2015 Tennessee Volunteers season

2015 Tennessee Volunteers
TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl, vs Michigan, L 14-23
Conference	Southeastern Conference East Division
2015 record	10-2 (5-2 SEC)
Head coach	LDYo (1st year)
Offensive scheme	Pro-Style
Base defense	3-4
Captain	Don Anderson, Trent Haynes, Reggie Griffin, Darren Manning
Home stadium	Neyland Stadium (Capacity: 102,455)
Seasons « 2014 2016 »

2015 SEC football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East
x #5 Georgia		7	–	1					12	–	3
#14 Tennessee		5	–	2					10	–	3
#22 Vanderbilt		4	–	3					8	–	5
Kentucky		4	–	3					7	–	6
Florida		3	–	4					7	–	5
Missouri		2	–	5					3	–	9
South Carolina		0	–	7					2	–	10
West
x #7 Texas A&M		6	–	2					11	–	3
#12 Auburn		5	–	2					10	–	3
LSU		4	–	3					8	–	5
#23 Alabama		4	–	3					8	–	5
Ole Miss		2	–	5					6	–	6
Arkansas		2	–	5					5	–	7
Mississippi State		2	–	5					4	–	8
SEC Championship Game: Georgia 26, Texas A&M 20
x – Division champion/co-champions Rankings from Coaches Poll

The Tennessee Volunteers had their third year in the 2015 CFBHC Season. During the offseason, former coach HaiThere was let go, and LDYo of the Indiana Hoosiers was brought in to lead the Vols. The appointment was a slight shock as the Indiana coach had relatively little experience, however the new coach played many good opponents close in the 2014 season with the Hoosiers and was deemed a good candidate.

Tennessee had a good start to the 2015 season winning three straight games including a hard fought and scrappy win against Miami in Sun Life Stadium. This win also saw them become ranked in the coaches poll coming in at #23.

Week 7 saw the Volunteers become bowl eligible with a hard fought victory against reigning national champions, #12 ranked Alabama. The game had only a single touchdown and was a battle of defence between the two teams, Michael Cipa kicked 3 field goals to get Tennessee the 9-7 win. The Vols were once again ranked after this win and were placed at #21 in the coaches poll.

The Vols carried the momentum of the Alabama game to week 8 where they faced Oklahoma State, another impressive defensive team, the game was expected to be a defensive battle much like the Alabama game and it proved to be the case. The Vols traveled to Stillwater and managed to emerge with an important victory going into a pivotal SEC East game Against Georgia. Only a single touchdown was scored in a hard fought 10-3 victory, this also saw Tennessee move up to #14 in the coaches poll.

Week 9 saw what many described as Tennessee's most important game of the season against the Georgia Bulldogs. The game promised to be a contested affair and did not disappoint, both teams were evenly matched throughout the first 3 quarters of play. The 4th quarter ended up being a wild ride, Georgia went a point up with under 2 minutes remaining in the game, the Tennessee defence successfully defending against a 2 point conversion that would have put the Bulldogs 3 points ahead. The Vols were able to work down the field enough for kicker Michael Cipa to make a clutch 50 yard field goal to win the game. This win put the Vols in the driving seat of the SEC East with coach LDYo hoping to carry this momentum into the final 3 tough games of the season.

Tennessee lost a close one against Kentucky, but cleaned up the rest of the season to earn a birth to the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl. There they were upset by unranked Michigan, but LDYo's first year in Tennessee was widely considered a success.

Schedule

Regular Season

Date	Time	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result
8/16/2014	3:00 PM	TCU*		Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN	W 3–38
8/23/2014	3:00 PM	Duke*		Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN	W 20–21
8/30/2014	6:00 PM	at Miami (FL)*		Sun Life Stadium • Miami, FL	W 20–17 OT
9/6/2014	9:00 PM	#9 Florida	#23	Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN	L 28–14
9/20/2014	6:00 PM	at Missouri		Memorial Stadium • Columbia, MO	W 31–28
9/24/2014	8:00 PM	San Diego State*		Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN	W 3–14
10/4/2014	9:00 PM	#12 Alabama		Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN	W 7–9
10/9/2014	8:00 PM	at Oklahoma State*	#21	Boone Pickens Stadium • Stillwater, OK	W 10–3
10/18/2014	9:00 PM	#4 Georgia	#14	Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN	W 20–22
10/24/2014	9:00 PM	Kentucky	#9	Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN	L 23–20 OT
11/6/2014	12:00 PM	at South Carolina	#16	Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, SC	W 5–3
11/15/2014	9:00 PM	at #22 Vanderbilt	#14	Vanderbilt Stadium • Nashville, TN	W 16–14
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Standard Time.

