The boys are back.
Tennessee returned to the practice field on a toasty Friday afternoon — its first of 29 sessions before the opener against West Virginia on Sept. 1.
In an ode to the 90s, the Vols were rocking white practice jerseys with black outlines around the numbers.
Here are the Volquest notes and observations from Day 1…
FRIEND ALREADY IN MIDSEASON FORM
Tennessee’s new offensive line coach Will Friend straight gets after his unit. Calling him salty might be an understatement.
As was the case this spring, most of the OL video is NSFW.
The veteran coach was particularly rough on freshman Ollie Lane and sophomore Riley Locklear on Friday, but he also didn’t mince words with vets like Drew Richmond or Marcus Tatum.
During the open periods, the unit worked on various fundamental drills, including combo blocking drills.
With the caveat that it’s Day 1 … again Day 1 … I was impressed with how Chance Hall looked. Surprised, really. He moved pretty well. Didn’t show any noticeable limp and looked in solid shape.
On the flip side, Alabama transfer Brandon Kennedy looked a lot small than his listing of 6-3, 301. That seems like a stretch. Kennedy was notably taking a lot of reps, though, mostly at center. He's got quick feet and some power, too.
Before getting winded, Drew Richmond was working exclusively at LT. Trey Smith didn’t do a whole lot of drill work while we were out there. Ryan Johnson was at LG, with Jerome Carvin at RG and Marcus Tatum at RT.
Devante Brooks was at center, while Locklear worked at RG.
Finally, no idea how good is he, but freshman walk-on Jarious Abercrobmie (No. 79) is massive. He’s all of 6-4, 325.
GETTING DEFENSIVE
Jeremy Pruitt is the head coach, but he’s still a secondary coach at heart. He was the guy coaching the cornerbacks today. He was very vocal and very hands-on.
Similarly, both Kevin Sherrer (ILB) and Tracy Rocker (DL) were very vocal about footwork. “First-step” Friday.
A couple notes on both groups: Daniel Bituli looked a bit lighter. In a good way. He’s listed at a similar weight as last season but he’s shifted it around it appears.
Also, Darrin Kirkland Jr. was wearing a brace on his knee.
In the “looks the part” department: Newcomers Kenneth George, Kingston Harris and Emmitt Gooden.
FACILITY UPGRADES
The year Tennessee won its national title in 1998, the Vols were practicing on 2.5 acres and they had a national guard armory built at the end of the facility. They had less than 200 yards of practice space. Now 20 years later, as part off the expansion, they have six acres and, counting the indoor facility, have four full-size practice fields.
WHAT ROUTES ON AIR?
With the new practice field setup, it will be much more difficult to see Tennessee’s routes on air this year.
That’s not an excuse but reality.
Quick takeaways from what I could see: Jarrett Guarantano took the first rep and threw a perfect ball to Josh Palmer … and it was dropped. The rest of the period was much cleaner, though. I didn’t think Keller Chryst had a ton of zip on his balls, but again, it’s hard to really gauge based on the viewpoints for the media.
JT Shrout has a nice arm, but he’s clearly someone who needs to get stronger.
The WR rotation was much of the same with how it was in the spring, with the notable inclusion of Jauan Jennings back on the field.
Marquez Callaway, Jordan Murphy and Tyler Byrd were at the X, while Jennings, Palmer and Cedric Tillman were at Z. The slot had Brandon Johnson, Latrell Williams and Jacquez Jones.
QUICK HITTERS
* Greg Emerson is listed at No. 64 on the roster, but the former 4-star prospect was wearing No. 90 and working with the DL.
* Sophomore Shawn Shamburger was working with the safeties today, while freshman Bryce Thompson and Alontae Taylor were at corner. Both rookies flashed their athleticism.
* JUCO transfer Jahmir Johnson was a late arrival to practice, needing to get his right hand heavily tapped.
* Todd Kelly was back on the field, wearing no brace, for the first time in about 11 months.
* Former Vol quarterback and Oak Ridge native Jerry Colquitt was at practice Friday.
* Ja'Quain Blakely looks like a FB and Dominick Wood-Anderson certainly was the best looking TE in the group Friday.
