Tag Archives: Mo Couch

Undrafted James Stone fighting for spot on Falcons (updates on Vols competing for NFL spots)

James Stone (photo by KNS photographer Michael Patrick)

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee — Antonio “Tiny” Richardson‘s NFL draft snub got most of the attention earlier this month, but there was another Tennessee offensive lineman who wasn’t selected.

Center James Stone signed a free-agent deal with the Atlanta Falcons after the draft. Like most free agents, his path to a roster spot is uncertain, but Stone has a handful of factors working in his favor. He’s smart, he’s versatile and he has well-respected people vouching for him.

“In one year’s time with him, I was just really impressed with how smart of a player he is,” Vols offensive line coach Don Mahoney told ESPN. “And you have to look at his value to play two positions [center and guard]. I know that’s a big deal, with how many players they carry on a roster. And again, because of him mentally being able to be such a smart player, I think there’s just a tremendous upside to him.” 

Although more than a dozen Vols either worked out or signed free-agent deals after the draft, the NFL is so competitive that very few of them are likely to be rosters by the time the season starts. For many of the players in the group, getting a practice squad job would be beating the odds. Will Stone fare differently? We’ll find out.

Here are some updates on the rest of the Vols selected in the NFL draft or signed afterwards:

Currently on official NFL rosters…

Ja’Wuan James, selected in first round (19th overall) by Miami Dolphins…likely to open season as starter.

Zach Fulton, selected in sixth round (193rd overall) by Kansas City Chiefs….signed 4-year contract.

Daniel McCullers, selected in sixth round (215th overall) by Pittsburgh Steelers…signed 4-year contract.

Richardson….free-agent signee with Minnesota Vikings

Stone…free-agent signee with Atlanta Falcons

Dontavis Sapp…free-agent signee with Dallas Cowboys.

Rajion Neal…free-agent signee with Green Bay Packers

Jacques Smith…free-agent signee with Atlanta Falcons

Alex Bullard….free-agent signee with Detroit Lions

Others…

Michael Palardy…attended New York Jets minicamp.

Mo Couch….attended Dallas Cowboys minicamp

J.R. Carr….attended Washington Redskins minicamp

Corey Miller…attended Kansas City Chiefs minicamp

Tennessee’s NFL pro day: Crowded field of linemen competing for scouts’ attention

Daniel McCullers (center) visits with Mo Couch (left) during pro day on Wednesday (photo by Evan Woodbery).

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee — Tennessee’s NFL pro day is underway at the Neyland Thompson Sports Complex on campus.

Scouts have plenty of players to keep tabs on.

The Vols’ entire 2013 offensive line, much of their defensive line, a couple of experienced special-teamers and others will be working out.

The 14 players participating in UT’s pro day.

In all 14 players are going through drills. The list is in the photo at above.

We’ll update the posts periodically with notes and quotes.

Here are some 40-yard dash times, according to UT: Alex Bullard (5.69 seconds), J.R. Carr (5.22), Mo Couch (5.32), Daniel McCullers (5.35), Rajion Neal (4.53), Michael Palardy (4.64), Dontavis Sapp (4.68), Jacques Smith (4.94) and Marlon Walls (5.07).

Bench-press reps at 225 pounds: Bullard, 31; Carr, 21; Couch, 31; McCullers, 27, Corey Miller, 33; Neal, 28; Sapp, 25; Smith, 27; Walls, 21.

Tennessee’s offensive linemen work out on Wednesday (photo by Evan Woodbery)

Here are some offensive linemen numbers from the NFL combine for the sake of comparison.

In addition to the 14 players from the 2013 roster shown above, there are a few other former Vols going through workouts, including defensive backs Eric Gordon and Rod Wilks, defensive lineman Willie Bohannon and a handful of players from other local colleges.

Continue reading →

Tennessee reserve defensive tackle Gregory Clark ending career

Gregory Clark (UT photo)

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee — Tennessee fifth-year senior defensive tackle Gregory Clark is moving on with his post-college career and won’t be on the Vols’ roster in 2014.

Coach Butch Jones confirmed that Clark was moving on.

A native of Warner Robins, Ga., Clark emerged as a valuable backup on a depleted defensive line in 2013. Pressed into action after Mo Couch was declared ineligible, Clark teamed with Danny O’Brien in the second-team tackle unit.

The 2013 season was the highlight of what had previously been an undistinguished career. Clark redshirted in 2010 and was a little-used reserve in 2011 and 2012.

The Vols could be thin again at defensive tackle, particularly in the spring before reinforcements arrive this summer. Danny O’Brien, Jason Carr and newcomers Owen Williams and Dimarya Mixon are likely to make up the two-deep rotation.

Unofficially, Tennessee now has 84 scholarship players, including players who were believed to sign National Letters of Intent in February. Here’s the complete and fully updated spring roster.

Suspended Tennessee player Mo Couch says he’s still waiting on word from NCAA (tweets)

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee — In a series of Twitter posts made during Tennessee’s loss at No. 1 Alabama, suspended defensive tackle Mo Couch expressed his eagerness to return to the field, but said he had not received clearance from the NCAA.

In response to a question from a fan, Couch said the NCAA was still playing the “quiet game.”

Couch was ruled ineligible on Sept. 12 after Yahoo Sports reported that he was among several current and former players who received cash payments from someone acting as a liaison to NFL agents.

Couch hinted at his motivation for taking money when he tweeted that he was a “father first.”

Couch and his wife have one child. His wife is pregnant with their second.

Mo Couch’s wife says no new updates on his status (tweet)

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee — The wife of Tennessee senior defensive tackle Mo Couch said there has been no resolution to her husband’s case and no word on when, or if, he will play again.

Stephanie Couch tweeted the update on Friday.

Mo Couch was declared ineligible five weeks ago after a Yahoo Sports report alleged that he and former UT quarterback Tyler Bray received cash payments from Luther Davis. Davis, a former Alabama football player, was allegedly acting as a “concierge” or intermediary between college players and NFL agents and financial advisers.

Tennessee’s only statement on the matter was that the university was investigating the allegations.

Couch, who is married with a child, is from Orlando, Fla., and arrived at UT in 2011 after a stint at Garden City (Kan.) Community College.