By: Brandon Bryant The #3 Tennessee Volunteers Men's Basketball team is set to take on the Memphis Tigers on December 15 at 11:00 am in Memphis. Tennessee is coming off of their biggest game of the year, in which the Volunteers were able to knock off #1 Gonzaga 76 to 73. The Tigers are also coming off a big win against UAB, 94 to 76. Can the Vols keep their momentum heading into this big in-state match-up? The last time these two teams met, the Tigers were able to knock off the Vols in Knoxville 85 to 80; back during the 2012 season. The Tigers have beaten the Vols 5 out of the last 9 times they have squared off against each other, dating back to 2006. While the Tigers are 5 and 4 on the season, they are undefeated at home with 4 wins. The Vols have started out 7 and 1 with their only loss coming in overtime to the #1 Kansas Jayhawks. This will be a tough test for the Vols coming off of an emotional win against Gonzaga. The Vols need Jordan Bone and Kyle Alexander to bounce back after only combining for 7 points in the win against Gonzaga. Admiral Schofield continues being a dominant force for the Vols as he put his teammates on his back and knocked down 30 points in his last contest. The Admiral hit the game-winning 3 point shot with 34 seconds left to seal the game. Jordan Bowden also had one of his better games of the year. The Vols will need that same type of play from him in Memphis. Grant Williams was in foul trouble and was kept out of the final three minutes of his last contest after netting 16 points. The Vols will need Williams and his play making ability to finish out the contest against Memphis. With the FedEx Forum gymnasium already being sold out, the fans can expect a big game from both sides of the court.

Do you know the greatest things about in-state rivalries? When they go right, it sways recruiting, pumps up the fans, and more importantly shows who runs the state. Should everything go right, we should be having a big orange party come Saturday night. This could/should get out of hand at some point. That’s what great teams do isn’t it? Find a way to win and remind others they’re on a different level? This is a good chance to show all those things and more by doing what your supposed to do. Memphis is 5-4, be it on a 2 game winning streak, and they have looked far from invincible. Freshman guard Tyler Harris leads the Tigers with 16.2 ppg, but should be worn down over the course of the game by the stifling defense of the Vols. Grant should get involved early and often next week seeing as he was a little quieter than his normal self against the Zags. If you watched the game you know he checked out with less 3 minutes left to play, and then the Admiral then shouldered the rest of the offensive burden, and the rest was history. I’d like to see Jordan Bowden or Jordan Bone either one, put together a solid scoring performance against the Tigers. If Tennessee has any weakness, it’s in the inconsistency at guard play, and they know that. Bowden hit a 3 late in the game, but struggled to score posting 11 in 30 minutes. He did shoot 3/7 from deep, but he and Bone went a combined 6/23 for 16 points. Down the stretch, Someone will need to step up if this team wants to finish this season off with some jewelry. Tourney play is a different animal although this Saturday had a March feeling to it. At some point, someone will be able to limit Grant and Admiral and we are going to need our guards to get the job done. Look for them to play aggressive and try to find a rhythm from deep early, while keeping Grant active as well. Schofield proved against Gonzaga he can be called in to spark the offense if need be, and little brother shouldn’t keep it too close. Vols by a Hundred, take’em out to the ole’ woodshed!

Legends aren't born every day and many are created by chance and circumstance. Their prowess happens before our eyes often without us even knowing it. Last night Admiral Schofield's big three and dominate performance will go down in Tennessee basketball history as one of it's greatest moments. A man who was to small for schools like Duke and North Carolina has shined larger for Tennessee than anyone would have ever thought possible. A true Tennessee Grit and Grind style player. A man who's heart and drive fall second to none. In one of the darkest hours of our football programs history no athlete at the University of Tennessee is currently shinning brighter. But who is Admiral Schofield? Did you know his older brother, O'Brien Schofield, was a NFL linebacker who won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 48? Maybe we need to see if Admiral is interested in helping out the football team this year in our mist of woes. He attended Zion-Benton Township High School located in Zion, Illinois (a suburb of Northern Chicago). A small town with a population 22,866 the success of the Schofield family can largely be contributed to their up bringing from their loving parents. Admiral's father, Anthony Schofield, served 24 years in the United States Navy and couldn't have been a better role model for his children. Every number his father ever wore, he wore. Everything he learned, Admiral, contributes to his father. He has said that his mother (Dawn Schofield) and father would record every game he played and whenever his father wasn't away on leave he would go over the film with him helping him grow as a player and a man. Admiral was born March 30, 1997 in London England in the same hospital that Princess Diana gave birth to both William and Harry. Did you know not only was Admiral a basketball star in high school school but he also ran track and played QB for Zion-Benton Township High School. The season is still young for Admiral Nelson and the Tennessee Volunteers Men's Basketball Team. But it would seem we are poised for one of the greatest runs in school history. It's hard to believe last season Schofield almost declared for the draft. Our season would already be so different without him. He is the heart and soul of this team, and if Grant Williams hadn't fouled out against Kansas there is a chance we are undefeated and currently the number one team in the nation. His play style is dirty. He is tough, strong, and a warrior in the paint. Our season rests largely on his shoulders. I have complete faith in Admiral and this basketball team. Hopefully you do as well.

