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Draft Scout College Football Player News: Tennessee

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03/08/20 - Jauan Jennings, rSr/2020, Tennessee + More +

Jauan Jennings knows what his top priority should be. His showing at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis last week was significantly underwhelming, after all. Not all that surprising - "A lot of scouts, they asked me what I was going to run, and I told them straight up, 4.6, 4.7," Jennings said Saturday - but underwhelming nonetheless. The former Vols wide receiver's 4.72-second 40-yard dash ranked second worst at his position at the Combine. So did his 29-inch vertical leap. UT's pro day is March 26. Jennings said his goal was to run in the 4.6s then. That's where his focus is - but not all of it.

"It should be my No. 1 priority," Jennings said. "But Nashville's my No. 1 priority right now." That's why the 6-foot-3, 215-pounder receiver turned his autograph session Saturday at Man Cave Ink in Mt. Juliet into a donation dropoff to aid those affected by the tornado that swept through middle Tennessee earlier this week. "After this, I'm going right back into the field," Jennings said. "Putting my hard hat on." - Daily News Journal

rSr/2020

WR Jauan Jennings, Tennessee
News Source: Daily News Journal
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03/06/20 - Lyn-J Dixon, rSr/2023, Tennessee + More +

Clemson offensive coordinator and running backs coach Tony Elliott was meeting with junior tailback Lyn-J Dixon in mid-January when the phone rang. They were speaking about expectations for Dixon in 2020. On the other end of Elliott's buzzing phone was Tigers star running back Travis Etienne, ready to deliver news to his position coach about his future. Etienne was given a late first or early second round draft grade. He had been contemplating whether to enter the 2020 NFL Draft or return for his senior season. He called Elliott and informed him that he was coming back to Clemson for one final year. "It was kind of awkward because I was talking to Lyn-J. And I didn't know what Travis was going to do," Elliott said. "(Travis) called me and that's when he told me right there. I let Lyn-J know and said, 'You've just got to make a decision.'"

The decision Dixon had to make was whether to return to Clemson to again serve as Etienne's backup, or to transfer in search of a new home. Dixon was naturally a bit disappointed in Etienne's choice, according to Elliott. The Georgia native averaged 7.1 yards per carry in his first two seasons for the Tigers, good for second in school history behind only Etienne, and he proved capable of starting at a Power 5 program. With Etienne returning, Dixon won't get the chance to start at Clemson this year. "It was nothing personal to Travis. They've got a great relationship. But he was kind of hopeful that Travis was going to move on so that he could naturally step into that (role)," Elliott said. - The State

rSr/2023

RB Lyn-J Dixon, Tennessee
News Source: The State
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02/22/20 - Aubrey Solomon, rSr/2022, Tennessee + More +

Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt continued revamping his staff by hiring Jimmy Brumbaugh as co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach and Shelton Felton as outside linebackers coach. Brumbaugh spent the last two seasons as Colorado's defensive line coach. He also has coached at Maryland and Kentucky among other schools. He worked alongside current Tennessee defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley at Kentucky. Felton was Akron's outside linebackers and defensive line coach in 2019 after spending 2018 as a quality control assistant at Tennessee. "They are both tireless workers and will bring a lot of positives to the staff in terms of coaching and recruiting," Pruitt said in a statement. Brumbaugh and Felton join running backs coach Jay Graham and tight ends coach Joe Osovet as additions to Tennessee's coaching staff. Graham previously coached Tennessee's running backs in 2012 but spent the last two years filling that role at Texas A&M. Osovet filled an off-field role as Tennessee's director of football programming this past season. - AP College Football

rSr/2022

DT Aubrey Solomon, Tennessee
News Source: AP College Football
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02/21/20 - Marquez Callaway, Sr/2020, Tennessee + More +

2020 NFL COMBINE INVITE: Marquez Callaway, WR, Tennessee,...Callaway concluded his Volunteer career as one of UT's most prolific returners and receivers. He finished with 92 receptions for 1,646 yards and 13 touchdown receptions to go along with three punt return scores and a 13.6 punt return average. The Warner Robins, Ga., native wrapped up his time on Rocky Top ranking second in UT history in punt return scores and fourth in punt return average, while finishing No. 16 in receiving yards. He had 30 catches for 635 yards and six scores as a senior in 2019 and ranked first in the SEC in yards per catch (21.2). - Tennessee Football

Sr/2020

WR Marquez Callaway, Tennessee
News Source: Tennessee Football
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02/21/20 - Daniel Bituli, Sr/2020, Tennessee + More +

