Tyler Bray
Encyclopedia
Tyler Bray is an American football
quarterback
for the Tennessee Volunteers
. He is considered one of the best quarterbacks of his class.
in Kingsburg, California
. As a senior he led his team to a perfect 13-0 season while throwing for 3,321 yards with 41 touchdowns. While being recruited he was considered the seventh best quarterback recruit by Rivals.com
and 26th best by Scout.com
. Bray chose to accept Tennessee's offer after he had already verbally committed to San Diego State
. He also chose Tennessee over Fresno State
, Louisville
, and USC.
, replacing Matt Simms. In his first starting game Bray threw for 325 yards and five touchdowns in the 50-14 win over the Memphis Tigers
ending the Vols four game losing streak. In fact, Bray set a school record for most passing yards in the first half going 19-33 with 308 yards through the air and 5 touchdowns. The Vols won 50-14. The next week against Ole Miss football Bray finished 18-34 for 323 yards and 5 Touchdowns as the Vols destroyed the Rebels 52-14. The next week against Vanderbilt Bray went 16-27 for 2 Touchdowns and 2 interceptions as they beat the Commodores 24-10. During the final home game against Kentucky Bray went 20-38 for 354 yards and had 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, the Vols won 24-14. Bray led the Vols to a 4-0 record in November, making them bowl eligible at 6-6. Tennessee was selected to play in the Music City Bowl
in Nashville against the North Carolina Tar Heels. Tennessee lost 30-27 in 2 overtimes. Bray finished the day 27-45 for 312 yards with 4 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. He threw for 1,537 yards (a new school record for freshmen), 17 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions as a starter.
for their September 3rd opener. Bray finished 17-24 for 293 with 3 Touchdowns and no interceptions. The Vols won 42-16. In his second game of 2011, Bray had a monster day where he finished 34-41 for 405 with 4 Touchdowns and no interceptions. Tyler broke Peyton Manning
's record of 7 consecutive games with at least 2 touchdowns. This win over Cincinnati
was Tyler's 8th consecutive game with multiple touchdown passes. Bray also had the highest the completion percentage ever recorded in a game by a Tennessee QB of 82.9%. Breaking Manning's record of 77.5% set as a senior against Georgia in 1997. For the third game of the season Tyler was faced with the daunting task of facing the Florida Gators
. He lost arguably Tennessee's top receiver Justin Hunter on Tennessee's first drive of the game causing Tyler's game plan to be noticeably different. His completion percentage dipped from the 82.9% of the Cincinnati game to 54.2%. A mixture of things attributed to this shrunken percentage including the loss of Hunter, dropped passes by other receivers, and the task of playing at the Swamp. He threw his first 2 interceptions of the season, and finished the game with 288 yards and 3 touchdowns. Against Georgia, Bray completed 18 of 33 passes for 251 yards with 0 touchdowns and 0 interceptions, however, he suffered a broken thumb in the fourth quarter of this game. Similiar to 2010, Bray did not play against conference foes LSU, Alabama, South Carolina or Arkansas, but did start against Vanderbilt and Kentucky.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
. He is considered one of the best quarterbacks of his class.
Early years
Bray attended Kingsburg High SchoolKingsburg High School
Kingsburg High School is a public high school located in the town of Kingsburg, California. It is part of the Kingsburg Joint Union High School District.-Administration:*Randy Morris - Superintendent*Randy Morris - Principal...
in Kingsburg, California
Kingsburg, California
Kingsburg is a city in Fresno County, California. Kingsburg is located southeast of Selma at an elevation of 302 feet , on the banks of the Kings River. The city is half an hour away from Fresno, and two hours away from the California Central Coast and Sierra Nevada Mountain Range...
. As a senior he led his team to a perfect 13-0 season while throwing for 3,321 yards with 41 touchdowns. While being recruited he was considered the seventh best quarterback recruit by Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
and 26th best by Scout.com
Scout.com
Scout.com is an integrated sports publishing company that produces both an Internet and print product. Scout has more than 2.1 million visitors...
. Bray chose to accept Tennessee's offer after he had already verbally committed to San Diego State
San Diego State Aztecs football
The San Diego State football team represents the San Diego State Aztecs in college football. The Aztecs, a Division I FBS team and a member of the Mountain West Conference, play their home games at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The field is natural grass and has a maximum capacity of...
