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Josh Heupel flips RB Daune Morris to Tennessee football from Southern Cal

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Josh Heupel flips RB Daune Morris to Tennessee football from Southern Cal


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Oakland senior running back Daune Morris was heavily recruited by then-Louisville running backs coach De’Rail Sims when Morris was a freshman at Chattanooga Red Bank.

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Sims continued recruiting Morris after he came to Tennessee as running backs coach even after Morris committed to Southern Cal in April.

That persistence and Tennessee’s push for a playoff berth in 2024 were big reasons why Morris flipped from the Trojans to the Vols, a move he announced Monday after an official visit to Knoxville over the weekend.

“(Sims) was one of my first ACC offers as a freshman,” Morris said. “He continued to recruit me, hit me up every day, and he just showed me consistency throughout the recruitment process.

“UT has always been in the back of my mind. I didn’t see me going there until I got on campus. Once I saw it for myself and the coaches continued to show me, it proved to me this is the place.”

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The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Morris committed to USC on April 9, just four days after he announced a top 10 that included Tennessee.

“On my visits, it’s been the same-in, same-out,” Morris said. “Coach (Josh) Heupel and everybody showed me the same love. It’s been nothing different. To get that kind of love from an SEC school in my home state, it means a lot.”

He said the Vols’ success this season, especially that of junior running back Dylan Sampson, weighed heavily in his decision.

“Just understanding the people behind me in my home state and the trajectory that Tennessee has right now,” Morris said. “How the trajectory is going with the quarterback (Nico Iamaleava), with the athletes and with the running backs. Dylan Sampson doing his job, scoring 20 touchdowns. It just shows what they can do with the running back and how they use their running backs in the right situations.”

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Morris is listed by 247Sports Composite as the No. 29 athlete nationally and No. 16 recruit in Tennessee for the 2025 class. He was No. 3 on The Tennessean’s 2024 Dandy Dozen, a ranking of the top players from the Nashville area for the Class of 2025. He is a three-star running back.

He had many power conference offers. That included SEC schools Auburn, Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, Ole Miss and Texas A&M, along with Deion Sanders’ Colorado squad, Louisville and USC in his top 10.

Morris is healthy after having missed the better part of six games this season, most of that due to an ankle injury he suffered on the first snap of the Patriots’ Week 1 win over Independence.

He has been especially explosive in the TSSAA football playoffs, gaining 481 yards and scoring nine touchdowns over Oakland’s past two games. For the season he has 856 yards rushing and 16 TDs.

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He had a breakout junior season at Oakland after transferring from Chattanooga. The Tennessee Titans Class 6A Mr. Football finalist and first-team all-area performer rushed for 2,012 yards, added 568 receiving yards and scored 36 total touchdowns in leading the Patriots to the Class 6A BlueCross Bowl for the fourth consecutive season.



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SEC transfer defender sets visit to Florida State

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SEC transfer defender sets visit to Florida State


Tennessee transfer defensive lineman Jayson Jenkins set a visit to Florida State, his agents at A&P Sports Agency told CBS Sports. He will head to Tallahassee on Jan. 2.

Jenkins officially entered the transfer portal Thursday after announcing his plans to do so earlier this week. He spent three years with the Volunteers and appeared in all 13 games this past season before hitting the open market.

Jenkins totaled nine tackles in 2024, including four tackles for loss and a sack. That came after six appearances in 2023 with four total tackles as a sophomore. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire

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The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and X account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.

Jayson Jenkins played high school football at Trenton (N.J.) Notre Dame, where he was. three-star prospect. He was the No. 1,066 overall player and No. 22-ranked player in the state from the 2022 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Florida State is once again active in the transfer market as it looks to rebound from a two-win season in 2024. The Seminoles currently have 10 commits from the portal so far this cycle, headlined by former USC wide receiver Duce Robinson – the No. 6 overall player and No. 5-ranked player in the On3 Industry Transfer Rankings. Robinson spent two years with the Trojans, totaling 747 yards and seven touchdowns during that time.

Another notable addition came at quarterback. Former Boston College is also on his way to Tallahassee, reuniting him with Gus Malzahn. The two were together at UCF in 2022, providing familiarity as Malzahn takes over as Florida State’s offensive coordinator.

Castellanos put together a standout 2023 season at Boston College, totaling 2,248 yards and 15 touchdowns in the air while adding 1,113 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. This past year, his numbers dropped following a coaching change and injuries. He threw for 1,366 yards along with a career-high 18 touchdowns in eight games.

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FSU’s group of portal additions ranks No. 8, according to the On3 Team Transfer Portal Index. It appears Mike Norvell and Co. aren’t quite done yet, though, as they line up more visits.





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Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars Prediction: Odds, Best Bets, Player News, Injuries, & Stats for Week 17

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Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars Prediction: Odds, Best Bets, Player News, Injuries, & Stats for Week 17


Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars Preview:

The 3-12 Tennessee Titans are on a four-game losing streak, but they hope to snap it and avenge their early December loss when they head to Jacksonville to take on the 3-12 Jaguars.