This is a busy moment regarding all things for Tennessee Athletics. The men’s basketball team is preparing for a Top Ten showdown against the number one team in the nation, Gonzaga, on Saturday. The Lady Vols are ranked back inside the Top Ten again with some stiff tests looming. Though their season is over, the football team is still making news with recruiting season in full swing, the early signing day looming, and something about needing to hire an offensive coordinator. Those football stories have all been entwined with one another on various levels right now. It is evident to those that follow the sport that Jeremy Pruitt has a massive overhaul of this program on his hands, a task made all the more stark thanks to the Vols’ thumping at the hands of Vanderbilt to end the season, ensuring that Tennessee would miss post season play for the second straight year. Pruitt has work to do to get Tennessee back to prominence, and that work starts on the recruiting trail. Jeremy Pruitt has mentioned on multiple occasions this season that he needs to get, “His guys,” or, “Guys that will do things the right way,” infused into the program in order to turn things in Knoxville around. Knowing this, fans have taken comfort in Pruitt, and most of his staff for that matter, having reputations as excellent recruiters. This 2019 recruiting class is stacking up to be one of the most important at Tennessee in recent memory. The Vols are strong contenders for some of the biggest names in the country right now and filling out an already strong class with those players could push Tennessee into a Top Five class this cycle. That infusion of talent and Pruitt guys would be a boon in Knoxville, however, this class is going to have huge sway over the type of classes Pruitt and Company can expect going forward. The importance of this class, as well as the much-agonized Offensive Coordinator hire, can have their importance with a look ahead in recruiting, to the 2022 class specifically. Terian Williams II is currently rated by several recruiting services as the number one dual threat quarterback in the 2022 class. Recruiting and rating of quarterbacks tends to be a bit different than most other positions, with elite talent often rated and identified earlier than many other positions. Williams II is already rated as a four-star quarterback and holds multiple SEC offers, the first of which he received from the Tennessee Volunteers. For his age, Williams II already displays a very strong arm, a smooth delivery, and solid footwork. He is far from a finished product at this point in his career and development, but the talent is clear to see. When Williams II pulls the ball down to scramble, he shows elusiveness and even break away speed. That combination of tools is seldom available to a quarterback, even more seldom to one so young. As William II continues his progression as a quarterback, with the weapons already present in his game, he stands to remain as the number one player at his position in the class, a player every major college football program covets. A coach noted for having an eye for talent, it is easy to see why Pruitt would want to be the first SEC school to extend an offer to Williams II, and to get an early jump on the young man’s recruitment. Not only has Pruitt already extended an offer to Williams II, he has had the young man on campus already. It seems that game day on Rocky Top made an impression on Williams II. When asked what stood out to him the most, Williams II answered, “The passionate fanbase, the game day atmosphere, and the state-of-the-art facilities all stood out to me.” That the Volunteer fans are passionate and that Neyland Stadium, packed, can make an impression is something anyone to ever visit for a game can attest to. That Tennessee has some of the finest facilities in the nation for their players is also well known. Other schools can boast passionate fan bases and impressive game day atmospheres, but the combination that Knoxville can offer in the late fall is one of the most impressive in all of sports. Still, there is more to recruiting a player than game days or the facilities where they will work out. Upon his arrival in Knoxville, Pruitt assembled a staff full of some of the most respected recruiters in all of college football. Their acumen on the field and recruiting trail were paramount traits to Pruitt, and it was interesting to hear what Terian thought of his interaction with them. Williams II was asked which coach had made the biggest impression on him and why thus far during his contact with the Vols. He responded that, “Coach [Chris] Rumph is my recruiter, and has made the biggest impression. He is a very intense, no nonsense kind of coach. He tells you the truth, what he expects of you, and what you can expect of him. That is my kind of coach.” That Williams II mentions honesty when talking about a Tennessee coach under Pruitt is becoming something to expect. Multiple recruits along the trail this season have talked about how honest each member of this staff, including Pruitt, has been in letting them know what the expectations were from the staff. That honesty appears to be making an impact with some of the elite targets Tennessee has on the board. It appears that these talented players appreciate a staff sitting down and shooting them straight on where both sides are and what is to be anticipated. The no nonsense has also been echoed by several recruits since Pruitt took over in Knoxville, and the commitment to getting back to football first appears to resonate with the young men being recruited to don the Orange and White. While on his visit to Tennessee, Williams II had a meeting and photo with a Tennessee staff member that may highlight why some things must turn around sooner rather than later in Knoxville. Terian was approached by someone that he, “Knew was important,” at Tennessee. He shook the man’s hand, introduced himself, and the two took a picture together. Williams II didn’t know to whom he had spoken until his Uncle pulled him off the side. Terian explained that, “I didn’t know he was the athletic director when I first saw him. Then my Uncle explained that he was a former Head Coach at Tennessee, had won a National Championship there, had coached Peyton Manning, and had also played at Tennessee. I quickly realized that he is ‘Mister Tennessee Football’.” The man that Terian had met was none other than Athletic Director Phillip Fulmer. Phil Fulmer, a coach that was at one point possibly more feared by other coaches on the recruiting trail than he was on the field. A man that could enter a recruit’s home, particularly offensive lineman, and seemingly, like an Orange-Clad Vito Corleone, make them an offer they couldn’t refuse. Fulmer was a coach that at times appeared to be able to go anywhere in the country and pull in the recruits he wanted to be Vols. The man that is a walking Tennessee legend, a National Championship winning coach, and Mr. Tennessee football, is an unknown to some of the elite recruits in the nation in upcoming cycles. The fact of the matter is that Tennessee last won an SEC East crown in 2007. Terian Williams II and the other members of the 2022 recruiting class will have been between two and four years old during that season. That means that the most successful seasons these upcoming recruits can remember the Vols having will be a pair of 9-4 campaigns under Butch Jones in 2015 and 2016, both of which saw Tennessee teams underachieve what they were capable of accomplishing. Tennessee is beginning to recruit players like Williams II for their 2022 class, trying to get in early and build a solid foundation with players that will be the elite prospects in the nation when they arrive at their own National Signing Day. These players have seen Tennessee in national relevance only briefly in their lifetimes. Fulmer remains a legend at Tennessee, but his accomplishments at Tennessee are in history to these players, the same as Robert Neyland’s accomplishments. The Vols have an impressive history, devoted, crazy, passionate fans, an imposing stadium, top tier facilities, and respected, decorated coaches. The most important thing they can add to this mixture is success on the field now. That need for success on the field cannot be overstated for Pruitt. His teams need to win games on Saturdays, they need to beat rivals, and they need to compete for titles. That is the expectation from the fans at Tennessee, but it is also a requirement to convince many top-flight recruits that they are going to a program that will develop them, that they can contribute to, and that can let them compete in nationally relevant games. That success must come soon for Tennessee, because they will struggle to recruit only on history against programs that have similar storied histories to pair with current prominence on the gridiron. That imperative to win, and win soon, is why the 2019 class is so important for Tennessee. This group will be Pruitt’s first full recruiting class and will be the foundation that he and his staff build their image of the program on. The need to win quickly is why the offensive coordinator hire is so important, and why the length of the process has led to so much gnashing of teeth among those in Vol Nation. Tennessee needs a competent hand and a bright mind to steer this offense if the Vols are to develop their talent and turn the corner back to a perennial power house of a team. The Vols and their fans have suffered for a long time now, but there is now a point where it is time to get things right or bust. If the Vols want to land dynamic, blue chip players like Terian Williams II, then they have to get things together on the field. The Vito Corleone of Tennessee, Mister Tennessee Football, has become an imposing legend, but the Vols now need their Michael Corleone to rise up and steer things to new heights. Terian Williams II left Knoxville with one of the most interesting recruiting stories to come out in a long time. He also left as a target that the Vols and Vol Nation will wring their hands to see end up in Orange and White. He has plenty of time left to grow as a player in his high school career, but it is a career Volunteer fans should watch with keen interest. This is a talented young man that has the look early on of a player that can change the trajectory of a program. Ideally, he can take a program going the right direction and help propel it into national prominence and title games. Seeing him propel Tennessee to that level will likely mean that Jeremy Pruitt has begun to lay the foundation of his own legend in Knoxville and has made the Big Orange once again as feared as the oranges in The Godfather. The eyes of Vol Nation are focused on Knoxville for this recruiting season and coordinator hire, hoping that the foundation for brighter days is being put in place, so that players like Terian Williams II are excited to add their legacy to this proud history.

