Tennessee Vol Turkey Leg Awards
It is only appropriate on Thanksgiving that www.tenntruth.com give out turkey leg awards to those Tennessee Vol players that have stood out all season. This entire team is worthy of getting their fill today, but in Madden fashion we have to highlight a certain few. So here goes:
1. Honorary Turkey Leg – Eric Berry – Eric gets the first Turkey leg due to the news we all received a few days back. All of Vol Nation will pray that our number 14 will get back in his Chiefs number 29 jersey soon and get back to the NFL Pro Bowl where he belongs. Eric has been sent to Emory University for further tests. Our prayers are with him as well as this Tennessee Turkey Leg
2. Derek Barnett – The freshman Defensive Tackle out of Brentwood Academy in the Nashville Suburbs has had an outstanding year. He has been a huge surprise to for the Vols who are desperately thin at the Defensive Line position. Barnett has 64 total tackles now and has 9 sacks, and a team leading 18.5 tackles for loss. These stats are better than Jadeveon Clowney. He has been a model of consistency, and I would hate to think of where the Vols would be without his pressure in the backfield.
3. Jacob Gilliam – The 6’4″ Redshirt Senior was a walkon 5 years ago out of Knoxville Farragut. Gilliam waited his time to get to start for the Vols. Gilliam played behind offensive guards and tackles that are now playing on Sundays. Gilliam finally got his start against Utah State in the Vols first game of the season. Gilliam went down quickly with an ACL tear. All of Vol Nation felt bad for this young man. The offensive line was thin to say the least, and the next few games were telling. Gilliam refused to have surgery as he knew his time would be up at Tennessee. Instead he strengthened the knee, threw a brace on it, and came back to play against Ole Miss. He has started every game since and is the leader of the offensive line. In my opinion there should be a banner hung in the stadium to this young man. He is what being a “Volunteer” is all about. Not enough is said about this guy!
4. Jalen Reeves-Maybin – This Sophomore from Clarksville, Tennessee is all over the place. He makes tackle from sideline to sideline, and in many cases, in the opposing teams backfield. Reeves-Maybin has 83 total tackles which is second on the team behind AJ Johnson. He has 10 total tackles for loss and 2 sacks. Again, he is a model of consistency. He will be another Vol linebacker that we will see in the NFL, but for now we want him to stay at Tennessee as long as he can. Another great in-state player for the Vols!
5. Justin Worley – The Senior Quarterback is done for the Vols. Justin got hit more than Rocky Balboa in an Apollo Creed fight over the first part of the Season. Finally, his shoulder could take no more punishment, and Justin had to undergo surgery to repair. Vol Nation has come to love the grittiness and toughness of this young man. However, he is more than a tough guy. Justin played well this season. He finished the season 157-252 in passing for a 62.3% completion rate. That is strong against air. He threw for 1579 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was under pressure as soon as he came out of the tunnel early in the season and was sacked 24 times. He never complained, and he stayed in the pocket trying to help this team win games. Justin proved himself Turkey leg worthy in the Oklahoma game by itself.
6. Jalen Hurd – This kid is all that a 5 star recruit could be and should be. He is better than I even thought he would be. His numbers are not spectacular, but his runs to pick up that yardage have been. Hurd leads the team as a freshman with 756 hard earned yards. He also has 217 yards in receiving to go on the resume. Hurd is yet another mid-state Tennessee football player that is making a huge difference. If you have followed Hurd this season, you notice that Jalen has to improvise a lot to get his yards. He is met often in the backfield by the opposing defense, and still manages to juke or power his way out. His fourth down, screen pass touchdown in the fourth quarter of the South Carolina game is indicative of this young man’s heart. He wants to win, and he will win at Tennessee. A big Turkey leg goes to this kid.
Live Feed
FanSided
7. Pig Howard – On a team with superstars like Marquez North, Josh Malone, and Von Pearson, Pig has stood out. This guy can frustrate Vol fans at times, but we have to give him his due for the production he has made on the field. Yes, he drops one here and there. But he also catches a bunch of them and it is on after he does. He is a gamer. Howard leads the team wit 47 catches for 534 yards. He is also a threat on the jet sweep. I think this turkey leg goes to Pig mostly because I am proud of what he did to get back on this team after a tough Summer that saw him separated from Team activity. He had to take responsibility for himself, and he did just that. Not many go that way, so for that (and a team leading 47 catches) he gets a turkey leg from www.tenntruth.com
8. Matt Darr – Why? Matt has had a solid year. He was a concern going into the season. He is the guy with the great leg that can kick it 60 yards….or 20. Matt had his best game of the season last week at Missouri. He consistently pinned the Tigers deep in their territory with his booming punts. He is averaging right at 42 yards per punt. It is good to see a Senior play his best football in his final season.
9. Cam Sutton – Cam gets a turkey leg because he would not have been given one, he would have shut the carving down all together like he has the opposing teams receivers. Cam is Tennessee’s best cover corner, and quite honestly the best cover guy on the team period. He has had his tough times this season, but for the most part he has been spectacular. I have been surprised by Cam’s tackling ability as well this season. He is an All SEC performer if I have ever seen one, and he is Turkey leg worthy!
I hope all of Vol Nation enjoys Thanksgiving Day. We want to also give a special Vol Nation Turkey Leg to all of those men and women overseas that are true Volunteers serving our blessed Country. Thank you all.