Only two teams in the country played more true freshmen than Tennessee in 2010.
It certainly didn’t go without notice from the SEC’s coaches Thursday, as four UT players were named to the conference’s all-freshman team, while a number of other Vols with respectively strong cases didn’t make the cut.
Offensive tackle Ja’Wuan James and wide receiver Justin Hunter represented UT on offense. Defensive end Jacques Smith and linebacker John Propst were named to the defense.
Florida, which was second in the nation behind Air Force by playing 17 true freshmen this season, led the SEC with five representatives. UT, which played 16 true freshmen and 10 redshirt freshmen, Alabama and Arkansas all had four. Ole Miss was the only team not to have at least one player selected.
James, who enrolled early and briefly contemplated transferring after coach Lane Kiffin’s departure to Southern California, started all 12 games at right tackle this season.
Hunter, a four-star recruit who was a late addition to UT’s signing class, ranked third on the Vols in receiving yards (407) and second with six touchdowns. Hunter led the team with a 27.6 yards-per-catch average.
Smith played in all 12 games and served as a key reserve at defensive end, finishing the season with 24 tackles. He was fifth on the team with five tackles for loss and chipped in two sacks.
Propst saw most of his action on special teams but gradually earned more playing time as Nick Reveiz’s backup at middle linebacker. He collected six of his 14 tackles in an October loss at Georgia.
UT’s biggest-name freshman, quarterback Tyler Bray, who started the final four games of the season and finished with 1,537 yards and 14 touchdowns, was left off the team. Georgia’s Aaron Murray, a redshirt freshman who started all 12 games and finished with 2,851 yards and 24 touchdowns, served as the lone quarterback.
Other notable UT snubs included center James Stone (six starts), guard Zach Fulton (three starts) and safety Brent Brewer (four starts, 27 tackles).
Andrew Gribble covers Tennessee football and recruiting. He may be reached at 865-342-6327. Follow him at http://twitter.com/Andrew_Gribble and http://blogs.knoxnews.com/gribble/
FRESHMAN ALL-SEC
OFFENSE
Pos. Name School Ht. Wt. Hometown
TE Jordan Aumiller Kentucky 6-4 230 Danville, Ky.
OL Ja’Wuan James Tennessee 6-7 313 Suwanee, Ga.
OL D.J. Fluker Alabama 6-6 330 Foley, Ala.
OL Wesley Johnson Vanderbilt 6-5 280 Nashville, Tenn.
*OL Alvin Bailey Arkansas 6-5 323 Broken Arrow, Okla.
*OL Gabe Jackson Mississippi State 6-4 305 Liberty, Miss.
C Travis Swanson Arkansas 6-5 305 Kingwood, Texas
WR Ace Sanders South Carolina 5-7 166 Bradenton, Fla.
WR Justin Hunter Tennessee 6-4 183 Virginia Beach, Va.
QB Aaron Murray Georgia 6-1 209 Tampa, Fla.
RB Marcus Lattimore South Carolina 6-0 218 Duncan, S.C.
RB Mike Dyer Auburn 5-9 215 Little Rock, Ark.
AP Trey Burton Florida 6-2 222 Venice, Fla.
DEFENSE
Pos. Name School Ht. Wt. Hometown
DL Jacques Smith Tennessee 6-2 248 Ooltewah, Tenn.
DL Barkevious Mingo LSU 6-5 237 West Monroe, La.
DL Sharrif Floyd Florida 6-3 301 Philadelphia, Pa.
*DL Byran Jones Arkansas 6-2 310 Junction City, Ark.
*DL Kwame Geathers Georgia 6-6 325 Georgetown, S.C.
*DL Corey Lemonier Auburn 6-4 227 Hialeah, Fla.
*DL Walker May Vanderbilt 6-5 235 Birmingham, Ala.
*DL Sam Montgomery LSU 6-5 245 Greenwood, S.C.
LB C.J. Mosley Alabama 6-2 225 Theodore, Ala.
LB Jelani Jenkins Florida 6-1 223 Olney, Md.
*LB Ronald Powell Florida 6-4 248 Moreno Valley, Calif.
*LB John Propst Tennessee 6-1 220 Hoover, Ala.
DB Tyrann Mathieu LSU 5-9 180 New Orleans, La.
DB Nickoe Whitley Mississippi State 6-0 200 Jackson, Miss.
