Tennessee football: Pig Howard says Butch Jones blackballed him
Alton “Pig” Howard slammed former Tennessee football Volunteers head coach Butch Jones.
It’s getting harder and harder to keep up with the people associated with Tennessee football who have nothing but negative things to say about former Vols head coach Butch Jones. Pig Howard has now joined that list.
After leading the Vols in receiving his junior year with over 600 yards in 2014, the standout slot receiver was dismissed before the start of the 2015 season. He was then given a chance with the Chicago Bears in the NFL in 2017.
Here’s the problem. Zach Azzanni, Tennessee football’s wide receivers coach from 2013 to 2016, had just taken the same title with the Bears, and Howard did not make the final 53-man roster. In a Saturday Twitter rant, Howard had his own take on what happened.
Willing to due a Interview about my departure from Tenn, The real truth. I recently came cross some information finding out that The NFL didn’t have my film draft day and after calling the #Nflpa I didn’t have an agent or number on file. I was told I had no Information on file.
— PigHoward (@Hunnit0nmyway_2) September 12, 2020
Now everything makes since! Teams say they tried reaching out but never got in contact with me. Shame on you coach Butch Jones.
— PigHoward (@Hunnit0nmyway_2) September 12, 2020
I gave them all my infomation during proday. #FunFact after I got signed to the bears and reunited with my former Wr coach from Tennessee coach Z. We met early before special tee during camp to go over some plays and out of no where coach jones sent him a text
— PigHoward (@Hunnit0nmyway_2) September 12, 2020
Being negative and Mad about coach Z bringing me in. Coach Z clearly stated I’m giving him 2nd chance what do u think I’m doing? It was clear after that happen that I was black balled by Coach Jones who had my future in his hands. When it came to #JHurd I was the 1st victim. 🤫
— PigHoward (@Hunnit0nmyway_2) September 12, 2020
I been playing sports since I was 7 years old! I was A under-armor All American As well. If you know what its like playing high school football that’s not an easily accomplishment. I worked for everything including a scholarship to Tennessee. We all make mistakes, I can own up
— PigHoward (@Hunnit0nmyway_2) September 12, 2020
To that but that wasn’t the reason for my release it was to cover up from the truth. My Own teammates didn’t even know what was going on. They only knew what they was being told. Believe it a lot he turned some brothers against me and some of us still 💯❤️🤞🏾
— PigHoward (@Hunnit0nmyway_2) September 12, 2020
If u peep the Coaches changes before Butch last season which ended with him being fired, and every one above him resigning. That speaks volume. No one is more powerful then #God you can’t stop what’s manifest.
— PigHoward (@Hunnit0nmyway_2) September 12, 2020
Me and Coach Jones Met when he was The Head Coach at Cincinnati, I was on a Official visit there. We Both Sat down in his office and he did everything he could to get me to commit, but I didn’t a few others did. One thing I can say is coach Jones really knows how to recruit! I’m
— PigHoward (@Hunnit0nmyway_2) September 12, 2020
Not knocking it that’s why I had them in my Top 5. Out of all my offers they good at what they do, but something was off, so I didn’t commit. Once he Got to Tennessee I thought we was cool but time reveals character. I played cause my talent not we was pals.
— PigHoward (@Hunnit0nmyway_2) September 12, 2020
Based on this rant, Howard seems to be implying that Jones kept film and information on him from NFL franchises. He then claims that Jones did not want Azzanni to give Howard a chance. That’s a really bad look against Jones if true. Why blackball a player who is no longer on your team outside of having a vindictive grudge?
There’s also the take he had on recruiting. Howard was a four-star in 2012 and says he nearly committed to the Cincinnati Bearcats because of Jones’ ability to recruit but then landed with Derek Dooley’s Vols. Jones then arrived a year later as Dooley’s replacement.
Of course, to be fair to Jones, this is from Howard’s perspective. He obviously was dismissed from Jones’ program, and it’s also true that he’s saying all this three years later. Those things could somewhat hurt his credibility.
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However, from Jalen Hurd to Chris Weatherd to John Jancek to even Antone Davis as the VFL coordinator at the time, there are lots of former Tennessee football players, coaches and administrators who had negative things to say about Jones. Simply put, Howard isn’t the only person to suggest Jones did shady things. But we can’t say for sure if he’s just piling on or not.