Familiar face will return to the field at Neyland Stadium when UTSA takes on the Tennessee Vols
When the Tennessee Vols take the field at Neyland Stadium on Saturday to take on the UTSA Roadrunners, there will be a familiar face on the opposite sideline. Former Vols linebacker Martavius French, a former four-star recruit who signed with Tennessee during the 2020 recruiting cycle, is a member of UTSA's football team. French spent […]
When the Tennessee Vols take the field at Neyland Stadium on Saturday to take on the UTSA Roadrunners, there will be a familiar face on the opposite sideline.
Former Vols linebacker Martavius French, a former four-star recruit who signed with Tennessee during the 2020 recruiting cycle, is a member of UTSA's football team.
French spent the 2020 season at Tennessee before hitting the transfer portal following an arrest in early 2021.
After a stint at Hutchinson Community College, French landed at UTSA.
"I'm sure he'll be excited," said UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor this week when asked about French's return to Neyland Stadium. "I'm looking forward to it for Martavius, he's really matured."
When asked if he'll try to get any information from French about Tennessee, Traylor acknowledged that he probably will, though he also noted that everyone "knows everything about everybody".
"That's pretty much everybody in college football right now," said Traylor. "We're all sharing each other's rosters. Who knows what everybody is telling each other. We'll get some information from Martavius, but who doesn't now days? The transfer portal, with coaches and players, we've all got somebody on somebody's staff that knows everything about everybody."
French spoke to reporters earlier this spring and he pointed out that he's grateful for the suspension at Tennessee because it made him a better person.
"I just had the big head," said French about his mindset right out of high school.
"Two of my best friends out of high school, they both were four-stars, too," continued French. "And they're still there at Tennessee. We just wanted to go with each other to school. That's really what it was…we just wanted to be with each other after high school."
"That's a big game I've circled," added French when asked about playing Tennessee.
Defensive lineman Bryson Eason and defensive back Tamarion McDonald are French's two former high school teammates/friends that are still at Tennessee. Eason and McDonald both play key roles for the Vols.
UTSA and Tennessee will kick off at 4:00 PM ET on Saturday. The game will air on the SEC Network.
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Featured image via Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
