Let's start here! Terrific news for Tennessee.
Commitment of Ty Chandler:
On Monday, Ty Chandler ended a week or two of rampant speculation and publicly committed to Tennessee. Chandler is a good one. He is a 5’11” 195 lb. running back from Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville. Chandler is one of the top prospects in the state of Tennessee for 2017. Rivals has Chandler ranked as one of the top 100 prospects in the country regardless of position. Chandler is a top 100 prospect in the country and most services have him listed as one of the top 5 or 6 running backs in the country for this recruiting cycle.
He is a complete running back, meaning he is equally effective at running between tackles as he is catching a pass and out running pursuers to the corner. Also, he is dangerous as a kick returner as well. I don’t care what recruiting service you follow nor do I care what their ranking of Chandler is. The commitment of Chandler was a huge pick up for Tennessee and goes to the heart of addressing the biggest need in the 2017 recruiting class.
Also, reports vary on his forty time.
In watching his film, all I know is defenders do not catch him from behind once he gets a step on them.
Chandler will have more than an opportunity to play in 2017. He is firmly in the mix to see a significant number of carries along with incumbents John Kelly, Jeremy Lewis, and Carlin Fils-Aime.
Chandler has been at the top of the running back board for over a year and
now it will be interesting to see where Tennessee turns for running back #2 in the class. Tery Coleman from Louisiana is committed, though he is athletic enough he could play multiple positions in college. Tennessee will likely focus on Mississippi running back Cam Akers and Louisiana running back Travis Ettiene.
Both are big time prospects, but I'm not certain either one fit Tennessee as well as Chandler does. Akers, who is more of a between the tackle back, has Tennessee in his top group that include Florida State and Ohio State. While Ettiene, more of a change of pace back, has Tennessee in his top group after recently decommitting from Texas A&M.
Now To The Main Event:
Two plus weeks of fall camp in the books. Less than two weeks until game week. A few odds and ends that may interest only me.
Here goes......
The best news I have heard out of camp?
No significant injuries..... so far. Bumps and bruises to be sure, plus Butch Jones is managing the activity levels of a number of players on both sides of the ball. My fingers are crossed Tennessee can make it to game week with no significant setbacks. Have the changes in the strength and conditioning program made the difference? Has Butch Jones changed his approach? Personally, hope both have contributed to the lack of major injuries.
The best news I have seen out of camp?
Lets give credit where credit is due. Hats off to the Tennessee Athletics department. Good gesture toward the fan base for allowing the media covering the VOLs to release anywhere from 3 to 5 minutes of practice video on a somewhat regular basis. Of particular interest to me is to the activity level of the injured kids.
From the start of practice until Thursday, defensive tackle Shy Tuttle seems to be moving around so much better. Don't know if he will play early. I'm thinking he'll be ready to go by late September which is good news for Tennessee.
Also, JuJuan Jennings who has worn a green non-contact jersey throughout camp to date, looks like he will be full speed by September 1. It appears Jennings does not have any lingering effects from injuries that hampered him last season and in the spring. Looks like coaches are merely managing his level of activity throughout fall camp.
More:
Pump the Brakes, Part 1:
I have to remember not one of these kids I am about to mention have played one down of meaningful football. With that said,
Tennessee gets an A+ for the collective group of defensive back signed in 2015. Barring injury something unforeseen, true freshmen Marquill Osborne, Nigel Warrior, and Baylen Buchanan ALL are going to push upperclassmen for playing time in the secondary.
Not to mention all should be fixtures on special teams as well. Tennessee fans were well aware of how coveted a recruit Nigel Warrior was last recruiting cycle. For those that don't recall, Tennessee held off both Alabama and Ohio State for Marquill Osbourne, who was the one of top high school prospects produced by the state of North Carolina last cycle.
With Buchanan, who was Nigel Warrior's teammate last season, the more Tennessee scouted Warrior over the past two seasons the more Buchanan kept showing out on game video. He just made play after play as teams schemed away from Warrior. Buchanan chose Tennessee over Oklahoma and Ohio State.
Notice I haven't even mentioned true freshman Tyler Byrd. Byrd, who was recruited as a defensive back and may be the best defensive back of the entire group. However, because of a couple of defections and injury, Byrd was moved to wide receiver during the summer. He is not only competing for playing time there but he is competing to start at one of the three wide receiver positions.
Pump the Brakes Part 2:
Not sure how Tennessee continues to pull this off year in and year out. But, the 2015 wide receiver group signed by Tennessee looks to be one of their best yet. I have mentioned Tyler Byrd above. Byrd has stood out to be sure. However, Marquez Calloway, a top 100 player nationally last recruiting cycle, has really came along over the past week. Then you have Floridian Brandon Johnson, who has done nothing but impress all summer, is also expected to see significant snaps this season. Johnson is dealing with a couple of minor injuries right now but should be good to go soon. I haven't even mentioned speedster Latrell Williams who is just rounding into shape after rehabbing a tender hamstring.
Pump the Brakes Part 3:
Jarrett Guarantano: The one word description of his performance from Saturday is WOW. I don't think Guarantano plays this year, but I really wouldn't be surprised if he does. He's really special.
Other Stuff: X's & O's....
It is hard to find fault with the job the Head Football Coach has done since he got to campus. Dave Hart boarded a plane to Louisville all set to hire Charlie Strong... When that blew up, he then stumbled and bumbled to a hotel room off I-75 and hired Butch Jones virtually on the spot. Simply dumb luck the UTAD.
Butch Jones loves this place and loves Tennessee football. I’m good with that. With that said, Coach Jones' fascination with controlling information of and about the football operation and program is beginning to reach an unhealthy level.
Tennessee holds the first scrimmage of the pre-season and neither the coaches nor players address the media until approximately 48 hours afterwards. The ultimate control freak himself Nick Saban held a press conference after Alabama's first pre-season scrimmage Saturday and did a fairly nice job of answering the softballs served up to him by the BAMA beat reporters.
Butch Jones never says a lot even when he does speak to the media but it would be nice to hear about the progress of the team, etc., less all the strategic details he is trying to protect . Or, maybe I’m just ready for real football.
Media Days....
I now know why Coach Jones holds Coach Azzani in such high favor. It is because Coach Azzani is just as super-sensitive about people criticizing his wide receivers and the wide receiver rotation as the head coach is about people second guessing some of his game day decisions.
It was quite clear on Friday our wide receiver coach/social media maven is aware of the criticism leveled at him and his position group. During media days when Coach Azzani was given an opportunity to rebut the criticism leveled at Tennessee's wide receiver rotation it didn't take him long to infer that a portion of the fans didn't really understand why the wide rotation was necessary.
Not a good look for a coach whose position group is smack dab in the cross hairs of the fan base. Then, only to out-do himself, he then goes on to start explaining the "analytics" of the wide receiving rotation by the use of charts and GPS data and how much the receivers run per play and so on and so forth....
The more he tried to explain his way out of the mess he started, the odder the entire exchange seemed. Regardless, all will be forgiven, if the receivers hold up their end of the bargain this fall.
Here is hoping Tennessee has another productive but injury free week of fall practice.
All things being equal, hats off to Tennessee and Butch Jones for a terrific camp thus far.
I'll be back next week.
'X'
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