APIt had previously been reported that three members of Tennessee’s 2012 offense — quarterback Tyler Bray and wide receivers Justin Hunter and Cordarrelle Patterson (pictured) — would be leaving the Vols early for the NFL.
As it turns out, the total’s actually four.
In a press release, UT confirmed that trio, along with defensive lineman Darrington Sentimore, have informed new head coach Butch Jones that they intend to declare for the 2013 NFL Draft and relinquish their final year of college eligibility.
Bray has started 24 games the past three seasons, and leaves the Vols in fourth place all-time in passing touchdowns (69) and passing yards (7,444) and fifth in pass completions (540). His father confirmed earlier this month that his son had already signed with an agent, precluding any type of return to Knoxville.
Hunter and Patterson were 1-2 in receptions and receiving yards this season, the first year the latter had been part of the Vols. Hunter announced via Twitter last month that he was headed to the draft.
The only “surprise” among the four is Sentimore. The lineman started nine of the 12 games he played this season, and was credited with four sacks and five tackles for loss.
strange to have 4 early declarers from a team that went 5-7
CP and Hunter will be first rounders…Bray is awful and I’m glad he’s gone. Sentimore had academic issues
Next year we are going to have 2 first rounders from our Oline (Jawaun James & Tiny Richardson) and Dallas Thomas is a late first/early second rounder this year. Talent was never the issue for this team, they just weren’t coached up.
thats tough to lose the starting qb and the top two wideouts all in the same year. Tennesse’s passing game was third best in the sec(behind texas a&m and georgia) and was ranked 15th nationally, so thats going to hurt a lot.
with butch Jones bringing in the read option along with the three wideout package, its probably best for Bray to get out now since he had a decent junior year, and allow Jones to work his system with underclass QB’s
Best of luck to all four of those young men.
choicess says:
Jan 9, 2013 2:51 PM
Sentimore had academic issues
——-
Well guess that explains it then? Honestly, I am a UT fan and did a “who the heck is that?” take when reading this story. Hopefully he can catch on as an undrafted FA I suppose.
I’d be VERY surprised if Bray makes it as an NFL QB. The worst thing for any QB is pressure up the middle, but it effects Bray far worse than most. Look at his #s and true effectiveness against better defenses and I just have a hard time believing he makes it. No doubt he has the physical tools, but the NFL QB position is at least as much mental as it is physical, unlike many positions.
This makes more than 32 underclass who have declared for the draft. I do not think they are all going to be first round picks.
Don’t let the door hit you on the butt, Bray. Bye.
He wasn’t going to get much, if any, play next year as a Vol anyway.
@jimbo75025
Yup, I hope for the best for the kid but he’s going to have to work hard just to get his foot in the door…sad, but that’s the kind of person Dooley went all in with
@mvktr2
Exactly, Bray has all the physical tools but nothing upstairs. I feel that a desperate GM will reach for him and get fired as a direct result…