Tennessee Vols morning report: Will McBride transfer, OC update

The Tennessee Vols offensive coordinator search and Will McBride’s transfer lead our Volunteers news for Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018.

As November draws to a close, Tennessee Vols fans can only look forward to basketball excitement. But hey, they’re used to that after missing out on reaching a bowl game for the fifth time this decade.

Still, there is plenty of news surrounding the football program to get to. Our morning update on Rocky Top leads off with two football stories. On top of that, we have a basketball recap to bring you. Hey, at least basketball is indeed exciting. There have been times when it wasn’t while the program was missing bowl games.

Anyway, we have plenty of other news to cover too, including an SEC honor for players in two sports, including football, a new assistant coach in one sport, and then a scheduling preview in another sport. So there’s lots of news to cover today. Let’s start with the big football stories.

Tennessee football QB Will McBride to transfer – Patrick Brown, GoVols247

Tennessee Vols sophomore quarterback Will McBride announced on his Twitter page his intentions to transfer. McBride played in two games for UT under Butch Jones in 2017, but he was buried in the depth chart for 2018 as JT Shrout moved ahead of him for the No. 3 spot while Jarrett Guarantano and Keller Chryst were the top two quarterbacks.

"The Vols now are slated to return two scholarship quarterbacks in Guarantano and Shrout with Chryst, a graduate transfer from Stanford having exhausted his eligibility. Three-star quarterback Brian Maurer is the lone quarterback commitment currently in Tennessee’s 2019 class."

New names pop up in OC search – Zach Barnett, Football Scoop

Jeremy Pruitt is still searching for a new offensive coordinator to bring to the Tennessee Vols as Tyson Helton’s replacement. Rumors are that his top two candidates appear to be Auburn Tigers offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey and N.C. State Wolfpack offensive coordinator Eli Drinkwitz. Lindsey, though, would likely wait past Saturday, as he stands to receive a $100,000 bonus for being employed past then. Given the Gus Malzahn saga right now, it makes sense that he’d be interested in leaving.

"Drinkwitz is in his third year at NC State and also has a connection with Malzahn after working under him as a quality control assistant at Auburn in 2010-11 and as his running backs coach at Arkansas State in 2012. After Malzahn left for Auburn ahead of the 2013 season, Drinkwitz remained behind at Arkansas State under Bryan Harsin in 2013, then worked with him for two seasons at Boise State, first as tight ends coach and then as offensive coordinator."

Tennessee basketball beats Eastern Kentucky – Steve Megargee, Associated Press

The Tennessee Vols men’s basketball team rebounded from a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Kansas Jayhawks last weekend in the preseason NIT by destroying the Eastern Kentucky Colonels 95-67. Grant Williams led the team with 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Admiral Schofield added 20 points.

"With the sixth-ranked Volunteers attempting to bounce back from their first loss of the season, coach Rick Barnes sought an energy boost by having Pons replace Jordan Bowden in the lineup. The sophomore swingman from France responded with a career-high 10 points and several highlight-worthy plays in a 95-67 blowout of Eastern Kentucky."

Trey Smith named to SEC Community Service team – SECSports

Tennessee Vols football sophomore offensive lineman Trey Smith was named to the 2018 SEC Football Community Service team. Smith could not finish the year due to blood clots in his lungs returning, but he has been a staple of the program for two years.

"Selected to be a part of the VOLeaders Academy, a university and athletics program where student-athletes enact positive change through athletics … Participated in the adapted Sports Fest, worked with Club Vibes, which helps visually impaired young people, and assisted in the organization of Tennessee’s annual VOLoween event … Participated in Read Across America Day initiatives and made time to read to children at local schools throughout the year."

Alyssa Andreno named to SEC Community Service team – SECSports

Tennessee Lady Vols volleyball junior Alyssa Andreno was named to the 2018 SEC Volleyball Community Service team. Andreno has been a big part of the team’s improvement this year switching to right side hitter.

"Andreno serves as the Chair of Community Outreach in SAAC. She has completed over 25 hours of service with several organizations, including Club Vibes, Catalyst Sports, YMCA, Read Across America and East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. Andreno is a member of the VOLeaders Academy, where she traveled to Ecuador on a service immersion experience. She completed over 60 hours of service at various organizations where she did sport-based camps with disadvantaged youth, youth with disabilities and survivors of domestic violence. Andreno served on the planning team for the UT Sports Fest, an adaptive sport festival for youth with and without disabilities."

Swimming and diving to begin Tennessee Invitational – UTSports

The Tennessee Vols swimming and diving team begins its Tennessee Invitational today at Allan Jones Aquatic Center. Tennessee joins the Duke Blue Devils, Penn State Nittany Lions, Denver Pioneers, and Carson-Newman Eagles (swimming only) in the event.

"The championship-style meet runs Thursday through Saturday with preliminary sessions beginning at 10 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m. The first two days of the meet will feature a diving final at 5 p.m., and platform diving finals will be Saturday at 1 p.m. Admission is free to all sessions."

Chas Narramore joins women’s golf team – UTSports

The Tennessee Lady Vols golf team announced Chas Narramore as their new assistant coach under head coach Judi Pavon Wednesday. Narramore comes to the program from MTSU.

"As an assistant at Middle Tennessee State this fall, he helped guide the Blue Raiders to two top three finishes including a runner-up finish at the Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate. In five events this fall, he helped guide five Blue Raider golfers to top-25 finishes including at least one in each event that they played."