Today On Rocky Top: Vol Commit Tops New Scout Rankings

From WBIR

"When five-star defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie put on the Orange bucket hat on Thursday, Vols fans knew this was a huge commitment for Tennessee. Now it looks even bigger. Scout.com released it’s new Class of 2015 rankings and McKenzie is at the top of the list, the number one recruit in the nation. McKenzie’s father and uncle both played at Tennessee.Kahlil talked with the Erik Ainge show this morning on Tennessee Sports Radio. You can listen to the whole interview at the link below."

From The Tennessean

"Tennessee is one of four teams that will appear atSEC Media Days on Tuesday, and the Vols will be in Nashville later that night for the 48th annual All Sports picnic at Lipscomb’s Allen Arena.Football coach Butch Jones will be among those in attendance, and he will be joined by women’s basketball coach Holly Warlick."

From NBC Sports

"A month and a half after Butch Jonesacknowledged he did “not anticipate that he will be a member of our football family moving forward,” Riley Ferguson appears to have been adopted by a new football family.While nothing is official at this point, Jeremy Fowler of CBSSports.com tweeted Monday that, barring any recent changes in his thought process, Ferguson plans on transferring to Charlotte from Tennessee.  Ferguson brother Zach is a redshirt sophomore at the school, which likely played a role in his decision."

From Rocky Top Insider

"Remember Derek Dooley’s appearance at SEC Media Days in 2012?Maybe you tried to forget, but it was a memorable appearance. After a disastrous, injury-riddled 5-7 campaign in 2011, he knew his back was against the wall, yet also felt like he had the tools to fight his way off it.“It’s been a tough four years in Tennessee,” Dooley said in the main ballroom in front of hundreds of media members in 2012. “The SEC has enjoyed taking advantage of our tough times. But there’s a nice mood on our team right now that you’re not going to have Tennessee to kick around anymore.”His statement proved to ring hollow after the Vols were, indeed, kicked around during another 5-7 season. But hindsight is, after all, 20/20. Dooley had reasons for that confidence at that time.He had an experienced quarterback returning in Tyler Bray. The pass-catching group, led, at the time by Da’Rick Rogers, a healthy Justin Hunter, Mychal Rivera and an emerging Cordarrelle Patterson, looked stacked. A junior-heavy offensive line was starting to gel. Dooley also banked on the defense progressing under a new coordinator, Sal Sunseri."