GoVols247: A Tennessee Volunteers athletics podcast

GoVols247's Wes Rucker and Patrick Brown discuss Thursday's news that Knoxville's own Cade Mays is now one step closer to being cleared to play for the Vols in 2020. A Thursday chat with Vols coach Jeremy Pruitt is included, as well. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247's Wes Rucker offers a brief news update before clearing the deck for interviews with three Tennessee seniors — wide receiver Brandon Johnson, kicker Brent Cimaglia and running back Ty Chandler. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247's Wes Rucker and Patrick Brown replay every second of Jeremy Pruitt's Thursday night interview and discuss what it means. COVID-19, Cade Mays and lower-case-T tigers included. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247's Wes Rucker and Grant Ramey break down the newest elite hoops prospect to commit to Tennessee — 6-foot-5 wing Jahmai Mashack from Rancho Cucamonga, California. Mashask is the No. 43 overall prospect in the 2021 class. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Three Tennessee seniors — including quarterback Jarrett Guarantano — open up about the past, present and future of their careers in Knoxville. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247's Wes Rucker and Patrick Brown discuss the COVID-19 quarantine issues impacting nearly 50 Tennessee players in preseason camp and turning Saturday's scrimmage into a regular practice. Vols coach Jeremy Pruitt discusses the issue, as well. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247's Wes Rucker and Ryan Callahan break down Tennessee's newest commitment — big Nashville offensive lineman William Parker, who chose the Vols over Alabama on Friday afternoon. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247's Wes Rucker and Ryan Callahan break down Tennessee's newest commitment — 6-foot-8, 350-pound local offensive lineman J'Marion Gooch from The King's Academy. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Let's go right to the top. Hear the latest on Tennessee football, COVID-19, quarterbacks and more from Jeremy Pruitt, and hear the latest on all things Tennessee basketball from Rick Barnes. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247's Wes Rucker and Patrick Brown discuss Jeremy Pruitt's decision to pause Tennessee's preseason camp after an unspecified number of positive COVID-19 tests, and what that means for the near and longterm future. Quarterbacks and other newsy items are discussed, as well. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker went into Fort Rucker Studio to give a quick introduction on some recent Tennessee news before getting out of way and giving the floor to three of the Vols’ best players to hear their thoughts on things heading into an unusual 2020 season. Sophomore linebacker Henry To’o To’o, sophomore running back Eric Gray and senior center Brandon Kennedy had plenty to say on plenty of interesting topics, and full interviews with all three players are included in this two-segment episode. It’s been a bizarre year for everyone, and all three Tennessee stars had plenty to discuss. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Sunday, unless breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker, Patrick Brown and Ryan Callahan convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss a Monday full of huge news for Tennessee football. Tennessee’s newly-released, SEC-only 2020 schedule, the Vols’ start to preseason camp, some big roster updates, a new commitment and much more were discussed in this two-segment episode full of news. COVID-19 to this point hasn’t postponed SEC football in 2020, and the conference on Monday released its adjusted schedule. That schedule will look a lot different for Tennessee, which now opens the season Sept. 26 at South Carolina and ends the regular season Dec. 5 against Florida — yes, THAT Florida — at Neyland Stadium. After getting arguably a raw deal with the additions of Auburn and Texas A&M to the schedule, the Vols were dealt some better breaks with the dates on the full schedule, and reasons for that assessment are discussed in detail in the first segment of this episode. Plenty of news was crammed into the second segment, beginning with the NCAA’s denial of five-star Georgia offensive line transfer Cade Mays’ initial appeal for an immediate-eligibility waiver to play for his hometown Vols alongside his brother in 2020. That surprising decision was announced Monday, but Tennessee is appealing it and still believes in the validity of its case. There’s plenty of discussion on that topic in the second segment, but there’s also plenty of discussion on the confirmed return of talented sophomore linebacker Jeremy Banks to the Tennessee program following his dismissal for an off-field incident last season. There’s also discussion on the expected news that senior cornerback Baylen Buchanan will sit out a second consecutive season while battling a narrowing of his spinal column, as well as the Vols’ updated COVID-19 testing numbers. The second segment wraps up with a discussion on Jimmy Scott, a talented linebacker prospect from Upstate New York who recently became the first commitment of Tennessee’s 2022 recruiting class. Discussion of the Northeastern expansion of Tennessee’s recruiting base with Joe Osovet on the staff is discussed, as well. With so much news to dissect, this episode ran a bit longer than usual. But … well … there was a lot of news to dissect. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker and Grant Ramey convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss five-star point guard Kennedy Chandler’s commitment to Tennessee. Chandler, the nation’s No. 11 overall prospect and No. 1 point guard prospect in the 2021 industry-generated 247Sports Composite, is a Memphis native who recently transferred to play his senior season at powerhouse Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita, Kan. He could have played anywhere but ultimately chose the Vols over Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina and hometown Memphis — who will be especially irked to lose a five-star Memphian to the hated Vols? Why did Chandler pick Tennessee? Who helped him make that decision? How could Chandler’s game best be described? How has Rick Barnes turned Tennessee into a place where so many five-star prospects want to play? How has assistant coach Kim English already established himself as an elite recruiter? And perhaps most