Tennessee Vols morning report: Mike Ekeler interview, basketball signings

What an impressive way for the Tennessee Vols to end the week! One day after landing their first 2022 football commitment and adding a four-star center, the football program added a second commitment in defensive end Venson Sneed, and the basketball program landed a five-star power forward, making for a top five class.

Our morning update on Rocky Top leads with the basketball program signing members of that elite class. On the football front, another key assistant gave an interview Thursday, and we’ll touch on that as well. Women’s basketball also made news as one of the program’s top stars the past few years was taken in the WNBA Draft.

Beyond these unique stories, we have previews to bring you, starting with a huge baseball series set to begin this weekend and a softball series beginning Saturday. Rowing and track and field also have events to preview, and we have coverage of an ongoing women’s golf event. Finally, awards in tennis made news. To kick things off for the weekend, let’s start with football.

Mike Ekeler speaks with media – Brent Hubbs, VolQuest

Edge rusher and special teams coach Mike Ekeler of the Tennessee Vols football program met with the media Thursday to talk about his units. Here’s a bit of what he said about the development of the defensive players.

"“We’ve got a bunch of guys who love to play, and they believe in what Coach (Tim) Banks is doing defensively, and they’re flying around and getting used to the tempo of our offense, because our offense now, they play faster than heck now. So it’s a process of putting in a new defense, and then playing with that sort of tempo.”"

Basketball signs two more recruits – APNews

One day after signing three-star guard Quentin Diboundje Eyobo and securing a commitment from four-star center Jonas Aidoo, the Tennessee Vols men’s basketball team received a commitment from five-star power forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield. Rick Barnes’ team then signed Aidoo and Huntley-Hatfield to round out arguably the greatest class in school history.

"Huntley-Hatfield went to IMG Academy in Florida for two years before transferring to Scotland Campus Prep in Scotland, Pennsylvania, for the 2020-21 academic year.…Aidoo is a native of Durham, North Carolina, who also will enroll this summer and be a freshman this fall."

Rennia Davis selected in WNBA Draft – Dan Harralson, VolsWire.com

Another Tennessee Lady Vols basketball star is going to the pros. Rennia Davis was a top 10 pick in Thursday’s WNBA Draft.

"Davis played for the Lady Vols from 2017-21, appearing in 118 games at Tennessee. Minnesota selected Davis No. 9 overall in the 2021 WNBA draft."

Baseball begins series with Vanderbilt – Wes Rucker, GoVols247

Ranked No. 3 in the nation with a 28-6 record, the Tennessee Vols baseball team begins its biggest regular season series in school history Friday. They will host the No. 2 ranked Vanderbilt Commodores in a three-game series for SEC supremacy. The first pitch is set for 7 p.m. ET Friday. Here’s a bit of what Tony Vitello said about the position his team is in.

"“I think our team is stronger having survived our trip to Western Carolina. It came with a lot of different challenges, but we had a lot of different contributors.”"

Softball to face South Carolina Saturday – Ethan Stone, UT Daily Beacon

For the first time in two weeks, the Tennessee Lady Vols softball team will play an SEC series. UT’s series with the Mississippi State Bulldogs was postponed last weekend due to COVID issues. At 31-6 and 4-5 in the SEC, they will now visit the South Carolina Gamecocks for a three-game series beginning Saturday.

"Tennessee is on a win streak of its own. Despite playing without Ally Shipman and Amanda Ayala in the past three games, the Lady Vols have won four in a row including a series-clinching victory over then No. 7 Kentucky."

Rowing headed to Big Ten Invitational – UTSports

On Saturday, the No. 9 ranked Tennessee Lady Vols rowing team will head to Harsha Lake in Batavia, Ohio to take part in the Big Ten Invitational. There are 16 teams in the event, 13 of whom are ranked in the top 20.

"In the first session, Tennessee will face off against No. 7 Alabama, No. 15 Wisconsin, and No. 17 Minnesota. The UT 1V8 will kick things off at 10 a.m. ET, and the 2V8 and 1V4 will follow at 10:10 a.m. ET and 10:20 a.m. ET, respectively. The 2V4 will be in action at 11:55 a.m. ET against Notre Dame, Alabama, and Minnesota."

Track and field to take part in multiple events – UTSports

The Tennessee Vols track and field program will have some players take part in the Virginia Challenge in Charlottesville, Va. while others take part in the USC Open in Columbia, S.C. this weekend. Friday marks the start of the Virginia Challenge, and Saturday marks the start of the two-day event in South Carolina.

"UT’s group traveling to UVA consists of distance runners, vaulters and throwers, while the Big Orange contingent traveling to South Carolina includes horizontal jumpers, sprinters, hurdlers and mid-distance specialists. The weekend’s action begins Friday in Charlottesville at 11 a.m. with the women’s hammer throw and concludes Saturday in Columbia at 6:25 p.m. with the men’s 4×400-meter relay."

Women’s golf continues SEC Championship – UTSports

After coming in 10th place on the first day of the tournament, the Tennessee Lady Vols golf team moved up slightly on the second day. The final day of the event is Friday.

"Three rounds of par or better on Thursday, including a season-low round of 68 from Micheala Williams-Luck puts the Tennessee women’s golf team in contention for match play entering the final round of stroke play at the SEC Championship. The Lady Vols shot 3-under in the Thursday’s second round, standing in a tie for ninth and just two strokes back of the cut line for match play."

Kylie Duckworth makes Community Service Team – SECSports

With 39 hours of community service work this year, Tennessee Lady Vols tennis junior Kylie Duckworth was named to the SEC’s 2020-2021 Community Service Team. Duckworth has logged 80 total hours during her time at UT.

"During the 2020-21 academic year, the Martinez, Georgia product spends an hour and a half every week at the Amedisys Hospice as she has aspirations to go to medical school after she graduates from Tennessee. She has also has recorded hours with the Little Smokies and the Cherokee Country Club. Duckworth also gives her time to animal shelters in the Knoxville area."

Andrew Rogers makes Community Service Team – SECSports

Men’s tennis Tennessee Vols senior Andrew Rogers represented the program on this year’s SEC Community Service team for the sport. Rogers is an in-state kid who initially hails from Brentwood, Tenn. and is about to wrap up his career on Rocky Top.

"Over the last four years, Rogers has given back in a number of ways, including his work with the Knoxville Area Rescue Mission, Love Kitchen, Knoxville’s branch of Big Brothers Big Sisters and his work at local elementary schools during the Movin & Groovin Health Fair. Rogers has also given his time as the Tennessee Tennis team’s SAAC rep for the last two seasons and was also a member of the 2019 VOLeaders Cohort that traveled to Rwanda in Central Africa."