Tennessee coach Butch Jones introduced 32 new players to the program this year, and from the very first snap of Sunday’s contest against Utah State, UT fans will have an opportunity to see them in action.
These fresh faces have given the Vols much needed depth going into the 2014 season, and many of them will be asked to play central roles in the opener against the Aggies.
“We’re going to be playing upwards to 28 true freshmen Sunday night,” Jones said. “And that’s true freshmen, individuals who have just concluded their first week and a half of school. They’re also very talented, and they’re excited, so I’m looking forward to seeing how they perform.”
Playing in Neyland Stadium for the first time will be an exciting experience for these young players, as it once was for redshirt junior Curt Maggitt. Still, keeping emotions in check will remain essential.
“I know the first time I ran through the ‘T,’ I got all excited and you get nervous,” Maggit said. “But that first lineup, you just kind of tune everything out and you focus on what’s in front of you, and that’s what I’m going to encourage the young guys to do. Just focus and play fast.”
After arriving on campus in January, highly-touted running back Jalen Hurd is expected to play a large role in Tennessee’s offense this season. After seven months, the freshman from Hendersonville, Tenn. is ready to suit up and hit the field.
“Just (feeling) excitement,” Hurd said. “Being able to finally get to this place, not looking at the screen in the team room saying 150 days, it’s just four or five days now, so it’s game time and I am just so excited.
You always get a little nerves, but that nervousness is just excitement, excitement to play the game and be out there with my team.
Containing Keeton: While the University of Tennessee football team will face many prolific quarterbacks throughout a brutal 2014 schedule, their biggest challenge may come in their opening game Sunday night.
Utah State senior quarterback Chuckie Keeton was one of the nation’s most electrifying players last year, until a knee injury forced him to miss the last eight games of his junior season, and the Volunteers are preparing for the difficult task of slowing down the Aggie signal caller.
“It’s going to be a great challenge,” head coach Butch Jones said. “He’s one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the country, and he will play on Sundays. Everything is about impacting and containing the quarterback.”
In only six games last season, Keeton threw for almost 1,400 yards and ran for 241 more, while scoring 20 total touchdowns for the Aggies.
Over the past few seasons, the Vols’ defensive line has struggled to contain mobile quarterbacks, but an influx of talent from the much anticipated 2014 recruiting class may have Tennessee better prepared for the challenge.
UT is also faced with the task of replacing all four starters from last year’s defensive line, but they are hoping to make up for lack of experience with their improved athleticism.
“We got a lot of speed on the defensive line now,” senior defensive tackle Jordan Williams said. “Myself, (Danny) O’Brien, (Derek) Barnett coming in with fresh legs, and we got (Corey) Vereen. We’re gonna be on him man.”
Student section sellout: Jones opened his Wednesday press conference by commending the UT student body, for selling out its allotment of tickets for UT’s season opener.
After being criticized last year for poor attendance, the UT students have responded well so far this year, and that has not gone unnoticed by the players and coaches.
“First of all, I’d like to start off saying thank you to our student body.” Jones said. “All the student tickets are sold out for Utah State. We talk about being ‘One Tennessee,’ and when most places’ student ticket sales are down, at Tennessee we’re selling out our student section.”