. He also chose Tennessee over Fresno State
Fresno State Bulldogs football
The Fresno State Bulldogs football team represents California State University, Fresno in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The green “V” on the Bulldogs' helmets, uniforms, field symbolize California Central Valley, specifically the San Joaquin Valley, the agricultural valley from which they...
, Louisville
Louisville Cardinals football
The Louisville Cardinals football team represents the University of Louisville in college football as a member of the Big East Conference. Howard Schnellenberger started the program's rise to relevancy after winning the Miami Hurricanes' first national championship...
, and USC.
Freshman
As a freshman in 2010, Bray played in the UT Martin, Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina games. Throwing 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions and 303 yards. Bray started his first career game on November 6 against the Memphis TigersMemphis Tigers football
The Memphis Tigers football team represents the University of Memphis in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Tigers compete in Conference USA...
, replacing Matt Simms. In his first starting game Bray threw for 325 yards and five touchdowns in the 50-14 win over the Memphis Tigers
Memphis Tigers football
The Memphis Tigers football team represents the University of Memphis in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Tigers compete in Conference USA...
ending the Vols four game losing streak. In fact, Bray set a school record for most passing yards in the first half going 19-33 with 308 yards through the air and 5 touchdowns. The Vols won 50-14. The next week against Ole Miss football Bray finished 18-34 for 323 yards and 5 Touchdowns as the Vols destroyed the Rebels 52-14. The next week against Vanderbilt Bray went 16-27 for 2 Touchdowns and 2 interceptions as they beat the Commodores 24-10. During the final home game against Kentucky Bray went 20-38 for 354 yards and had 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, the Vols won 24-14. Bray led the Vols to a 4-0 record in November, making them bowl eligible at 6-6. Tennessee was selected to play in the Music City Bowl
Music City Bowl
The Music City Bowl is a post-season American college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that has been played in Nashville, Tennessee, since 1998.-Site:The first Music City Bowl was played at Vanderbilt Stadium in 1998...
in Nashville against the North Carolina Tar Heels. Tennessee lost 30-27 in 2 overtimes. Bray finished the day 27-45 for 312 yards with 4 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. He threw for 1,537 yards (a new school record for freshmen), 17 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions as a starter.
Sophomore
Tyler Bray started off his Sophomore season with a bang as the Volunteers took on the Montana GrizzliesMontana Grizzlies football
The Montana Grizzlies football program represents the University of Montana in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision of college football. The Grizzlies have competed in the Big Sky Conference, where it is a founding member, since 1963...
for their September 3rd opener. Bray finished 17-24 for 293 with 3 Touchdowns and no interceptions. The Vols won 42-16. In his second game of 2011, Bray had a monster day where he finished 34-41 for 405 with 4 Touchdowns and no interceptions. Tyler broke Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning
Peyton Williams Manning is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League . Manning holds the record for most NFL MVP awards with four. He was drafted by the Colts as the first overall pick in 1998 after a standout college football career with the...
's record of 7 consecutive games with at least 2 touchdowns. This win over Cincinnati
Cincinnati Bearcats football
The Cincinnati Bearcats football program represents the University of Cincinnati in a college football. They compete at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level as members of the Big East Conference. The Bearcat football program is one of the nation's oldest, having fielded a team as...
was Tyler's 8th consecutive game with multiple touchdown passes. Bray also had the highest the completion percentage ever recorded in a game by a Tennessee QB of 82.9%. Breaking Manning's record of 77.5% set as a senior against Georgia in 1997. For the third game of the season Tyler was faced with the daunting task of facing the Florida Gators
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
. He lost arguably Tennessee's top receiver Justin Hunter on Tennessee's first drive of the game causing Tyler's game plan to be noticeably different. His completion percentage dipped from the 82.9% of the Cincinnati game to 54.2%. A mixture of things attributed to this shrunken percentage including the loss of Hunter, dropped passes by other receivers, and the task of playing at the Swamp. He threw his first 2 interceptions of the season, and finished the game with 288 yards and 3 touchdowns. Against Georgia, Bray completed 18 of 33 passes for 251 yards with 0 touchdowns and 0 interceptions, however, he suffered a broken thumb in the fourth quarter of this game. Similiar to 2010, Bray did not play against conference foes LSU, Alabama, South Carolina or Arkansas, but did start against Vanderbilt and Kentucky.