2020 NFL COMBINE INVITE: Daniel Bituli, OLB, Tennessee,...Bituli became only the second Vol to lead Tennessee in tackles for three straight seasons, wrapping up his 44-game career with 266 stops. A 2019 All-SEC Second Team selection, he collected double-digit tackles in three games as a senior and was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week twice. He had 19 tackles versus Kentucky and helped spark the Vols' six-game winning streak with a blocked punt and touchdown against South Carolina. The Nashville product, by way of the Congo, had a 23-tackle game against Georgia Tech as a sophomore in 2017. - Tennessee Football

Sr/2020

OLB Daniel Bituli, Tennessee
News Source: Tennessee Football
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02/21/20 - Dominick Wood-Anderson, Sr/2020, Tennessee + More +

2020 NFL COMBINE INVITE: Dominick Wood-Anderson, TE, Tennessee,...Wood-Anderson was a two-year starter at tight end for the Vols after transferring from Arizona Western Community College. The 6-4, 257-pounder combined toughness with athleticism to total 38 catches for 408 yards and three touchdowns over 24 games. The San Diego, Calif., native had the first touchdown of the Jeremy Pruitt era, hauling in a fourth-and-one reception on the goal-line against West Virginia in the 2018 season-opener. - Tennessee Football

Sr/2020

TE Dominick Wood-Anderson, Tennessee
News Source: Tennessee Football
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02/19/20 - Trey Smith, Sr/2021, Tennessee + More +

Tennessee offensive lineman Trey Smith has won the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award given annually to a Division I football player who has shown exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship on and off the field. The award was given out Tuesday night at the Dallas Cowboys' practice facility. Other finalists included Air Force quarterback Isaiah Sanders and Southern California wide receiver Michael Pittman.

Smith's career was in question after blood clots were found in his lungs in 2018, but he came back to earn first-team all-Southeastern Conference honors this past season. Smith has led coat drives for the Knoxville Area Rescue Ministry each of the last two seasons. Over 1,000 coats were donated each year. Smith also frequently speaks to youth groups and elementary schools. A $10,000 contribution in Smith's name will go to his school's athletic scholarship fund. The contribution will be made by Witten's SCORE Foundation. - AP College Football

Sr/2021

OG Trey Smith, Tennessee
News Source: AP College Football
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02/17/20 - Jauan Jennings, rSr/2020, Tennessee + More +

2020 NFL COMBINE INVITE: Jauan Jennings, WR, Tennessee,...Jennings finished fifth all-time at UT in receptions (146), fourth in receiving yards (2,153) and tied-for-fifth in touchdown receptions (18). He finished as one of the SEC's top wideouts as a senior in 2019, leading the Vols with 59 receptions for 969 yards and eight touchdown catches, while adding a rushing score. The 6-3, 208-pounder played in 50 career games. He tossed two career touchdown passes and made an interception on defense to go along with his receiving accolades. - Tennessee Football

rSr/2020

WR Jauan Jennings, Tennessee
News Source: Tennessee Football
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02/17/20 - Darrell Taylor, rSr/2020, Tennessee + More +

2020 NFL COMBINE INVITE: Darrell Taylor, DE, Tennessee,...Taylor was one of the most fearsome pass rushers in the SEC during his final two seasons. The Hopewell, Va., native finished with 19.5 sacks (10th-most in UT history), 26.5 TFLs and 118 total tackles over his 43-game career. He ranked tied for second in the SEC with 8.5 sacks in 2019 after totaling 8.0 sacks in 2018. He became the third Vol ever to have a four-sack game when he accomplished the feat against Kentucky in 2018. - Tennessee Football

rSr/2020

DE Darrell Taylor, Tennessee
News Source: Tennessee Football
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01/23/20 - Velus Jones Jr., rSr/2022, Tennessee + More +

Wide receiver Velus Jones will join Tennessee as a graduate transfer from Southern California. Jones already had said Jan. 9 on social media that he was going to play for the Volunteers. Tennessee announced Wednesday that Jones was joining its program. Because Jones has already graduated from USC, he'll be eligible to play immediately for Tennessee. "Velus is a dynamic player with the ball in his hands," Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt said in a statement. "He will immediately add veteran leadership to our team and be an impact player as both a receiver and as a return guy." Jones, who is 6 feet and 190 pounds, had 36 career receptions for 347 yards at USC. He also has 81 career kickoff returns and averages 24 yards per attempt. He had six catches for 36 yards as well as 29 kickoff returns for 704 yards this past season. He scored on a 100-yard kickoff return in a season-opening victory over Fresno State. - AP College Football

rSr/2022

WR Velus Jones Jr., Tennessee
News Source: AP College Football
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01/09/20 - Trey Smith, Sr/2021, Tennessee + More +

