Scout.com
Kingsburg (Calif.) High School quarterback prospect, Tyler Bray
Tyler Bray has a chance to follow in his idol’s footsteps.
“I’ve loved Peyton Manning ever since I was little,” the quarterback prospect from Kingsbury (Calif.) High School said on the News Sentinel’s radio show, The Sports Page.
Bray will take his official visit to Tennessee this weekend. His interest in UT and his limited scholarship offers (UT and San Diego State) have Vol fans rooting for a weekend commitment from Bray after he tours campus.
“If I like it, I might commit there (in Knoxville),” said Bray, who committed to San Diego State in July. “Who knows? It depends on how I feel.”
As he prepares to head east, the 6-foot-6, 200-pounder is optimistic.
“I just want to see that Tennessee atmosphere I’ve been hearing about,” Bray said. “It’s kind of exciting.”
Bray isn’t ready to turn his back on San Diego State until he sees UT up close.
“I’m still, as of right now, committed to San Diego State,” he said. “After the trip, I’ll see how things go and compare (the two schools) with my coaches and my family. We’ll see where that takes us.”
Bray said he committed to San Diego State because it has an experienced coaching staff, a pro-style offense and is close to home. However, Bray said distance from home isn’t important.
“That will not be a factor,” Bray said. “My family is going to end up moving wherever I go, so it really doesn’t matter.”
Bray could be a quick contributor to either school since he is on schedule to graduate from high school in December and enroll in college in January.
“It’s going to make a huge difference, getting in there early and getting to know the new offense I’m probably going to have to learn and gaining weight,” Bray said. “I need to put on about 20 more pounds and I’ll be there.”
Bray has already put on over 10 pounds this summer. His slim build was a common critique among recruiting analysts. Bray said he’d like to weight 220 to 225 pounds by the beginning of the 2009 season.
“I’m pretty much 200 pounds right now,” Bray said. “Things are going good as far as weight.”
Bray has improved his stock with recruiting services by proving to be one of the standouts in summer camps. He said the experience of showcasing his wares has been stressful but fun.
He is being recruited primarily by UT quarterbacks coach David Reaves and said he has been impressed with UT head coach Lane Kiffin.
“He’s a great coach,” Bray said. “He’s had experience. He’s been in the pros.”
The lure of the SEC seems to only be a modest draw.
“When you’re on the west coast, it’s normally USC and UCLA and all those guys,” he said. “But the SEC is a big conference, one of the biggest conferences in America so you can’t go wrong with that.”
Bray said he has a strong arm, is accurate and has good footwork — all attributes modeled after Manning. Yet he is looking for more than to just follow in someone’s footsteps.
“It would be nice to meet him,” Bray said, “but that wouldn’t have anything to do with my decision.”
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Softball: Tennessee 2, Georgia 1
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 79
halloffamebowler writes:
I believe he will be a good one from all I have read and heard.Bring the house to make him welcome saturday.Once he sees Newland stadium,and sees the crowd,he will be a Vol.
dvhill100 writes:
Come fall in love with east Tennessee and the university. You won't see crowds like this on the west coast.
papavol writes:
seems like a good kid.. family is moving where ever he ends up?? thats a bit much but good on his family for supporting him like that. If he's comparing atmospheres i dont think anything or anywhere will compare to Knoxville on gameday.
appalachianvol writes:
I bet that Manning will be there in the spring to help out with spring training. Not long before his retirement.
micbrooks#212023 writes:
He's got the height, He's got the arm, He's got the smarts, {if he is graduating early it is probably safe to say so] and if he can grow into his height, He should be a very good q-back by his sophomore year. If our coaches really want him, I think all they have to do is offer, after he has seen the facilities, the crowd, the Vol Walk, etc., what's not to like ??
OrangeBlood84 writes:
This guy is probably one of the biggest sleeper recruits. He won MVP at the quarterback Elite 11 Camp. A real diamond in the rough and some young talent at the QB position is just what we need. Go Vols!
murrayvol writes:
Probably won't find a lot of naked folks in trees either.
