College Football Playoffs: Tennessee Ties
Winning a national title is the ultimate goal for every college football player and these guys below with ties to the state of Tennessee have that opportunity ahead of the them, beginning Monday afternoon at the Rose Bowl.
Michigan vs. Alabama (Rose Bowl – Jan. 1st)
Wolverines #Big10
#14 (DB) Kody Jones – Sophomore (Germantown HS)
#24 (DB) Myles Pollard – Sophomore (Ravenwood HS)
#25 (LB) Junior Colson – Junior (Ravenwood HS)
#57 (LB) Trevor Andrews – Junior (Ravenwood HS)
#90 (K) Hudson Hollenbeck – Sophomore (Collierville HS)
Notes: Both Jones and Pollard have seen limited action in both their years on campus at Michigan; Both are candidates to enter the transfer portal after the season is over; Andrews made his collegiate debut this year against Bowling Green on special teams (Walk-on with a limited role); Spending one year at Miss. State before transferring to Michigan, Hollenbeck played in a reserve role this year; Colson is the lone impact Volunteer State prospect for the Wolverines as a two time All-Big 10 selection; Three year starter; 2nd team All-Big 10 in 2023
Crimson Tide #SEC
#15 (QB) Ty Simpson – RS Freshman (Westview HS)
#28 (LB) Justin Jefferson – Junior (Bartlett HS)
#39 (S) Peyton Yates – Sophomore (Briarcrest Chrst. HS)
#61 (G/C) Graham Roten – Junior (Christ Presbyterian Academy)
#89 (TE) Ty Lockwood – Freshman (Independence HS)
#98 (K) Upton Bellenfant – Sophomore (Stewarts Creek HS)
Notes: Both Yates and Roten are walk-on’s for the Crimson Tide who have yet to see the field during their time at Alabama; Bellenfant is a walk-on as well but he could be someone to watch as someone fighting for the kicker role over the next two years; Lockwood is headed for a redshirt season but should have a bright future with the Crimson Tide; Jefferson came to Alabama from the JuCo ranks and has mainly been a special teams contributor this season but a consistent starter within that unit; A former HS state champion here in Tennessee, Simpson saw limited snaps this season as a redshirt player and with the emergence of Jalen Milroe, the former Chargers quarterback could enter into the transfer portal after the season.
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Washington vs. Texas (Sugar Bowl – Jan 1st)
Huskies #Pac 12
– No Tennessee High School Football Ties
Longhorns #Big12
#5 (WR) Adonai Mitchell – Junior (Cane Ridge HS)
– Mitchell is the lone participant in this contest with ties to Tennessee high school football. The Longhorns junior wideout played two seasons with Cane Ridge here in the greater Middle TN area before signing with Georgia, then transferring to Texas. Mitchell won a national title with the Bulldogs before moving on and is now in place to possibly compete for another as one of the Longhorns top receivers.
* Twelve (12) total players that played high school ball here in Tennessee will be a part of the College Football Playoffs on January 1st *