University of Tennessee Athletics
Butch Jones Celebrates Two Years At UT
December 07, 2014 | Football
By Brian Rice KNOXVILLE, Tenn.
UTSports.com
On his second anniversary with the Volunteers, UT will find out its destination for the first bowl game under Jones, tangible evidence of the building that has been done. It will be the first bowl game for Tennessee since the 2010 season, and the reasons for it are obvious when you look out on to the practice field when Jones holds the second bowl practice on his second anniversary.
The run to six wins was powered by players brought in by Jones and his staff in two nationally-ranked recruiting classes. Tennessee started 11 freshmen in the 2014 season, seven of those coming on offense. Jashon Robertson became just the fourth offensive lineman to start his first game in the season opener against Utah State, a starting spot he would hold for all 12 games.
In the same game, Derek Barnett became the first true freshman to start a season opener on the D-Line in UT history. Barnett shattered the Tennessee freshman records for tackles for loss (20.5) and sacks (10.0). He twice posted Tennessee record for sacks in a game by a true freshman with three at Ole Miss and South Carolina. Barnett's 20.5 TFLs, ranks fifth on all-time single season list in UT history, the most since John Henderson's 21 in 2000.
Robertson and Barnett were part of a talented in-state class that also produced Tennessee's leading rusher, Jalen Hurd. Hurd made eight starts while playing in all 12 games and had 174 carries for 777 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Hurd also made 33 catches for 217 yards with two receiving touchdowns, including the first of his career in the opener against Utah State. He has three 100-yard yard games, the most by a true freshman since Jamal Lewis' seven in 1997. His 777 yards are also the most as a freshman since Lewis' 1997 campaign.
32 of the 71 players that saw action in the season opener were making their debuts in orange, 21 of those freshmen. The previous record for freshman debuts in a season opener was 12 in 2010 and 2011.
The sophomore class, a product of Jones' abbreviated recruiting season after his hiring two Decembers ago, made its mark as freshmen last season and continued to step forward in 2014. Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin went from special teams ace as a freshman to Tennessee's second-leading tackler as a sophomore. Cameron Sutton emerged as one of the Southeastern Conference's best lockdown cornerbacks. Marquez North had four touchdown catches before being slowed by injury late in the season.
In his two seasons, Jones has had his most success as a coach against South Carolina and Steve Spurrier, the winningest active coach in the SEC and second only to Bear Bryant in all-time SEC wins.
Jones's first win against a ranked opponent came against the Gamecocks last season in Neyland Stadium, the program's first win over a ranked opponent since the Vols beat South Carolina in 2009. It was also UT's first triumph over a top-15 squad since defeating No. 15 South Carolina, 27-24 in overtime, in 2007.
This season, the Volunteers rallied from a 14-point deficit with under five minutes to play to earn a dramatic 45-42 win in overtime in Columbia. Sophomore quarterback Joshua Dobbs, another player brought in by Jones, had to step in for an injured Justin Worley for the second-consecutive year made his first start against the Gamecocks and delivered a performance for the ages.
Dobbs was 23-of-40 for 301 yards and two touchdowns through the air and carried 24 times for 166 yards and three more TDs. His 467 total yards was good for fourth all-time at Tennessee, behind only Tyler Bray's school-record 530 against Troy in 2012 and a pair of Peyton Manning performances, 508 against Kentucky in 1997 and 475 against Florida in 1996.
But the best is yet to come as Jones begins year three. Preparation is ongoing for that first bowl appearance, with the second bowl practice slated for his second anniversary. Jones and staff have also hit the road hard, well on their way to another impressive recruiting class to continue that building of the Tennessee program.
He said it on day one and it continues today. There are no quick fixes in building a program. But Jones continues the building, and just as it was on day one, it continues to be today, Brick by Brick.
