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Draft Scout College Football Player News: Tennessee

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08/10/22 - Lyn-J Dixon, rSr/2023, Tennessee + More +

Tennessee football went looking for a running back who fit its needs at the start of preseason practices. It quickly found one in Lyn-J Dixon, who transferred to UT and added depth to a thin position. "He is in a race to understand and learn what we are doing as fast as he possibly can," Vols coach Josh Heupel said Tuesday following UT's first preseason scrimmage. Dixon is immediately eligible for Tennessee. He visited Knoxville after the Vols announced running back Len'Neth Whitehead had suffered a season-ending injury. Dixon rushed for 1,420 yards and 13 touchdowns over four seasons at Clemson. Dixon graduated from Clemson in December and this is his second transfer. He transferred to West Virginia in November. He entered the transfer portal again in June. - Knoxville News Sentinel

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RB Lyn-J Dixon, Tennessee
News Source: Knoxville News Sentinel
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08/10/22 - Cooper Mays, rSr/2025, Tennessee + More +

Tennessee second-year offensive line coach Glen Elarbee has a lengthy list of characteristics when it comes to being a good center, with two qualities immediately jumping to the forefront. "Intelligence has to be up there, because you're making decisions so fast," Elarbee said this past week in a news conference. "You're the coach out on the field. You have to change things on third down to get us right, and there is so much involved with that. "You also have to be the toughest son of a gun out on the field." Cooper Mays appears to be possessing those traits for the Volunteers and then some. The 6-foot-3, 296-pound junior from Knoxville Catholic started twice as a freshman and eight times last season, when an ankle injury prevented him from going wire to wire in Tennessee's run to the Music City Bowl.

His third year in the program is also his first without older brother Cade, the former five-star Georgia signee who played the 2018-19 seasons with the Bulldogs before transferring back to Knoxville to compete alongside his younger sibling. While Cade was known for his versatility - of his 35 career college starts, 19 came at right guard, 12 at right tackle, two at left guard and two at left tackle - Cooper has been entrenched over the ball and is adjusting to a new dynamic now that his older brother is property of the NFL's Carolina Panthers. "Probably around the end of the bowl game going into winter workouts is kind of when I started to feel it," Mays said. "It's kind of hard being a leader when you've got an older brother in the room, so he's stepped away, and now I'm trying to fulfill that role a little bit." - Chattanooga Times Free Press

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C Cooper Mays, Tennessee
News Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press
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08/10/22 - Squirrel White, Jr/2026, Tennessee + More +

A debate emerged earlier this week regarding the fastest player on Tennessee's football roster, with junior receiver Jimmy Holiday, sophomore running back Jaylen Wright, freshman running back Dylan Sampson and freshman receiver Squirrel White being the primary candidates. There is no question as to the lightest player for the Volunteers. At 5-foot-10 and just 160 pounds, White needs 20 pounds to catch the next-lightest Vols player, junior receiver Jalin Hyatt. In April, Hyatt admitted to eating six times a day in his attempt to pack on pounds.

Being the smallest on the field is something White was used to way before becoming a three-star prospect at Clay-Chalkville High School in Pinson, Alabama, which is roughly 20 miles north of Birmingham. "I've had to be tough my whole life, and that started with backyard football and playing with my brothers," White said in a news conference. "We used to play tackle, and I would cry sometimes, but then I'd get right back up and go at it." The Vols had an off day on Friday after practicing Monday through Thursday. White, who enrolled in January, has managed to counter his smaller frame with blazing speed, which was evidenced by his second-place finishes at the AHSAA track meet during his junior year at Clay-Chalkville, running the 100-meter dash in 10.68 seconds and the 200 in 21.58. He committed to the Vols last summer and then produced a senior football season that contained 49 receptions for 1,162 yards and 16 touchdowns. - Chattanooga Times Free Press

Jr/2026

WR Squirrel White, Tennessee
News Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press
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08/09/22 - Gabe Jeudy-Lally, rSr/2024, Tennessee + More +

2022 PHIL STEELE PRESEASON ALL-INDEPENDENT SECOND TEAM: CB Gabe Jeudy-Lally, BYU,...Transferred to BYU after graduating from Vanderbilt, arriving in Provo with three years of eligibility...Tallied 63 tackles with 35 solo stops, four pass breakups and two interceptions in 23 games for the Commodores. - BYU Football

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CB Gabe Jeudy-Lally, Tennessee
News Source: BYU Football
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08/09/22 - Keenan Pili, rSr/2025, Tennessee + More +

2022 PHIL STEELE PRESEASON ALL-INDEPENDENT SECOND TEAM: LB Keenan Pili, BYU,...Pili, a 6-3, 233-pound junior from Provo, Utah, started the first three games of the 2021 season at middle linebacker for BYU before suffering a season-ending injury. The 2021 team captain had recorded 31 tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery in just three games. Pili has 128 career tackles over 24 career games, an average of 5.3 tackles per game. - BYU Football

