As SEC Media Days continues and the Tennessee Vols football team waits to take the podium, plenty of news surrounding the program continues to roll in. Multiple awards watch lists involving football players have been released this week, and more are to come.
Our morning update on Rocky Top also includes a recap of the 2022 MLB Draft, which came to an end Tuesday. UT made school history with that draft, which we’ll cover with a full recap here. Those football preseason watch lists are part of the report too, though.
From fields to courts, there is a scheduling update in men’s basketball to cover as well, and we also have a signing in women’s tennis to bring you. As a result, there’s plenty to cover. Let’s start with the football watch lists.
Hendon Hooker, Cedric Tillman on Maxwell watch list – MaxwellFootballClub.org
On Monday, Tennessee Vols football quarterback Hendon Hooker and wide receiver Cedric Tillman were among the 85 players named to the Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List for 2022. The award is given annually to the best all-around player in college football.
"The Maxwell Football Club presents several national and regional awards at the Professional, Collegiate, and High School football levels."
Davey O’Brien watch list includes Hendon Hooker – DaveyOBrienAward.com
In addition to being named to the Maxwell watch list, Tennessee football quarterback Hendon Hooker was also named to the Davey O’Brien Award Preseason Watch List Tuesday, given annually to the nation’s best quarterback. Peyton Manning is the only player in UT history to win the Maxwell and O’Brien awards.
"Compiled by a subset of the Davey O’Brien National Selection Committee, this year’s list was selected based on career player performance and expectations heading into the 2022 college football season. All nominees are required to have previously started at least one game at an NCAA Division I institution."
Baseball sets program record with MLB Draft picks – VolQuest.com
A school-record 10 Tennessee Vols baseball players were taken in this year’s MLB Draft, which wrapped up its third and final day Tuesday. Blade Tidwell, Jordan Beck, Drew Gilbert, Mark McLaughlin, Seth Stephenson, Jorel Ortega, Will Mabrey, Ben Joyce, Trey Lipscomb and Cortland Lawson were all selected. Click here for the full results of the draft.
"UT’s previous program-record was eight when it took place during the 1992 50-round MLB Draft. This year’s 10 draft picks are the most for the Vols through 20 rounds, breaking the previous mark of seven, which was set in last year’s draft."
Basketball sets date with Colorado – Grant Ramey, GoVols247
The third and final matchup in three years between the Tennessee Vols men’s basketball team and the Colorado Buffaloes will take place on Sunday, Nov. 13, in Nashville, Tenn., at Bridgestone Arena. UT has won the previous two games and will be going for a sweep.
"Colorado joins Maryland, Texas and Arizona as the known non-conference opponents so far on Tennessee’s 2022-23 schedule.Tennessee’s official online schedule at this point only lists the Colorado game, the Battle 4 Atlantis, Nov. 23-25 in the Bahamas, and the home date with Texas on January 28, a Big 12-SEC Challenge game at Thompson-Boling Arena."
Women’s tennis adds Catherine Aulia – UTSports
Alison Ojeda, head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols tennis team, announced Catherine Aulia as a new member of the program’s 2022 signing class Tuesday morning. She and Lauren Anzalotta are the two newcomers in this class.
"Aulia, a native of Sydney, Australia, owns a 10.20 Universal Tennis Rating and was granted an Australian Open singles qualifying wildcard for the 2022 tournament where she faced the current 17th-ranked player on the WTA Tour, Catherine McNally."