Tennessee offensive lineman Jackson Lampley announces decision for 2024 season
Tennessee redshirt senior offensive lineman Jackson Lampley is returning to the Vols for a sixth season in 2024. He announced his decision to return with a statement posted on social media on Friday:
“Growing up, my biggest dream was to be a Vol. That dream was fulfilled when I became the first commit in the 2019 signing class. In my five years at Tennessee, I have experienced trying times, like injuries and a coaching change but amazing moments, like the 2022 wins over Alabama and Florida and the Citrus and Orange Bowl victories.
“And even though the current trend is to move from school to school, my love of this place has made me stick with it, even when times were tough.My years at Tennessee have been the greatest, most challenging and most fulfilling years of my life, and I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m proud to have been part of a rebirth of this program with 20 wins in two years and being part of an O-line that has paved the way for three consecutive seasons of 2,500+ rushing yards.
“And I’m convinced that we are just getting started. I love my brothers in the locker room and the coaching and support staff. It has been an honor to go into battle every fall Saturday alongside everyone in that building. I also love playing for the best fans in America. The memory of all the cigar smoke in Neyland after the Alabama win – and our fans tearing down the goalposts and throwing them into the Tennessee River – will stay with me for the rest of my life. And being born and raised in Nashville, it always means a little more to tap the Midstate part of the “My All” sign every time we take the field.
“Tennessee is my home. Tennessee is my family, and Tennessee is who I am. I could not be more excited about thecuture of this program. That is why i am coming back for my sixth and final season of college football, and I am coming back to Tennessee.”
Lampley’s father, Brad Lampley, played football at Tennessee during the Peyton Manning era, earning three-time SEC All-Academic honors.
One last ride… pic.twitter.com/AVbi4ld7T3
— Jackson Lampley (@JMLampley75) January 19, 2024
Lampley is at least the seventh Tennessee senior to announce his return for 2024 and is the fourth offensive lineman to do so. He joins wide receiver Bru McCoy, offensive lineman John Campbell, Dayne Davis and Cooper Mays, linebacker Keenan Pili, defensive lineman Omari Thomas and center
Campbell spent five years at Miami before transferring to Tennessee. He started the first 10 games of the season for the Vols at left tackle before dealing with an injury over the final three weeks of the regular season. i.
Pili, the BYU transfer, was lost to what proved to be a season-ending injury in the season-opening win over Virginia on September 2. He finished the Virginia game with four tackles, including two solo tackles. He earned a game ball after the win, after playing 30 snaps. Pili spent the last four years at BYU, where he had 191 tackles in 34 career games.
Thomas, the 6-foot-4, 320-pound Memphis native and product of Briarcrest Christian High School, is coming off a career-high 31 tackles in 11 games this season. He had 1.0 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss, his highest TFL total since he had 5.0 in 12 games in 2021.
Mays was sidelined by an abdominal injury for four games to start the 2023 season. He returned against Texas A&M. McCoy caught 17 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown before being lost for the season after suffering a gruesome ankle injury against South Carolina in September. He caught 52 passes for 667 yards and four touchdowns in 2022.
