Vol legacy Lampley lands offer
The phone was passed from father to son. On the other end of the line was a familiar voice. It was the raspy voice of Butch Jones who had just come off the practice field hours earlier. The conversation started with a nervous feeling for Montgomery Bell Academy sophomore offensive lineman Jackson Lampley. It ended with a big smile and a few minutes that he will never forget.
"I was kinda wondering what it was going to be about," Lampley said. "He told me about this conversation back from the Ohio game where he told me if I had two more really good games then something good would happen. He told me it had been those two games and he offered me a scholarship to the University of Tennessee."
"I was speechless at first. Today has been one of the most normal days ever till now. I was pretty shocked."
It's the first of many for the middle Tennessee standout. So what does it mean to him personally?
"It's huge," Lampley said emphatically. "It's crazy to be honest with you because it came so early. I was never expecting this. A lot of guys don't get offered till they are a junior or senior, but to get offered by a big school like Tennessee as a sophomore is amazing."
Lampley will visit Tennessee this weekend for the Alabama game. It marks 24 years to the game that his father, former Vol offensive lineman Brad Lampley, first made a visit to Tennessee.
"It means a lot," Lampley said. "It's a blessing, but I think it's crazy that 24 years ago, he was at this game as a recruit."
Lampley has grown up around the Vol football program. He was in town just a few weeks ago for a game and he just loves the feeling he gets being around this staff and current players.
"I love their tradition," Lampley said. "They have a winning tradition. They seem like they are one big family. To see the relationships that the guys have with one another. For instance, the life in the shadows from the Tennessee o-line. I know it's a weird comparison, but when you see them have that kind of relationship it's cool and something you want to have in college."
So what does Lampley bring to the table? Besides being the road-grader for Vol commit Ty Chandler, he loves to set the tone with his physical play.
"I feel like I show a lot of aggressiveness and toughness," Lampley said. "That's what I want to be known for. Just that big, tough, nasty guy out there."
As mean and nasty as he is on the field, he's equally respectful off the field. So how does he balance two very different demeanors?
"I honestly have no idea," Lampley said with a laugh. "I have been like that since I was in the 4th grade in my first year playing football. It's kind of funny because I'm really nice to people off the field, but I get really mad on the field. I think something just clicks. I'm not really sure."
This is just a stepping stone. First and foremost, he's focused on getting back to the state championship and helping his team gain another gold ball.
"I think it's very important," Lampley said. "I want to play for these guys that didn't get to win it last year. To be a bigger component in that system is amazing. You want them to have a great memory of this season and have it for the rest of their lives."