Post-season

Date	Time	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result
11/25/2014	3:00 PM	vs. Michigan*	#14	EverBank Field • Jacksonville, Florida (TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl)	L 14–23
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Standard Time.

Personnel

Key Personnel

Name	Position	Season at Tennessee	Season in current role
LDYo	Head Coach	1st	1st
Cleveland Jones	Quarterback	3rd	1st
Don Anderson	Running Back	4th	2nd
Malcolm Larsen	Wide Receiver	3rd	2nd
Richard Young	Tight End	4th	1st
Reggie Hedberg	Defensive Tackle	3rd	1st
Trent Haynes	Outside Linebacker	3rd	3rd
Reggie Griffin	Cornerback	4th	3rd
Darren Manning	Strong Safety	4th	2nd

Position key

Back	B		Center	C		Cornerback	CB		Defensive back	DB
Defensive end	DE		Defensive lineman	DL		Defensive tackle	DT		End	E
Fullback	FB		Guard	G		Halfback	HB		Kicker	K
Kickoff returner	KR		Offensive tackle	OT		Offensive lineman	OL		Linebacker	LB
Long snapper	LS		Punter	P		Punt returner	PR		Quarterback	QB
Running back	RB		Safety	S		Tight end	TE		Wide receiver	WR

Pre-Season Roster

2013 Tenneessee Volunteeers football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. Name Class QB Tagge, SenecaSeneca Tagge  4.5 !Sr QB Jones, ClevelandCleveland Jones  3.5 !Jr QB Brown, OlandaOlanda Brown  2.5 !So QB Boerigter, JohnJohn Boerigter  2.5 !So QB Garrison, AdamAdam Garrison  1.5 !Fr RB Anderson, DonDon Anderson  4.5 !Sr RB Waters, CurtisCurtis Waters 57.0 !Sr RB Holleyman, LarryLarry Holleyman 5.0 !Jr RB Chadwick, DougDoug Chadwick 3.0 !So RB Wilson, JoseJose Wilson 1.0 !Fr FB Shaw, ArtArt Shaw  4.5 !Sr FB Robinson, KendrickKendrick Robinson 3.0 !So FB Cornwall, BrentBrent Cornwall 3.0 !So WR Phillips, DickDick Phillips  3.5 !Jr WR Larsen, MalcolmMalcolm Larsen 5.0 !Jr WR Spikes, TroyTroy Spikes  2.5 !So WR London, WillWill London  1.5 !Fr WR Mitchell, CharlesCharles Mitchell 1.0 !Fr WR Harry, PaulPaul Harry 1.0 !Fr WR Page, JosephJoseph Page 1.0 !Fr TE Young, RichardRichard Young 57.0 !Sr TE Rodgers, NickyNicky Rodgers  3.5 !Jr TE Haddad, TrungTrung Haddad 5.0 !Jr TE Morrison, DavidDavid Morrison 3.0 !So TE Gill, DavidDavid Gill 3.0 !So TE Kelly, BruceBruce Kelly 1.0 !Fr TE Self, CharlesCharles Self 1.0 !Fr OT Spillis, JoeJoe Spillis 57.0 !Sr OT Knapp, JamesJames Knapp 5.0 !Jr OT Parker, DanDan Parker 3.0 !So OT Huber, FredFred Huber  2.5 !So OT Wilson, PetePete Wilson  2.5 !So OT Hart, SilasSilas Hart 1.0 !Fr OT May, RobertRobert May 1.0 !Fr OT Whitney, FrankFrank Whitney 1.0 !Fr OG Vanover, RileyRiley Vanover 57.0 !Sr OG Smith, BuddyBuddy Smith 57.0 !Sr OG Glover, TonyTony Glover 5.0 !Jr OG Love, MattyMatty Love 3.0 !So OG Scott, ReshadReshad Scott 3.0 !So C Jackson, DonnyDonny Jackson  4.5 !Sr C Bell, MartinMartin Bell 3.0 !So C Barrett, LeoLeo Barrett 1.0 !Fr C Walker, HoraceHorace Walker 1.0 !Fr	Defense Pos. Name Class DE Bauer, RexRex Bauer  4.5 !Sr DE Craver, EmmittEmmitt Craver 57.0 !Sr DE