Tennessee football was back out on Haslam Practice Field for the second time this spring Thursday morning, donning helmets but no shoulder pads. The acclimation period is set to pick up on Saturday.
For the second-straight session, the Vols started inside the Anderson Training Facility for stretches and circuit work. Jerry Mack was aggressively challenging his running backs to ‘keep it tight’ when taking on the punch from the dummy as the defense rotated between three stations for tackling work.
Outside, the squad went into individual work. The defensive linemen started with bags before getting under the cage. As a group, they were too high – which is not out the of ordinary this early into practice. Rodney Garner – in true fashion – was getting after the student helpers for being slow in setting up the next drill.
I giggled.
Not really sure why, as the group got out there before the media, but the linebackers were immediately doing up-downs to begin the individual period. I’d assume it was for a lack of hustling to the next station. Again, nothing crazy, as this is common early into camp to set the practice tone.
The linebackers – led by Jeremy Banks – focused on steps and downhill progression while working under the cage and on the bags. They then shifted to the tackling sled where they worked explosion with proper hand placement, extension followed by a dip & rip.
The defensive backs were walking through some coverages and there was already some cross-training happening. It looked like safeties Jaylen McCollough and Trevon Flowers were taking some reps at the STAR position while Tommarrion McDonald worked more at safety today after previously repping corner on Tuesday.
Remember, that unit is currently slim with so many corners unavailable for practice.
The offensive line worked some under the cage and then grouped up with guards & tackles – working left side and right side. As groups of two, they repped down blocks, fold blocks and chipping up to the second level. The centers worked off to the side on the sled. Of note, freshman Addison Nichols was in that group, along with Cooper Mays and Parker Ball.
Nothing major going on with the tailbacks this morning as they went through their normal indy work. The rotation in the early going has been Small, Wright, Williams-Thomas and then Whitehead. It’s early, but that is the expected pecking order to begin with.
The wideouts and quarterbacks continued to work routes on air today with slants, outs and skinny posts. Overall, I thought the signal-callers had a decent day. I didn’t see too many balls on the ground. After the group working, the quarterbacks simulated pocket awareness drills – stepping up, rolling out, shedding hits.
And finally for the receivers, they’re still trying to figure things out. Tillman and Keyton continued to be the first ones up on the outside with Hyatt in the slot. Jimmy Calloway continued to get some slot work on Thursday, as did Walker Merrill and Squirrel White.
Jimmy Holiday repped on the outside along with freshmen Cam Miller & Chas Nimrod. Redshirt-freshman tight end Julian Nixon continues to look more comfortable at tight end. He’s always looked fluid running routes (former WR) but his form is getting better in blocking drills.
Two players were not out there for Thursday’s practice. Freshman wideout Kaleb Webb and LaTrell Bumphus - nothing to worry about for either. 2023 ATH Brayden Moore and 2024 linebacker Ashton Woods were present for the practice session.
Tim Banks, Jordan Phillips, Elijah Herring and Byron Young will meet with the media later this morning.
For the second-straight session, the Vols started inside the Anderson Training Facility for stretches and circuit work. Jerry Mack was aggressively challenging his running backs to ‘keep it tight’ when taking on the punch from the dummy as the defense rotated between three stations for tackling work.
Outside, the squad went into individual work. The defensive linemen started with bags before getting under the cage. As a group, they were too high – which is not out the of ordinary this early into practice. Rodney Garner – in true fashion – was getting after the student helpers for being slow in setting up the next drill.
I giggled.
Not really sure why, as the group got out there before the media, but the linebackers were immediately doing up-downs to begin the individual period. I’d assume it was for a lack of hustling to the next station. Again, nothing crazy, as this is common early into camp to set the practice tone.
The linebackers – led by Jeremy Banks – focused on steps and downhill progression while working under the cage and on the bags. They then shifted to the tackling sled where they worked explosion with proper hand placement, extension followed by a dip & rip.
The defensive backs were walking through some coverages and there was already some cross-training happening. It looked like safeties Jaylen McCollough and Trevon Flowers were taking some reps at the STAR position while Tommarrion McDonald worked more at safety today after previously repping corner on Tuesday.
Remember, that unit is currently slim with so many corners unavailable for practice.
The offensive line worked some under the cage and then grouped up with guards & tackles – working left side and right side. As groups of two, they repped down blocks, fold blocks and chipping up to the second level. The centers worked off to the side on the sled. Of note, freshman Addison Nichols was in that group, along with Cooper Mays and Parker Ball.
Nothing major going on with the tailbacks this morning as they went through their normal indy work. The rotation in the early going has been Small, Wright, Williams-Thomas and then Whitehead. It’s early, but that is the expected pecking order to begin with.
The wideouts and quarterbacks continued to work routes on air today with slants, outs and skinny posts. Overall, I thought the signal-callers had a decent day. I didn’t see too many balls on the ground. After the group working, the quarterbacks simulated pocket awareness drills – stepping up, rolling out, shedding hits.
And finally for the receivers, they’re still trying to figure things out. Tillman and Keyton continued to be the first ones up on the outside with Hyatt in the slot. Jimmy Calloway continued to get some slot work on Thursday, as did Walker Merrill and Squirrel White.
Jimmy Holiday repped on the outside along with freshmen Cam Miller & Chas Nimrod. Redshirt-freshman tight end Julian Nixon continues to look more comfortable at tight end. He’s always looked fluid running routes (former WR) but his form is getting better in blocking drills.
Two players were not out there for Thursday’s practice. Freshman wideout Kaleb Webb and LaTrell Bumphus - nothing to worry about for either. 2023 ATH Brayden Moore and 2024 linebacker Ashton Woods were present for the practice session.
Tim Banks, Jordan Phillips, Elijah Herring and Byron Young will meet with the media later this morning.
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