On Rocky Top 2014
THE DAILY BEACON • 13B
SPORTS
in 2014 - 2015 Steven Cook
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
MEN’S BASKETBALL
FOOTBALL
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Patrick MacCoon Staff Writer
Jalen Hurd: With a green offen-
Curt Maggitt: With no returning starters on the defensive line and a surplus at the linebacker position, this redshirt junior has shifted to defensive end. His leadership on and off the field for the Vols has been huge so far, and his great instincts on defense should bring a solid rush to the table.
Derek Reese: After getting into
Armani Moore: With Donnie
Mercedes Russell: The Lady
Isabelle Harrison: She just
sive line and no Rajion Neal, Jalen Hurd will walk into a split backfield with Marlin Lane and a chance at plenty of touches. If he runs like he has shown glimpses of, he could be in for a Jamal Lewis-esque freshman season — or at the least, take some of the pressure off Lane and the passing game.
the rotation and playing big minutes last year, Derek Reese’s stock is soaring entering 2014-15. Reese will play as a stretch four – a polar opposite to the style that UT’s frontcourt ran last year –, and his ability to give the Vols another athletic, scoring wing all while defending the post will be as big a factor as any for Tyndall’s debut season.
Vols will have a chip on their shoulder coming into next season, but they can’t win their ninth national title without Russell making significant strides as a sophomore. To avoid being eliminated in early March again, UT will need the 6-foot-6 center to do more than the 6.3 points and five boards per game that she showed in 2013-14.
Tyndall now in town, the future looks bright for this junior, especially considering his new head coach likes to put an aggressive and unique defense on the court. The 6-foot-5 guard recorded 20 blocks in limited playing time and was one of four players to shoot 47 percent this past season.
finished one of the best seasons a junior has ever had as a Lady Vol. Not only did she shoot a careerhigh 58 percent from the field, but also set the record for most double-doubles by a junior at UT. For her senior season, she may even have more in store with a talented roster surrounding her.