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ILB Keenan Pili, Tennessee
News Source: BYU Football
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08/06/22 - Cedric Tillman, rSr/2023, Tennessee + More +

Cedric Tillman is already expecting added attention this season - "The best receivers in this conference get double-teamed or face the best corner. It's why my route running needs to be perfect," he said - and believes there are several candidates ready to step up and help, an opinion echoed by offensive coordinator Alex Golesh. "I think it will all kind of play itself out as it goes," Golesh said. "A year ago, Ced was a guy nobody knew about, and Velus was a guy nobody knew about, so I think it will kind of play itself out. Whether people will feel like they need to roll coverage his way or do something unique to take him away - obviously if it becomes a one-man show, that would be really hard offensively. "In this system, looking back over the years, it's kind of played itself out. We feel good with who is going to be opposite of him, whether that's with one guy or a group of guys. This is as deep as we've been in the slot, and there are a bunch of guys who have to prove something in that room, but it was that way a year ago."

Tennessee's only receiver ever to assemble two 1,000-yard seasons was Joey Kent in 1995-96 with Peyton Manning as his quarterback. Tillman has the chance to match Kent this season, even with the added attention coming. "You've just got to go compete," Tillman said. "Through those first four games last year, I didn't have the best numbers, and I kind of took off in those last six or seven, so I'm not looking so much at the numbers as I am playing hard. "The numbers will come." - Chattanooga Times Free Press

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WR Cedric Tillman, Tennessee
News Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press
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08/06/22 - Solon Page III, rSr/2023, Tennessee + More +

Volunteers linebacker Solon Page III has lived through it all. Last season's seven-win team humiliated Missouri and South Carolina and won at 18th-ranked Kentucky to earn a trip to the Music City Bowl. Page went through that as well, and it's why the 6-foot-2, 228-pounder from Atlanta chose to come back for a sixth season in Knoxville. After all, being on an upward trajectory is preferable to the contrary. "It's year six. It's the last go-around," Page said this week in a news conference. "We've still got a couple guys here who I came in with in my signing class, and all of us staying here and sticking it out and seeing the change in the program through the years - it just feels different. "Last year, it showed up on tape. We won a lot more games than some people thought we were going to win, and hopefully this coming year we'll do the same." - Chattanooga Times Free Press

rSr/2023

OLB Solon Page III, Tennessee
News Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press
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08/05/22 - Lyn-J Dixon, rSr/2023, Tennessee + More +

Former Clemson running back Lyn-J Dixon has a new home for the 2022 season. Dixon has committed to Tennessee, he announced Wednesday morning on Instagram. Dixon, the No. 7 running back in the class of 2018, was verbally committed to the Volunteers in high school before flipping to Clemson. Dixon, who will have two years of eligibility at Tennessee, had previously committed to West Virginia for the 2022 season last November but re-entered the transfer portal in June before playing a game with the Mountaineers.

The former four-star recruit, rushed for 1,420 yards and 13 touchdowns across four seasons and 41 career games for Clemson. He had 547 yards and five touchdowns in 2018 and a career-high 635 yards and six touchdowns in 2019. Effective as a change-of-pace back behind now-NFLer Travis Etienne, Dixon was a prime candidate for the Tigers' starting running back position last season but ultimately split carries with Kobe Pace and Will Shipley. Dixon entered the transfer portal in September after three games with Clemson, later saying there were no hard feelings between him and coach Dabo Swinney, running backs coach CJ Spiller or anyone else at Clemson. - The State

rSr/2023

RB Lyn-J Dixon, Tennessee
News Source: The State
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08/05/22 - Joe Milton III, rSr/2024, Tennessee + More +

Joe Milton knows he could have left Tennessee football this offseason if he wanted to. The senior quarterback had dropped to the backup quarterback spot behind Hendon Hooker, his classmate who is entrenched in the starting role. But he didn't think about looking to transfer. "For what?" Milton said Sunday. "No reason to. I am having fun. I am learning something new every day. I am enjoying life." Milton is back for the Vols for a second season alongside Hooker, the senior starter. He chose to stay in Knoxville opposed to transferring for the second straight season.

Milton started two games after transferring from Michigan prior to the 2021 season. He was 32-for-62 passing for 375 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. "I wouldn't say I lost the starting job, "Milton said. "In life you face a lot of adversity. You want to kind of find your way through tough things in life." The 6-foot-5, 245-pound Milton is living a different life this preseason than he was a year ago. He entered this time last year in a four-person battle to be the starting quarterback. He ultimately won the spot and opened the season as the starter. Hooker was the backup. Milton suffered an injury against Pittsburgh on Sept. 11, which he said was two torn ligaments in his ankle. Hooker entered, performed well and never surrendered the starting job. - Knoxville News Sentinel

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QB Joe Milton III, Tennessee
News Source: Knoxville News Sentinel
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08/05/22 - Donte Thornton Jr., Sr/2025, Tennessee + More +

