Vols Recruiting: Chris Weatherd Training Update
With national signing day rapidly approaching, Tennessee has one of the best classes in the country. With 34 known commitments, Butch Jones and his staff continue to push for a few more players while trying to hold on to the rest. We are squarely in the middle of the recruiting funny season and speculation is running wild on if certain recruits will flip their commitments or not.
One such player that Vol nation has long been worried about is JUCO LB Chris Weatherd from Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, TX. Weatherd, ranked the number 1 JUCO LB in the country, has been very adamant about his commitment to the University of Tennessee. Even with teams like Auburn, Alabama, and Texas A&M pursuing him, Chris has stayed firm to the Vols.
Initially thought to be an early enrollee, Weatherd ended up missing the cut and has been working hard to get everything squared away to enroll in the summer. Not only has Chris been working hard in the classroom, he has also been working hard in the gym and on the field to improve as a LB.
“I’ve already gotten the gist of the plays and my responsibilities and my roles. I’ve picked up on play action a lot more and I’ve picked up on pre-snap reading.” Weatherd said.
He has been working with his speed and agility coach to improve on his footwork and his hips, which will help him in coverage at the next level. He has his weight up to 232lbs and has maintained his 40 time at 4.53 seconds, while also clocking in a 4.17 seconds in the shuttle. By comparison, the fastest times for a LB at the 2013 NFL Draft Combine were 4.47 in the 40 yard dash and 4.18 in the shuttle (both by Zaviar Gooden from Missouri).
Chris, who will be wearing number 12 at UT, is getting more and more excited by the day about the being able to play alongside guys like Curt Maggitt and A.J. Johnson and is looking forward to causing some havoc with the rest of the LB corps. Vol fans have plenty to be excited about in regards to the 2014 recruiting class, as Butch Jones continues to rebuild with not only quantity for depth, but quality as well.