought an NCAA transfer waiver. Finally, on Aug. 27, less than a week away from UT's season opener, the Vols learned that Solomon received his waiver and would be eligible to play. A year later, the Vols once again find themselves waiting to learn the fate of a key transfer who projects to step into a prominent role if he receives his waiver. The waiver quest for offensive lineman Cade Mays, a transfer from Georgia, continues.

Mays initially had two avenues to get on the field this season. The NCAA had considered voting this spring on a one-time transfer exception rule that, if passed, would allow transferring players to play at their new school immediately, as long as they have not previously transferred. However, the NCAA opted not to take up the issue and pushed it off until after this season. Now, Mays' hope of playing this season rests with his waiver quest. He's represented by power attorney Tom Mars. - Knoxville News Sentinel

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