One of the Tennessee Vols' best players was majorly disrespected by the SEC
One of the Tennessee Vols' best players was majorly disrespected by the SEC this week. The SEC coaches' all-conference teams were announced this week and the Vols had just one player included — pass rusher James Pearce who made the first team. Somehow, Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright wasn't a first-team or second-team selection by […]
One of the Tennessee Vols' best players was majorly disrespected by the SEC this week.
The SEC coaches' all-conference teams were announced this week and the Vols had just one player included — pass rusher James Pearce who made the first team.
Somehow, Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright wasn't a first-team or second-team selection by the SEC coaches (Wright, however, was included on the AP's All-SEC second team).
Missouri running back Cody Schrader and Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins were the first-team selections. Schrader had over 1,600 total yards and Judkins had nearly 1,200 total yards and 15 touchdowns. Those are certainly fair first-team selections.
The second-team, though, included Kentucky running back Ray Davis and Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter. Davis totaled over 1,300 total yards and 20 touchdowns which is deserving of a second-team selection.
Hunter, however, had no business being selected over Wright. Hunter had less than 1,000 total yards (to go with seven touchdowns). Wright, meanwhile, had 1,013 rushing yards and 141 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Wright also averaged 7.4 yards per carry which was higher than any of the running backs included on the first or second teams.
(And let's not forget that Wright put up those numbers while sharing backfield duties with two pretty good running backs in Jabari Small and Dylan Sampson.)
It's always felt like Tennessee players don't quite get the respect they deserve and Wright's snub by the SEC coaches only serves to fuel that feeling.
Did the College Football Playoff use Tennessee to help Alabama?
Alabama should probably thank the Vols