It seems like it has been an eternity since the departure of former offensive coordinator Tyson Helton. Helton's departure comes on the heels of his debut season for the Volunteers. After a season full of offensive disappointments for Tennessee, Helton made his way back to Bowling Green, KY, where he flourished in his two seasons with the Hilltoppers in 2014 and 2015. Under Jeff Brohm, Helton led the Hilltoppers to one of the nation's top five offenses in back to back seasons, in multiple statistical categories. In Helton's two seasons as offensive coordinator, quarterback Brandon Doughty threw for 97 touchdowns to only 17 interceptions and almost 10,000 yards. Yes, you read that correctly, two seasons. So, why wasn't Helton as successful at Tennessee? Tennessee has had plenty of issues on the offensive line this season, and in seasons prior. However, under Helton and no games missed due to injury this season, Guarantano's numbers did increase significantly. In 2017, Guarantano threw for 997 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions; in 2018, he threw for 1,907 yards, 12 touchdowns and only three interceptions. But, sadly, Helton couldn't live up to the expectations that preceded him. The Tennessee offensive coordinator position has been vacant for what seems like an eternity to an already heated fan base. After falling to Vanderbilt to end the season, and missing bowl eligibility for the second straight year, it appeared Coach Pruitt, the fans, and Helton himself were ready to make a change. But, why is it taking so long to hire someone? There have been head coaching, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator positions filled in seemingly no time. Is it the administration? Unlikely. Does no one want the job? Again, unlikely. So, what's the hold up?! Short answer: Jeremy Pruitt. Why would Jeremy Pruitt stall on hiring someone? Because he understands that this could very well be the biggest hire of his tenure at Tennessee. If the hire turns out to be a flop, Coach Pruitt's tenure at Tennessee could be short lived, like a few of his predecessors. If Jeremy Pruitt were to be fired as Tennessee's head coach, the Volunteers would once again find themselves at rock bottom. Wins and losses are all that matter in Knoxville, and Pruitt is aware of that. If the Vols fail to produce results on offense this season, it will reflect directly on Pruitt, especially after another whacky, rumor-filled, highly-criticized coaching search. He would land solely on the hot seat after season number two, if the Volunteers fail to become bowl eligible for the second straight year under his leadership. So, as it turns out, it appears as though the future of the entire program is hinging on this hire. Picture yourself in charge of it. How serious are you taking it? Are you rushing it? Are you going to make an impulsive hire? Or are you going to take your time, vet as many possible candidates as possible and make a well-informed hire?

There is nothing in modern college sports like a Tennessee coaching search. It has all the emotions of a Hollywood cinema and feels more similar to an episode of Game of Thrones vs an actual competent coaching search. It's clear at this point most fans prefer Hugh Freeze over all others. Chip Lindsey, to many people's excitement, is off the table. Kendal Briles at Houston. Darrell Dickey is at Texas A&M. Mike Locksley is now the head coach at the University of Maryland. Kliff Kingsbury is at USC. David Yost is at Texas Tech. So many other schools have made moves and it feels like, as always, we are at a stand still. I think most Vols fans worries at this moment is that Hugh will soon be taking the Florida State job over our own so we find ourselves asking who's left? Rocky Top Insider recently reported that we won't be hiring from within. Many people are worried we will hire Will Friend because of his success at CSU and his friendship with Coach Pruitt. Add in the fact that his rise to power would be similar to Fulmers coming up from an OL Coach to OC causes even more worry among the fan base. But I will continue to hope and assume that he will not be promoted and RTI has reported correctly. Again makes you ask who will be left? Why are we in this position again? Why are we always watching other schools make moves while we sit back and take the left overs? We are Tennessee. We are year in and year out the highest grossing team in the SEC when it comes to making money. Even despite our failures as a football program our fans still spend money on events, games, and gear. We should be the front runners in every situation. Alabama football has become a dream of excellence with their success since Sabans arrival and most years our fan base still brings in more money than theirs. That should tell you something is wrong and it's not the fan base, it's the greedy talking heads behind the scenes at our University. Choosing greed over doing what's right because they know they can put out a sub-par product and our loyalty won't waver. But let me get back on track. Who are some viable options? I have compiled a short list of candidates and people to keep your eye on that may help ease your worries if we don't land Hugh Freeze. Larry FedoraHere is a name you can get excited about. Though recently fired from North Carolina as a Head Coach he is an offensive mind with a proven track record that puts QBs in the NFL. He has coached at Florida so he has SEC experience. He coached under Mike Gundey so he has learned from a great offensive mind. And for the most part he had some strong offenses as the Head Coach at North Carolina and Southern Miss. If Hugh goes elsewhere this is a name to watch out for. Mike Sanford Jr. Former Offensive Coordinator at Notre Dame and Boise State this young smooth coach could be a great asset to the Vols. He was recently fired as the Head Coach of Western Kentucky. Though there may be some questions marks surrounding him considering he's never coached in the SEC this is a name you should keep your eye on. Freddie Kitchens As a Cleveland Browns fan you would think this name would excite me, but sadly it doesn't. I don't think his track record is long enough despite the rumors of him coming here partially based on his relationship with Jeremy Pruitt. We don't know how well he can recruit but given his success at the Browns in such a short time you would think he likely could work miracles anywhere if we can do it at the Browns right? Also it's important to note the Cleveland Browns owner is also one of Tennessee's largest, if not largest, donors. His name keeps popping up, but I don't know how likely he really is as a candidate. Dan Enos The man seems set up to become Alabama's next offensive coordinator. If they decide to look elsewhere and not promote him from within you have to ask yourself why? And is he really somebody we want if Alabama, who's success is almost guaranteed at this point, doesn't think he is someone worth promoting to the position? Mike YurcichHe has been with Oklahoma State under Mike Gundy since 2013. In that time their offense has been a regular inhabitant of the top 20 ranking in college