Aug 29 2014 football preview

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The Daily Beacon • Football Preview

August 29, 2014

Young and Gettin’ It Vol freshmen look to make impact in 2014 Dargan Southard

Butch Jones didn’t hide it.

The youth is in abundance.

“We’re going to be playing upwards of 28 freshmen,” the second-year Tennessee head coach said. “And that’s true freshmen — individuals who just concluded their first week and a half of school.”

That said, here’s a handful of first-year Vols who will either start the Aug. 31 opener versus Utah State or are in line to make a significant impact in 2014.

Derek Barnett: As the Vols first true freshman to start a season opener on the defensive line, Barnett will lock down the right defensive end spot opposite sophomore Corey Vereen.

“I’m excited, but that means I’m held to a higher standard now,” the 6-foot-3, 267-pound Nashville native said. “I’ve got to do the little things right and still continue to get better and not get complacent.”

The Berry twins: As two of the most discussed freshmen upon arriving in Knoxville, both Evan and Elliott Berry have both established themselves as potent weapons in Jones’ UT attack.

While neither of them will start in the secondary Week 1, look for Evan to potentially make some noise on special teams as a starting kick returner.

Jalen Hurd: The heralded jewel of UT’s illustrious 2014 recruiting class, Hurd has been pegged with monumental expectations ever since his 6-foot-3, 227-pound frame first graced Knoxville surface. And while the freshman running back will officially start in the season opener in a backup role behind Marlin Lane, look for Hurd’s presence to be made apparent early.

“It’s been a wait,” said Hurd, who missed nearly all of his final high school season with a shoulder injury. “But I’m just excited for Sunday, and I can’t wait to be out there with my team and all those great fans.”

Josh Malone: While Malone maybe

“

I ‘ve got to do the little

things rights and still continue to get better and not get complacent.

“

Assistant Sports Editor (@dsouth16)

-Derek Barnett

hasn’t grasped the UT offense as quickly as his 5-star ranking and Orange and White Game performance may have indicated, the first-year wide receiver is still in a position to make some serious headway this season.

“He’s a freshman, and we put a lot of expectations on him, but the great thing is he has a lot of mentors around him now,” Jones said. “That entire receiving group has a lot of confidence right now.”

Jashon Robertson: Easily the biggest surprise of UT’s offseason, Robertson snatched a starting offensive guard spot after switching over from the defensive line midway through fall training camp.

“He hasn’t hit the freshman or training camp barrier,” Jones said. “He’s come and brought it each and every day.

It’s like your kids — every individual has a maturity level different than the others ... Jashon has done a great job overall.”

Ethan Wolf: Representing the first freshman tight end to ever start a season opener for the Vols, Wolf headlines a possibly four-deep group of tight ends looking to resurrect the position in Mike Bajakian’s offense.

“Ethan’s a big guy,” quarterback Justin Worley said. “He’s probably 6’5” or 6’6”. He’s physical. He runs good routes, and he has good hands. So I don’t know if you could say many bad things about Ethan. He’s done a great job, came in early, got in the offense quick and has really developed.”

August 29, 2014

The Daily Beacon • Football Preview

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Worley eager to ‘go out with a bang’ Troy Provost-Heron Sports Editor (@TPro_UTDB)

Donald Page • Tennessee Athletics

“Everything is about competition, and that’s how you get better in a hurry.”

A similar statement by Butch Jones and his coaching staff can be heard echoing throughout the Anderson Training Center or Stokely Family Media Center on any given game week.

That’s why in year one of Jones’ tenure at Tennessee, a four-man quarterback battle was constructed to find the man who would be under center for the Volunteers in 2013.

The winner was Justin Worley.

It’s the same reason why the competition between those four men was rekindled once the Vols began preparing for the 2014 season in March.

The result, however, was no different, Worley once again claiming the starting signal caller role.

“He’s earned the right to be the starting quarterback at the University of Tennessee,” head coach Butch Jones said. “It started in spring football and continued through training camp. This hasn’t been putting together one or two practices, it’s been an accumulation of reps since the spring. Justin is playing the best football he’s played in a long time.”

