Tennessee Vols morning report: Another CFB preseason step, MLB Draft
A big NCAA step and the MLB Draft lead our Tennessee Vols news for Friday, June 12, 2020.
Happy Friday. As we get to head into the weekend, the Tennessee Vols continue to make lots of news, and signs are more and more encouraging about college football resuming in the fall. In fact, there is more news on that front.
Our morning update on Rocky Top leads with a major step the NCAA took towards implementing the proposal for the college football preseason. There is more preseason news with individual recognition of a certain player, which we’ll cover.
In addition to the football news, we have more coverage of the MLB Draft and its relation to UT as well. So there is plenty to get to. Let’s start with the national news surrounding the college football preseason.
NCAA takes step to approve six-week practice plan – Pete Thamel, Yahoo Sports
On Thursday, the NCAA Football Oversight Committee approved a plan for coaches to begin working out athletes July 13, effectively leading to training camp starting Aug. 7 given the language that says summer access can begin 25 days before the start of the first preseason date. Teams who play Week 0, on Aug. 29, can start June 6.
"The committee’s recommendation still needs to be approved by the NCAA Division I Council, but that step is expected to be a formality. The NCAA Division I Council meets next week and will vote on this on June 17."
Trey Smith a Walter Camp preseason All-American – Al Carbone, WalterCamp.org
Rising Tennessee Vols football senior offensive lineman Trey Smith has been named a Walter Camp 2020 Preseason All-American. Smith, a two-time First-Team All-SEC guard, earned a spot on the second team as an All-American guard. He shocked the world by deciding to return for his senior season earlier this year.
"Walter Camp, considered the “Father of American Football,” first named an All-American team in 1889. The 2020 season will be the 131st edition of the team. In late November, the 2020 All-America teams will be selected by the head coaches and sports information directors of the 130 Football Bowl Subdivision schools and will be certified by Marcum’s New Haven-based accounting firm."
Two Vols taken in Day Two of MLB Draft – UTSports
One day after pitcher Garrett Crochet was taken by the Chicago White Sox with the 11th pick, the Tennessee Vols baseball program had two junior sluggers taken. Outfielder Alerick Soularie was taken by the Minnesota Twins in the second round with the 59th overall pick, and Zach Daniels was taken at the end of the fourth round by the Houston Astros with the 131st overall pick.
"This year’s draft also marked the first time that UT had three players selected in the first four rounds since 2007 when J.P. Arencibia, Julio Borbón and James Adkins all went in the first round. The SEC led all conferences with 26 total players selected in the 2020 draft, including nine in the first round on Wednesday, which also led all conferences."