football. He has put multiple QB's in the NFL and would seem to be a good fit using that as a recruiting pitch. But would he leave Oklahoma State, his staple of constancy for here, is a question you have to ask? He makes 800k annually so it may take a pretty hefty paycheck to lure him away on top of his buyout. Jim Chaney It would be a longshot to take him away from Georgia. We would really have to open up the check book. But he has coached at Tennessee before during the Dooley era. He was the lone bright spot being here from 2009-2012 finding success in his offenses despite Dooley's incompetence (He was even our Head Coach for a short while after Dooley was let go.). He has created a great offense down at Georgia like he did here. and it would be a perfect fit but I wouldn't bet my house on it. Keep your eyes on him but don't keep your heart set on it, because this would be a longshot if there ever was one. Matt Canada A dear friend a colleague of mine would be mad if I left out Matt Canada. He has a great proven track record, has coached in the SEC, and is known for his prolific and successful offenses. The main question around him is, will he take the Louisville Head Coaching vacancy. If he declines or they go elsewhere this is a name we should really hope for if Hugh Freeze falls through. There is a quick list I've compiled of potential offensive coordinator candidates. If you think I've forgotten anyone let me know in the comments below and we can add them to this list to help our fans keep their eyes open of who may be heading to The Hill. We will credit you with the help as well.

The Tennessee Volunteers received some outstanding news on the recruiting trail today. At his high school in Marietta, Georgia, Quarterback Harrison Bailey announced that he would be committing to the University of Tennessee. The six foot, four inch tall, two hundred twenty pound Bailey is currently ranked by 247 Sports as a four-star prospect in the 2020 recruiting cycle. Bailey is also rated at the number three Pro-Style Quarterback for the 2020 cycle. In the Marietta product, the Vols have landed a player that is capable of doing whatever is asked of him from under center. When he arrives on campus, the strong-armed Bailey will look to compete for playing time, and certainly appears to be the quarterback of the future for Jeremy Pruitt and his staff. However, he could end up as the quarterback of the present. Harrison has been in contact with Tennessee coaches leading up to his announcement at Marietta this afternoon. Among the recruiting pitches from the Vol staff, there have also been discussions of Bailey potentially reclassifying to join the 2019 recruiting cycle. Bailey, a good student, would academically qualify to graduate early from high school and move up to join the college team of his choice a season earlier. Should Bailey elect to join the 2019 class, along with his good friend and Marietta teammate Wide Receiver Ramel Keyton, it should be expected to see not only the class rating for the Vols jumping. Upon joining the 2019 cycle, it is likely that Bailey will be re-evaluated by the recruiting industry at large, which will likely see his rating updated. Whether in 2019 or 2020, expect to see Bailey receive a unanimous fifth star in his overall grade. However, in the 2019 class, Bailey could vault to the top of this quarterback class. Oklahoma commit Spencer Rattler and Bailey would be a very close one-two for the top Pro Style signal caller, and either could be listed as number one. Regardless of his ranking, the Vols are getting an exceptionally talented and decorated player in Bailey, edging out essentially every team in the country for his services, although the primary competition for Tennessee to secure Bailey came from Jim Hargbaugh and Michigan. Over the last few months, Michigan pressed hard for the Marietta passer, with Harbaugh attending one of Bailey’s high school games when the Wolverines had a bye week. It has been viewed as a two-horse raise between the Maize and Blue and Orange and White for some time now, but this afternoon, the Vols emerged ahead. This by no means should make fans of either school feel like Bailey’s recruitment is concluded. Tennessee will have to fight to keep Bailey committed, and Michigan has made it evident that they will continue to try to get the talented quarterback to Ann Arbor. Should Bailey elect to remain in the 2020 class, his recruitment will be hotly contested for another year. If he joins the 2019 class, this early commitment could prove pivotal, and advantageous for Tennessee. The Vols have the added advantage of the aforementioned Keyton being in his friend and quarterback’s ear daily. The pair were among the most dynamic quarterback-wide receiver combinations in all high school football this past season. Keyton certainly deserves an assist credited to him in the recruitment of Bailey whatever class he joins, but the allure of going to college with his friend and teammate has been enticing to Bailey. As for what the Vols can expect to get on the field with Bailey, the tape and numbers don’t lie. In the 2018 football season, Bailey threw for 2,809 yards, 29 Touchdowns, and only 6 interceptions. He averaged 312.1 yards per game with a completion percentage of 63.2 percent, good for a Quarterback Rating of 111.2 for the season. When asked about Bailey, the Recruiting Director for The All Vol Call In Show and long time Georgia High School Scout, Dale Dowden had this to say: “In Bailey, the Vols are getting a quarterback that can definitely take command of the huddle. He is very fundamentally sound in all his intangibles such as, his footwork, eye discipline, progressions, and ball placement. Coach Tony Ballard has definitely helped to mold a quarterback that has been in the public eye since his eighth-grade season.” “Bailey has a live rocket for an arm and, if given the time to set his feet and read, has the ability to find his favorable match ups and take advantage of them. Does he have room to improve? Absolutely, but he strives to get better every chance he gets, and with that being said, his ceiling is as high as his rating. He is a student of the game and his football mind is far beyond his years.” On tape, it quickly becomes evident that the Vols have a young man here that can make all the throws on the field. He has ideal size and a frame that should be able to add more muscle as he ages and spends time in a college strength and conditioning program. Bailey is not billed as a runner, but he has more than adequate athleticism if he must pull the ball down to run. He wants to beat you with his arm, but has excellent mobility and awareness within the pocket, along with enough foot speed to scramble when he must. Bailey is a quarterback that will use his mind and ability to read defenses to find mismatches against a defense, and then utilize his elite arm talent to exploit those mismatches. He posses the rare combination of size, physical talent, and mental prowess to be a truly elite quarterback. Furthermore, Bailey not only has a strong arm, but as Dowden alluded to, he has a very accurate arm. Bailey’s tape shows him