DB Kenny Ladler Vanderbilt 6-1 200 Stone Mountain, Ga.
*DB Dee Milliner Alabama 6-1 182 Millbrook, Ala.
*DB Alec Ogletree Georgia 6-3 224 Newnan, Ga.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Pos. Name School Ht. Wt. Hometown
PK Zach Hocker Arkansas 6-0 170 Russellville, Ark.
P Cody Mandell Alabama 6-4 201 Lafayette, La.
RS Andre DeBose Florida 6-0 192 Sanford, Fla.
Dan Proctor draws Tennessee Football…
Cordarrelle Patterson drafted by the…
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Comments » 55
volnsc writes:
Bray and Rogers should have been there as well.
Pullingguard writes:
Well, I wonder who was the QB on all freshman team?
IBleedOrange444 writes:
My thoughts exactly!
And where the heck is Tyler Bray on this team? Who beat him out at QB, the UGA kid?
CoverOrange writes:
FRESHMAN ALL-SEC -- OFFENSE
Pos. Name School Ht. Wt. Hometown
TE Jordan Aumiller Kentucky 6-4 230 Danville, Ky.
OL Ja'Wuan James Tennessee 6-7 313 Suwanee, Ga.
OL D.J. Fluker Alabama 6-6 330 Foley, Ala.
OL Wesley Johnson Vanderbilt 6-5 280 Nashville, Tenn.
*OL Alvin Bailey Arkansas 6-5 323 Broken Arrow, Okla.
*OL Gabe Jackson Mississippi State 6-4 305 Liberty, Miss.
C Travis Swanson Arkansas 6-5 305 Kingwood, Texas
WR Ace Sanders South Carolina 5-7 166 Bradenton, Fla.
WR Justin Hunter Tennessee 6-4 183 Virginia Beach, Va.
QB Aaron Murray Georgia 6-1 209 Tampa, Fla.
RB Marcus Lattimore South Carolina 6-0 218 Duncan, S.C.
RB Mike Dyer Auburn 5-9 215 Little Rock, Ark.
AP Trey Burton Florida 6-2 222 Venice, Fla.
CoverOrange writes:
FRESHMAN ALL-SEC -- DEFENSE
Pos. Name School Ht. Wt. Hometown
DL Jacques Smith Tennessee 6-2 248 Ooltewah, Tenn.
DL Barkevious Mingo LSU 6-5 237 West Monroe, La.
DL Sharrif Floyd Florida 6-3 301 Philadelphia, Pa.
*DL Byran Jones Arkansas 6-2 310 Junction City, Ark.
*DL Kwame Geathers Georgia 6-6 325 Georgetown, S.C.
*DL Corey Lemonier Auburn 6-4 227 Hialeah, Fla.
*DL Walker May Vanderbilt 6-5 235 Birmingham, Ala.
*DL Sam Montgomery LSU 6-5 245 Greenwood, S.C.
LB C.J. Mosley Alabama 6-2 225 Theodore, Ala.
LB Jelani Jenkins Florida 6-1 223 Olney, Md.
*LB Ronald Powell Florida 6-4 248 Moreno Valley, Calif.
*LB John Propst Tennessee 6-1 220 Hoover, Ala.
DB Tyrann Mathieu LSU 5-9 180 New Orleans, La.
DB Nickoe Whitley Mississippi State 6-0 200 Jackson, Miss.
DB Kenny Ladler Vanderbilt 6-1 200 Stone Mountain, Ga.
*DB Dee Milliner Alabama 6-1 182 Millbrook, Ala.
*DB Alec Ogletree Georgia 6-3 224 Newnan, Ga.
CoverOrange writes:
FRESHMAN ALL-SEC -- SPECIAL TEAMS
Pos. Name School Ht. Wt. Hometown
PK Zach Hocker Arkansas 6-0 170 Russellville, Ark.
P Cody Mandell Alabama 6-4 201 Lafayette, La.
