SO SHOCKED:The statement Tony Vitello the couch of Tennessee volunteers baseball make that Josh heupel the head coach of Tennessee volunteers football won championship in…
Tennessee Vols baseball coach Tony Vitello said recently that one of his baseball players has some quarterback skills that reminds him a little bit of UT football coach Josh Heupel, who won a national championship as a quarterback at Oklahoma in 2000 and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting.
And surprisingly, it’s not RHP Drew Beam, a former high school quarterback that can sling it.
Vitello joined the “In off the Bench” podcast earlier this month and while he acknowledged that Beam is probably “QB1″ on the Tennessee baseball team, he pointed out first baseman Blake Burke as a player that reminds him of Heupel as a quarterback
I don’t think so,” said Vitello when asked if anyone on the baseball team can compete with Beam’s quarterback skills. “You know (RHP) AJ Russell has the arm strength and Blake Burke kind of has — here at Tennessee, Coach Heupel is our favorite quarterback — and Blake Burke does have a little bit of rhythm and flow and can sling it from different angles like Coach Heupel used to do when he should’ve won a Heisman. He won a national championship. But neither one of those guys (Russell or Burke) would get the nod to start on opening day if we were playing football down in Dallas instead of baseball.”
Just another example of how multi-sport athletes make the best players in college and beyond.
The offseason is almost underway for Tennessee football. The Vols have concluded the regular season and are now focusing on roster construction for the 2023 season. Volunteer Country has fans covered with all the latest portal entries and NFL Draft declarations.
The portal window is from December 4 until January 2. If players don’t transfer within that window, they must wait until May following spring practice to enter the transfer portal.
2022 three-star offensive line signee Mo Clipper has officially entered the transfer portal after two seasons with the Vols. Clipper appeared in three contests during his time on Rocky Top, making an appearance against Virginia this season. He’s the second Vol to enter the transfer portal, following defensive back Warren Burrell, who entered on Thursday.