time and again place balls where only his receivers can make a play on them, almost always leaving them an opportunity to make a play. Playing in the 6A division of high school football in Georgia, Bailey is also used to playing with and against Power Five and SEC talent week in and week out. He put these numbers up against many of the players he will see again during his time at Tennessee. Again, the established trust and relationship with the dynamic Keyton can’t be overstated when Harrison arrives in Knoxville. Should Harrison arrive with Keyton in this 2019 cycle, the pair of them could be on the field for Tennessee together this fall, because make no mistake, Harrison Bailey will arrive in Knoxville to, at the bare minimum, compete for the starting job. A final note about the Bailey commitment is to note how it will impact the current quarterback situation for the Vols. Jarret Guarantano will be a redshirt junior in 2019, and with fifth year senior, grad transfer, Keller Chryst out of eligibility and redshirt sophomore to-be Will McBride announcing his transfer out of the program last night, the Vols have no other signal callers that have taken a collegiate snap. Redshirt freshman to-be JT Shrout was redshirted this season and the Vols currently have a solid commitment from Ocala, Florida quarterback Brian Mauer in the 2019 class. Mauer is rated as a three-star prospect at the moment but given his numbers and show stealing performance at the Elite Eleven camp earlier this year, his rating appears to be a bit lower than his talents. If Bailey reclassifies to the 2019 class, there is some question as to whether the Vols would take two quarterback commits due to scholarship numbers available. That said, the transfer of McBride did open another scholarship, and one for a quarterback no less, in this cycle. The early expectation is that Mauer is a solid Vol commit and welcomes competition. Truth be told, the Vols would like to have at least four scholarship quarterbacks on the roster and to potentially redshirt at least one, if not both, of the freshmen if neither were to win the starting job. Whatever comes going forward, Jeremy Pruitt proved that he still has the chops as an elite recruiter today in landing an absolute star at the quarterback spot. Pruitt may have the foundation for his 2020 class, or a huge jewel for this all-important 2019 class. Either way, the Vols have started the offseason much stronger than they ended the regular season on the football field. Pruitt has talked multiple times, at length, about getting his guys, guys that would do things the right way, into the program. He is off to a strong start to do just that in this 2019 class and beyond, and wherever Harrison Bailey fits, he will likely be one of the players Pruitt expects to lead the roster he assembles. The Vols are building momentum going into the early signing period with today’s huge pick up. Which class Bailey joins, and which recruits might be swayed to join the Vols due to his addition, will be very interesting to watch in the immediate future.

Times have changed on Rocky Top. With a team that seems to be the best team in the SEC over the likes of Auburn and Kentucky, Tennessee basketball it setting itself up to become a staple. The only red mark being a second round exit last year in the NCAA tournament. We arn't just winning, we are an athletic obstacle for most teams. Starting Yves Pons shows that we are building depth and building it early. He looked amazing in our win over EKU and Head Coach Rick Barnes is setting us up for a run in the tournament. It would seem this strong run comes just in time after another disappointing football season. We are an Overtime loss to Kansas from being an arguable number one ranked basketball team. This isn't the same kind of number one team we had when we were coached by Bruce Pearl. We feel strong. Quick. Unbreakable. We are a match up problem and outside of Duke that goes for just about any team in the nation. It feels like we are overdue. The Tennessee curse of failure needs to be broken and it needs to be broken sooner than late. And it seems like this team might be the team to do it. We have never been a Final Four team, and this year that is going to change. We have Grant Williams (Last Years SEC Player of the Year). We have Pons who can guard any position from top to bottom. We have Jordan Bone a strong ball handler as efficient as they come when it comes to Point Guards. Kyle Alexander who protects the rim like it's his best friend vs 5 guys in a street fight. Admiral Shofield a versatile SG who along with Grant Williams is a perfect 1, 2 punch who both could be playing the NBA soon. We have close to the perfect team. Lead by a Rick Barnes who is as stand up as they come. We share the ball, play Grit and Grind, and seem to be building something beautiful at Tennessee. Tennessee against EKU had a season high 50 rebounds, and 18 of those being Offensive Rebounds. (Note also a season high). EKU was clearly just outmatched. On a game that was Tennessee's 500th game playing at home in Thompson Bowling Arena. Grant Williams posted a Double-Double, and Admiral Shofield lead the team in scoring with 20 points. Tennessee plays next on Sunday 12/2/18 at Noon at home against the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders. Which should prove as another easy win for the Vols.

We've all thought it, we've all said it. Tennessee seems to never make the splash hire that we all want. We hire Mid-Major Butch Jones and Derek Dooleys. We never shoot for the prettiest coach on the list, but we go for the ones that won't tell us on. Hugh Freeze could change that culture. He improves programs. He has track record of winning. And MOST importantly he has a track record of beating the notorious Alabama with Nick Saban as a head coach. He seems to be able to do constantly what nobody else has been able to do. And that was with a lower tier SEC program like Ole Miss. Imagine what he could do coaching someone like Tennessee as an offensive coordinator. It would show with Fulmer as an athletic director we are truly shooting to be a football school again no matter what the cost. This will be a different Hugh Freeze. A man who wants to be a head coach can't afford anymore mishaps. The SEC wouldn't allow him an intern role at Alabama so if we can't get Hugh it might not be entirely our fault. But I think I speak for all our fans when I say, "We want to know the offer was there, and it was real." We want to make the SEC tell us no. We want to make Hugh Freeze tell us no. This would be a perfect 3-4 year stepping stone for Hugh. This could save our offense that felt like it could go nowhere but down this year. Big time players on the offensive side would want to play for him, and with him and Pruitt on the offensive and defense it would feel you couldn't of dreamed of a much better staff. He could be the savior of our offensive struggles. Struggles that only Josh Dobbs was able to avail despite god awful coaching. But will Tennessee actual buck up and make the offer? I think Fulmer will, but will the University agree and follow suit? Your thoughts?

