Jalen Reeves-Maybin didn’t see the field much as a true freshman, but, fortunately, that didn’t stop him from establishing himself among the Volunteer faithful.
Admittedly, the sophomore linebacker from Clarksville, Tennessee, spent most of the 2013 season on special teams. But, capitalizing on that opportunity, Reeves-Maybin led all special teams’ players with 11 tackles and sparked one of the season’s biggest plays when he blocked a Georgia punt that was scooped up and taken into the end zone.
“I think Jalen Reeves-Maybin is a great illustration of how to develop players in your program,” second-year head coach Butch Jones said. “Jalen played for us as a true freshman, but he played very limited on defense, but he was one our best players on special teams.”
Headed into the 2014 season, Reeves-Maybin is now expected to play a much larger defensive role for the Vols, as he was named the starting weakside linebacker going into Sunday’s opener against Utah State.
Known for making big plays on special teams, the linebacker hopes to use that experience to become an every down player.
“I just try to make people know my name,” Reeves-Maybin said. “That’s the best way to do it, is to make big plays when big plays are expected.”
The transition from special teams to an every down player requires hard work, though, both in the film room and weight room. Luckily, Reeves-Maybin has been up to both of those tasks during the offseason.
“He’s a total different player then he was from last season,” linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen said. “He knew in the meeting rooms where to lineup, but when he got out on the field, it was too fast for him. Now him and A.J. [Johnson] are probably our best two linebackers out there.”
Gaining almost 40 pounds during the offseason, Reeves-Maybin believes the added weight will prepare him for the rigors of playing in the SEC, especially those big offensive linemen.
“I can take on blocks a lot better,” Reeves-Maybin said. “Being in the weight room, and adding a lot of weight. I’m just getting bigger and bigger bodied, and now I can handle a lot of those blocks, and just continue to gain confidence.”
And, ironically, Reeves-Maybin’s time on the sideline last season allowed him to observe senior A.J. Johnson, an All-SEC linebacker – an opportunity that may serve him well this year.
“Now he’s lined up right beside A.J.,” Thigpen said. “So he knows the importance of how to communicate and where to lineup. He watches tape now, and he can actually talk the game now and understand how people are attacking.”
Reeves-Maybin has always had a knack for making big plays in big moments, and that is a trend that the Tennessee coaching staff expects to continue going into the 2014 season.
“He just has an uncanny ability to see things and make plays in space,” Thigpen said. “He does something that we have been missing here in the past.”