Gator_Hater (Inactive) writes:
I totally disagree. Yes, he'll be on campus to work out with the players in the off-season, and Bray, you could do so much more than meet him (how's practicing with him sound?). However, he is one of the most durable QB's I've ever seen and has such a quick release that defenses are hesitant to hit him and draw roughing penalties. Manning will play into his forties, IMHO. I don't see him retiring or even losing a step in the next 4-5 years.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Wouldn't be construed as a liberal PC comment on the Left Coast!
Gator_Hater (Inactive) writes:
Maybe he wants to win a Super Bowl, Super Bowl MVP, and a few NFL MVP's like his idol. Do YOU have those?
Gator_Hater (Inactive) writes:
Maybe those old New England defenses could come with Brady so he could meet the REAL reason he has those Super Bowl rings.
You suck.
txvolsfan writes:
Or Matt Cassell, who proved that it is the system and not the QB. Brady is too girly for me, he carries a purse!!!
Lostvolinhighweeds writes:
Manning did not start against Florida as a frosh, and as a soph in the swamp, your best bud J. Graham gave that one away with back to back fumbles in the third quarter that led to two quick Florida tds. Now stfu.
Lostvolinhighweeds writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
ArealVolFan writes:
You forget Manning hurt his knee in the Nebraska game and Tee Martin played the majority of it. Of course, that doesn't matter for you. Anything to rip on one of UT's greatest ever or does that right still belong to Travis Henry?
Lostvolinhighweeds writes:
I have no idea why my previous comment was removed. Explanation please, KNS.
lomas98 writes:
“Who knows? It depends on how I feel.”
This sums up about every high school kid these days. It doesn't matter they commit to a school. He could feel like committing to UT this weekend, then get back to CA and commit back to SDSU. Don't get excited over any committed kid these days and don't get too down over a lost commit. These guys have no clue what they want to do. Early signing period in college football is needed.
PlaidinOrangeandWhite writes:
With Belichick cheating (spy gate); I think one of Brady's girl friends could have quarterbacked the Patriots to those Super Bowl wins!
jcherrie#219531 writes:
We got him.
Lostvolinhighweeds writes:
That was my take. There was nothing off topic, threatening or derogatory. And if they are going to start removing comments based on S@@U, there are going to be many, many removals.
Volguy1971 writes:
Player-----Att---Comp--PCT--Yards--TD-INT
Manning-5,960 3,839 64.4 45,628 333 165
Brady-----3,653 2,301 63.0 26,446 197 86
Peyton has been in the NFL only 2 years longer than Brady, so none of this Peyton's played longer BS. The numbers don't lie.
CoverOrange writes:
Review the tape. Manning had a knee infection and minor surgery a month before the game and played 3 quarters or so of that game before Tee came in.
While Naffy is a one note singer, and hardly worth the effort to respond to, I agree Tee should have played more against Nebraska. Just to break up the monotony.
WeatherVol writes:
Who is this Vol_RobE joker? Sure hope he doesn't come to the game Saturday. I don't believe the Vols would want or need his support.
Volunteer writes:
http://tennessee.rivals.com/content.a...
A letter to Coach Kiffin
golfballs03 writes:
south carolina looked like garbage
Lostvolinhighweeds writes:
Correct on every point. But I want to point out that while it's true that Nebraska destroyed Tennessee in Mannings senior year and the Vols won the National Championship the next year over F.S.U., it's also true that two years prior, Florida won the championship by beating F.S.U. in a rematch. Also one year removed from a humiliating defeat at the hands of Nebraska. I quess that Florida loss to Nebraska was Peytons' fault too, huh?
RJ_Vol writes:
It's time.
What's it time for?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IT'S FOOOOOOOOOTBAAAAALLLLLL TIME IN TENNESSEEEEEEE!!!
rclarkvols#224537 writes:
Too bad Peyton doesn't play defense. Give him a defense and you have 2 national championships and 3 more super bowls.
vol_chaz writes:
I'm not really sure how he could really compare SDSU to UT. Get somebody to paint the rock, and seal this deal..
