In just a month from now, former Tennessee offensive lineman Venzell Boulware will become current Miami offensive lineman Venzell Boulware. As a graduate transfer from the Volunteers, Boulware has already walked with his graduating class in the spring, but has one last summer class to finish before he can officially report to Miami.
“I’m taking the last, final class right now and I’ll be there for the second summer session in July,” Boulware said. “Everything right now is just training and class. That’s pretty much the focus right now, studying and working out.”
Part of him is already in Miami, though: Boulware set up shop and got moved into his place in Miami to start getting comfortable with his new surroundings for when he is done with classes in Knoxville.
“Yeah, I moved my stuff down there right after graduation to get set up and meet some of the other guys, get familiar with the city and the campus a little bit. So that was good, and I feel like it really helped a lot,” says Boulware.
As he graduated from Tennessee in three years, Boulware is immediately eligible and has two years to play, so he will be considered a redshirt junior in 2018. The offensive line at has been a constant trouble-area the last few years at Miami, so the coaches’ pitch to Boulware was simple: a wide-open depth chart.
“I mean, they’re losing a couple guys from last year, and I think a guy transferred too,” Boulware said. “There’s just an opportunity down there to come in and compete, so if you want the job, come take it. Nothing was promised to me being a grad transfer, just come in and work hard.”
What was it about the Canes that made him feel comfortable spending his last few college years in Coral Gables?
“It was a lot of things. The opportunity there, knowing coach Mark Richt from high school, getting to know coach Searels, meeting the other coaches like coach Brown on the official visit,” Boulware said. “Also, having a couple Georgia boys down there too, like Deejay Dallas, definitely helped a lot. Deejay actually reached out before I came on the visit. So, just being familiar with everybody and the opportunity.”
And yes, Boulware has actually known Richt since high school. He was recruited by Richt to UGA back when Boulware was a high 3-star recruit at Creekside High in Georgia and Richt was the head man for the Bulldogs.
“You know, just developing that relationship from high school, and his reputation, I’ve never heard a bad thing said about coach Richt,” Boulware said. “And, in my situation, that’s what you want to see out of a coach. I trust him, and him and coach Searels believe in me. It’s a blessing. I’ll just come in, work hard, and do everything I can to help the team.”
Boulware made 4 starts and was considered a valuable rotation guy off the bench in his two years playing at UT, but the Volunteers’ season last year can only be described as chaotic. Boulware left the team in October and the season ended with head coach Butch Jones getting fired on the heels of a 4-8 record. Now, Boulware will get a fresh start with a Miami team on the upswing under Richt and he sees things going differently in his second go-round in college.
“Definitely from a technique standpoint I want to improve,” Boulware said. “And then learning, since all the coaches are different, learning things coach Searels wants me to improve on, or things that he wants me to do differently. So, just focusing more on the offensive line coach’s style of play. I’ve been through the process now, so certain things I know how to do.”
Being a coveted recruit again had it’s pro’s and con’s, however, Boulware said going through the process a second time was necessary to find where he could best make an impact.
“I’m not going to say it wasn’t fun, but it was a little weird,” Boulware said on being recruited again. “One day you’re on the team [at Tennessee] and then the next day, all these other coaches are calling you. I didn’t want to get like really recruited again, but I did have to go through the process again and find the best fit.”
Were there any other teams he seriously considered besides Miami?
“There were a lot of schools, I was talking to a different one like every day,” Boulware said. “But being a grad transfer, you don’t really want to take a million visits, you really just want to get to the point. Once you get a feel for the program, coaches, and obviously the position situation, you can get a good grasp on what you want. When I visited Miami, I pretty much knew that’s where I wanted to be. After that visit, I didn’t really consider anybody else, it was pretty much nailed down that I was going to Miami.”
Boulware, who will wear number 50 at UM, is currently measuring in at 6’4” 305 pounds, a size he is comfortable at and will maintain for the upcoming season. Describing his game, he feels like his IQ, among other things, sets him apart from the rest.
“I like to say I'm an athletic, strong, intelligent player,” Boulware said. “Obviously, I feel like each year in college I’ve gotten better and that comes with a high football intelligence, but I’m also an effort player.”
If nothing else, the opportunity is definitely there at Miami, especially at his position of guard. Of last season’s starting guards, Trevor Darling has graduated and vacated the left guard spot, while right guard Navaughn Donaldson has been kicked out to right tackle. While Jahair Jones and Hayden Mahoney ended spring as the new starters at guard, neither is considered to have locked in their role, so Boulware is prepared to come in and fight for playing time in what he sees as his last shot at football.
