Tyler Bray wasn't going to play, but he was the center of attention.
Near midfield at Razorback Stadium last weekend, the Tennessee sophomore fired passes one after the other with no signs of weakness from his injured right hand. He worked on his footwork, his dropbacks and his play-action fakes as his teammates went through final preparations for another game without him.
More than a few Vols also admitted to sneaking peeks to check on his progress. Everybody seems to like what they're seeing from Bray after five weeks on the sideline, including the doctors after the latest evaluation on his broken thumb. And while a chance to face Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium on Saturday (TV: ESPNU, 7 p.m.) isn't assured, Bray has received clearance to practice today and appears to be on the brink of a return.
"He looked good to me," defensive tackle Malik Jackson said Monday. "But I'm not a trainer, so I don't really know what looks good. That's his hand, and that's something he really can't control. You've got to let that get healthy, because that's what he uses to work. But to me he looked healthy.
"I think he's coming back this week. Hopefully he's healthy and doesn't injure himself again worse, you know, just comes out and turns our season around for us."
Bray already has done that once in his career with the Vols (4-6, 0-6 SEC), and he's once again needed to salvage a possible trip to the postseason and spark an offense that hasn't scored a single second-half point in five games without him.
There's no guarantee that UT will have him back as it hosts the Commodores (5-5, 2-5) in the first of two must-win games for a bowl bid, and coach Derek Dooley opened the week by calling Bray's status "questionable." But that is subject to change for the Vols' coach, and the snaps Bray gets with the first-team offense starting this morning on the practice field will ultimately be the determining factor.
"He's been cleared to go ahead and start practicing, which is right on schedule with what we expected," Dooley said. "I really won't know (his availability) until we start practicing to see how he can take a snap, how accurately he can throw it. And then he's going to have a learning curve because he's been out of ball for five, six weeks. That's a long time, so we'll see.
"We've still got to get the other guys ready to play and we'll just kind of take it day-by-day."
Dooley might not make his call after the first day back in pads, and he wouldn't commit to a specific timeline for determining whether Bray will start or not.
But based on the passing performance he put on during warmups before the Vols were demolished 49-7 by No. 6 Arkansas, Bray certainly impressed a few teammates who now seem to expect him back in the lineup. And if Bray is completely ready physically, that's exactly where he'll be.
"I think that would be a good lift," safety Prentiss Waggner said. "We know what type of talent Tyler is. I saw him out there in pre-game throwing the ball, looked like he was making all the throws, and I think we're going to take it day-by-day and see how he develops, how that thumb heals. Hopefully we're going to have him this week.
"Even in practice he was out there throwing it around a little bit, so we already knew the thumb was healing pretty fast. But to see him out there Saturday in a jersey, I think that gave everybody much more of a spark."
The next step is putting some pads on underneath Bray's jersey and getting him in a game again. That time appears to be coming soon.
Austin Ward covers Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274. Follow him at http://twitter.com/Vols_Beat and http://blogs.knoxnews.com/ward
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Comments » 28
orangebloodgmc writes:
Ha ha. Eat that, John Adams. We know you hate UT, but ... Bray is back?
Navaloranges writes:
Despite what some POSERS/TROLLS on here would like for us to believe, Tyler Bray IS a difference maker. As a matter of fact, he's one of THE difference makers in D-1 football. The few "fans" on this site that TRY to diminish his role have no real facts to back up their claims of his shortcomings. Bray hasn't faced the best teams on our schedule, and that is just the way it's gone down. It wasn't planned, it called college football. He is STILL the best QB in the SEC. AND, if he plays Saturday, UT WILL beat vandy.
DalTexVol writes:
Couldn't agree with you more. Tyler Bray is special.
NFLDraftScout.com currently has Tyler rated as the #1 QB in the 2014 NFL Draft and the #12 ranked player overall.
1963VOLS writes:
tyler will get us bowling again. then next year watch out sec.