Tennessee returned to the practice field on a toasty Friday afternoon — its first of 29 sessions before the opener against West Virginia on Sept. 1.
In an ode to the 90s, the Vols were rocking white practice jerseys with black outlines around the numbers.
Here are the Volquest notes and observations from Day 1…
FRIEND ALREADY IN MIDSEASON FORM
Tennessee’s new offensive line coach Will Friend straight gets after his unit. Calling him salty might be an understatement.
As was the case this spring, most of the OL video is NSFW.
The veteran coach was particularly rough on freshman Ollie Lane and sophomore Riley Locklear on Friday, but he also didn’t mince words with vets like Drew Richmond or Marcus Tatum.
During the open periods, the unit worked on various fundamental drills, including combo blocking drills.
With the caveat that it’s Day 1 … again Day 1 … I was impressed with how Chance Hall looked. Surprised, really. He moved pretty well. Didn’t show any noticeable limp and looked in solid shape.
On the flip side, Alabama transfer Brandon Kennedy looked a lot small than his listing of 6-3, 301. That seems like a stretch. Kennedy was notably taking a lot of reps, though, mostly at center. He's got quick feet and some power, too.
Before getting winded, Drew Richmond was working exclusively at LT. Trey Smith didn’t do a whole lot of drill work while we were out there. Ryan Johnson was at LG, with Jerome Carvin at RG and Marcus Tatum at RT.
Devante Brooks was at center, while Locklear worked at RG.
Finally, no idea how good is he, but freshman walk-on Jarious Abercrobmie (No. 79) is massive. He’s all of 6-4, 325.
GETTING DEFENSIVE
Jeremy Pruitt is the head coach, but he’s still a secondary coach at heart. He was the guy coaching the cornerbacks today. He was very vocal and very hands-on.
Similarly, both Kevin Sherrer (ILB) and Tracy Rocker (DL) were very vocal about footwork. “First-step” Friday.
A couple notes on both groups: Daniel Bituli looked a bit lighter. In a good way. He’s listed at a similar weight as last season but he’s shifted it around it appears.
Also, Darrin Kirkland Jr. was wearing a brace on his knee.
In the “looks the part” department: Newcomers Kenneth George, Kingston Harris and Emmitt Gooden.
FACILITY UPGRADES
The year Tennessee won its national title in 1998, the Vols were practicing on 2.5 acres and they had a national guard armory built at the end of the facility. They had less than 200 yards of practice space. Now 20 years later, as part off the expansion, they have six acres and, counting the indoor facility, have four full-size practice fields.
WHAT ROUTES ON AIR?
With the new practice field setup, it will be much more difficult to see Tennessee’s routes on air this year.
That’s not an excuse but reality.
Quick takeaways from what I could see: Jarrett Guarantano took the first rep and threw a perfect ball to Josh Palmer … and it was dropped. The rest of the period was much cleaner, though. I didn’t think Keller Chryst had a ton of zip on his balls, but again, it’s hard to really gauge based on the viewpoints for the media.
JT Shrout has a nice arm, but he’s clearly someone who needs to get stronger.
The WR rotation was much of the same with how it was in the spring, with the notable inclusion of Jauan Jennings back on the field.
Marquez Callaway, Jordan Murphy and Tyler Byrd were at the X, while Jennings, Palmer and Cedric Tillman were at Z. The slot had Brandon Johnson, Latrell Williams and Jacquez Jones.
QUICK HITTERS
* Greg Emerson is listed at No. 64 on the roster, but the former 4-star prospect was wearing No. 90 and working with the DL.
* Sophomore Shawn Shamburger was working with the safeties today, while freshman Bryce Thompson and Alontae Taylor were at corner. Both rookies flashed their athleticism.
* JUCO transfer Jahmir Johnson was a late arrival to practice, needing to get his right hand heavily tapped.
* Todd Kelly was back on the field, wearing no brace, for the first time in about 11 months.
* Former Vol quarterback and Oak Ridge native Jerry Colquitt was at practice Friday.
* Ja'Quain Blakely looks like a FB and Dominick Wood-Anderson certainly was the best looking TE in the group Friday.