importantly, which elite prospects across the nation might follow Chandler to give the Vols another blockbuster class? Those are the primary discussion points in this one-segment, breaking-news episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Monday, unless breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker and Grant Ramey convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss Tennessee’s desire to play football this fall and answer tailback questions from Vols fans across the world. The Big Ten and Pac-12 announced earlier this week that they were suspending football this fall in light of the worldwide novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but the other three Power 5 conferences — including the SEC — are still moving ahead and trying to play. Tennessee and the rest of the SEC is scheduled to start the season Sept. 26. Is that still a realistic goal? Where is the disconnect between college football’s most powerful leagues on this issue? That’s the main point of discussion in the first segment, but there’s also some discussion on Tennessee basketball recruiting after the Vols offered another 2022 prospect from Knoxville Catholic High School — 7-footer Handje Tamba. As usual on Thursday episodes, a mailbag was featured in the second segment of this episode. Disappointingly, there were no hand-to-hand combat questions this week, but there were tons of fun questions about Tennessee football, Tennessee basketball, the SEC, COVID-19, recruiting, best and most movie sequels, which vehicle best represents every GoVols247 staff member and even the art (or whatever) of podcasting. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Monday, unless breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Patrick Brown (from an undisclosed location) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss confusing reports questioning whether the Big Ten still plans to play football this fall, and the impact of those reports on Tennessee, the SEC and all of college football. Just days after announcing its conference-only 2020 schedule, the Big Ten appears to be considering a quick about-face and postponing the season. Reports Monday morning indicated that the Big Ten voted 12-2 to postpone the season, with Nebraska and Iowa serving as the voices of dissent. Then several Big Ten coaches publicly insisted that they and their teams still wanted to play this season, and a Big Ten spokesperson then claimed the conference hadn’t held a final vote on the matter. So … yeah. Good luck making heads or tails from that. What is happening in the Big Ten, and what impact will that have on Tennessee, the SEC and the rest of college football? That’s the main topic of this episode, but a few other items are mentioned along the way. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Thursday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. And let's be honest ... there will probably be big news of some sort before Thursday. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker and Patrick Brown convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss Auburn and Texas A&M being added to Tennessee’s 2020 football schedule. The SEC on Friday night announced the two new league opponents for every team in the league, and Tennessee inarguably got one of the tougher draws. The Vols were given a road game at Auburn and a visit from from Texas A&M. Auburn is ranked No. 11 in the preseason coaches’ poll, and Texas A&M is ranked No. 13. Why did the SEC decide to tinker with the schedule as opposed to just fast-forwarding the rotation that was already in place? Why didn’t the league just have a random lottery drawing? Who are the league's winners and losers in this deal? How tough will those matchups be for Tennessee? Was this scheduling news a good thing, a bad thing or both for the Vols? Those are the primary topics discussed in this one-segment, breaking-news episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Monday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker and Patrick Brown convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss Tennessee being the first team outside the preseason coaches’ poll, which was released Thursday afternoon. The Vols (and Boise State) were the first teams left out of the poll, coming in just behind No. 24 Virginia Tech and No. 25 Iowa State. Should the Vols have been in the poll after winning their final six games last season? Should that streak have given the Vols more respect heading into the season? Does any of that even matter? Those are the main points of discussion on this episode, though some other recruiting and schedule items are discussed, as well. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released later in the week, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker and Ryan Callahan convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss top-100 prospect Damarius McGhee’s commitment to Tennessee and other recent development for the Vols on the trail. McGhee, a 6-foot-1 cornerback from Pensacola, Fla., is the No. 89 overall prospect in 247Sports’ 2021 recruiting rankings, and he’s been near the top of Tennessee’s board for a while. The Vols identified him early and offered him 12 months ago, well before some of college football’s other blue bloods jumped on board. That clearly meant a lot to McGhee, who chose the Vols over a long and impressive list of suitors. What kind of prospect is McGhee? Is he quick enough to stay at cornerback despite his 6-foot-1 frame? Is it slender frame any kind of a concern? How is Tennessee able to identify so many prospects so quickly, and how important has that been to the Vols’ recruiting success in the Jeremy Pruitt era? Those are the main points of discussion in the first segment of this episode. Updates on several other Tennessee targets are included in the second segment of this episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Thursday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker and Grant Ramey convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss the importance of Yves Pons’ decision to return to Tennessee for his senior season. Pons, the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year, initially declared for the NBA Draft before reversing course Monday night and choosing to return for his senior season with the Vols. What was already a championship-contending roster suddenly looks even stronger. Pons’ return makes a sturdy crop of returning players even stronger, and Tennessee