Following the announcement Aug. 14, Worley began hitting his stride and hasn’t looked back to catch a glimpse of Nathan Peterman or Josh Dobbs in his rearview mirror.

“Coach Bajakian and Coach Jones both told me, ‘Just know you’re going to have to go out there and compete, and that’s going to make you even better,’” Worley said. “I’ve just been trying go out and prove myself each day and complete balls, be consistent with my performance and take it from there.”

That consistency has shown and not only in his play.

See WORLEY on Page 11

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The Daily Beacon • Football Preview

August 29, 2014

August 29, 2014

The Daily Beacon • Football Preview

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Beacon Staff Predictions David Cobb Senior Columnist (@DavidWCobb)

Travel agents, like newspaper reporters, are a struggling breed in today’s Internetheavy culture.

That’s why I’m combining those two jobs and advising Tennessee fans wishing to sup-

Troy Provost-Heron Sports Editor (@TPro_UTDB) In the state of Tennessee, all eyes are trained on Butch Jones’ football program.

With headlines regarding top-five recruiting classes, Sunday season openers and The Battle

Dargan Southard Asst.Sports Editor (@dsouth16) There’ll be blowout defeats and multi-week losing streaks.

There’ll be talk of unfulfilled promises and coaching change rumblings.

And, to top it off, the stretch of misery caused by a particular SEC East foe will reach a decade long.

port the Vols during the holiday season to book a room in Florida where the basketball team will play in the Orlando Classic over Thanksgiving weekend.

For the fifth season in a row, there will be no opportunity to support the Tennessee football team in a bowl game.

Road games against Oklahoma, Georgia, Ole Miss and South Carolina are also great opportunities to follow the football team on the road in 2014, but not if you like to see the Vols win.

A home game against Alabama will mark UT’s eighth straight loss to the Crimson Tide.

Only a mid-season contest with Chattanooga promises a nearly definite win. And don’t sleep on the Mocs, a solid FCS program which would love nothing more than to give its big

brother a scare in Neyland Stadium.

The Vols will also enter as the favorite in games against Utah State and Arkansas State.

Contests against Florida, Kentucky, Missouri and Vanderbilt could go either way.

Assume Tennessee wins two of those four and beats Utah State, Arkansas State and Chattanooga.

This brings the team to five wins for the fourth season in a row.

UT could realistically finish with four to seven wins, but with widespread inexperience and a veteran core which knows little beyond losing, it’s unreasonable to expect coach Butch Jones’ second squad to defeat any of the top-notch opponents on its schedule this season.

Enjoy your stay in Orlando.

at Bristol popping up left and right, the Tennessee Volunteers have returned to elite status among the college ranks.

In the media, that is.

The same, however, cannot be said for the product on the field.

While there is a lot of hype surrounding the Vols’ 32-man recruiting class joining forces with a good core of young and veteran players, the quality of this roster remains undetermined.

And as UT’s media prominence outpaces this program’s ascent up the college football food chain, high expectations for this team will soon prove too much to deal with.

Don’t believe me? Ask Cuonzo Martin what it’s like to lead an up-and-coming team in front of an overly impatient fan base.

The solution, though, is simple: reach a bowl

game.

Fortunately for the Vols, 2014 may bring just what the doctor ordered.

After automatic losses to Oklahoma, Georgia, Ole Miss, Alabama and South Carolina, UT is left with two toss-up games against Florida and Missouri that should hold the fate of the entire 2014 season in the balance.

Assuming the Vols manage to pull out one of the victories – most likely Missouri, not Florida – the team would sit at 6-6 with their other five victories coming against Utah State, Arkansas State, Chattanooga, Kentucky and Vanderbilt, which should be good enough to break Tennessee’s three-year bowl drought.

If not, Jones better buckle up for the rocky roads of Rocky Top.

But despite the adversity Butch Jones will endure in his second year as Tennessee head coach, the Volunteers will ultimately sneak into a bowl game for the first time since 2010.

Here’s how: Through the first four weeks of the season, UT will sit at 2-2 barring anything unforeseen.

The State’s of Utah and Arkansas should deliver comfortable wins, while treacherous treks to Oklahoma and Georgia will provide a glimpse of what the Vols hope to be in the near future.

