Today on Rocky Top: Alexis Johnson Update, 4-Star RB Gets Offer, Vols in New Preseason Poll, Candace Parker
Alexis Johnson, Candace Parker, a preseason poll and the Olympics round up the Rocky Top news for the Volunteers on Wednesday, April 27.
Good morning and Happy Hump Day! It’s the last of those before April, and the spring flowers are fully blooming with the weather finally getting nice everywhere. Amidst all of that, there’s lots of Tennessee Vols news to get to, so let’s jump right in.
Butch Jones offered an update on defensive tackle Alexis Johnson Tuesday, and although the four-star junior college transfer had his charges reduced or dropped, Jones’s news wasn’t all good.
Also, a new preseason poll is out for Tennessee football, and more recruiting news is taking over. Outside of football, there was a major Candace Parker snub as well.
But let’s start with Alexis Johnson.
Butch Jones says Alexis Johnson remains suspended indefinitely from the team – Wes Rucker of 247Sports
"Johnson — the nation’s No. 21 overall junior college prospect and No. 2 junior college defensive tackle prospect in the 2016 industry-generated 247Sports Composite — enrolled at Tennessee on Jan. 13 but got entangled in an off-the-field incident in February. He was arrested on Feb. 17 and charged with felony aggravated assault and false imprisonment following an alleged incident with a female who claimed that an innocent spat of “play-fighting” devolved into something much worse."
Vols offer scholarship to Texas Running Back – Ryan Callahan of 247Sports
"Four-star junior running back Kennedy Brooks of Mansfield (Texas) High School posted on his Twitter account that he received a scholarship offer Tuesday from Tennessee.The 6-foot, 197-pound Brooks claims offers from more than a half-dozen schools, including Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Washington, Kansas, SMU and Illinois."
Tennessee football ranked No. 13 in Sporting News Preseason Poll – Bill Bender of Sporting News
"“Tennessee lost four games by a combined 17 points last season before rattling off seven straight wins capped with an impressive 45-6 win in the Outback Bowl. Joshua Dobbs’ evolution at quarterback continues, and Cameron Sutton’s return bolsters the defense.”"
Candace Parker left off of Team USA for Rio Olympics – Ramona Shelburne of ESPN
"Parker is 30 years old and has said she’s fully healthy heading into this WNBA season. She sat out half of the 2015 WNBA season to rest injuries, but she rallied the Sparks to the playoffs after her return, averaging 19.4 points and a career-high 6.3 assists and 10.1 rebounds per game. She finished the season in the top five in the WNBA in points, blocks and steals per game."