Rodgers, TravianTravian Rodgers 5.0 !Jr DE Moss, BenBen Moss 5.0 !Jr DE Brown, WesleyWesley Brown 3.0 !So DE Barton, TomTom Barton 1.0 !Fr DE Polk, DanielDaniel Polk 1.0 !Fr DE Miller, AnthonyAnthony Miller 1.0 !Fr DT Rosenbach, JeffJeff Rosenbach  3.5 !Jr DT Hedberg, ReggieReggie Hedberg 5.0 !Jr DT Dukes, CurtisCurtis Dukes  1.5 !Fr DT Velasquez, RaymondoRaymondo Velasquez  1.5 !Fr DT Scott, RayRay Scott  1.5 !Fr DT Santos, HerbertHerbert Santos 1.0 !Fr DT McKenna, HerbertHerbert McKenna 1.0 !Fr DT Roberts, RaymondRaymond Roberts 1.0 !Fr DT Jenkins, HenryHenry Jenkins 1.0 !Fr DT Braxton, JohnJohn Braxton 1.0 !Fr DT Walter, RicardoRicardo Walter 1.0 !Fr ILB Palmer, BryantBryant Palmer 57.0 !Sr ILB Cooper, MelvinMelvin Cooper 57.0 !Sr ILB Minnifield, VinceVince Minnifield  3.5 !Jr ILB Heeter, RicoRico Heeter 5.0 !Jr ILB Hansen, JasonJason Hansen  1.5 !Fr ILB Tucker, ChrisChris Tucker  1.5 !Fr ILB Hardison, AlexanderAlexander Hardison 5.0 !Jr OLB Byers, ToddTodd Byers 57.0 !Sr OLB Loyd, CliffCliff Loyd  3.5 !Jr OLB Haynes, TrentTrent Haynes 5.0 !Jr OLB Stephenson, HaroldHarold Stephenson 5.0 !Jr OLB Griffin, EddieEddie Griffin 3.0 !So OLB Daniel, AllenAllen Daniel 1.0 !Fr OLB Braswell, JosephJoseph Braswell 1.0 !Fr CB Griffin, ReggieReggie Griffin 57.0 !Sr CB Vanover, MarvinMarvin Vanover 57.0 !Sr CB Doxzon, BernieBernie Doxzon 57.0 !Sr CB Saul, FredFred Saul  2.5 !So CB Moon, BradleyBradley Moon 3.0 !So CB Rouse, JeremyJeremy Rouse 3.0 !So CB Raymond, NoelNoel Raymond 1.0 !Fr CB Coulter, RichardRichard Coulter 1.0 !Fr CB Stiles, AaronAaron Stiles 1.0 !Fr FS Johnson, CharlesCharles Johnson  3.5 !Jr FS Kriewaldt, JonJon Kriewaldt 5.0 !Jr FS Ortiz, JoseJose Ortiz 1.0 !Fr SS Manning, DarrenDarren Manning  4.5 !Sr SS Miller, RobertRobert Miller 57.0 !Sr SS Edwards, TomTom Edwards 3.0 !So SS Taylor, RobertRobert Taylor 1.0 !Fr SS Williams, MichaelMichael Williams 1.0 !Fr	Special teams Pos. Name Class K Myer, CurtisCurtis Myer 57.0 !Sr K Cipa, MichaelMichael Cipa 5.0 !Jr K Merry, AndrewAndrew Merry 1.0 !Fr	Head coach LDYo Coordinators/assistant coaches None Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: end of 2015 season

Depth chart

Defense [1] FS Charles Johnson Jon Kriewaldt WLB MLB SLB Cliff Loyd Bryant Palmer Trent Haynes Allen Daniel Melvin Cooper Todd Byers SS Darren Manning Robert Miller CB Reggie Griffin Bernie Doxzon DE DT DT DE Travian Rodgers Reggie Hedberg Jeff Rosenbach Rex Bauer Emmitt Craver Curtis Dukes Herbert Santos Ben Moss CB Fred Saul Marvin Vanover Offense [2] WR Malcolm Larsen Will London LT LG C RG RT Fred Huber Riley Vanover Martin Bell Tony Glover Joe Spilis Pete Wilson Buddy Smith Leo Barrett Matty Love James Knapp TE Richard Young Nicky Rogers WR Troy Spikes Dick Phillips QB Cleveland Jones Adam Garrison FB Art Shaw Kendrick Robinson Special Teams PK Michael Cipa P Michael Cipa KR Doug Chadwick PR Doug Chadwick LS Martin Bell H Adam Garrison RB Don Anderson Curtis Waters