Then ‘The Chomp’ comes to town, and before the clamoring begins as to why UT will finally rack up its first win over the Gators since 2004, one thing needs to be clear.

I’m not biting.

As of late, The UT-Florida rivalry has been a Murphy’s law-esque matchup for the Vols.

Everything has gone wrong for those in orange.

And I mean everything.

Chattanooga will help ease the pain the next week, but three consecutive losses will immediately follow, leaving Jones’ squad at a concerning 3-6 heading into the final quarter of the season.

But then comes the riveting November finish.

Kentucky is all but a lock. Missouri is the true toss-up game, but the Vols will steal one late in Neyland — just as the Tigers did in quadruple overtime two seasons ago.

And while Vanderbilt has definitely established itself at the big boy table of the SEC, I can’t see the Commodores pulling off three straight wins against their in-state foe — mainly because it hasn’t happened since Calvin Coolidge roamed the White House.

So if you cheer for the Vols in 2014, be warned. It’ll get dicey, and it’ll be a bumpy ride.

But a late-December, early-January bowl game will be the final destination.

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August 29, 2014

The Daily Beacon • Football Preview

Johnson finds urgency entering final campaign Dargan Southard Assistant Sports Editor (@dsouth16)

The Tennessee record books are alertly on standby while the national accolades have rolled in with predictable regularity.

But still, there are two items which have eluded senior linebacker A.J. Johnson in his decorated Knoxville tenure.

A winning campaign and a postseason bowl berth.

And with just one year’s worth of sand remaining in his Volunteer football hourglass, it’s no surprise Johnson has cranked up the intensity — even more so than usual.

“He always has the work ethic, but I see a sense of urgency in him,” secondyear UT head coach Butch Jones said at SEC Media Days. “He’s learning how to lead … now he’s holding others accountable for their actions. So you can see that growth and that maturation process in

terms of leadership really come through with A.J.” A three-year starter, who in January made the ‘toughest decision ever’ to return for his senior year, Johnson enters his final campaign with a bevy of national recognition after being named to the watch lists for the Bednarik, Butkus, Lombardi and Bronko Nagurski awards — all of which recognize either the most talented linebacker or defensive player in college football.

However, for the first time in his Knoxville career, Johnson won’t have to adjust to an unfamiliar regime as defensive coordinator John Jancek, along with the entire coaching staff, returns for year two.

“It’s nice,” said Johnson, who played under ex-UT defensive coordinators Justin Wilcox and Sal Sunseri in his first two years, respectively. “I’ve changed defenses each year I’ve been here, but this is the first time being under the same

defense for a second year. It’s going to help us as a team.

“It’s easier for a player to just roll into a season without having to worry about something new. They’ve already got the plays down pat and can help out other guys way younger.”

And those fresh faces are certainly abundant for UT this season, particularly within the linebacker corps, as underclassmen Dillon Bates, Colton Jumper and Jalen Reeves-Maybin are all potential candidates to consistently do battle alongside the highly decorated senior.

But specifically it’s Reeves-Maybin who has snagged Johnson’s attention and affection entering 2014. Following a freshman campaign spent primarily as a special teams star and part-time safety, the Clarksville, Tennessee, native permanently flipped to linebacker and will start there on Sunday versus Utah State.

See JOHNSON on Page 11

•Photo courtesy of Christopher Elizer

August 29, 2014

The Daily Beacon • Football Preview

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Too Maggitt to quit After 659 days, Curt Maggitt is geared to suit up for the Vols Troy Provost-Heron Sports Editor (@TPro_UTDB)

In Derek Dooley’s final campaign as UT’s head football coach, Curt Maggitt watched from the sideline as the Volunteers fell to Vanderbilt, 41-18, dashing bowl game hopes.

Last season, Maggitt played cheerleader once again as he continued to recover from the torn ACL he suffered Nov. 10, 2012, only to witness Tennessee fall one game short of a bowl for the second consecutive

year.

Today, after 659 days, the junior is back to take the field – not the sidelines – for the Vols.

