Apr 12, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Justus Pickett (31) is tackled by defensive back Devaun Swafford (13) and defensive lineman LaTroy Lewis (4) during the spring game at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
"Tennessee’s football program has improved its academic progress to the point that it won’t face punishment from the NCAA.Figures released by the NCAA on Wednesday showed Tennessee’s football program with a four-year total of 932 in the Academic Progress Rate, which the NCAA uses as a real-time academic measure of every Division I team. The four-year period covers the 2009-10 to 2012-13 academic years.Tennessee’s football APR solely for 2012-13 was 962, the highest score in program history. Tennessee had posted a single-year APR of 909 in 2011-12.Tennessee needed a four-year APR of 930 or above to avoid penalties that could have included a postseason ban or practice reductions.Read more at The Daily News Journal"
From The Columbia Daily Herald
"Butch Jones remembers the day in January when 14 early enrollees, many of whom are going to play for Tennessee this fall, were introduced to their new teammates. One by one the young players told their stories of how they came to Tennessee while sharing their hopes and dreams.When the 14th newcomer had finished, the returning members of the Tennessee team gave them a standing ovation.“That,” said Jones, “is when I knew that we were headed in the right direction.”Tennessee went 5-7 (2-6 SEC) in Jones’s first season. There were high points (the upset win over South Carolina). There were low points (losing to Georgia in overtime; losing to Vanderbilt 14-10 with 16 seconds left). There were moments that made everybody scratch their heads. Such is the first year in every rebuilding job. It is a breathless sprint to get new systems and a new culture installed. The learning curve is steep and suddenly the season is there and the weekly grind begins.Things finally begin to slow down in the second season. Everyone understands the expectations. The required work ethic is now set in stone. There is an infusion of new talent as the coaches have had an entire recruiting cycle in one place. The new talent (hopefully) meshes with the veteran players who are tired of losing.Read more at The Columbia Daily Herald"
From Rocky Top Talk
"Early mock drafts are burn after reading material; this time of year everyone is as quick to put forth their 2015 projections as we are to read them, but when the draft rolls around again next year you’ll be hard pressed to find those original projections because so much can change in a single season.Two years ago this month, Tyler Bray was rocking the Top 5 in a number of 2013 mock drafts. Today many of them are hiding in the dark corners of the internet, but Bray was even listed as the first overall pick a couple of places; Sports Illustrated’s mock from Andrew Perloff on May 1, 2012 had Bray going fourth. As you know, Tyler Bray was ultimately undrafted.Read more at Rocky Top Talk"