PRESS RELEASE FROM TENNESSEE STATE PARKS:

NASHVILLE – Tennessee State Parks today announced the addition of an important new leader to help continue the progress of improving park accessibility. Ryan Jolley joins as accessibility coordinator.

Jolley will advise, train, and advance projects that result in increased access to outdoor experiences in Tennessee State Parks and beyond.  Jolley was diagnosed with a rare genetic retinal disease at age 10 and has since lived his life legally blind. He previously served in the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development where he focused on improving workplace accommodations, employment best practices and business solutions for people with disabilities.

“I’ve always been in love with the outdoors and nature and through my work experience in the disability community I found myself really wanting to assist the state parks in becoming the most accessible state park system in the nation,” Jolley said.

“We are very glad Ryan is joining the team. Tennessee State Parks teammates are making our parks more welcoming and inviting, and that progress will continue as we learn from Ryan and others who personally face access challenges,” said Greer Tidwell, deputy commissioner of TDEC for the Bureau of Conservation. “We recognize that in order for Tennessee to lead the nation in making the outdoors accessible, we all need to humbly learn from those who experience the outdoors with various abilities.”

The announcement comes amidst the backdrop of Disability Advocacy Day in Tennessee, which honors the accomplishments and advocacy of the 1.6 million Tennesseans with disabilities. Several sites across Tennessee will be lit in blue tonight to honor their accomplishments and advocacy, including the amphitheater at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park in Nashville.

Jolley’s appointment also comes as Tennessee State Parks announced the availability of new all-terrain wheelchairs at eight state parks, bringing the total of parks with all-terrain wheelchairs to 47. All-terrain wheelchairs give visitors with limited mobility the opportunity to enjoy outdoor recreation that might otherwise be inaccessible. The chairs are free for visitor use and available for both children and adults. They can be operated independently and offer the option of allowing caretaker control.

Tennessee State Parks has added wheelchair-friendly paved trails and overlooks, adult-sized changing tables, colorblind viewers, accessible kayak/canoe launches, and language and information access as part of its ongoing initiative focused on accessibility.

To find information on accessibility options at Tennessee State Parks, visit tnstateparks.com/accessibility.

One day after picking up All-SEC honors from the league, Chaz Lanier and Zakai Zeigler earned more postseason recognition.

The two Tennessee standout guards were named to the Associated Press All-SEC Teams, with Lanier being a First Team selection and Zeigler making the Second Team, the outlet announced Tuesday.

TALK ABOUT IT IN THE ROCKY TOP FORUM

It marked the second-straight year that the Vols led the conference with the most players on the AP First and Second Teams.

Lanier, who was tabbed the SEC Newcomer of the Year on Monday, paces Tennessee with 17.9 points per game, good for second in the league.

The North Florida transfer is averaging 40.5% shooting from three-point range and is just the third player in program history to make 100 or more 3-pointers in a single season at 105 in 31 games.

Zeigler, the SEC Defensive Player of the Year for the second-straight season, averages 13.1 points, 7.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game.

He ranks fourth all-time at Tennessee with 696 assists and 239 steals.

The Vols (25-6, 12-6 SEC) begin their SEC Tournament stay as the 4-seed on Friday at 3:30 p.m. ET at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville (SEC Network).

Tennessee will play either 5-seed Texas A&M, 12-seed Vanderbilt or 13-seed Texas.

Former Rutgers Scarlet Knights standout defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day is re-signing with the Tennessee Titans on a one-year deal worth $7.5 million, including $5 million guaranteed.

Joseph-Day originally signed on with the Titans last offseason on a one-year deal. He earned another contract after playing in all 17 games last season, starting 12, and totaling 44 tackles with 2.5 sacks.

Joseph-Day was a sixth-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams in 2018. He did not appear in a regular-season game as a rookie but became a regular over the next three years. He made 38 starts and logged 137 tackles and six sacks. Joseph-Day would join the Los Angeles Chargers in 2022 and remain there until his release at the end of 2023. After finishing the year with the San Francisco 49ers, Joseph-Day landed in Tennessee and has found his new home.

Joseph-Day spent five years at Rutgers beginning in 2013. He played in just one game as a freshman, earning a redshirt in the Scarlet Knights final season in the American Conference. He played in 13 games during Rutgers first season in the Big Ten and turned into a consistent starter as a sophomore.

During his Rutgers’ career, Joseph-Day totaled 97 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Joseph-Day became a strong run stopped in the middle of the defensive line.

The Tennessee Titans currently hold the No. 1 pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft after going 3-14 in 2024. Tennessee holds many options with this top pick, which ranges from drafting a potential franchise quarterback to trading back and loading up on draft capital.