It’s been a weird week for Tennessee football as it prepares for fall camp. Boo Carter has reportedly missed team events since spring camp, and the Vols are preparing to get into the thick of a quarterback battle.
However, there’s still plenty of good going on around the program. On Wednesday, a pair of true freshmen took their own money and gave it back to the Knoxville community.
Wide receiver Travis Smith Jr. and linebacker Jaedon Harmon donated $5 thousand each, for a total of $10 thousand, to the Wesley House Community Center in Knoxville.
According to Tennessee Athletics, Wesley House Community Center is a non-profit organization that empowers and enriches lives with educational programs for youth and seniors in the community. In 2020, Wesley House continued to expand its service by establishing the Emerging Needs program to provide local citizens with food and clothes.
The pair of newcomers initially became acquainted with the program during Tennessee football’s day of service in June. Both continued to return afterward.
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Both freshmen are from the state of Georgia. Smith is a four-star wide receiver who is already making a push to play in his first year.
“Just seeing kids excited about something to do for playing football makes you want to work even harder,” Smith said. “Being servants—it’s ok to help people out and help other organizations. I hope they look up to us as people who gave back, so when they are in a position once older, they can do it as well.”
Harmon is a four-star linebacker who could be a depth piece early in his career and projects to grow into a significant role.
“I just wake up every day and think how blessed we are to play for Tennessee football,” Harmon said. “Thinking where I came from, some kids aren’t as fortunate as us, and they wake up and don’t even know what they are going to eat the next day. Anything to support them and help the community is what me and Trav intended to do.”