“It’s going to be emotional for sure,” Maggitt said. “It’s been a real long time since I’ve been out there and ran through the `T’ actually suited up. I guess I’m no longer a cheerleader. I have to go out there and do it, so it’s going to be good.”

Maggitt’s return is a welcome sight for a Vols defense that ranked 11th in total defense, 418.4 yards per game, and last in sacks, 18, in the SEC last year.

The West Palm Beach, Florida, native currently slots into the strongside linebacker position when the Vols go into their base 4-3 defense, but is expected to slide over to defensive end when Tennessee decides to go with a 4-2-5 lineup.

In either package, Maggitt’s versatility could prove to be a big boost for a UT defense that seemed devoid of playmakers at times in 2013.

“He adds a whole other element to our defense, and we are going to need that,” second-year head coach Butch Jones said.

“Even though he hasn’t played in a year, the leadership intangibles and calmness that he has will be extremely beneficial for us defensively.”

The 5-foot-3, 251-pound hybrid, however, will be most impactful with his voice.

As a leading member of Tennessee’s player staff and winner of the 2014 Al Wilson Leadership Award, Maggitt will not only be asked to help lead an inexperienced defensive unit on the field, but a young group of men off it.

See MAGGITT on Page 12

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August 29, 2014

The Daily Beacon • Football Preview

Vols name the LEFT TACKLE nine new faces on Jacob Gilliam the offensive and defensive line Redshirt senior Knoxville, Tenn.

6’ 4”, 297 lbs.

Troy Provost-Heron Sports Editor (@TPro_UTDB)

REPLACING

LEFT GUARD Marcus Jackson

Mack Crowder

Redshirt junior Vero Beach, Fla. 6’ 2”, 306 lbs.

Redshirt junior Bristol, Tenn.

6’ 2”, 295 lbs.

REPLACING

Antonio Richardson 24 career starts Two-time second team Associated Press All-SEC

Gilliam may be the biggest surprise of the new starting five up front for the Volunteer offense. Originally, it seemed like JUCO transfer Dontavius Blair would claim this spot, but after Blair ran into some conditioning issues, Gilliam began to pull away with the job. The walk-on from Farragut High School will now be entrusted with protecting Justin Worley’s blindside.

CENTER

Alex Bullard 25 career starts

Jackson will be the most experienced lineman in the group, having started the final five games for the Vols as a freshman in 2011. In those five starts, Jackson helped lead the way for a rushing attack that averaged 91 yards per game, but the expectations for the ground game will be much higher with Marlin Lane, Jalen Hurd and Co. in the backfield.

REPLACING James Stone 39 career starts 2013 third team SEC Coaches Preseason All-SEC Not only is Crowder tasked with replacing Stone at center, but also filling the shoes of Ja’Wuan James as the vocal leader on the line. Crowder’s only career start came last season against South Carolina, and while he didn’t finish the game, the Vols would like if the trend of him starting and them winning big games continues.

A look at the (n LEFT END

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

Corey Vereen

Jordan Williams

Sophomore Winter Garden, Fla. 6’ 2”, 253 lbs.

Senior Gainseville, Fla. 6’ 5”, 284 lbs.

REPLACING

REPLACING

Corey Miller

Daniel Hood

15 career starts 9.5 career sacks, 16 tackles for loss

20 career starts 35 career tackles, 1 career interception

Take a walk around the Anderson Training Center right after the Vols wrap up practice and you will probably see Vereen still working on something.

His high motor and tremendous work ethic is why he is a coaches’ favorite and why he may be on the cusp of having a breakout campaign in 2014.

Williams is far from a new name. He’s started in eight games over the last two seasons, but 2014 will be the first time when Williams can call a position his own. After being a defensive end/ linebacker for the majority of his career, Williams now moves inside, where his speed could prove to disruptive for opposing offenses.

August 29, 2014

The Daily Beacon • Football Preview

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RIGHT GUARD RIGHT TACKLE Jashon Robertson

Kyler Kerbyson

Freshman Nashville, Tenn.

6’ 3”, 304 lbs.

Redshirt junior Knoxville, Tenn.

6’ 4”, 312 lbs.