Individual Awards

OT Fred Huber - All-SEC 3rd Team
DE Rex Bauer - All-SEC 3rd Team, SEC Defensive Player of the Week - 9
DT Reggie Hedberg - All-SEC 1st Team
OLB Trent Haynes - All-SEC 1st Team
SS Darren Manning - All-SEC 2nd Team
K Michael Cipa - All-SEC 3rd Team
Coach LDYo - SEC Coach of the Year

Recruiting

High School

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Eli Austin WR	Stockton, MO	Stockton High School	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	217 lb (98 kg)	Round 3
	Skill:   Potential:
Damian Mason OT	Murfreesboro, TN	Riverdale High School	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	296 lb (134 kg)	Round 1
	Skill:   Potential:
Nathaniel Jeffries OLB	Crossville, TN	Cumberland County High School	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	253 lb (115 kg)	Round 4
	Skill:   Potential:
Nikita Crowe RB	Little Rock, AR	McClellan Magnet High School	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	226 lb (103 kg)	Round 4
	Skill:   Potential:
Toma Malifa C	Little Rock, AR	Hall High School	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	258 lb (117 kg)	Round 4
	Skill:   Potential:
Micah Singletary OLB	Nashville, TN	Donelson Christian Academy	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	229 lb (104 kg)	Round 4
	Skill:   Potential:
Timothy Braxton RB	Cosby, TN	Cosby High School	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	203 lb (92 kg)	Round 1
	Skill:   Potential:
Daniel Spivey DE	Elkton, KY	Todd County Central High School	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	261 lb (118 kg)	Round 4
	Skill:   Potential:
Eric Jamison DE	Southaven, MI	So Baptist Educational Center	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	248 lb (112 kg)	Round 4
	Skill:   Potential:
Sean Burnett FB	Columbia, TN	Spring Hill High School	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	226 lb (103 kg)	Round 1
	Skill:   Potential:
Micah Lankford DE	Chapel Hill, TN	Forrest School	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	246 lb (112 kg)	Walk-on
	Skill:   Potential:
Tristan Browne WR	Collinwood, TN	Collinwood High School	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	166 lb (75 kg)	Round 1
	Skill:   Potential:
Connor Craft OG	Powell, TN	Powell High School	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	275 lb (125 kg)	Round 1
	Skill:   Potential:
Jackson Barnhart OG	Elkton, KY	Todd County Central High School	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	322 lb (146 kg)	Round 1
	Skill:   Potential:
Ben Donahue C	England, AR	England High School	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	302 lb (137 kg)	Round 1
	Skill:   Potential:
Nicolas Betts ILB	Fulton, KY	Fulton City High School	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	226 lb (103 kg)	Round 4
	Skill:   Potential:
David Strange OLB	Eads, TN	Briarcrest Christian School	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	222 lb (101 kg)	Round 1
	Skill:   Potential:
Elvis Cardenas OLB	Brentwood, TN	Ravenwood High School	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	Round 4
	Skill:   Potential:
Dylan Handy CB	Maryville, TN	Heritage High School	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	178 lb (81 kg)	Round 1
	Skill:   Potential:
Ethan Calloway FS	Eads, TN	Briarcrest Christian School	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	187 lb (85 kg)	Walk-on
	Skill:   Potential:
Lamont Pressley FS	Brentwood, TN	Ravenwood High School	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	Walk-on
	Skill:   Potential:
Zachary Becker K	Louisville, KY	Western High School	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	222 lb (101 kg)	Round 1
	Skill:   Potential:
Jahmir Staples CB	Fairview, TN	Fairview High School	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	199 lb (90 kg)	Walk-on
	Skill:   Potential:
Israel McLean QB	Glasgow, KY	Glasgow High School	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	203 lb (92 kg)	Walk-on
	Skill:   Potential:
Anthony McCord FB	Louisville, KY	Trinity High School	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	254 lb (115 kg)	Walk-on
	Skill:   Potential:
Emmanuel Richard WR	Shelbyville, KY	Shelby County High School	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	183 lb (83 kg)	Walk-on
	Skill:   Potential:
DeSean Butts TE	Little Rock, AR	McClellan Magnet High School	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	219 lb (99 kg)	Walk-on
	Skill:   Potential:
Bryan Hoskins P	Horatio, AR	Horatio High School	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	177 lb (80 kg)	Walk-on
	Skill:   Potential:
Overall recruiting rankings:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Junior College Transfers

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Julius Thomas QB	Chattanooga, TN	Chattanooga State Technical CC	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	212 lb (96 kg)	JUCO
	Skill:   Potential:
Overall recruiting rankings:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.