RS Andre DeBose Florida 6-0 192 Sanford, Fla.
cgbtn writes:
The QB is probably the UGA guy (is it Aaron Murray?). I personally do not think redshirt frosh should be eligible for freshman awards.
phillip writes:
I don't think Bray should have taken the kid from Georgias spot, but Bray performed just as well without a lot of protection and AJ Green. I would take him over Murray or all 12 starting QB's from Florida any day
SEAL_9821 writes:
Only because Aaron Murray played the whole season.
jobrando#216494 writes:
heck,,3 four star recruits and one 3 star..how could it happen
Bogus writes:
Not alot of freshman linebackers played this year in the SEC. Just a fact, the pickings were slim. As for Bray, if there were a second team he'd be the guy, but Murray busted UGA's freshman passing records (owned by David Greene). Plus, the kid is a true running threat. I'm not arguing that pick. Bray vs. Murray is going to be a great matchup the next couple of years.
scvols writes:
LOL!!! No, the stars do not mean anything ......
pomp_and_circumstance writes:
For sure no TV announcer has any idea who Propst is. I must go back to my old habit of muting TV and turning on the radio when the Vols are on. Who knows how many unknown rising stars Tim Priest has tabbed all season?
nicknack1 writes:
Propst has been very solid on special teams
murrayvol writes:
I guess.
murrayvol writes:
He did have DeMo, Jones, Stocker, and Hunter.
Not a bad receiver corps.
springtx_vol writes:
Bray was never going to get it over Murray. A bunch of us went through the stats between the 2 a week or so ago. Murry has a 166 passer rating, Bray a 144. Rogers didn't really make on impact as a receiver except for his end-around runs.
To me, Brewer should have been there as a safety, and probably another of our offensive linemen.
dead_vol_foul (Inactive) writes:
Man, I'm still thinking about Rogers to tight end.
-The guy is HUGE;
-He plays physically
-He would be fast for tight end, just average for a receiver
-Hard for any LB to cover
-'good enough' blocker
-flexible, could drop back to 'H' back, fullback, or run the end around or inside sweep.
Any way, just a thought. I think he'd be an All-American by his junior season. NFL loves great tight ends.
VolzsFan writes:
Murray:
Ranked 3rd in SEC for yards per game. 4th in efficiency and had a 61% completion. He had no receiver in the top 10.
Tennessee had 2 receivers in the top 10. Both will play on Sunday. Moore was 4th in the SEC. Those two guys will be missed dearly.
Brey would have been 7th in yards per game and he only played against very bad teams. Bray was at 54% completion which is less then Simms...and he played against very bad teams. That 54% was last in the SEC.
Look deeper. Next year will be another struggle in spite of the easiest schedule since the days of Kneeland.
mdvol writes:
Actually Propst has been pretty good at MLB too. Coaches have raved about him.
Propst was a true Dooley recruit who committed late in the process last year.
His Uncle(?) was the HC at Hoover High School on the TV show Two-A-Days.
AugVol writes:
"His Uncle(?) was the HC at Hoover High School on the TV show Two-A-Days."
Wow, I wondered about that. His uncle now coaches at Colquitt County in GA. They play Brookwood this weekend for the 5A State Championship.
lomas98 writes:
Yes, but then the choices to pick a team would be pretty slim since a lot of true freshman don't make an impact. A redshirt freshman has the same amount of game experience as a true freshman. Someone like Propst making the all freshman team, when he got most of his tackles in a blowout loss in mop up duty shows some of the validity of this and why you have to put redshirts on. Crazy thing is Lemonier and Sam Montgomery almost came to TN. Sure could have used them. Wasn't Montgomery verbally committed at one point?
Ayres_Hall writes:
His uncle is now at Colquitt County High School in Moultrie, Georgia and has them in the state finals.
ACWLY writes:
Come on Andrew, don't just tell us half the story.
mdvol writes:
Yes, I'm in Atlanta and see Propst has got his team in the finals. Should be a good game.
While on the GA playoff website I noticed that Brian Randolph was voted Georgia Player of the Year! Was this reported by KNS??? Here's the link and welcome to Big Orange Country, Brian!
http://www.ghsa.net/football
In its third decade of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPN RISE, today announced Brian Randolph of Kell High School as its 2010-11 Gatorade Georgia Football Player of the Year. Randolph is the first Gatorade Georgia Football Player of the Year to be chosen from Kell High School.
jobrando#216494 writes:
Just so the wins start with the Gayterds
TommyJack writes:
Insofar as the QB goes, I'll take our guy.
bUTchVFL writes:
And the fact that they spanked us by 4td's
bUTchVFL writes:
Anyone see that UT verbal Justin Worley won the Gatorade national player of the year. For you star gazers, he is a 3*. That will probably go up now. http://www.heraldonline.com/2010/12/0...
mtowntim writes:
Agree, Rogers would be an excellent T.E.
dead_vol_foul (Inactive) writes:
Doesn't he remind you of David Martin, who the Packers moved to TE in the pros??