Sophomore QB Will McBride announced his transfer Wednesday night on Twitter. McBride went 17-40 for 152 yards and 1 TD in his freshman year with the Vols after replacing an injured Jarrett Guarantano. Look for a transfer to a school like Memphis, who he was committed to before the Vols.

Less than forty-eight hours after ending their 2018 regular season with a whimper and a thud by getting drubbed by Vanderbilt 38-13, the Vols are making some changes to the coaching staff, but not quite in the way that most anticipated. After securing another losing season and ending any post season hopes with the loss at Vanderbilt, Tennessee seemed to be full speed ahead into the off season. This sprint started with early reports that first year Offensive Coordinator Tyson Helton had been fired by Jeremy Pruitt after the game. This report came from a few sources shortly after the game, however they were refuted by Pruitt during his post-game press conference after the loss in Nashville. The initial reports seemed to have some legs as there have been rumors of some friction between Pruitt and Helton over the Vols’ struggling offense. Further credence was lent to this line of thinking when Pruitt publicly questioned the offensive play calling in press conferences after a few games this season. So, Vol fans were told Helton was gone, then that he was staying, by the head coach no less. And now he is gone again. Reports are that Helton has accepted an offer to become the next head coach for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, where he served as an offensive coordinator and quarterback coach under now Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm. This resolution is likely the best possible one for all parties involved in Knoxville. Helton has gotten his first opportunity to be an FBS Head Coach, to further his career, to run a program how he wants to, and is going to be able to do it at a place he is familiar with and has been very successful at in the past. For Pruitt, if there truly were internal issues between he and Helton, be they schematic or personal, they have been resolved now with Pruitt being able to applaud his assistant for furthering his career. This should publicly ensure that there is little to no lingering bad blood, and more importantly, it allows Pruitt a second chance at choosing someone to design and call the kind of offense he wants to institute at Tennessee. As far as the University is concerned, this allows Pruitt to make a change to his staff that seemed to be heading towards some internal problems at least. It also allows him to make it without putting Tennessee on the hook for what would have been an expensive buyout for Helton. All parties involved should feel pleased with how this has been concluded, but now the Vols have an opening for an offensive coordinator. Where do Tennessee and Pruitt look to fill that void now? There are several names swirling around right now as various options to fill the vacant Coordinator position with the Vols. Some are being mentioned more than others, but, in no particular order, here are the options that seem the most logical for Tennessee to hire as Helton’s replacement. Hugh Freeze Freeze is widely considered the early front runner to land the Tennessee Offensive Coordinator position. Freeze is a complicated candidate with a resume’ that makes a compelling case for hiring him, and a history that can make an equally compelling case for avoiding him. Freeze is not currently in a coaching role, but he was most recently the head coach for the Ole Miss Rebels from 2012-2016 and was the head coach of the Arkansas State Red Wolves in the 2011 season. On the field, Freeze makes perfect sense for Tennessee. He has beaten Nick Saban coached Alabama teams multiple times as an opposing head coach, he has an impressive record as a head coach, and has worked to turn around programs in difficult situations with success. He has done all of this on the strength of some very high-powered offenses. Freeze has significant SEC experience and has significant success in the conference. He is regarded as an exceptional recruiter, and has strong ties to the Memphis area, an area that Pruitt has made a priority in recruiting since arriving in Knoxville. All those things considered, Freeze seems like an obvious hire for the Vols. Unfortunately for Freeze, the reason he is not currently coaching, and that Tennessee will have to strongly consider hiring him comes from some very serious off field issues. Freeze was the head coach at Ole Miss when they were hit with multiple serious NCAA violations, including Freeze being charged with not monitoring his assistants, assistants that former Rebel star offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil admitted paid him money while he was a student. When things couldn’t get much worse for Freeze, a further scandal broke out of Oxford that he had been making calls to escorts on phones paid for by the university while he was on recruiting visits. This combination saw Freeze fired at Ole Miss, the Rebels take NCAA penalties, self-impose a bowl ban, and cut scholarships. Freeze also has a track record of recruiting some players into his program that have had serious off field issues, the aforementioned Tunsil and his teammate, quarterback Chad Kelly, top that list. The issue of assistants paying Tunsil also throws doubt onto just how good a recruiter Freeze is, with many across the nation questioning the class that he brought in to Oxford in 2013 under circumstances that now appear highly questionable. Another complication to bringing Freeze to Knoxville is just what hoops he would have to jump through to be admitted back into the conference as a coach by the SEC and their offices. There is more than enough history with Freeze for the conference to insist on penalizing any team that were to choose to hire him. Considering the damage a bowl ban or lost scholarships could do to recruiting, and how paramount this recruiting class is to Pruitt, those penalties could be more than enough to stop a Freeze hire to Knoxville. Freeze is a gamble for the Vols, one that could pay off with all his proven success, but also one that could hurt it if he slipped into his old ways. Will Friend Friend is the current Offensive Line Coach for Tennessee, and former roommate of Jeremy Pruitt when both were playing at Alabama. Friend was an Offensive Line Coach and Offensive Coordinator for Mike Bobo at Colorado State in the 2016 season, where he was the highest Group of Five assistant coach in the country. Before stints with the Rams and Vols, Friend was a long-time offensive line coach at Georgia with Bobo and Mark Richt. Friend has had success in the SEC as position coach and was widely heralded as one of the best hires that Pruitt made onto his initial staff in Knoxville. Friend and Pruitt are close and have been for many years, and that friendship and trust could make Friend an attractive option for Pruitt to put in charge of his offense. On the other side of the coin, while it is not fair to hold Will Friend wholly accountable for what happened with the offensive line this year, it is also hard to justify promoting a coach that led a group that was that bad. While Friend has been an Offensive Coordinator before, he has only done so for a single season. Pruitt’s trust in Friend and him being a current member of the staff lend some real credence to the buzz that he could be promoted to the Coordinator role. The play of his unit this season, his inexperience calling plays, his personal friendship with Pruitt, and some of the other coaches available mean that his promotion may be a tough sell to the fans. Jim McElwain Currently the