We begin this edition of the War Room like we do every week with a couple of ground rules. Everything that is reported in the War Room must stay in the War Room. That is how this works. The information in War Room is detailed to the point that it does not need to be passed beyond the doors of this post. This is a special feature for subscribers only, which is why it is posted on the premium board. Posting here is the only way to ensure that the information is exclusive to The General's Quarters. The War Room is a collective effort of notes and news gathered throughout the week by Brent, Rob, Austin and Jesse. The War Room will only work if everyone helps make it work … it's on with the news.
Both quarterbacks are out and about during May mini-term. Dormady has been in California and is now in Florida working with quarterback coach Jeff Christensen. Next week, Jarrett Guarantano will be out in San Diego with George Whitfield for a second time.
That's where a good competition is in play, but some of the best drama resides on the offensive line. In talking to some around the program, Jashon Robertson appears to be the only locked in starter at this point and where will that be? If he is the center then Coleman Thomas appears to be on the outside looking in. If it's at guard then Jack Jones and Venzell Boulware could be the odd men out. Throw in Brett Kendrick, Trey Smith and Drew Richmond, to go along with Chance Hall and it's a log jam up front. In talking to some around the complex this week, Jones drew great reviews from the weight staff as he fully understands staying in town may help him immensely come August.
June first is a good day for the Vols on the defensive side of the ball. Players will be back in town and several are expected to be fully cleared and ready to go including defensive linemen Kahlil McKenzie, Kyle Phillips, and Kendal Vickers.
Speaking of June, most all of Tennessee's signing class will be in Knoxville by then. We have been catching up to a good number of them over the last couple of weeks.
Cheyenne Labruzza’s knee is 100 percent healthy and he’s working out 3+ hours a day with former Tennessee defensive back J.J. McCleskey.
McCleskey trains a big group of current and future D-1 football players and believes Labruzza should see the field in 2017.
“I’ll be very disappointed if Cheyenne doesn’t come in and play this year because he’s going to be the first one and the last person out,” he said.
McCleskey spoke at Tennessee’s coaching clinic in April, where he got the chance to spend time with new secondary coach Charlton Warren. He picked Warren’s brain on techniques, drills and philosophies, giving Labruzza a jumpstart on the specific coaching he’ll see this fall during recent training sessions.
Labruzza ultimately committed to Tennessee over in-state LSU because the Vols simply recruited him the hardest from Day 1. The Tigers tried to slow-play the corner, then upping their attention in January with multiple coaching visits, including an in-home trip from Ed Orgeron. Labruzza’s family was a bit thrown-off by the visit with Orgeron, though, as Cheyenne, a 4.0 student, wants to major in engineering and Orgeron hurried through the discussion and told him another major would be much easier at LSU. Conversely, Tennessee welcomed Labruzza’s confidence that the corner could juggle both academics and athletics. One of the key reasons Labruzza stuck with Tennessee in the end was loyalty. During one visit last summer, Cheyenne was late coming to campus after getting stuck in traffic in Chattanooga, and all the coaches, including Butch Jones — who was set to be home with their families –instead waited around for Labruzza and was standing there at the front door to greet him. As Cheynne’s brother Tracy said, “This is it, son. These people make you feel like you’re at home.”
Tailback Trey Coleman was pursued hard by Louisiana Tech late in the process, but Coleman never backed off his commitment to Tennessee after his OV answered questions about role and fit.
Future tight end James Brown recently finished rehab for labrum surgery but is over 225 pounds already.
Speaking of Brown, signee Shawn Shamburger said Brown and Maliek Gray are the “kings” of the group chat noting that they are always the first two to reply to anything anyone else text. Also Shamburger said he is expecting the worst when it comes to workouts the first couple of weeks in Knoxville. Shamburger has been doing some of Rock Gullickson's workout plan, but admits probably not as much as he should as he focused on track the last couple of months.
“I'm probably going to die the first two weeks,” Shamburger offered. “I tried to get a state title in track and have really been working on the track.”
Defensive lineman Matthew Butler has been following Gullickson's plan to a “t." In fact, Butler and Gullickson talk a couple of times a week about workouts, nutrition and other things. The two have decided that 270 pounds is the best weight for Butler who finishes school a week from today and moves to Knoxville a week from Sunday. It's hard to imagine anyone more driven that Butler or anyone more prepared when he arrives than Butler.
