Jamyan Theodore finds ‘home’ on Rocky Top

Canadian born defensive back Jamyan Theodore burst onto the scene last year at Baylor School in Chattanooga. What he did in the state pushed him to want to stay in the Volunteer state for college with his pledge to Tennessee.

“I already have a legacy built in Tennessee,” Theodore said. “I feel like this past year, I’m not a kid from Tennessee but I made the All State team and was part of the great team at Baylor school which is a great school and I want to continue building my legacy in Tennessee. I feel like Tennessee is a great football program that could bring me to the next level. They have a history of bringing a lot of guys to the league and developing guys. They have a great coaching staff around me and just as a family decision, we feel like it was the best decision for us.”

Theodore took visits to Ole Miss, Wisconsin and Louisville. In the end, he started to feel good about the Vols on his official visit to Rocky Top.

“So definitely during my OV,” Theodore said. “I really did feel good about Wisconsin in the whole visit. I feel like they did a great job and then Ole Miss was a great visit too, but then I went to Tennessee. Everything just felt different and when I went to Tennessee again it just really felt good throughout the whole visit. Me and my family really enjoyed the whole visit. We felt like they answered all the questions they did a good job answering all the questions my parents had and everything. We were doing the photo shoot and I came out the orange carpet just seeing everybody hyping me up, I talked to coach Nez afterwards and I was just like man I really love it here and I could really see myself playing here. It’s just a great environment to be in and I really I feel like during that time, I was just like man I think I think this is home.” 

So what is Tennessee getting in Theodore? He loves to compete and play aggressively.

“I feel like I’m bringing a lot of versatility,” Theodore said. “Somebody that’s going to be a competitor and should be able to help the team out very early. I know I have some things I need to work on as a person, but I’m going to do that and I’m going to keep getting better. I’m not going to settle for less and I’m going to bring a very fierce competitor. It’s going to be able to come in play and add value to the team.”

He loved the personality of the defensive staff. We start with Willie Martinez and his history of development.

“Coach Martinez I feel like he’s a straight direct dude and he’s all about business at the same time,” Theodore said. “He could be someone that’s enjoyable to be around to make jokes with. I know that he’s going to stay on me and make sure I keep developing and not slack around and that’s what I feel like I need in my life. Somebody that can help me by keeping me striving and keeping me pushing and he is a great coach that’s developed a lot of great players and very excited about him.”

And then there is defensive coordinator, Tim Banks, Who much like Theodore loves to be aggressive on the field.

“With coach Banks, I feel like he’s just a good defensive minded person,” Theodore said. “I feel like he’s very smart in what he does. I like the way that he plays football and how he goes about things in football. When you think about it, it’s kind of similar to what we do at Baylor and how he thinks it is very smart and I like the way the football is.”

He also has a deep appreciation for head coach Josh Heupel.

“Just a great coach,” Theodore said. “Somebody that had a great career in football by himself and was a Heisman finalist and making it into the league He’s just a great coach and somebody that’s been through the whole process that you’ve done it before himself. Just bring around campus, he is involved with everything and make sure that he has a good relationship. Just being around my parents being around me and seeing how he got along with my parents and has a relationship with them really helped the connection.”