NoogaVol55 writes:
He goes by many names...my favorite is Mr. Irrelevant. To be honest, he is a racist sonuvab!tch who dislikes every white player who put on a UT helmet. To put it plainly, he sucks....don't pay attention to him.
OrangeAppeal writes:
A Naffy and his words soon part.
tnbanker_govols writes:
Potential is there; however, who else was recruiting this kid?? To me, if he was great potential he would have never committed to a school like San Diego State. His 40 time is really slow at 5.45. With his stature (6'6" 187lbs.) seems that his 40 time should be much faster. IMO, if Kiffin's gonna build up this program to Championship level, we may need to pass on this one and expend our efforts on someone else. I hear that Scroggins is not all that firm to USC since Carroll named Barkley the starting QB. It would be great if we could get Scroggins.
TommyJack writes:
The Naffster remains a one trick pony.
GahLee writes:
Heard a lot of good things about Bray...he secret why he moved up his visit to this weekend and not the UCLA game but that is another story...no doubt he will commit. sounds like he already has...time will tell about the young man...Go Vols!!!
Volpower writes:
In case anyones interested.......... Chattanooga 30, Glenville St. 13 BJ Coleman 18-34-258- 0. G Hughes 73 YD PASS FROM B Coleman. Not bad for his first game but then again I've never heard of Glenville St.
rockytopatl writes:
Hello? Peyton's in his prime. He's got at least four more years to play. He wants and deserves a couple more rings.
FranklinCo_VOL writes:
I thought your Mom was voted their MVP.
10acvolsfan writes:
I agree, if he is that special you would think he would catch more than two school's attention. All the hype about USC's freshman QB that several commentators keep expressing, I think Scroggins will start second guessing his decision. I say we don't give up on that young man just yet. THIS IS ORANGE NATION
KiFFiNOMiCS writes:
If the Colts defense could've played half as good as the Patriots defense had over the last 5 years....I trully believe Manning ends up with at least 2 more Super Bowl rings....HE F'n CARRIED THAT WHOLE TEAM ON HIS BACK LAST SEASON....HE IS A LIVING LEGEND.....PERIOD!!!!!!!
UTahVOL writes:
WD, what do the bones say about him committing?
GO VOLS!!!!
OldSmokey writes:
He's committed as soon as he steps foot in Neyland Stadium this week end!!!
mtvols writes:
I don't understand the Peyton Manning bashing about not being able to beat Florida? Peyton never played defense did he? We lost to them because our defense was giving up 50+ points a game. They scored 62 on us one year. How is that Peyton's fault?
10volunteers98 writes:
Why don`t YOU travel to Foxboro,and then Tom Brady could meet a real CHUMP?!!!GO,VOLS,and GO,PEYTON (THE MAN)MANNING!!!
volgrog#210164 writes:
Manning ever had a step?
Agree he'll play a long time. I think he'll leave on his terms and close to the top of his game, not after having joined 2 other teams and un-retiring 5 times.
govols082859#1369959 writes:
I agree.
A smart man posted on here that the kid will "shart" once he hears the roar of the opening of the "T".
I dodn't say that, but a wise man did.
Volsnfl writes:
Whats.your.problem?Sounds.like.your.a.Vol.hater<.need.to.change.your.name.to.volhater#1.
chargervol writes:
Malcolm X, Jr.. He is a gator fan. GO VOLS!!!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Tenn may have recruited their last bounce-passer.
Maybe not.
Anyhoo, bring on the 'Toppers.
SavTnVol writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
chargervol writes:
The Black Panther strikes again! Everytime you see an article about Manning, you know he will post. That is the only time he post. He is irrelevent. Always has been, always will be(loser). He stood next to Peyton at a game and peed his pants. GO VOLS!!!
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