Wide receiver Dont'e Thornton played sparingly last year but saved his best performance for the Alamo Bowl game against Oklahoma. He finished with four catches, 90 yards and a touchdown, including a 66-yard reception. In April's spring game, Thornton continued his strong play, catching three receptions for 116 yards and two touchdowns. Oregon's receiver group is inexperienced outside of UCLA transfer Chase Cota. Because of this, Thornton should get plenty of opportunities to show what he can do in offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham's system. - Register Guard

Sr/2025

WR Donte Thornton Jr., Tennessee
News Source: Register Guard
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08/03/22 - Cedric Tillman, rSr/2023, Tennessee + More +

2022 PRESEASON WALTER CAMP PLAYER OF YEAR PLAYER TO WATCH: Cedric Tillman, WR, senior, Tennessee,...Tillman emerged as one of the SEC's best playmakers in 2021, finishing the year with 64 catches for 1,081 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Las Vegas native rounded out his redshirt junior season ranking ninth in the SEC in catches, fifth in receiving yards, third in touchdowns and third in average yards per catch (16.9).

He was especially productive against AP Top 25 competition, finishing fourth in the nation with 535 yards and four touchdowns against ranked foes. In Tennessee single-season annals, Tillman ranked tied for eighth in catches, fourth in receiving yards and tied for second with Cedrick Wilson (2000) in touchdowns. He caught a TD pass in a school-record seven consecutive games to end the season, including a combined five in the final two games of the year. - Tennessee Football

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WR Cedric Tillman, Tennessee
News Source: Tennessee Football
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08/03/22 - Keenan Pili, rSr/2025, Tennessee + More +

2022 PRESEASON CHUCK BEDNARIK AWARD WATCH LIST: Keenan Pili, BYU, Junior LB,...Pili, a 6-3, 233-pound junior from Provo, Utah, started the first three games of the 2021 season at middle linebacker for BYU before suffering a season-ending injury. The 2021 team captain had recorded 31 tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery in just three games. Pili has 128 career tackles over 24 career games, an average of 5.3 tackles per game. - BYU Football

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ILB Keenan Pili, Tennessee
News Source: BYU Football
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08/01/22 - Paxton Brooks, rSr/2023, Tennessee + More +

2022 PRESEASON RAY GUY WATCHLIST: Paxton Brooks - University of Tennessee,...Brooks (6-6201) is a veteran specialist who has produced a distinguished career on and off the field as a Vol … Enters his fifth and final season with the program … Serves as UT's starting punter and also a kickoff specialist … A three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll and an Academic All-American who is currently working on his master's degree … Enters the season as the starting punter for the fourth straight season … Played in 48 career games … Averages 43.3 yards per punt, which ranks third all-time in UT history … Averages 61.3 yards per kickoff … 98 of his 164 kickoffs have gone for touchbacks (59.8 percent) … 30 of his punts have gone 50+ yards and 47 of his punts have been pinned inside the 20 … Career-long punt is 64 yards … Through his leadership efforts, selected to the 2020-21 VOLeaders Academy … Wears the SEC graduate patch after graduating in May 2021. - Tennessee Football

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P Paxton Brooks, Tennessee
News Source: Tennessee Football
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07/27/22 - Jeremy Banks, rSr/2023, Tennessee + More +

2022 PRESEASON BUTKUS AWARD WATCHLIST: Jeremy Banks, Tennessee,...Banks is coming off a breakout 2021 season in which he led the team and ranked second in the SEC and tied for seventh in the nation in total tackles with 128 (59 solo, 69 assisted). He averaged 9.85 tackles per game, good for 12th in the nation, and his 128 total tackles were the most by a Vol in a season since A.J. Johnson logged 138 in 2012. Banks produced six double-digit tackle performances, including six out of his last seven contests on the year.

The Cordova, Tennessee, native capped the 2021 season by tying the UT bowl record for tackles with 20 in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl against Purdue, becoming the first Vol with 20 tackles in a game since Daniel Bituli vs. Georgia Tech on Sept. 4, 2017. Banks also spent plenty of time in opponent's backfields, finishing the season tied for first on the team with 11.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He added one interception, three pass breakups and three quarterback hurries to his stat line, as well. - Tennessee Football

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OLB Jeremy Banks, Tennessee
News Source: Tennessee Football
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07/26/22 - Bru McCoy, rSr/2025, Tennessee + More +

Southern Cal transfer wide receiver Bru McCoy is not yet eligible to play for Tennessee this season, Vols coach Josh Heupel said at SEC Media Days on Thursday. "There's another hurdle that we've still got to clear for him to be completely eligible," Heupel said. "Our administration and department are working on that. And we'll find out when we find out." The NCAA allows players to transfer once without sitting out a season. In January 2019, McCoy enrolled at USC, transferred to Texas several weeks later for spring practice and then transferred back to USC that summer before playing a college game. Tennessee starts preseason practice Aug. 1 and plays Ball State Sept. 1. McCoy, a 6-foot-3, 220-pounder, would compete to start at outside receiver. The Vols return 1,000-yard receiver Cedric Tillman, but they must replace Velus Jones Jr. and JaVonta Payton. - Knoxville News Sentinel

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