Tennessee offensive guard Trey Smith says he will return to school for his senior year after making a successful comeback from a career-threatening medical issue to earn first-team, all-Southeastern Conference honors this past season. Smith played all 13 games for Tennessee and made 12 starts at left guard. Smith, who says he's on track to graduate in May, indicated the NFL draft advisory board had recommended that he return to school. "I think there are major things that I can increase and do better at, be a lot more consistent with my game," Smith said at a Thursday news conference. "I want to attack those areas and do better."

Blood clots were found in Smith's lungs in February 2018, causing him to miss that year's spring practice. He went on blood thinners and was eventually cleared but missed the final five games of that season after school officials said doctors again had found blood clots in his lungs. Tennessee team physician Chris Klenck clarified that Thursday by saying that Smith had displayed “symptoms that were somewhat worrisome for a recurrent blood clot episode” but that additional tests have made them confident the issue wasn't a recurrence after all. - AP College Football

Sr/2021

OG Trey Smith, Tennessee
News Source: AP College Football
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01/09/20 - Cade Mays, rSr/2022, Tennessee + More +

Offensive lineman Cade Mays is leaving Georgia and returning to his hometown to continue his college football career at Tennessee, where he will have an opportunity to play alongside his younger brother. Tennessee announced Thursday that it had added Mays, who has spent the last two seasons at Georgia. Tennessee sent out a tweet with the Knoxville Catholic graduate's picture along with the message, "Welcome #HomeSweetHome, Cade!" "As a guy with multiple years of starting experience on the offensive line in the SEC, Cade is a tremendous addition to our program," Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt said in a statement. "He's tough and he's powerful, and he is a versatile player who can line up anywhere on the offensive line. He will have an impact on the field, and he will also have a positive effect on our team and in the offensive line room with his leadership ability."

Mays' attorney said the offensive lineman will have a strong case to be granted immediate eligibility in 2020. Tom Mars, whose sports law practice has offices in Atlanta and Rogers, Arkansas, accused Georgia of leaking news that Mays' parents, Kevin and Melinda Mays, filed a lawsuit against the University of Georgia in December. The lawsuit was filed in the State Court of Clarke County about two years after an incident in which Kevin Mays lost part of his little finger after it was caught in a folding chair at a dinner for recruits at Sanford Stadium. Kevin Mays was a team captain at Tennessee and an All-Southeastern Conference guard in 1994. - AP College Football

rSr/2022

OT Cade Mays, Tennessee
News Source: AP College Football
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12/12/19 - Velus Jones Jr., rSr/2022, Tennessee + More +

2019 ALL-PAC-12 SECOND TEAM (COACHES): RS Velus Jones Jr., R-Jr., USC,...Jones, a wide receiver who is 25th nationally in kickoff returns (24.5) and has a scoring runback this season, is second on USC's career kickoff yardage return list with 1,928 yards on a school record 80 runbacks (a 24.1 average), 213 yards behind recordholder Adoree' Jackson. - USC Football

rSr/2022

WR Velus Jones Jr., Tennessee
News Source: USC Football
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12/12/19 - Chase McGrath, rSr/2023, Tennessee + More +

2019 ALL-PAC-12 HONORABLE MENTION (COACHES): PK Chase McGrath, RSo.,...McGrath, who is 12th nationally in field goal percentage (.867), is 13-of-15 on field goals in 2019 (31 in his career) and has connected on all 51 of his PATs. - USC Football

rSr/2023

K Chase McGrath, Tennessee
News Source: USC Football
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12/10/19 - Nigel Warrior, Sr/2020, Tennessee + More +

2019 ALL-SEC SECOND TEAM (COACHES): DB Nigel Warrior, Tennessee,...Tied for the SEC lead with four interceptions, Warrior has commanded UT's secondary this season. The senior safety is second on the team with 68 tackles and also leads the Vols with seven pass breakups. Warrior, who was a Preseason All-SEC third-team selection by the coaches, was also named first team All-SEC by the Associated Press earlier this week. This is Warrior's second time garnering SEC postseason honors after earning a spot on the All-Freshman team back in 2016. - Tennessee Football

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