Today On Rocky Top: Vol Fans Hoping For Riley Ferguson

Oct 5, 2013; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers fans celebrate wide receiver Marquez North (8) (not Pictured) catching a pass against Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Amarlo Herrera (52) (not Pictured) for a touchdown during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

From The Tennessean

"He is Peyton Manning with quicker feet, Heath Shuler with more accuracy, Casey Clausen with a bigger arm.Just wondering: Is it too soon to start the Heisman Trophy campaign for Riley Ferguson?He is the next big thing in Big Orange, a do-everything quarterback destined to leadTennessee out of the bowels of the SEC East and back to national prominence.Need a first down? He’ll run for it. Need a touchdown? He’ll throw for it. Need a new conductor for the band? Give the guy a baton.OK, there’s one little detail to consider: Ferguson has yet to play a down for the Vols. Other than that, he is everything you want in a college quarterback.This, of course, says a lot about the current state of UT’s quarterback position. The people’s choice is a redshirt freshman whose last meaningful snap was in the North Carolina high school state championship game in 2012. As for college football, he truly is a legend before his time.Read more at The Tennessean"

From The Times Free Press

"In most of the spring practice drills for Tennessee’s quarterbacks, there’s only one football to go around.Only one of them can be under center in team periods.There are only so many repetitions in practice, and each one of them is a factor in an open competition this spring.It’s a scenario that certainly could lead to those players pressing in the chances they do get.“They understand that they have to take advantage of their opportunities,” Tennessee offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian said after the Volunteers practiced Thursday afternoon. “The decision’s not going to be made after one practice. It’s not going to be made after one throw.“It’s the accumulation of reps, it’s the accumulation of your body of work, and as long as they understand that they have to manage the offense and manage it consistently, then they’ll be all right.”Read more at The Times Free Press"

From The Times Free Press

"There is no indication Tennessee is changing its formula heading into its Southeastern Conference basketball tournament opener against surprising South Carolina in Atlanta this afternoon.Nor should the Volunteers, coming off three of their best performances of the season, change anything.If Tennessee wants to reach the weekend of the SEC tournament for the first time under third-year coach Cuonzo Martin while solidifying its NCAA tournament case, the ball movement and stingy defense from the last three games likely will be the blueprint to follow.“We just have to continue to do the things we’ve been doing,” Vols leading scorer Jordan McRae said Wednesday.After busing Wednesday night to Atlanta, the Vols held their morning shootaround at the Georgia Dome and practiced Thursday afternoon at Morehouse College in preparation for today’s quarterfinal, scheduled to start roughly half an hour after the 1 p.m. Florida-Missouri game concludes.Read more at The Times Free Press"