REPLACING

REPLACING

Zach Fulton

Ja’Wuan James

40 career starts 2013 second team SEC Coaches Preseason All-SEC

49 career starts

Robertson’s meteoric rise up the Vols depth chart has been well documented.

Originally, Robertson came to Tennessee as a defensive tackle, but after a meeting with head coach Butch Jones, decided it was best to move to offensive line. Now the freshman has the challenge of replacing one of the most consistent offensive line performers in UT history.

2013 Outland Trophy Watch List, 2013 second team Associated Press All-SEC

After being kicked over from guard to tackle by Robertson, Kerbyson is left to replace an all-time great and fan favorite.

The Knoxville Catholic grad, however, is ready to step up after sitting back and learning from all five of the departed members.

(new) trenches NOSE TACKLE

RIGHT END

Danny O’Brien

Derek Barnett

Redshirt sophomore Flint, Mich.

6’ 2”, 286 lbs.

Freshman Nashville, Tenn.

6’ 3”, 267 lbs.

REPLACING Daniel McCullers 19 career starts 72 career tackles, 10 for loss

O’Brien easily has the biggest shoes to fill. Literally. McCullers’ 6-foot-8, 351-pound frame clogged opponent’s running lanes and was a key component for the Vols defense. O’Brien will be asked to fill the same role for Tennessee this season.

REPLACING Jacques Smith 23 career starts 120 career tackles, 21.5 for loss, 5 career sacks

While the true freshman is listed as a starter for the Vols base 4-3 scheme, Barnett may be the odd man out when Tennessee turns to he 4-2-5, where Curt Maggitt will replace him. Regardless, when Barnett is on the field, he may be able to make a difference with his speed and the proof is in a rundown tackle that prevented a Devrin Young touchdown at the beginning of fall camp.

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August 29, 2014

The Daily Beacon • Football Preview

Depth Chart

Defense

FS

SS

37 Brian Randolph 33 LaDarrell McNeil

13 Devaun Swafford 6 Todd Kelly Jr.

WLB

MLB

34 Jalen Reeves-Maybin 17 Dillon Bates

LE

CB

50 Corey Vereen 4 LaTroy Lewis

27 Justin Coleman 24 Michael Williams

WR

2 Pig Howard 3 Josh Malone

WR

LT

9 Von Pearson 25 Josh Smith

65 Jacob Gilliam 74 Dontavius Blair

DT

LG

56 Curt Maggitt 43 Chris Weatherd

NT

54 Jordan Williams 40 Dimarya Mixon

75 Marcus Jackson 63 Brett Kendrick

SLB

45 A.J. Johnson 53 Colton Jumper

95 Danny O’Brien 58 Owen Williams

C

57 Mack Crowder 71 Dylan Wiseman

DE

CB

9 Derek Barnett 8 Dewayne Hendrix

RG

RT

73 Jashon Robertson 77 Kyler Kerbyson 63 Brett Kendrick 55 Coleman Thompson

23 Cameron Sutton 12 Emmanuel Moseley

TE

82 Ethan Wolf 40 Alex Ellis -or80 Daniel Helm

WR

8 Marquez North 18 Jason Croom

QB

Special Teams Punter 43 Matt Darr

25 Aaron Medley

Kicker 5 George Bullocks -or25 Aaron Medley

14 Justin Worley 12 Nathan Peterman -or11 Joshua Dobbs

RB

15 Marlin Lane 1 Jalen Hurd

Kick Returner 19 Devrin Young -or29 Evan Berry

Punt Returner 23 Cameron Sutton 19 Devrin Young

Holder 13 Patrick Ashford 43 Matt Darr

Offense

August 29, 2014

WORLEY continued from Page 3

On the field and on the sidelines, the Rock Hill, South Carolina, native has thrived in his leadership role as one of only three seniors starting on the offensive side of the ball.

The combination of his strong play and his stillgrowing voice in the locker room has resulted in only one thing: confidence.

“I see great confidence right now, and he should have great confidence,” Jones said. “He has more command, more ownership of being the quarterback at the University of Tennessee, so I see him making progress each and every day.”

And his progress as a player hasn’t gone unnoticed by his teammates.