“I don’t really like to put expectations on it, I’m just looking for the best results possible,” Boulware said of the upcoming season. “I’m going all out. I feel like my back is against the wall and I’m going to do anything I have to.”
“I’m taking the last, final class right now and I’ll be there for the second summer session in July,” Boulware said. “Everything right now is just training and class. That’s pretty much the focus right now, studying and working out.”
Part of him is already in Miami, though: Boulware set up shop and got moved into his place in Miami to start getting comfortable with his new surroundings for when he is done with classes in Knoxville.
“Yeah, I moved my stuff down there right after graduation to get set up and meet some of the other guys, get familiar with the city and the campus a little bit. So that was good, and I feel like it really helped a lot,” says Boulware.
As he graduated from Tennessee in three years, Boulware is immediately eligible and has two years to play, so he will be considered a redshirt junior in 2018. The offensive line at has been a constant trouble-area the last few years at Miami, so the coaches’ pitch to Boulware was simple: a wide-open depth chart.
“I mean, they’re losing a couple guys from last year, and I think a guy transferred too,” Boulware said. “There’s just an opportunity down there to come in and compete, so if you want the job, come take it. Nothing was promised to me being a grad transfer, just come in and work hard.”
What was it about the Canes that made him feel comfortable spending his last few college years in Coral Gables?
“It was a lot of things. The opportunity there, knowing coach Mark Richt from high school, getting to know coach Searels, meeting the other coaches like coach Brown on the official visit,” Boulware said. “Also, having a couple Georgia boys down there too, like Deejay Dallas, definitely helped a lot. Deejay actually reached out before I came on the visit. So, just being familiar with everybody and the opportunity.”
And yes, Boulware has actually known Richt since high school. He was recruited by Richt to UGA back when Boulware was a high 3-star recruit at Creekside High in Georgia and Richt was the head man for the Bulldogs.
“You know, just developing that relationship from high school, and his reputation, I’ve never heard a bad thing said about coach Richt,” Boulware said. “And, in my situation, that’s what you want to see out of a coach. I trust him, and him and coach Searels believe in me. It’s a blessing. I’ll just come in, work hard, and do everything I can to help the team.”
Boulware made 4 starts and was considered a valuable rotation guy off the bench in his two years playing at UT, but the Volunteers’ season last year can only be described as chaotic. Boulware left the team in October and the season ended with head coach Butch Jones getting fired on the heels of a 4-8 record. Now, Boulware will get a fresh start with a Miami team on the upswing under Richt and he sees things going differently in his second go-round in college.
“Definitely from a technique standpoint I want to improve,” Boulware said. “And then learning, since all the coaches are different, learning things coach Searels wants me to improve on, or things that he wants me to do differently. So, just focusing more on the offensive line coach’s style of play. I’ve been through the process now, so certain things I know how to do.”
Being a coveted recruit again had it’s pro’s and con’s, however, Boulware said going through the process a second time was necessary to find where he could best make an impact.
“I’m not going to say it wasn’t fun, but it was a little weird,” Boulware said on being recruited again. “One day you’re on the team [at Tennessee] and then the next day, all these other coaches are calling you. I didn’t want to get like really recruited again, but I did have to go through the process again and find the best fit.”
Were there any other teams he seriously considered besides Miami?
“There were a lot of schools, I was talking to a different one like every day,” Boulware said. “But being a grad transfer, you don’t really want to take a million visits, you really just want to get to the point. Once you get a feel for the program, coaches, and obviously the position situation, you can get a good grasp on what you want. When I visited Miami, I pretty much knew that’s where I wanted to be. After that visit, I didn’t really consider anybody else, it was pretty much nailed down that I was going to Miami.”
Boulware, who will wear number 50 at UM, is currently measuring in at 6’4” 305 pounds, a size he is comfortable at and will maintain for the upcoming season. Describing his game, he feels like his IQ, among other things, sets him apart from the rest.
“I like to say I'm an athletic, strong, intelligent player,” Boulware said. “Obviously, I feel like each year in college I’ve gotten better and that comes with a high football intelligence, but I’m also an effort player.”
If nothing else, the opportunity is definitely there at Miami, especially at his position of guard. Of last season’s starting guards, Trevor Darling has graduated and vacated the left guard spot, while right guard Navaughn Donaldson has been kicked out to right tackle. While Jahair Jones and Hayden Mahoney ended spring as the new starters at guard, neither is considered to have locked in their role, so Boulware is prepared to come in and fight for playing time in what he sees as his last shot at football.
“I don’t really like to put expectations on it, I’m just looking for the best results possible,” Boulware said of the upcoming season. “I’m going all out. I feel like my back is against the wall and I’m going to do anything I have to.”