just enrolled one of the nation’s top recruiting classes to bolster it. How close was Pons to remaining in the draft? Why did he choose to come back? What does that return mean for Tennessee’s rotation? How many more options will the Vols have now, assuming everyone stays healthy? What can Pons do as a senior to improve his stock heading into the 2021 draft? Those are the primary points of discussion in this one-segment, breaking-news episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Tuesday morning, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker and Patrick Brown convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss the possibilities for Tennessee football’s SEC-only 202 schedule. After monitoring the latest COVID-19 updates and delaying the decision as long as it could, the SEC finally followed a trend set by the Big 10 and PAC-12 and chose to go with a conference-only schedule for the 2020 season. What was a 12-game mixed schedule will now be a 10-game conference-only schedule for Tennessee and the SEC’s other 13 programs, and it won’t start earlier than Sept. 26. Who will Tennessee’s two new SEC opponents be this season? Will the eight league games already on the schedule be played as scheduled, or will have they have to be moved? How will the SEC find its desired “fair and equitable” solution to the situation? And perhaps most importantly, will the revised schedule be played at all? Those are the primary points of discussion in this episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released later Monday night, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Grant Ramey (from GoVols247’s Blount County Satellite Office in Maryville) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to kickoff the week with a discussion on how much concern there should be about college football after an outbreak of coronavirus has thrown a wrench into Major League Baseball. The first segment of this episode features a quick discussion on some recent Tennessee football and basketball news. There’s good news (Yves Pons making the cut for players who could be invited to the upcoming NBA Combine) and bad news (two former Vols football players being cut by the same NFL team, plus another former Vols football player being placed on COVID-19 injury reserve) in that discussion. COVID-19 becomes the sole topic in the second segment of this episode. News emerged Monday that at least 13 Miami Marlins (and perhaps more) have tested positive for coronavirus, causing the postponement of two separate MLB games Monday night. Does that news combined with some recent college football developments — including the entire Michigan State program being placed in quarantine — spell doom for the possibility of college football this fall? Should it at least cause more significant levels of concern? Or is this something that can be worked around moving forward? That’s the primary discussion in the second segment, and many possibilities are tossed into the mix. Just to make sure everyone is clear, the GoVols247 Podcast isn’t opining on whether college football should be played this season. Last we checked, we don’t have any epidemiologists on our staff. We’ll leave those decisions to those qualified enough to make them. We’re simply discussing the complicated set of possibilities that could come into play if games are played this fall. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Thursday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker, Patrick Brown and Grant Ramey convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss the hype surrounding Tennessee sophomore linebacker Henry To’o To’o and answer mailbag questions from GoVols247’s CheckerBoard and social media accounts. Some quick updates on Tennessee football’s updated workout schedule and discussion on several Vols on preseason watch lists dominates the first segment of this episode. Much of the watch list discussion is focused on linebacker Henry To’o To’o — the only sophomore in college football to be placed on the preseason watch lists for the Bednarik Trophy, the Nagurski Trophy and the Butkus Award. The Bednarik and Nagurski are awarded each year to the best defensive player in college football, while the Butkus is awarded each year to the best linebacker in college football. Is To’o To’o really going to match this level of hype? Or is that too much hype to place on a sophomore with so many responsibilities in the heart of a defense? That’s the primary discussion in the first segment. The mailbag was opened for the second segment of this episode. There were many interesting Vols, SEC and off-topic questions — including, of course, questions regarding hand-to-hand combat — in this edition of the mailbag. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Monday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker and Grant Ramey convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss several Tennessee basketball topics. The first segment of this episode is focused on Tennessee’s current roster. Reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year Yves Pons still hasn’t decided whether to return to school for his senior season, and it’s not clear when he plans to do that, but he’s currently working out with the team and there’s plenty to discuss on that front. As for the rest of the team, everyone but sophomore guard Santiago Vescovi (who’s still at home in Uruguay) is back on campus for workouts, which means the two unnamed players who tested positive for COVID-19 have cleared quarantine and been approved for action. Some discussion on the virus and its impact on college basketball scheduling rounds out the first segment. Recruiting takes center stage in the second segment of this episode. And there’s plenty to discuss there, with Tennessee trending in a big way for five-star point guard prospect Kennedy Chandler — a Memphis native who plans to spend his senior season at powerhouse Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas. Chandler has been at the top of Tennessee’s 2021 board for years, and adding him could create a serious ripple effect for the other top targets — including multiple five-star prospects — on the Vols’ board. Some 2022 recruiting targets to watch are discussed in the second segment, as well. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Thursday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker, Patrick Brown and Ryan Callahan (from his house) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to kickoff the week with a discussion on several pertinent topics. The first segment of this episode starts with (of course) and update on the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on college football heading into the 2020 season, and it wraps up with discussion on the loss of reserve safety Brandon Davis to the NCAA transfer portal. The reasons for Davis’ exit and its impact on the team is discussed in detail. Segment Two starts with a quick update on Tennessee basketball recruiting (there’s big news there) before settling into a detailed discussion on Vols football recruiting. Tennessee still has one of the nation’s best classes, and some really big prospects — including multiple five-star prospects — are still on the board. A quick discussion on where things stand for the Vols at tight end following the latest injury to senior starter Austin Pope wraps up this episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Thursday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker and Patrick Brown convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss a week with a trifecta of rough news for a Tennessee program that had previously enjoyed a feel-good summer. Rough news began in the middle of the week, when it was revealed that multiple Tennessee student-athletes in multiple sports — including football — had tested positive for COVID-19. None of the 91 Tennessee football players on campus had tested positive in the first round of tests last month, but the tests after the July 4 holiday weekend revealed a different story. Specific numbers weren’t given, either, which on the surface sounded a bit ominous. Conversations with people in the program have revealed that it’s not a horrible situation at this point, though, so the first segment of this episode is focused on putting that news in perspective. The second segment of this episode is focused on the fallout from this week’s news that Tennessee senior starting tight end Austin Pope has had another back surgery and senior defensive lineman Emmit Gooden has been dismissed from the program following an arrest for his alleged actions in a troubling off-the-field incident. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Monday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio), Patrick Brown (from his new but also disclosed location) and Grant Ramey (from GoVols247’s Blount County Satellite Office in Maryville) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss the possibility of the SEC adjusting to a conference-only schedule this season, and what that would mean specifically for Tennessee. The Big Ten last week became the first Power-5 conference to abandon non-conference play on account of the ongoing worldwide novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and the Pac-12 followed suit a bit later in the week. As of Monday morning, though, the other three Power-5 leagues — the SEC, ACC and Big 12 — haven’t announced any major changes. If we’re being real with each other, though, the fact is things are trending toward the other three Power-5 leagues following that same formula, and there are many logical reasons for doing that. The first segment of this episode is an explanation of those reasons, and the second segment is a discussion on which extra SEC Western Division teams would make for the most entertaining matchups. A few other topics are touched on, but Tennessee’s football schedule is main discussion point To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker and Patrick Brown convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss Tennessee’s most important players heading into the 2020 season, as well as the latest on the COVID-19 pandemic that’s still threatening that season. The first segment of this episode is the consistently necessary update on where things stand with COVID-19 in the college football world. Things clearly aren’t trending in the right direction at the moment, and the Ivy League announced on Wednesday that it was suspending all fall sports and wouldn’t even consider playing any sport until Jan. 1. The Ivy League is a Division I FCS conference in football, but it’s worth remembering this is the same league that started the suspension dominos rolling back in the spring, as well. Where things stand in the SEC — specifically for Tennessee — is the primary discussion point in the first segment. Football itself is the sole discussion point in the second episode. Pat recently finished his annual series on Tennessee’s most important players heading into the season, and there’s plenty of discussion — with agreements and disagreements — on where certain players should be ranked. It’s certainly a different list from last season’s in many ways. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Monday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s full crew — Wes Rucker, Patrick Brown, Grant Ramey and Ryan Callahan — convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss Tennessee football, COVID-19, recruiting and much more. COVID-19 and its impact on the 2020 football season is the primary discussion point in the first segment of this episode. As of Tuesday morning, Tennessee hasn’t confirmed a single positive coronavirus test from any of its players, but the Vols seem to be the exception rather than the norm at this point, and there are serious questions about the 2020 season — whether it will be played as usual, played without fans in the stands, played with reduced numbers of fans in the stands, shortened or even moved to the spring. The NCAA and SEC haven’t said much to this point, but we’re getting closer to the late July range — the time SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and others have mentioned as a target to make serious decisions. After a full discussion on where things stand with the Vols, college football and COVID-19, discussion shifts to recruiting to start the second segment. It’s been a quieter few weeks on that front after a torrid stretch, but there are still important updates to discuss. The performance of Tennessee quarterback commitment Kaidon Salter at the recent Elite 11 showcase is discussed in detail, as well. Jeremy Pruitt and his commitment to giving his players a pedestal to talk social-justice issues and potential solutions is the primary discussion toward the end of the second segment. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Thursday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker, Grant Ramey and Ryan Callahan (from his house) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss four-star tight end Hudson Wolfe’s commitment to Tennessee. Wolfe, the nation’s No. 225 overall prospect and No. 9 tight end prospect in the 2021 industry-generated 247Sports Composite, chose Tennessee over Ohio State despite the Buckeyes arguably being his leader for much of the process. The Buckeyes, who have the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class, and the Vols, who have the nation’s No. 3 recruiting class, fought to add Wolfe into the mix, but the 6-foot-6, 240-pound West Tennessee native ultimately chose the in in-state Vols. What kind of prospect is Wolfe? How does he fit into the Vols’ plans? Will be able to stay at the tight end spot as a big, in-line tight end? How did Tennessee rally and close the deal? What does this commitment mean for the numbers in Tennessee’s crowded class? Since Wolfe is just the third in-state commitment to this class, how have the Vols built such a strong class without a strong in-state base? Those are the main questions discussed in this episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Thursday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker and Patrick Brown convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to give an update on all things Tennessee football. And most of that news is good news. After a quick discussion on the status of senior running back Tim Jordan following an off-field incident his native Florida, the focus shifts to the sunnier side and stays there for the rest of the episode. Veterans started arriving back on campus last week, and newcomers arrived over the weekend, meaning approximately 90 members of the Tennessee football team are back on campus for workouts. The newcomers have arrived just two weeks later than initial plans before the outbreak of the worldwide coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. There’s a protocol in place for monitoring the players during their time on campus and in the facility, and there are plans in place in case any of them test positive for the virus. Workouts will be structured differently, and housing accommodation has been tweaked, but the bottom line is players are back on campus and things are starting to look more and more promising for a return to something resembling normal this fall. Updates on several of Tennessee’s recently enrolled newcomers are included in this episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Thursday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio), Ryan Callahan (from his house across town) and Patrick Brown (from an undisclosed location) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss jumbo Alabama athlete Trinity Bell’s Friday commitment to Tennessee. The 6-foot-7, 260-pound Bell, who plays at Albertville High School in Albertville, N.C., adds another versatile athlete to a Tennessee class that already has several Swiss Army Knife players. What kind of prospect is Bell? What positions on which side of the ball could he play at Tennessee, and how will he need to change his body in order to play those spots? Do the benefits to adding so many versatile athletes in a class outweigh the risks of signing so many players without defined positions? How has Tennessee tight ends coach Joe Osovet been able to hit the ground running so quickly in his first season recruiting on the road? Those are the main topics of discussion in this episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Monday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker, Ryan Callahan and Patrick Brown convened via Al Gore’s Internets to discuss four-star North Carolina athlete Kaemen Marley’s Wednesday commitment to Tennessee. The 6-foot-2, 206-pound Marley, who plays at Eastern Randolph High School in Ramseur, N.C., adds another versatile athlete to a Tennessee class that already has several Swiss Army Knife players. What kind of prospect is Marley? What positions on which side of the ball could he play at Tennessee, and how will he need to change his body in order to play those spots? Is Marley’s relative lack of competition at his small school an issue? How important has it been for Tennessee to get back into North Carolina in a big way? How much of a help has Jay Graham been in that process? Those are the main topics of discussion in this episode. This week’s first GoVols247 Podcast episode — an episode breaking down touted Atlanta-area tight end Miles Campbell’s commitment to Tennessee — can be found HERE. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Monday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker, Grant Ramey and Ryan Callahan convened via the Al Gore’s Internets to discuss Atlanta-area tight end Miles Campbell’s commitment to Tennessee. The 6-foot-3, 234-pound Campbell has nearly 30 offers but chose the Vols over Florida State and many others. What kind of prospect is Campbell? What kind of a tight end does he project to be at the college level? Can he develop into an all-around tight end, or will he remain more of a pass catcher at that spot? How many more tight ends will Tennessee hope to sign in this cycle after not getting any for-sure tight ends (some could move there) in the 2020 cycle? Those are the main points of discussion in this breaking-news episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released later in the week, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s full staff — Wes Rucker, Grant Ramey, Ryan Callahan and Patrick Brown — convened via Al Gore’s Internets to discuss top-100 quarterback Kaidon Salter’s Sunday commitment to Tennessee. Salter — the nation’s No. 88 overall prospect and No. 4 dual-threat quarterback prospect, according to the analysts at 247Sports — chose the Vols over a long list of offers. What kind of prospect is Salter? Is he a thrower who can run, a runner who can throw or both of those things? Where was he on Tennessee’s big board? How important is it to sign at least one quarterback every year? What does his commitment mean for a Tennessee recruiting class that’s getting bigger and bigger? Those are the main points of discussion in this breaking-news episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Monday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s full staff — Wes Rucker, Grant Ramey, Ryan Callahan and Patrick Brown — convened via Al Gore’s Internets to discuss Top247 Maryland linebacker linebacker Aaron Willis’ Sunday commitment to Tennessee. The Vols stayed crazy hot on the trail by adding their second elite player