Navaloranges writes:
Funny how these so called "fans" want to discount just how good he is. I've read on here SEVERAL times how one player can't make a difference in a college football game. LAUGHABLE. Especially at the QB position. The field General is called the "Field General" for a reason.
JimmyJoe writes:
Boys....pride better kick in on Saturday... A Vandy win lasts but one year...but a Vandy loss lasts FOREVER! When you only beat somebody once every generation.... Then everyone remembers. Everyone who has anything to do with that game on Saturday night... Better think about that.
tennvolsman19651965 writes:
Bray is awesome, but he cannot be a one man TEAM. Without a running game, it is going to be sad to be sitting there with Ole Miss and Kentucky watching everyone else in the SEC play in a bowl game. We have hit beyond rock bottom, we are 3 feet below that!
VOLinATL writes:
When he comes out on the field Saturday night, they ought to play the Lone Ranger theme song ( William Tell Overture)...Bray to the rescue!!!
jobrando#216494 writes:
I've watched Vandy play this year and the energy is so much more visable than what I've seen in the VOLS. My gut tells me a Vandy rare win is coming but Dooley got to have the W or his seat will be on fire. The VOLS have just looked defeated. It's like they have been told we just need to win x games so you just forget the others and they have. The truth hurts but thats what it is.
dillpic writes:
I would love to know what your background is so that I could determine if your evaulation is based on any sort of knowledge. Other FBS football coaches say Bray is a difference maker, I believe I will listen to their evaulation.
SBWB2 writes:
I have been off line awhile... Did anyone else think they saw Bray chewing tobacco before the South Carloina game, spitting on the field?
We cannot even beat KY if we play like we did Sat. Almost 30 yrs since KY beat us... when will the odds kick in?
shoelessvol#236864 writes:
Bray is a difference maker for the Vols! You can tell by the fact of how some of the defensive players have perked up with the idea he will play. Though there performance is far from perfect...we can survive a few defensive mistakes when we have the ability to score at anytime with Bray on the field. Hopefully he will play and we take the "possums" to the woodshed again!!
CroKev writes:
Just in case anybody's interested (since the FB season hasn't provided much excitement, I thought Rivals recruiting news might help).
Currently the Vols are ranked 5th in the SEC in recruiting. You have UF, Bama, and LSU at #4, 5, 6, respectively. The defending national chamption Auburn Tigers are barely ahead of UT at 11th and then the Vols who finished 6-7 last year and are currently 4-6 at 12th. When it comes to recruiting (first number is AP ranking and second number is this year's Rivals recruiting ranking): 14th ranked USCe is ranked 14th, 13th ranked UGA is ranked 19th and 6th ranked Arkansas is ranked 25th!
Dooley started with NOTHING. He's building the program back up from ground zero. He's had 2 solid recruiting classes with a 3rd on the way working at a program that doesn't have a good in-state recruiting base and has had horrible results on the field in the last few years, not to mention 3 HC changes.
Want to accuse me of wearing orange-colored glasses? Please, I'm a realist - our team had a legitimate starting 22 this year, although too young with no depth. However, when the best 5 of those 22 were lost (most for all of the season and then some), you knew we were in trouble. The starting 22 next year will be solid and will also have competition on the 2-deep roster after 3 VERY SOLID RECRUITING SEASONS. When Dooley has had 4 solid recruiting seasons and a full roster of scholarship players under his belt, then it will be legitimate to talk about the hot seat if the results aren't there. Just don't do it now Vols - recruiting is still going on...
NC's are won more with Jimmys and Joes than they are with X's and O's... The future looks good. Dooley and his staff have done a better job at recruiting with what they have to work with than any program in the country and it's only going to get better once the results on the field improve.
Down_The_Field writes:
agreed.
if tyler bray goes in this game and can play without pain, we can add 14 points minimum.
i'll bet he's added an extra 8 hours to the peebody defensive coaching staff's preparation time this week with the news of his return.
if he would have been healthy, he would easily be on track to pass peyton manning in total yards passing.
difference maker? yea, just a little bit.