Finally in football, Butch Jones and his staff are always looking for tips and things from other coaches as they try and visit with other staffs both in college and the NFL. One person, Jones and the defensive guys have visit with on a couple of occassions and former Vols assistant and recently retired Dan Brooks. Brooks and his wife Kathy are back living in East Tennessee and Brooks has been on the Vols campus a couple of times visiting with Brady Hoke, Steve Stripling and others just to talk a little ball.
Both quarterbacks are out and about during May mini-term. Dormady has been in California and is now in Florida working with quarterback coach Jeff Christensen. Next week, Jarrett Guarantano will be out in San Diego with George Whitfield for a second time.
That's where a good competition is in play, but some of the best drama resides on the offensive line. In talking to some around the program, Jashon Robertson appears to be the only locked in starter at this point and where will that be? If he is the center then Coleman Thomas appears to be on the outside looking in. If it's at guard then Jack Jones and Venzell Boulware could be the odd men out. Throw in Brett Kendrick, Trey Smith and Drew Richmond, to go along with Chance Hall and it's a log jam up front. In talking to some around the complex this week, Jones drew great reviews from the weight staff as he fully understands staying in town may help him immensely come August.
June first is a good day for the Vols on the defensive side of the ball. Players will be back in town and several are expected to be fully cleared and ready to go including defensive linemen Kahlil McKenzie, Kyle Phillips, and Kendal Vickers.
Speaking of June, most all of Tennessee's signing class will be in Knoxville by then. We have been catching up to a good number of them over the last couple of weeks.
Cheyenne Labruzza’s knee is 100 percent healthy and he’s working out 3+ hours a day with former Tennessee defensive back J.J. McCleskey.
McCleskey trains a big group of current and future D-1 football players and believes Labruzza should see the field in 2017.
“I’ll be very disappointed if Cheyenne doesn’t come in and play this year because he’s going to be the first one and the last person out,” he said.
McCleskey spoke at Tennessee’s coaching clinic in April, where he got the chance to spend time with new secondary coach Charlton Warren. He picked Warren’s brain on techniques, drills and philosophies, giving Labruzza a jumpstart on the specific coaching he’ll see this fall during recent training sessions.
Labruzza ultimately committed to Tennessee over in-state LSU because the Vols simply recruited him the hardest from Day 1. The Tigers tried to slow-play the corner, then upping their attention in January with multiple coaching visits, including an in-home trip from Ed Orgeron. Labruzza’s family was a bit thrown-off by the visit with Orgeron, though, as Cheyenne, a 4.0 student, wants to major in engineering and Orgeron hurried through the discussion and told him another major would be much easier at LSU. Conversely, Tennessee welcomed Labruzza’s confidence that the corner could juggle both academics and athletics. One of the key reasons Labruzza stuck with Tennessee in the end was loyalty. During one visit last summer, Cheyenne was late coming to campus after getting stuck in traffic in Chattanooga, and all the coaches, including Butch Jones — who was set to be home with their families –instead waited around for Labruzza and was standing there at the front door to greet him. As Cheynne’s brother Tracy said, “This is it, son. These people make you feel like you’re at home.”
Tailback Trey Coleman was pursued hard by Louisiana Tech late in the process, but Coleman never backed off his commitment to Tennessee after his OV answered questions about role and fit.
Future tight end James Brown recently finished rehab for labrum surgery but is over 225 pounds already.
Speaking of Brown, signee Shawn Shamburger said Brown and Maliek Gray are the “kings” of the group chat noting that they are always the first two to reply to anything anyone else text. Also Shamburger said he is expecting the worst when it comes to workouts the first couple of weeks in Knoxville. Shamburger has been doing some of Rock Gullickson's workout plan, but admits probably not as much as he should as he focused on track the last couple of months.
“I'm probably going to die the first two weeks,” Shamburger offered. “I tried to get a state title in track and have really been working on the track.”
Defensive lineman Matthew Butler has been following Gullickson's plan to a “t." In fact, Butler and Gullickson talk a couple of times a week about workouts, nutrition and other things. The two have decided that 270 pounds is the best weight for Butler who finishes school a week from today and moves to Knoxville a week from Sunday. It's hard to imagine anyone more driven that Butler or anyone more prepared when he arrives than Butler.
Finally in football, Butch Jones and his staff are always looking for tips and things from other coaches as they try and visit with other staffs both in college and the NFL. One person, Jones and the defensive guys have visit with on a couple of occassions and former Vols assistant and recently retired Dan Brooks. Brooks and his wife Kathy are back living in East Tennessee and Brooks has been on the Vols campus a couple of times visiting with Brady Hoke, Steve Stripling and others just to talk a little ball.