from powerhouse St. Frances Academy in two days, and their third in the past two years. What kind of prospect is Willis? Where does he fit into the plans for Tennessee’s defense? Is he potentially a plug-and-play type? What does his commitment mean for Tennessee’s class moving forward? Those are the primary points of discussion in this episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Monday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s full staff — Wes Rucker, Grant Ramey, Ryan Callahan and Patrick Brown — convened via Al Gore’s Internets to discuss Top247 Maryland defensive lineman KaTron Evans’ Saturday commitment to Tennessee. Evans — the nation’s No. 179 overall prospect in the 2021 industry-generated 247Sports Composite — chose Tennessee over a list of at least 40 other offers, including some of the top programs in the current college landscape. What kind of prospect is the 6-foot-4, 320-pound Evans? Is he definitely a nose guard, or can he play other spots up front? How important is the pipeline Tennessee is building to national powerhouse St. Frances Academy in Baltimore? What does this addition mean for the rest of Tennessee’s class, especially along the defensive front? What’s next for the red-hot Vols on the recruiting trail? Those are the primary points of discussion in this breaking-news episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Monday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s full staff — Wes Rucker, Grant Ramey, Ryan Callahan, and Patrick Brown convened via Al Gore’s Internets to discuss the ridiculous run of commitments that took Tennessee from No. 17 to No. 2 nationally in 247Sports Team Recruiting rankings in just nine days. Five-star edge rusher Dylan Brooks got the party started with his somewhat unexpected commitment to the Vols, and the rest is history. After eight commitments in nine days, the Vols now sit behind only Ohio State in the national rankings. After spending the past two weeks discussing the individual trees, this episode takes a step back and discusses the forest. How did Tennessee get this done? How much longer can this heater last? Where do the Vols go from there? Those are the main questions discussed in this episode — the first episode we’ve ever done as a full staff from four separate locations, so bear with us as we work out these quarantine kinks. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Friday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker, Patrick Brown and Ryan Callahan convened via Al Gore’s Internets to discuss Top247 offensive lineman Colby Smith's commitment to Tennessee. A torrid stretch of eight commitments in nine days has pushed Tennessee into the No. 2 spot nationally in the 247Sports Team Recruiting rankings, but this episode primarily focuses on the newest addition to the class. What kind of prospect is Smith? How did Tennessee turn a kid who admittedly grew up a North Carolina fan? Does Smith definitely project at offensive tackle moving forward? How much development will he need before getting in the mix to play? What does his addition mean for the rest of Tennessee’s O-line recruiting plans in this cycle? Which prospects might jump into the boat next? Those are the primary discussion points in this episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Tuesday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Grant Ramey (from GoVols247’s Blount County Satellite Office in Maryville) and Ryan Callahan (from his house across town) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss Top247 running back Cody Brown’s commitment to Tennessee. The Vols have been on an absolute bender in the past week, adding seven commitments — all from touted prospects with big offers — and surging into the No. 3 spot nationally in the 247Sports Team Recruiting Rankings. Again, it’s tough to keep up with torrid Tennessee on the trail these days, but this episode nonetheless touches on tons of topics in only one, easily-digestible segment. What kind of prospect is Brown? Where does he fit into the future of Tennessee’s backfield? Is Tennessee finally getting the kind of running backs Jeremy Pruitt and his staff wanted from the beginning? How are the Vols staying so ridiculously hot on the recruiting trail? Who might be the next to jump into the boat? How can a Rucker and a Brown commit to Tennessee on the same day while those named Ramey and Callahan do nothing for the Vols? Those are the primary discussion points in this episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released early this week, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Grant Ramey (from GoVols247’s Blount County Satellite Office in Maryville) and Ryan Callahan (from his house across town) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss touted Florida safety De’Shawn Rucker’s commitment to Tennessee. The Vols have been on an absolute bender in the past week, adding six commitments — all from touted prospects with big offers — and surging into the No. 3 spot nationally in the 247Sports Team Recruiting Rankings. It’s tough to keep up with torrid Tennessee on the trail these days, but this episode nonetheless touches on tons of topics in only one, easily-digestible segment. What kind of prospect is Rucker? Does he project as more of a safety or a versatile player in the Tennessee secondary? How did the Vols convince him to pick them despite an offer sheet that included Clemson, Alabama, Auburn, LSU, the Big Three in Florida and many, many more? How in the world has Tennessee done what it’s done in the past week? Who’s the next domino to potentially fall into the Vols’ lap? What does this commitment mean for the rest of Tennessee’s 2021 class? Those are the primary discussion points in this episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released early this week, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Grant Ramey (from GoVols247’s Blount County Satellite Office in Maryville) and Ryan Callahan (from his house across town) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss five-star South Florida linebacker Terrence Lewis' commitment to Tennessee. Lewis, the nation’s No. 10 overall prospect and No. 1 outside linebacker prospect in the 2021 industry-generated 247Sports Composite, became the fourth elite prospect to commit to Tennessee in an absolutely wild recruiting week for Jeremy Pruitt and his program. There’s plenty of things to squeeze into this one-segment episode, but that’s what was done. How in the world did