ArealVolFan writes:
lol at ANYONE who even considers Rogers as a TE. Moronic.
mtowntim writes:
Dooley likes double T.E. sets. Rogers would be hard to cover at T.E. and he would move the chains with the potential to house one at any time.
I guess you lol'd when Malik was moved to D.T. also.
dead_vol_foul (Inactive) writes:
Your contribution has been duly noted and archived.
vol_till_i_die writes:
Where are Da'Rick and Tyler?!
RaineyVol writes:
Bray didn't play a full season.. thats the only reason why!
xRockyTopVolsx writes:
Who can you criticize AreaVolFan when you are suggesting positions changes? Hey coach?
The bottom line is someone said Da'Rick has average speed for a receiver. That is certainly not true. He has excellent straight line speed. I think Coach Baggett will make the right decision with these young men.
dead_vol_foul (Inactive) writes:
because it's a chat board, and that is what people do on chat boards.
a few people can actually converse with some civility. some have to be constant a##-holes.
for people to get pissed off because we are conjecturing about Rogers being a great TE prospect?? wow.
OrangePsyched writes:
These freshman are now sophmores and will continue to improve. Spring will be much easier for them this year grasing the terminology and schemes. We will be much more comfortable and prepared to start next season. Having a HC for the 2nd yr. with the same assts. will be a great help for these guys. Let's beat NC and carry momentum over into spring and the next season. GBO!
wyomingvol writes:
Ding ole' T'ite-end.....
CroKev writes:
Hey recruits! UT loves to start freshmen...
kevin151 writes:
Did Propst even play this year????
Vol_in_VA writes:
And your comments were SO civil. Heh.
LaneBrains writes:
With these four guys and the three at USC this gives us a total of 7 for the year! Monte and I want to thank ED (Best recruiter ever in America...in any sport) for his hard work.
Combining the coach who invented defensive football and the smartest coach in the history of football (at any level) with Ed and we know you conclude that Mike Hamilton is the top AD ...a visionary who put that deal together...
...today MH is only second to PH!
CLK, Monte and Ed
dead_vol_foul (Inactive) writes:
You'll kindly notice I said "some people" and id not include myself as in "I can be".
Kiss off.
MilitaryBrat writes:
I agree with you(about the chat board).
As far as Rogers, I don't have enough knowledge about the position requirements to know if he would work out.
But at least you gave reasons why you thought Rogers would be a good TE.
Instead of just telling someone it is moronic.
If someone has a problem with it, then they should tell us why they feel that way, instead of name calling.
Vol_in_VA writes:
Someone as defensive as you should try out for the football team. We could use the help.
dead_vol_foul (Inactive) writes:
In war, the best defense is a great offense. In football, the best offense is a great defense.
Anyway, clever post, I thought it was funny.
dead_vol_foul (Inactive) writes:
who would have thunk it controversial?? funny, you can post something you think is benign and people go more ape than if you go on some vitriolic rant.
The whole thing was about the possibility of the guy getting a great NFL shot.
mtowntim writes:
Well, I just figured he could be pretty effective as a T.E., primarily as another eligible receiver. He has good hands which would benefit Bray when he needs to dump it quick. He has fairly good size and seems to play aggressive enough to not be afraid of throwing a few blocks. If he has the speed to be a receiver, he has the speed to be a T.E. or H-Back.
It would create some favorable match ups if he was covered by a linebacker. If the corners started creepin up to cover Rogers that would leave Gerald, Justin or De’mo wide open or in a man to man match up with a safety.
Basically, running two ends, two receivers and a running back who is an eligible receiver with a Q.B. that can deliver the ball would be hell to defend because of all the options and possibilities available.
I am curious as to how PL3 or Rich feel about this subject. Could Da’Rick be an effective T.E. or would that be a gross miss-use of his skills?
I do think Da’rick has the tools necessary to be an effective T.E. However, until Florida calls for my services, I guess that I will stick to giving my opinions on the ol message board.
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