Additions (3) Kenny Bynum Justin King LaTroy Lewis
Fr. Fr. Fr.
HS HS HS
Lettermen Lost (4) Austin Johnson Daryl Vereen Jake Storey Shane Reveiz
Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr.
4L 4L 3L 2L
REVIEW HISTORY
CURT MAGGITT
Returning (16) Prentiss Waggner Marsalis Teague Brent Brewer Eric Gordon Rod Wilks Justin Coleman Vincent Dallas Byron Moore Brian Randolph Corey Alexander Tyler Coombes Jaron Toney Naz Oliver Geraldo Orta Tyrin Fairman Michael Williams
Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. So. So. Jr. So. Jr. So. So. Jr. Fr. So. So.
3L 3L 2L 2L 2L 1L 1L 1L 1L Sq. Sq. Sq. Sq. RS Sq. Sq.
Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr.
HS HS HS HS
Lettermen Lost (2) Art Evans Izauea Lanier
Sr. Jr.
4L 1L
The Vols also return an experienced group in the secondary, headlined by three-year letterman Prentiss Waggner, who has started the last 25 consecutive games. Waggner is slated to start at one cornerback position and led the team in passes broken up and passes defended a year ago. He owns seven career interceptions and 111 career tackles, and he earned Second Team All-SEC honors as a sophomore in 2010. Junior Eric Gordon, whose interception return for a touchdown vaulted the Vols to an overtime win over Vanderbilt, is listed on the depth chart as Waggner’s backup. Gordon owns 63 tackles and four interceptions in 23 games played over two seasons at UT. Sophomore Justin Coleman, who started four games while playing in all 12 as a true freshman in 2011, is the starter at the other cornerback position. Coleman recorded 10 tackles and also played extensively on special teams. Senior three-year letterman Marsalis Teague, who has started 21 games over the last three seasons, will also play at cornerback this fall. Teague has recorded a combined 73 tackles over the last two seasons after converting from wide receiver following the 2009 campaign.
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RECORDS
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Additions (4) Deion Bonner Daniel Gray LaDarrell McNeil Tino Thomas
VOLMANAC
sacks total in his three seasons with the Vols. Converted fullback Channing Fugate, a two-time letterman who also played extensively on special teams, moves to linebacker and is listed as the backup to Maggitt. Redshirt freshman Christian Harris is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in spring practice and is listed as Lathers’ backup at middle linebacker. Junior John Propst, who earned Freshman All-SEC honors in 2010, is also in the mix at the position. Other veterans who will contend for playing time include senior Nigel Mitchell-Thornton and juniors Raiques Crump, Greg King and Dontavis Sapp. The Vols added three linebackers on Signing Day in February, including Kenny Bynum (Jacksonville, Fla.), Justin King (Dunwoody, Ga.) and LaTroy Lewis (Akron, Ohio).
HONORS
Entering the season, the linebacker position returns perhaps the best combination of experience and production, led by a trio of standouts in A.J. Johnson, Herman Lathers, and Curt Maggitt. Johnson set a UT record by being named to five Freshman All-American teams after recording 80 tackles, the most among SEC freshmen in 2011 and the second-most for a freshman in school history, trailing only Eric Berry. Johnson recorded three consecutive 10-tackle games en route to Freshman All-SEC honors, and he also was one of only four true freshmen to finish in the top two in tackles on his team a year ago. Johnson was part of a dynamic duo of true freshmen a year ago that included Maggitt, and both are slated to start at outside linebacker positions in the fall. Maggitt also earned Freshman All-SEC and Freshman All-American honors (Phil Steele, 3rd team) en route to a 56-tackle season that included 5.5 tackles for loss. His tackle total ranked him tied for third on the Vols in 2011 and he recorded a career-best seven tackles in four games. Lathers, slated to start at middle linebacker, enters his senior season after missing the 2011 campaign with a fractured ankle. In 2010, Lathers ranked second on the Vols with 75 tackles, ranking 14th in the SEC with 7.5 tackles per game in conference games. Lathers’ leadership skills, experience, and abilities mean his return to the lineup should provide a huge boost for the UT defense in 2012. In addition to three standouts slated to start, Tennessee also has considerable depth at the linebacker position. Senior Willie Bohannon moves from the defensive end position, where he played in all 12 games a year ago and recorded 27 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. He started the last three games of the season and owns 50 tackles and 4.5
PLAYERS
Sq. Sq. Sq. RS
STAFF
So. Sr. So. Fr.
GENERAL
Michael Cantwell Steven Fowlkes Gregory Grieco Christian Harris
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