Former Tennessee Vol has unique new job – atozsportsnashville.com
Former Tennessee Vol has unique new job atozsportsnashville.com
Riley Lovingood, a Hendersonville, TN native, spent five years as a member of the Tennessee Vols football program.
As a redshirt senior in 2019, Lovingood was the Vols’ primary long snapper for all 13 games.
The former Vol is now hoping to secure a spot on an NFL roster, but because of COVID-19 and a knee injury (which was suffered in Tennessee’s Gator Bowl win against Indiana), Lovingood has had to put those dreams on hold temporarily.
For now, Lovingood is pursuing a different career. According to The Athletic’s David Ubben, Lovingood is working on Bill Hagerty’s senate campaign.
Hagerty is a Republican from Gallatin, TN who attended Vanderbilt. He most recently served as the United States ambassador to Japan.
Lovingood told Ubben he didn’t have a previous interest in politics, but he “loves talking to people”.
Quality long snappers aren’t easy to find. So I imagine Lovingood will eventually get his chance to make an NFL roster — as long as his knee is healthy (Lovingood actually tore his ACL against Indiana and then returned to the game to snap on a punt).
Perhaps Lovingood has a future in politics after his playing days are over. A former Vol running for anything in the state of Tennessee should get plenty of votes.
Featured image via Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