Neither team has met expectations this season. Both have had their share of quarterback inconsistencies and injuries. In the first meeting between the two, only 16 points were scored. The Jaguars won that game, 10-6.

Since Doug Pederson took over as head coach, the Jaguars have beaten the Titans four of the last five times they have played. A win this weekend would make it the Jaguars’ second sweep in the last three seasons.

Despite both teams’ horrid seasons, they should see a little optimism as the season ends. They are both in contention for a top-five draft pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

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Listen to the Bet the Edge podcast as hosts Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick provide listeners with sharp actionable insight, market analysis and statistical data to help bettors gain more information before placing their wagers. So, whether you’re targeting spreads and totals, looking for value in futures markets or circling player props, give their podcast a listen to give you that extra edge.

How to Watch Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars Live on Sunday:

  • Date: Sunday, December 29th, 2024
  • Time: 1:00 PM ET
  • Site: TIAA Bank Field
  • City: Jacksonville, FL
  • TV/Streaming: CBS

Latest Game Odds for Titans at Jaguars – Week 17:

The latest odds as of Thursday morning courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Tennessee Titans (-110), Jacksonville Jaguars (-110)
  • Spread: Titans -1
  • Total: 39.5

NBC Sports Bet Best Bets:

NBC Sports analyst Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) recommends betting on Calvin Ridley over 60.5 receiving yards…

Thomas: “The Titans haven’t been the best team through the air. Will Levis has struggled with consistency; he’s thrown 12 interceptions and just 12 touchdowns. However, the Jaguars love giving up big chunk plays to the wide receivers. Only two teams give up more receiving yards to wide receivers: the Vikings and the Lions.

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When the two played earlier in the season, Calvin Ridley was targeted 12 times. He was able to haul in seven of those targets but fell short of the 60.5 mark. I think this week is different. He probably sees a few more deep shots with nothing to lose, which he should capitalize on.”

Titans at Jaguars Team Stats, Betting Trends:

  • The Titans have failed to cover in 6 of their 8 road games this season
  • The Jaguars have lost 9 of 12 games this season following a defeat
  • 5 of the Titans’ last 7 games (71%) have gone over the Total

Quarterback Matchup for Titans at Jaguars:

  • Titans: Will Levis – The Will Levis Experiment has not gone as planned for the Titans. He’s yet to make the big leap. This season, his 12 interceptions are more concerning than his lack of big numbers. Ball security should be a point of emphasis in the offseason as he grows to be a better quarterback.
  • Jaguars: Mac Jones – Jones has been under center with Trevor Lawrence on the IR. The only win he’s had under center this season was against the Titans in Week 14.

Player News & Injuries:

Titans:

  • K Nick Folk (abdomen) is questionable
  • RB Tony Pollard (ankle) is questionable
  • WR Tyler Boyd (foot) is questionable
  • LB Kenneth Murray Jr is on the IR

Jaguars:

  • TE Brenton Strange (shoulder) is questionable
  • DT DaVon Hamilton (illness) is questionable
  • G Brandon Scherff (knee) is questionable
  • G Ezra Cleveland (knee) is questionable
  • OT Walker Little (ankle) is OUT

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest and tools for the NFL, including game predictions, player props, futures, and trends!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:





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Tennessee Quarterback Enters The Transfer Portal Ahead Of Final Collegiate Season | Rocky Top Insider

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Tennessee Quarterback Enters The Transfer Portal Ahead Of Final Collegiate Season | Rocky Top Insider


Gaston Moore (13) looks to pass during a game against Kent State at Neyland Stadium. Saturday, Sept. 15, 2024. Photo by Cole Moore/Rocky Top Insider

Tennessee quarterback Gaston Moore is entering the transfer portal ahead of his final season of eligibility, 247sports Matt Zenitz first reported on Thursday morning.

Moore spent four seasons at Tennessee after originally going to Central Florida out of high school. The Hilton Head, South Carolina native followed Heupel from UCF to Tennessee and worked his way up the depth chart before serving as the backup quarterback in 2024.

The 6-foot-2, 212-pound signal caller completed 16-of-27 passes for 201 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions off the bench in 2024.

Moore played a handful of meaningful snaps for Tennessee during the 2024 season. He came in for one play in the first half against Alabama, throwing an interception on a third down deep ball. After Nico Iamaleava went into concussion protocol against Mississippi State, Moore came in at halftime and completed five-of-eight passes for 38 yards while also picking up a handful of pass interference calls.

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More From RTI: Tennessee Football’s Complete Season PFF Grades

Moore also played garbage time snaps in Tennessee’s lopsided wins over Chattanooga, Kent State and UTEP. The walk-on quarterback played sparingly in his first three seasons at Tennessee but didn’t attempt more than 10 passes in any of those seasons.

Despite having already spent five seasons in college Moore still has one more year of eligibility remaining. The signal caller spent the 2020 season at UCF which didn’t count against his eligibility due to COVID-19 eligibility relief. Moore then redshirted the 2021 season at Tennessee meaning only three seasons counted against his eligibility.

Without Moore, redshirt freshman quarterback Jake Merklinger and incoming freshman George MacIntyre will compete for Tennessee’s backup quarterback spot behind Nico Iamaleava.



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