elopment of Abernathy and junior Todd Kelly Jr

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee safety Micah Abernathy stopped playing offense once he arrived in college, but the former high school running back continues finding ways to get the ball in his hands.Abernathy clinched Tennessees season-opening overtime victory over Appalachian State by breaking up a fourth-down pass into the end zone. He followed that up by setting a school single-game record last week with three fumble recoveries in a 45-24 triumph over Virginia Tech .The sophomore from Atlanta said he couldnt remember ever having that many takeaways in a single game.Maybe in Little League or something like that, Abernathy quipped.Abernathys emergence doesnt surprise coaches and teammates, who raved about him throughout the preseason for his consistency. His performance against Virginia Tech makes Abernathy the reigning Southeastern Conference defensive player of the week heading into the 15th-ranked Volunteers Saturday afternoon game with Ohio (1-1).You know what youre getting with Micah every single day, Tennessee coach Butch Jones said. He has great instincts for the football. Hes around the football. Hes really helping us win football games right now. Hes also turning into one of our leaders in the back end of our defense.Tennessee (2-0) had to break in two new starters at safety following the graduations of Brian Randolph and LaDarrell McNeil, who combined for 89 career starts. The development of Abernathy and junior Todd Kelly Jr. has turned a potential weakness into a strength.I like steady players and hes been very, very steady, defensive coordinator Bob Shoop said. He and TK have both been pretty steady back there and have done a good job. Thats really whats separated them at the safety position. Theyre composed. They communicate well. I think the best is yet to come from Micah.The mentality that has made Abernathy an effective defensive player was evident even as he rushed for over 1,500 yards while helping Greater Atlanta Christian reach a state final his senior year in high school.Abernathy, the grandson of former civil rights leader Ralph David Abernathy Sr., played both running back and cornerback in high school. His high school coach said Abernathy preferred playing defense.He was pretty special carrying the ball, but we knew hed be a DB at the next level, Greater Atlanta Christian coach Tim Hardy said. Thats his heart and his passion. When I see him making those big plays Saturday night ... it doesnt shock me at all because hes always a guy to make a big play at a big moment when people needed him to do that.Abernathys first takeaway against Virginia Tech turned the game around. Virginia Tech led 14-0 when Abernathy recovered a fumble at the Hokies 5-yard line. The Vols reached the end zone on the next play to start a run of 31 straight Tennessee points.He also recovered two fourth-quarter fumbles, one of which led to a Tennessee touchdown.Jeff Williams, the NCAA associate director for media coordination and statistics, said Abernathy is the fourth player since 2014 to recover three fumbles in a single game. The others were Georgia States Bobby Baker last season and North Carolinas Dominique Green and Wake Forests Tylor Harris in 2014.Coming into the season, I wanted to contribute as a starter and just do my best to help my teammates out, Abernathy said. I feel like Ive done that so far.---AP college football site: http://collegefootball.ap.org Stitched Phillies Jerseys .5 seconds to play in the game, Kevin Love never stopped believing that they would come out of there with a win. Fake Phillies Jerseys .Y. -- Marcell Dareus and the Buffalo Bills defence made life miserable for Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. https://www.cheapphilliesjerseys.us/ . 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The British Boxing Board of Control wants Nick Blackwell will contribute towards the January hearing surrounding the sparring session that risked his life.Blackwell, 26, is no longer sedated and remains in a stable condition but is yet to regain consciousness after surgery to remove part of his skull to ease swelling on his brain.The governing body is continuing its investigation into the matter and is yet to finalise a date, but its general secretary Robert Smith told PA Sport: Were still talking to people, but a number of people have been called before the board in January.ddddddddddddWere not rushing the hearing because obviously Blackwell is still in hospital, itd be quite handy if he was available to answer any questions.If hes not and hes unable to do that we will deal with him later on. Hes still got a trainer-seconds licence, so we can still consider what he says.We are calling people for a January meeting, weve just got to finalise a date. ' ' '