Tennessee get this hot during the COVID-19 quarantine period? What kind of prospect is Lewis? Where does Lewis project positionally at Tennessee? How much is peer recruiting helping the Vols at the moment? Where could things be going now in this class? Will some prospects feel the need to try getting a spot now, while they can? Those are the main topics of discussion in this episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released by Monday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Patrick Brown (from his house at an undisclosed location) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss the 2020 NFL Draft that was and the 2021 NFL Draft would be as they related to the Vols. It wasn’t supposed to be a big draft for the Vols in 2020, especially after star offensive lineman Trey Smith chose to return to school for his senior season, and it definitely wasn’t a big draft. Two Vols came off the board, though, with edge rusher Darrell Taylor going to the Seattle Seahawks in the second round and wide receiver Jauan Jennings going to the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round. Several more Vols were quickly snatched up as free agents after the draft, though, with wide receiver Marquez Callaway going to the New Orleans Saints, safety Nigel Warrior going to the Baltimore Ravens and tight end Dominick Wood-Anderson joining Taylor in Seattle. Another former Tennessee star — inside linebacker Daniel Bituli — wasn’t selected and hasn’t signed a free-agent deal yet, but 247Sports broke the story on Bituli’s situation and explained why he’s expected to sign somewhere in the near future. A hefty discussion on the Vols who were drafted and those who signed free-agent deals (and Bituli) is featured throughout the first segment of this episode. There was plenty to discuss there, though, so it was a lengthy segment. The 2021 NFL Draft becomes the focal point of the show in the second segment, and that should be at least a slightly bigger deal for the Vols. A dozen-or-so Tennessee players who could be selected in next year’s draft, so there was plenty to discuss in that segment, as well, but this episode was neatly split into two distinct segments for those who don’t have the time to squeeze everything into one listening window. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Thursday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Patrick Brown (from his house at an undisclosed location) and Ryan Callahan (from his house across town) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss four-star wide receiver Julian Nixon’s commitment to Tennessee. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Nixon has been a big-time prospect since early in his career at Centennial High School in Roswell, Ga., but he claimed to choose Tennessee over Ohio State and Georgia. Auburn was a factor for much of his recruitment, as well, and for a while the Tigers seemed to be the team to beat. Ultimately, though, the No. 238 overall player in the 2021 industry-generated 247Sports Composite chose the Vols. Nixon became the Vols’ third high-profile commitment in three days, joining five star-edge rusher Dylan Brooks (who committed to Sunday) and four-star safety Kamar Wilcoxson (who committed to Monday) as the newest additions to a Tennessee class that has soared from No. 17 to No. 5 nationally in less than 48 hours. What kind of player is Nixon? How does he fit into Tennessee’s system? Is he definitely a wide receiver going forward, or could be grow into a tight end or a hybrid pass catcher? How has Tennessee gotten so hot on the recruiting trail during this prolonged dead period caused by the COVID-19 pandemic? Is recruiting momentum a real thing, or is this three-day heater a coincidence? What does this commitment mean for the rest of Tennessee’s 2021 class? Those are the main topics discussed in this one-segment episode. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Patrick Brown (from his house at an undisclosed location) and Ryan Callahan (from his house across town) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss four-star defensive back Kamar Wilcoxson’s commitment to Tennessee. Wilcoxson, the nation’s No. 14 safety prospect in the 2021 industry-generated 247Sports Composite, de-committed from Florida twice during the process before choosing Tennessee on Monday. He had more than 30 offers and chose the Vols over the likes of Alabama, Ohio State and, of course, Florida. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Wilcoxson is an Atlanta-area native who recently transferred to powerhouse IMG Academy in Florida in order to help him transition more smoothly to the college level, but the work he did back home was plenty good enough to get offers from the best programs in college football. What kind of a prospect is Wilcoxson? Does he project as a safety, a cornerback, a nickel or perhaps all of the above? How have Jeremy Pruitt and his staff gotten so hot on the recruiting trail during the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine? Is Wilcoxson really done with the recruiting process this time? What does his commitment mean for the Vols’ class? How long can Tennessee stay this hot? Those are some of the many discussion points squeezed into this one-segment episode. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Grant Ramey (from GoVols247’s Blount County Satellite Office in Maryville) and Ryan Callahan (from his house across town) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss five-star Alabama edge rusher Dylan Brooks’ commitment to Tennessee. Brooks, the nation’s No. 18 overall prospect in the 2021 industry-generated 247Sports Composite, could have committed anywhere, but the top-ranked player in Alabama chose Tennessee over in-state powers Alabama and Auburn, reigning national champion LSU and others. A decision like this will send shockwaves across the college football landscape, and there’s so much to discuss. Since this was a breaking-news episode, though, there wasn’t much time in which to discuss it. So a lot of topics were including in rapid-fire succession. How did Tennessee pull off this coup? Why didn’t Brooks choose Alabama, Auburn or LSU? What does this say about Jeremy Pruitt and his staff? Why has Tennessee had so much recruiting success in Alabama recently? What kind of prospect is Brooks? How much time will Brooks need to contribute? What does this mean for the rest of Tennessee’s 2021 class? Those are just some of the topics discussed in this one-segment episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Monday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and NBCSports’ college basketball writer Rob Dauster (from his home in the Washington D.C. area) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss where one Tennessee senior and perhaps one Tennessee junior could play at the next level, and where things stand for Rick Barnes’ program heading into the 2020-21 season. Dauster seems to higher than most analysts on the potential NBA future of Tennessee junior Yves Pons, the newly minted SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Pons still hasn’t announced an intention to declare for the NBA Draft without hiring an agent, but there’s no reason to believe he’d do anything else. Every college player is allowed to do that one time but still return to school as long as they don’t hire an agent, and Pons is a junior, so it makes sense to at least test the waters. While some remain on the fence of skeptical of Pons’ professional future, at least in this country, Dauster sees things differently. He has Pons ranked No. 32 overall on the most recent version of his hot board, and he offered several reasons for that belief. Dauster also discussed the potential NBA future of former Tennessee guard Jordan Bowden, a Knoxville native who started all four seasons for the hometown Vols and played a pivotal role in the program’s rebirth in the Barnes era. Bowden was pegged by many as a potential breakout star heading into his senior season, but a prolonged shooting slump plagued much of that season. Bowden’s elite athleticism and two-way ability still have him firmly on the radar of at least a few NBA organizations, though, and probably more than that, and Dauster spoke about Bowden’s potential going forward. While much of the discussion with Dauster focused on Pons and Bowden, the conversation concluded with a chat about the Vols heading into next season. Putting it mildly, Dauster is very high on Tennessee heading into next season, and he offered several reasons to support that claim. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Monday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Patrick Brown (from his house at an undisclosed location across town) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss an offseason checklist of sorts for Tennessee’s quarterbacks and wide receivers. The secondary at Tennessee has always been a well-coached group under head coach Jeremy Pruitt and defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley, and the Vols return plenty of experience from last season. Segment No. 1 of this episode focuses on Tennessee’s deep cornerback spots. That group — led by junior star Bryce Thompson — has the potential to become one of the SEC’s best in 2020, if junior Alontae Taylor, sophomore Warren Burrell, senior Kenneth George Jr. and others take a step forward. A strong finish last season from Shawn Shamburger helped Tennessee solidify the crucial nickel spot in the secondary, and Shamburger will return for his senior season to give the Vols another important piece of the puzzle. Some discussion on Shamburger and the other options at nickel are included in the first segment. The safeties take center stage in the second segment of this episode, and there’s plenty to discuss there, as well. Nigel Warrior last season finally became the All-SEC-caliber player so many expected him to be, but he was a senior and is currently preparing for the NFL Draft. Tennessee returns plenty of talent and experience at the safety positions, though, with sophomore Jaylen McCollough, junior Trevon Flowers and senior Theo Jackson expected to be the top three competitors for the starting spots. Others, including talented sophomore Tyus Fields, also hope to get themselves into the mix. Discussion on Tennessee’s two (and potentially three) secondary newcomers — versatile athletes Keyshawn Lawrence and Tamarion McDonald, and safety Doneiko Slaughter — hope to get themselves in the mix, as well, and discussion on all three of those freshmen is included in this episode. There’s also discussion senior Baylen Buchanan, a former starter who will be back in the mix at cornerback if he’s able to overcome a complicated health situation that forced him to redshirt last season. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Thursday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Grant Ramey (from GoVols247’s Blount County Satellite Office in Maryville) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to respond to several questions from Tennessee fans on GoVols247’s CheckerBoard and social media. Perhaps it doesn’t seem like there’s much happening in the sports world at the moment, but there’s always plenty happening at Tennessee and always plenty of interesting things to discuss regarding the Vols’ past, present and future. There were plenty of interesting questions from Tennessee fans to answer in this episode. Football, basketball, recruiting and much more are discussed in detail in this full-hour episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released Wednesday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoVols247’s Wes Rucker (from Fort Rucker Studio) and Ryan Callahan (from his house across town) convened via the magic of Al Gore’s Internets to discuss big Alabama wide receiver Roc Taylor’s Friday afternoon commitment to Tennessee. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Taylor chose Tennessee over a list of several other offers, including SEC programs Florida and Arkansas. He became the Vols’ 10th commitment in the 2021 class and their third commitment during this recruiting dead period caused by the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. What kind of prospect is Taylor? Is he definitely a wide receiver going forward, or could a move to tight end or somewhere else come down the line? Why have the Vols been able to continue recruiting so effectively during this dead period, and does this 10-strong foundation at such an early period help them become more selective the rest of the cycle and focus on the players toward the top of their board? What does the addition of Taylor mean for the recruiting at the wide receiver and tight end positions for the rest of this cycle? Those are the main discussion points in this quick, one-segment episode. The next GoVols247 Podcast episode will be released by Monday, unless major breaking news occurs before that point. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices