Aug. 6, 2016

It’s almost Soccer Time in Tennessee! To count down to the start of the season, each day we’ll profile a player on the Vols’ 2016 squad. The countdown will run all the way up to the season opener on August 19 vs. Southeast Missouri State. Make sure to follow Tennessee Soccer on Twitter (@Vol_Soccer), Instagram (Vol_Soccer) and Facebook (facebook.com/TennesseeSoccer) for news, stats and more!

#13 Josie Jennings

Basic Info

Position:
Defender
Year:
Junior
Hometown:
Knoxville, Tenn.
Previous School:
Farragut HS
Major:
Kinesiology with a focus in Pre-Med
Follow Josie:
Twitter – @josejalapeno13 Instagram – josiejennings13
Career Stats:
GP/GS: 24/9 | Goals: 0 |Assists: 0 | Points: 0 | Shots: 2 | SOG: 1

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Our 2016 soccer countdown continues today with a junior defender Josie Jennings, who will be competing for a key role on the Vols’ back four.

Need to Know

Jennings saw significant minutes as a true freshman in 2014, playing in 16 games while making seven starts. However, she was used sparingly last season with the quartet of Susan Ferguson, Kathryn Culhane, Gabby Santorio and Emily Morrow firmly entrenched as the starting back four. Jennings played only eight games in 2015 but did start two of the team’s last three contests, including playing the full 90 minutes against Ole Miss on October 23.

Jennings is a local product who played her prep soccer at Farragut High School. The Knoxville native was named the Tennessee Gatorade Girls’ Fall Soccer Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Gatorade National Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year following her senior season in 2013. Jennings also earned 2013 NSCAA Fall High School All-America honors and was a three-time all-state selection for Admirals. She helped lead Farragut to three consecutive district and regional championships from 2011-13. Jennings decorated prep career also included Tennessee state titles with her club team, FC Alliance 96 Black, in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013. She also led FC Alliance to Disney Showcase championships in 2011 and 2013. Jennings chose Tennessee over Samford, MTSU and Belmont. Check out her entire bio HERE.

Get to Know Josie!

Fun Fact: Josie has a hidden love for interior design, so in the future she hopes to be able to refurbish an old house and make it her own.

Favorite Food: At any point in time I could be craving my grandma’s amazing fried chicken or Mexican food.

Favorite Movie: The Bourne trilogy and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. As a kid these were the staple movies that my sister, my dad and myself would watch together. And now they will forever be my favorites.

Favorite Musical Artist: I am a fan of all types of music but two solid bands I always love to listen to are the Dixie Chicks and the Dirty Guv’nahs.

Celebrity Crush: Matt Damon

Dream Job Outside of Soccer: My dream job would honestly be what I am pursuing in life, a doctor (sports medicine). I am extremely interested in healthcare, and being able to help people is what I desire in my future.

Favorite Soccer Memory: It was the fall of my sophomore year of high school and our team was predicted to finish in the bottom of our district. After tons of hard work we got all the way to the semifinals of the Tennessee State Tournament. On the day of the game our bus broke down and we only had 15 minutes to warm up, our keeper got hurt and we played a full 110 minutes of soccer (regular time plus two over time periods) with no score. After that we went into penalty kicks and one of our seniors missed the first PK, but the underclassman, including myself, went 4-for-4 and we ending up beating the defending state champions.

Hobbies: I am a big fan of baking. I am currently piecing together a cookbook with all my favorite recipes.

If not soccer, what sport? I would play basketball. At the end of my middle school basketball career I had to choose between soccer and basketball and clearly soccer won that battle.

Most embarrassing soccer moment: I had a knack for getting the cleat of one foot stuck in my shoelaces of my other foot. Due to this special talent, I can recall many memories of me tripping and falling on the field with absolutely no one around me.

Favorite Thing About Tennessee: My favorite thing about UT is the athletic environment we live in every single day from the amazing sports amenities to the incredible staff. Here at Tennessee we are lucky to be surrounded by the best.

Next On the Countdown

In tomorrow’s countdown profile we’ll meet a former No. 1 overall recruit who was also a member of the SEC All-Freshman Team last season, sophomore Katie Cousins.