University of Tennessee Athletics
Newest Vols Ready For Winning Feeling
January 07, 2015 | Football
By Brian Rice KNOXVILLE, Tenn.
UTSports.com
All of them had set foot on campus multiple times through the recruiting process, but now it is very real, picking up their lives and moving to Knoxville to begin college life. When all of them are together, the excitement in the room is hard to ignore.
"It feels amazing," said offensive lineman Jack Jones. "I've wanted to play at the University of Tennessee my entire life, it's been one of my lifelong dreams. To be able to come and live that dream out feels awesome."
Nine of the 10 newcomers are freshman who did the work necessary to graduate early from high school to get a jump on their careers.
Junior college transfer Alvin Kamara will begin his time at Tennessee as a redshirt sophomore after following a path that led him from a redshirt season at Alabama to a successful year on the field and off at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas.
"It's a relief," Kamara said of being at Tennessee. "I've been through so much. I'm too excited, I'm ready to be back at this level competing with the best of the best in the SEC."
The feeling of relief was a familiar one for offensive lineman Chance Hall. The Roanoke, Virginia native is glad to have the recruiting process done and his career underway.
"Relieved," Hall said when asked to describe his emotions. "To be on campus is a good feeling to finally get here and get started in the weight room and in class."
The weight room was a common theme among the newcomers, excited about getting to work under Dave Lawson and the UT strength staff.
"I'm looking forward to lifting weights and getting bigger," defensive lineman Andrew Butcher said. "I'm excited to start working and getting better and pushing to our goals as a team.
That first session with Lawson and his staff will likely be the "Welcome to Tennessee" moment for defensive back Stephen Griffin.
"It really hasn't hit me yet, it almost feels like I'm still on a visit," Griffin said. "But it's real now, we start classes, it's here. I'm very excited, it's good to be on a college campus and start my college experience."
With the reach of social media, summer camps and all-star games, it has become very easy for players to get to know each other well before coming to campus. The proof is already evident in a group that has already become close in the limited time they have been together in person.
"I've gotten to know a lot of these guys during the process," Jones said. "Shy Tuttle and Andrew Butcher were my roommates at the Under Armour All-American Game. I like all of them a lot, it's a great group and I can't wait to get started with them."
Kamara said he is already feeling the role of mentor for the young guys, and is ready to share his experiences to give them a head start on what to expect as freshmen in the SEC.
"It's kind of funny, I feel old, even though I'm right around the same age," he said. "I'm only 19, but I feel like the big brother, helping them all get acclimated."
And one day in, the newcomers all have their eyes on the same goal.
"Winning," Hall said of his goal at Tennessee. "To get out there and win games."