Wide Receivers Coach at the University of Michigan, Vol fans are well acquainted with McElwain from his time as the Head Coach at the University of Florida from 2015-2017 and as the Offensive Coordinator at the University of Alabama from 2008-2011. McElwain was also the Head Coach at Colorado State from 2012-2014. McElwain has both the SEC success and experience, as well as the personal relationship, that Pruitt seems to prize. The two worked together at Alabama and coached against one another at multiple stops. McElwain also managed to lead the Gators to back-to-back SEC East crowns as their head coach. During his tenures with Alabama and Florida, McElwain enjoyed success in the SEC and sent many players into the NFL. However, McElwain struggled at times to recruit at the level expected of him with Florida, and his offense never seemed to truly take off there. Offensive woes and bizarre comments about a death threat saw McElwain fired from Florida with cause. After his struggles to get the Gator offense corrected, there is reason to see why Vol fans would be skeptical of his ability to get the Tennessee offense rolling up points. Perhaps that was because he was the head coach, and not coordinator like he was at Alabama? Perhaps he had success at Alabama because of the types of recruits the Tide regularly brought in? Will McElwain be a resource to the Vols on the recruiting trail, or a liability? There are plenty of questions surrounding McElwain, but Pruitt seems to trust him, as his name is emerging as one of the candidates on the short list for the job. All of this overlooks the fact that the Alabama-Florida combination is going to be especially difficult for Vol fans to stomach. Chip Lindsey Lindsey is currently the Offensive Coordinator for the Auburn Tigers, a position he has held since the 2017 season. Before that, Lindsey spent one season as the Offensive Coordinator for Arizona State in 2016, and he served as the Offensive Coordinator at Southern Miss from 2014-2015. Lindsey has been tied with Gus Malzahn before he was hired at Auburn. Malzahn has raved about Lindsey and was instrumental in him being hired by the Golden Eagles in 2014. Lindsey has worked calling his own plays for some time, has Power Five experience, has SEC experience, and has some ties to Pruitt from when they were both coaching in the high school ranks. Lindsey was recently regarded as a rising star in the coaching world, but his landing at Auburn, despite the closeness to Malzahn, was rather odd. Malzahn calls his own plays, which leaves many wondering just what Lindsey’s role with the Tigers is, as well as how much of the regression they have seen this year is his fault? Fans on the Plains are calling for Malzahn and Lindsey’s heads right now, and with both in clear danger of being fired, it seems an odd choice for a hire to Tennessee. Still, if Pruitt feels that the struggles were less related to Lindsey and likes what he saw from him in his previous stops as a play caller, this choice could make sense. Randy Sanders Vol fans are well acquainted with the Morristown native and Tennessee alumnus. Sanders was a part of the Tennessee program from 1989-2005 as a player, position coach, and Offensive Coordinator from the 1998 National Championship game until 2005. Sanders served as the Quarterback Coach at Kentucky from 2006-2008 and was the Offensive Coordinator for the Wildcats from 2009-2012 before moving on to be the Offensive Coordinator at Florida State from 2013-2017. It was during his time with the Seminoles that Sanders won his second National Championship as a coordinator, and it was where he first worked with and formed a relationship with Jeremy Pruitt. Sanders is currently the Head Coach of the East Tennessee State Buccaneers, where he led ETSU to the program’s first appearance in the FCS Playoffs in over two decades and won a share of the SoCon Championship. Sanders is a Tennessee guy, has had success in the SEC and at the highest levels of college football, and is familiar with Pruitt. It would take some spending by the Vols to pry Sanders out of Johnson City, but Sanders has grown significantly as a coach from the one that was fired in 2005. It would also be wise not to underestimate the connection that AD Phillip Fulmer and his former Coordinator have in addition to the connections to Pruitt. Rush Propst Propst is a name that has emerged that will seem a surprise to Vol fans, if a little familiar. Father of former Vol linebacker John Propst, the elder Propst is the Head Coach at Colquitt County High School in Georgia, a job he has held since 2008. Prior to that, Propst was the Head Coach at Hoover High School in Alabama from 1999-2007. Propst worked with a young Pruitt first at Hoover, and the two have remained close since. Rush Propst is widely recognized as one of the best high school coaches in America and has been for nearly two decades now. Pruitt clearly respects Propst and values the skills of coaches that come from the high school ranks. For all his success in Alabama and Georgia, Propst has never been a major college position coach, let alone Coordinator. Propst is a gamble for Pruitt and the Vols, but one that could boom or bust. It feels like Propst, like Friend, should perhaps become an option only after some more established college coaches turn down an opportunity with the Vols, however, it appears both are on the initial short list. Jake Spavital Spavital is currently the Offensive Coordinator for the West Virginia Mountaineers, a position he has held since the 2017 season. Prior to that, Spavital spent the 2016 season as the Offensive Coordinator at Cal, and 2013-2015 in College Station as the Offensive Coordinator for Texas A&M. Spavital has been well traveled, but his offenses have rarely been the problems at the schools he coached at. Often serving dual roles as Offensive Coordinator and Quarterback Coach, Spavital has notably coached Johnny Manziel at Texas A&M and currently coaches Will Grier at West Virginia. Pruitt has seemed to want to run a more traditional, power run based offense from the recruits he has targeted and what he has told the media. Spavital runs a wide-open, spread, throw it all over the field kind of offense. The match doesn’t seem to be there. Still, Spavital’s results can’t be questioned, and the Vols and Pruitt know exactly how effective it can be after seeing it up close in the season opener. Spavital has the resume’ and results for this job, has been successful in the SEC, and knows about recruiting the south, particularly the Charlotte area, another priority target for Pruitt since getting to Knoxville. If Spavital could blend his style with that of Pruitt, the Vols could have something here, however, a failure of the two to mesh could result in a very similar situation to the one narrowly avoided with Helton. The Vols Offensive Coordinator search is currently wide open. These names are the ones that are currently circulating and seem to make the most sense. Other names like Matt Canada, Dan Enos, Kliff Kingsburry, Freddie Kitchens, and even Lane Kiffin, could be worth monitoring in this search, but they seem to be options further down Pruitt’s list for consideration. One thing is certain, the Vols need to get this hire right. Whoever this job falls to will have equal amounts of work and expectations in front of them to get the Vols back where they want to be. Pruitt is getting a second chance to select the man to shape his offense. Vol Nation is watching intently to see what Pruitt does with the opportunity and is hoping it gives their team some momentum going into recruiting. Something to feel hopeful about and to cheer for on Saturdays would be welcomed as well.