“He’s definitely taking command of the huddle,” junior center Mack Crowder said. “That’s definitely somebody that you want to block for, whenever he’s just in there confident and knows what he’s doing. It’s a good feeling to be blocking for him.”

All the work the 6-foot-4, 220-pound senior put in this offseason, however, means nothing if his play doesn’t translate from practice to the game.

Last season, Worley threw for 1,239 yards and completed just 55.6 percent of his passes (109of-196), while connecting on 10 touchdowns and

The Daily Beacon • Football Preview

throwing eight interceptions in his eight games – seven of which he started – before undergoing thumb surgery Oct. 29, which caused him to miss the Vols’ final four games.

And while those aren’t the numbers of a dominating SEC quarterback, Worley does have one 2013 statistic that means more than any other numbers could: a winning record.

“You know, when you look at his body of work,” Jones said. “I think we seem to forget that in games last year that he started and finished, he went 4-2.

“I’ll continue to say it in terms of a starting quarterback, it is a lot like a starting pitcher in baseball. It’s your win-loss record. That’s the most important thing with a quarterback, leading your team to victory and doing whatever it takes to get the victory.”

With his teammates and coaches behind him, Worley is ready to “go out with a bang” in his last go ‘round as a Vol. “Your senior year is the last of everything,” he said. “It’s the last offseason workout, the last fall camp that you have with a college program. As more and more of those ‘lasts’ start to stack up, they hit you a little bit more, but I’m excited for this season. I’m ready to go, and I think everyone is fired up.”

MAGGITT continued from Page 7

“He’s our leader, he’s the one who has everyone’s respect,” Jones said, during spring practice. “When Curt Maggitt talks, everybody listens. He’s the one getting up in front of the room. He’s the one that’s coming to me all the time, that constant communication.”

Maggitt, however, won’t be alone in leading the Vols inside and outside Neyland Stadium. Next to him will be his roommate and fellow linebacker A.J. Johnson, who has led UT in tackles each of the last two years.

With the second half of their dynamic duo back, the two believe the sky is the limit regarding what they can achieve this season.

“It’s going to be a great

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feeling [playing next to Curt again],” Johnson said. “Me and Curt say that we are going to be unstoppable, and that’s our goal. We want to have a good defense and play together and have fun.”

Unstoppable also happens to be the perfect word to describe Maggitt’s mission to get back to the field.

After 659 days of cheerleading, rehabilitating and preparing for this moment, Maggitt can’t wait to finally perform for the 100,000-plus fans expected to be packed inside Neyland Stadium this Sunday.

“I miss the fans a lot,” Maggitt said. “We’ve got some loyal and passionate fans. I’m excited to go out there and give them a show. I’m just ready to play again. I know it’s going to be a packed house, so I’m excited.”

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August 29, 2014

The Daily Beacon • Football Preview

JOHNSON continued from Page 6

Donald Page • Tennessee Athletics

“I’m always joking with him, calling him my son,” Johnson said. “We’re building a bond, and that’s what it is — you’ve got two linebackers who are close and playing with each other. It’s going to help. And you’re going to be able to feed off each other.

“They’ve changed the competitive landscape a lot. And that’s the main thing with football -- when you have a whole bunch of competition, that’s going to push everybody to get better and go a little harder.”

Similar to his underclassman counterparts, Johnson too held an integral role in the UT defense as a first-year linebacker.

In former head coach Derek Dooley’s second season at the helm, the 6-foot-2, 242-pound senior started 10 of the Vols’ 12 games, racking up 80 total

takedowns and 4.5 tackles for loss amidst a dismal 5-7 season in 2011.

Still, for the player who Jones says ‘never has bad practices’ and tremendous ‘on-field credibility,’ Johnson claims his growth over the last three years has been immeasurable, even with the early exposure in one of — if not the most — treacherous football conferences in the nation.

“But from now and then, I know more so the whole defense,” Johnson said. “I know where the offense is trying to attack. I don’t have to sit there and think about what the play is. I can think about what the offense is running or what scheme sets they have coming toward us.”

Assistant sports editor Dargan Southard traveled to Hoover, Alabama, this summer for SEC Media Days. He can be followed on Twitter at @dsouth16.