Down_The_Field writes:
how's muschump and the 5 star talent working for you?
jobrando#216494 writes:
I"m waiting for Tyler to beat a sound SEC team. This week is his chance. No excuses please just get done.
jobrando#216494 writes:
I think that he is. My concern has always been from the beginning he was to frail for football. Lets face it 6-6 195 is a bean pole and very easy to break. He proved much tougher than I could have imagined. The thumb break was a fluke. These guys protecting him need to get it done and not let him get blasted from the blind side. Vols-35 Vandy - less
VOLS151 writes:
PLEASE DONT PLAY HIM. THIS YEAR IS ALREADY IN THE TOILET, LET HIM HEAL AND DONT RISK HIS FUTURE.
Volunatic writes:
Tyler Bray at 80% > Anyone else on the roster
Put him in coach. He's ready to play.
hcjournals#206623 writes:
He's back....Praise God Almighty....No more feeling like an Ole Miss fan feels every week....Let's get on with the future...Doesn't take much to get back on track...
MemphisHog writes:
I haven't done the research so don't take this as Gospel. But, if memory serves UT's recruiting classes have been ranked higher than Arkansas' each of the past four years. Something to think about. My point is, the recruiting rankings are creations that give fans more to talk about during the offseason. Sure, you want to get the most talented guys, but no one knows how a kid will adapt or develop once he gets to college. Joe Adams, Jarius Wright and Dennis Johnson were all 3 star (or less) coming out of high school. Right now I wouldn't trade any of them for all the Jadavion Clowney's in the world. Character and heart are traits that aren't measured in number of stars given.
CantCompare writes:
Bray IS da man for qb. Let's hope those receivers can hang on to the ball. QUIT DROPPING EASY TDS!!!! and DEFENSE *slap slap slap*...Snap out of it!!! GBO!
RickyVols writes:
Tyler Bray is a special QB, but I agree he can't be a one man team. Running game has to be productive and receivers have to catch the darn ball. With Bray playing, at least TN can score TDs. Will be close but Vols win.
jobrando#216494 writes:
This process is based on winning six. He needs to play and prove he can win aganst a quality opponent. He is the only chance to win this one. Worley is not ready and Simms cant.
VOLliven2it writes:
I hope he is able to play. With him doing well, we have a good chance. But remember this 22 players must play a whole game to win. We have not even done that in some of our wins. So we have more than just the qb concern looking us square in the face. If he plays I hope to heaven he doesn't reinjure the hand.
givehim6 writes:
Much truth you speak my friend, I think the mass # of the poser/troll community are not feed up Vol fans as much just NCAA football fans that are feed up with there own teams and they have heard all you need is a screen name and they can cut on Dooley or there other coaches/players. and they can make themselvese fill better. If Bray comes back in the Vandy game hope he still has the IT factor! The Vols are very down right now from the loses and many people kicking them, hope a Bray return will be enough to light a fire. Think it will be important for UT to score first and often in the 1st quarter to take the wind out of Vandys sails, then UT can score a TD or two in the second half to show vandy we are still in the game. All of this is just wish, but dreams come true sometimes, right? GO VOLS!
Navaloranges writes:
Yes, I think you're right about these juveniles being fed up with their gators etc., and venting by trashing UT and Dooley. But a few, like merlot whine, are just UT "fans" with a lot of hot air, and VERY little football knowledge. Any simpleton that says Bray is a 7 point difference maker, at best, is almost totally football ignorant. We're dealing with aobut 4 people with about 25 screen names. Two florida paid trolls that have been on here since at least 2007, and two FULMERITES that will never get over "their worship" being canned. They are the vocal minority, by FAR.
If Bray palys, we win.
CroKev writes:
Aren't you the "sport" who posted the following on 10/22:
"... and frankly, a receiver that can't jump up in the air and land in open space without a season ending injury is not good either."
Sad, sad, sad little man.
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