Today On Rocky Top: Vols’ Curt Maggitt Ready To Hit The Field
By Zach Ragan
From the Times Free Press
"The smaller number is the one Curt Maggitt’s mind this week.It’s been a long, long time since the Tennessee junior played a snap in a game for the Volunteers.The defensive end/linebacker, who missed the entire 2013 season after a slow recovery from a torn ACL in his knee delayed his return, knows he’ll play again in just a matter of days when Tennessee opens the 2014 season against Utah State at Neyland Stadium on Sunday night.The last snap Maggitt played came 656 days ago in the fourth quarter of Tennessee’s four-overtime loss to Missouri in November of 2012.“Somebody told me the number like a month ago,” he said with a smile following Wednesday’s practice. “It’s something crazy. I forgot. I know it’s four days from now, so that’s the most important thing.“It’s going to be emotional for sure,” he added. “It’s been a real long time since I’ve been out there and ran through the ‘T’ and actually suited up. I guess I’m no longer a cheerleader. I’ve got to go out there and do it, so it’s going to be good.”Read more at the Times Free Press"
From KSL.com
"It isn’t often that a Mountain West team traveling to Southeastern Conference territory is treated as the more experienced team.But that is probably the case for Utah State’s opening weekend matchup at Tennessee, according to Vols coach Butch Jones.The Vols return only 10 starters from last year’s team that finished 5-7, and none of their returners come along the offensive or defensive lines.“I have said this before, and I will continue to say it: the first games are the games of the unknowns,” Jones said at his weekly news conference Tuesday. “We probably have more unknowns than anyone else in the country. How will your players respond? We have to be disciplined, assignment sound and handle turnovers. The winner of the first game usually manages the turnovers. They don’t beat themselves. They play well on special teams, and they tackle.”Read more at KSL.com"
From Bleacher Report
"Tennessee sophomore wide receiver Josh Smith broke out with one of the most productive camps of any player on the Volunteers roster. Yet when UT released its official depth chart Monday, Smith’s name was absent from the starting lineupThat distinction belonged to the trio of Marquez North, Pig Howard and Von Pearson.Smith will still play plenty, but if his camp performance failing to yield first-team reps isn’t a testament to Tennessee’s depth of able options at receiver, nothing is.Read more at Bleacher Report"