GENERAL
2012 SEASON OUTLOOK The other scholarship quarterback on the roster is early enrollee Nathan Peterman (Fruit Cove, Fla.), who threw for 2,932 yards and 36 touchdowns as a high school senior.
TAILBACK
TYLER BRAY Here’s a position-by-position look at the 2012 Tennessee Volunteers football team:
QUARTERBACK Returning (3) Tyler Bray Justin Worley Max Arnold
Jr. So. So.
2L 1L Sq.
Additions (3) Nathan Peterman Patrick Ashford Joe Stocstill
Fr. So. Fr.
HS Tr. HS
Lettermen Lost (1) Matt Simms
Sr.
2L
Tyler Bray will lead the Vols from the quarterback position for the third season, and the junior standout will attempt to improve on his already prolific passing numbers from his first two campaigns. Bray is 8-4 as a starter and already ranks among the top 10 in several UT career passing categories, including touchdowns (7th, 35), yards (9th, 3,832), and completions (10th, 272). He completed 147 of 247 passes in 2011 for 1,983 yards, 17 touchdowns and six interceptions, and through the first seven weeks of last season, he led the Southeastern Conference in total offense, passing yards/game, and passing efficiency. An injury suffered in the Georgia game sidelined him for five games. Following Bray’s injury, Justin Worley played in four games and started three as a true freshman in 2011, including a 291-yard performance in a 24-0 win over Middle Tennessee. Worley, who completed 48 of 87 passes last year, is slated to serve as the primary backup to Bray and has a bright future with the Vols. 4
Returning (6) Rajion Neal Marlin Lane Devrin Young Reggie Juin Deanthonie Summerhill Tom Smith
Jr. So. So. Jr. So. So.
2L 1L 1L Sq. Sq. Sq.
Additions (3) Davante Bourque Alden Hill Quenshaun Watson
Fr. Fr. Fr.
HS HS HS
Letterwiners Lost (1) Tauren Poole
Sr.
4L
The tailback spot is wide open for the Vols in 2012, with three returners in the mix to receive the lion’s share of the carries. Sophomore Marlin Lane was the primary backup to graduated Tauren Poole as a true freshman last season and scored touchdowns in each of his first three college games, the first Vol to do so since Reggie Cobb in 1987. Lane finished with 280 yards rushing and two touchdowns while adding 161 yards and two touchdowns receiving. Two-time letterman and junior Rajion Neal served in a variety of roles for Tennessee last year and caught a career-long, 53-yard touchdown pass at Kentucky in the season’s final game. Neal finished with 134 yards rushing and two touchdowns along with 13 receptions for 269 yards last year for the Vols as a receiver, running back, and Wildcat quarterback but is slated to move back to running back full-time in 2012. Devrin Young finished third on the team in all-purpose yards as a freshman in 2011 with 756 and his 628 kickoff return yards ranked fifth-most in a season in UT history. Young enjoyed a strong spring and earned the Harvey Robinson Award, given annually to the offensive surprise of the spring. While Young’s primary impact was on kick returns in 2012, his speed and athleticism makes him a weapon on offense as well, and his role will be expanded this year. Three freshmen will also be in the mix at running back, including Davante Bourque (Crowley, La.), Alden Hill (Alliance, Ohio) and Quenshaun Watson (Athens, Ga.).
TENNESSEE FOOTBALL // 2012 RECORD BOOK
FULLBACK
Returning (2) Ben Bartholomew Austin Bolen
Sr. So.
3L Sq.
After starting seven games in 2011, senior Ben Bartholomew returns as the starting fullback for Tennessee in 2012. Bartholomew, whose grandfather Sam captained the 1939 UT national championship team and brother Will was a four-year letterman and a member of the 1998 Vols’ BCS championship squad, has played in 19 games, including 12 in 2011, and caught six passes for 54 yards a year ago. Sophomore Brendan Downs is also listed on the depth chart at the fullback position. Downs appeared in eight games for Tennessee as a true freshman in 2012, starting one and catching three passes for 34 yards.
WIDE RECEIVER Returning (7) Zach Rogers Justin Hunter Da’Rick Rogers Jacob Carter Tyler Drummer Alex Ellis Dylan West
Sr. Jr. Jr. So. Jr. So. So.
3L 2L 2L Sq. Sq. Sq. Sq.
Additions (5) Cody Blanc Drae Bowles Jason Croom Alton Howard Cordarrelle Patterson
Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Jr.
HS HS HS HS JC
Lettermen Lost (3) Anthony Anderson DeAnthony Arnett Cory Eichholtz
Sr. Fr. Jr.
3L 1L 1L
DA’RICK ROGERS