Today On Rocky Top: Vols’ Overachieving Freshmen
By Zach Ragan
From Bleacher Report
"When your recruiting class is ranked seventh nationally as Tennessee’s was during the 2014 recruiting cycle, you’re bound to have your fair share of superlatives.Collectively, that class of freshmen has the potential and ability to someday be looked upon as the group that put the Volunteers back on the college football map, depending on how the rest of their careers go. From that class, 24 first-year players played, and at least 11 started.That’s crazy production from a team that simply had to have it, given all the roster deficiencies in 2014. The Vols played more true freshmen than any other team in the country.Read more at Bleacher Report"
From The Tennessean
"The fact that Tennessee is still practicing at this time of year reflects the strides the Volunteers have made under coach Butch Jones.Their next step is to end a string of four straight losing seasons by beating Iowa (7-5) in the TaxSlayer Bowl on Jan. 2 in Jacksonville, Fla.Tennessee (6-6) must beat Iowa to avoid finishing below .500 for a fifth straight year, something that’s never happened in school history. Before last year, the Vols hadn’t had four straight losing seasons since 1903-06.Read more at The Tennessean"
From The Times Free Press
"Clinging to a two-point lead with 13:05 left to play, Tennessee needed a spark.The Volunteers defense provided it.Over the next 6:21, the Vols held Tennessee State scoreless as they went on a 13-0 run, enabling them to cruise to a 67-46 victory Saturday night.“That’s our team,” Tennessee head coach Donnie Tyndall said. “We’re not a great offensive team. When you don’t have a post guy that you can throw it to and there’s no anchor around the rim to throw it to and draw a foul or get an easy basket, everything is kind of manufactured and that’s not an easy situation to be in.Read more at The Times Free Press"