It took overtime to settle the Championship game of the NIT Season Tipoff, and when the extra period had ended, the Vols came up short in a heartbreaker to number two Kansas 87-81. The loss stings even more for Tennessee, who has to be thinking they let one slip away as they head home to Knoxville. Tennessee lead in this game by as many as ten points during the second half, only to the see the Jayhawks rally and ultimately force overtime. In the extra period, the Vols were without Grant Williams, who had fouled out late in the second half, and struggled to replace him. Williams had an impressive effort, as usual, for the Vols on Friday night. He scored well, played good defense, and rebounded the ball well. His presence in the low post impacted what the Jayhawks were able to do on offense all night, and he and Kyle Alexander made easy buckets few and far between for Kansas. Where Williams made his biggest impact, however, was on the offensive side, late in the second half. As the Vols seemed to go a bit stagnant and cold on offense, Tennessee kept finding a way to pound the ball down low to Williams, where he kept making shots and carrying the Volunteer offense. Late in the second half, the Vols struggled to find a second option that could hit to complement Williams, but the reigning SEC Player of the Year kept shouldering the burden to help Tennessee keep pace. The loss of Williams on a questionable at best call, in a game where quite a few of those went against the Vols, was just more that Tennessee could overcome. After Williams departed the game, Tennessee’s offense just seemed to go cold. What was worse, they struggled down the stretch to get rebounds, with Kansas capitalizing on several second chance opportunities late that made a huge difference. It is far from a guarantee that the Vols would have been able to secure those rebounds even if Williams was in the game, however, everyone in Orange would have felt better about Tennessee’s chances were his size and skill still available to the Vols. As for Williams’ primary partner in crime, Admiral Schofield, he had a strange night. Admiral played hard, with the same edge and intensity Tennessee fans have grown accustomed to from him, but for the majority of the game his shots just weren’t falling. Inside, outside, and midrange, Schofield had an uncharacteristically difficult night shooting the ball. At least, he did until the overtime period started. Once the bonus period began, Schofield began forcing his way down low and scoring deep in the post against Kansas, and just when the Jayhawks looked to have UT put away, Schofield hit a huge three to keep Tennessee alive. It was ultimately too little too late, but the fans and the team have to wonder what might have been if Admiral had been hitting at that rate even slightly earlier in the game. Uncharacteristic turnovers hurt Tennessee, especially from their guards, as did inconsistent shooting from that group. As frustrating as those were, thanks to the interior play on offense, and the excellent defense often turned in by that same group of guards, the Vols had significant lead late in this game. The Vols played smothering defense for most of the game, especially in the first half. During the second half of the game, the referees seemed to start calling a much tighter game, with soft to outright head scratching calls coming down, and they went far more often against the team in Orange. As fouls on their interior players began to mount, the Vols were a bit limited in how aggressive they could be on defense. The fouls ultimately caught up to them late, with the change in officiating having as much to do with the outcome of this game as any adjustments Kansas made. Still, though it stings, this is a valuable lesson for Tennessee at a time when a loss is far from the end of the world. Tennessee took the number two team in country, a perennial blue-blood basketball program, and gave them absolutely all they wanted. Tennessee got on the national stage, and though they came up short, they proved that they belong among the nation’s elite programs. The NCAA Tournament is notorious for changing the way games are called when compared to how games in the regular season are called. These changes and ticky-tack calls often do to physical teams what they did to Tennessee tonight, change their defensive strategy and make them play while in foul trouble. This type of officiating is one of the reasons we see guard play shine so often over big play in the Big Dance. Tennessee was fortunate to run into a game called that way in November, rather than March, and to do so against a team they are likely to see again late in that month. While this loss stings, it isn’t season ending, and it provides a learning opportunity for this team an a clear opportunity for other players to step up in these types of games as the season goes on. Tennessee also has plenty of chances on the schedule to get wins against the top opponents in the nation. The Vols still have games out of conference remaining against Gonzaga, West Virginia, and a revival of a rivalry in a trip to Memphis. All this before SEC play begins, where a minimum of two matchups with Kentucky await, as does a contest with a top ten Auburn team. Rick Barnes is not searching for morale victories, and will accept none. The team feels this loss keenly, and the fans are upset at seeing a marquee victory slip through the program’s fingers. Still, the Vols proved they belong, and leave New York with plenty to build on. Barnes will take this tape and push his players to improve, and this is a group with the maturity and leadership to take that challenge to heart. The Vols return home to play Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday, in an opportunity to get a bitter taste out of their mouths. This Volunteer team has shown that they belong in the top tier, and now know what they have to adjust to and overcome to reach the pinnacle of that top tier. Expect the Vols to push finding a consistent, third scoring option to go to in case Williams or Schofield struggle to get their shot. Also, look for Tennessee to experiment with potential combinations of bigs to supplement time that Williams or Alexander may be on the bench or in foul trouble. Finally, the Vols are likely to continue searching for another scorer capable of getting points without a set play outside Lamonte Turner. Expect to see an expanded role as the season progresses for Yves Pons, as he seems to keep showing flashes of being that missing piece. No loss is a good one, but if this team had to take one, better now than later. Now let’s see if these Vols can utilize their leaders and experience to grow from this setback and close teams out strong.