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Tennessee Vols morning report: Football rape case, MLB Draft, softball ranking

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 5, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers fans flies the United States flag and the Volunteer flag prior to the game against the Bowling Green Falcons at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 5, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers fans flies the United States flag and the Volunteer flag prior to the game against the Bowling Green Falcons at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /
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The rape case of former Tennessee Vols linebacker A.J. Johnson, the MLB Draft, and softball rankings lead the Volunteers news for Wednesday, June 14, 2017.

We’re now smack in the middle of June, and the Tennessee Vols athletic programs are very active. After all, Butch Jones is scoring big on the recruiting trail, the Big Orange Caravan is out, and other sports continue to get national recognition.

However, as we get set to bring you the news on Rocky Top for today, it’s the bad news that takes the lead. We have to rehash a rape case that’s over two years old and brought a ton of negative attention to the Vols.

While that’s our main story, there still is some good news when it comes to the diamond. We’ll get there as well.

But let’s start with the bad news.

Social media relevant in A.J. Johnson rape case – Jamie Satterfield, Knoxville news Sentinel

Former Tennessee Vols linebacker A.J. Johnson had his senior season cut short in 2014 after he and ex-teammate Michael Williams were accused of rape. Earlier this year, a state appellate court ruled that they have the right to go after the social media history of their accuser and her friends in their defense. But the state attorney general’s office filed a brief asking the state’s high court to strike down that ruling.

"Make legal history.Stand up for victims’ rights.That’s the bait the state attorney general’s office is dangling before a conservative-leaning Tennessee Supreme Court to persuade justices to use the case of a star football player whose sports career was waylaid by rape allegations to block the accused from perusing the text messages and social media chatter of accusers and witnesses."

Two baseball Vols taken in MLB Draft – Taylor White, The Maryville Daily Times

Tennessee Vols baseball players Jordan Rodgers and Kyle Serrano both were taken in the MLB Draft on Tuesday. Serrano, a pitcher, went in the 10th round overall to the Houston Astros, while Rodgers, a third baseman, went in the sixth round to the Atlanta Braves.

"The 170th pick in the draft, the Bartlett, Tenn., native is the 54th Tennessee player to be selected in the first 10 rounds of the draft since 1965 and is the first Vol taken by the Braves organization since they took Ty’Relle Harris in the 19th round in 2009. The slot value for the pick is $273,700.…Serrano missed all but the first game of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, earning him a medical redshirt. He then pitched nine games in 2017 before leaving the program due to personal reasons."

Tennessee softball finishes year ranked again –UTSports

Ralph and Karen Weekly’s team was extremely young and just barely missed the Women’s College World Series after losing to the Texas A&M Aggies in three games in the NCAA Super Regionals. But that all spells a bright future, so it was nice for them to see their team once again finish the year ranked.

"After another successful season that saw Tennessee reach the NCAA Super Regionals for the fifth time in six years, the Volunteers are ranked in both national polls to end the season for the 14th straight year.The Volunteers came in at No. 11 in the final USA Today/NFCA Coaches’ Poll and earned the No. 12 spot in the final ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll after posting a 48-12 overall record."

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