How Kelsey Pope Challenged Dont’e Thornton to ‘Prove Himself Right’ During Senior Season
Tennessee wide receiver Dont’e Thornton is entering his second season with the Volunteers after transferring from Oregon following his first two collegiate seasons. The 6-foot-5, 214-pound receiver has all the tools to be a dynamic player in the Tennessee offense but didn’t quite reach the heights that he wanted to last season. Thornton only recorded […]
WATCH: Tennessee Linebackers, WR Chas Nimrod, Kelsey Pope Meet With the Media
A trio of Tennessee linebackers, a redshirt sophomore wide receiver, and wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope all met with the media on Thursday morning as the Vols continue working their way through the fall camp slate. Tennessee transfer tight ends Holden Staes (Notre Dame) and Miles Kitselman (Alabama) led off the round of player press […]
Everything Tennessee WR Coach Kelsey Pope Said About His Deep Unit Thursday
Tennessee receivers coach Kelsey Pope met with the local media on Thursday afternoon after the Vols completed their seventh fall practice. The Vols have more depth at receiver than they have had at any other point during Josh Heupel’s tenure which has led to fierce competition during fall camp. Pope discussed that competition, the growth […]
Breaking Down Tennessee’s Receiving Room After Spring Camp
Tennessee gave wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope a raise and an extension this offseason after two productive seasons leading the Vols’ pass-catchers on the outside. And while Josh Heupel and Joey Halzle orchestrate the broad offense as a whole, Pope will have the task of figuring out how to best use Tennessee’s room of receivers […]
WATCH: Kelsey Pope, Tennessee Receivers Talk Spring Camp in Knoxville
Following Tennessee’s eighth workout of the spring camp slate on Wednesday morning in Knoxville, the wide receiver room had the spotlight with the media. Tennessee wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope is fresh off an off-season contract extension and is back in Knoxville for his third season leading his position group. Pope met with the media […]
Dont’e Thornton More ‘Confident’ And ‘Consistent’ Entering Second Season At Tennessee
Dont’e Thornton was just starting to the corner in his first season in Knoxville during mid November. He had failed to make much headway in the slot but after being moved outside, Thornton caught three passes for 63 yards in a win over Kentucky. Two weeks later, he made his best play all season, hauling […]
Tennessee Football Locks Down Kelsey Pope With Contract Extension and Raise
Tennessee has finalized a new contract extension and raise for wide receiver coach Kelsey Pope with spring practice right around the corner. Pope’s new multi-year contract extension will run through Jan. 31, 2026, Rocky Top Insider learned through documents acquired by a Freedom of Information Act request. On3 Sports’ VolQuest was the first to report […]
‘Confident, Comfortable’: Dont’e Thornton Finding New Role on Tennessee’s Offense
Tennessee wide receiver Dont’e Thornton has found a new role with the Vols’ offense entering the final stretch of the season. After spending the first eight weeks of the season listed as a slot receiver behind Squirrel White, Thornton has found new opportunities on the outside that has led to a more comfortable, confident player […]
Tennessee Football Assistant Listed As One Of 30 Rising Stars Coaches
Tennessee receivers coach Kelsey Pope hasn’t coached big time college football for long but he’s quickly made a name for himself. On3 released a list of 30 power five assistant coaches rising stars Wednesday morning with Vols’ receivers coach making the list. Pope is the only Tennessee assistant on the list. Pope is entering his […]
Tennessee Receiver Details How Other Teams Negatively Recruited Against The Vols
After Tennessee football’s resurgent 2022 season that included Jalin Hyatt becoming the first Vol to win the Biletnikoff Award, a new narrative has developed about Josh Heupel’s offense and the Vols’ program. Tennessee’s style of play doesn’t prepare players for the NFL and the skillsets that made them effective in Knoxville won’t translate to the […]
