On the first day of spring, Tennessee opened practice outside on a rainy and chilly Tuesday afternoon.
In Jeremy Pruitt’s inaugural practice, the media was allowed four open viewing periods, with individual work, routes on air, fastball and more during the 15 minutes of action.
Here are VolQuest’s observations…
* Tempo, tempo, tempo. The new staff, with guy like Pruitt, Will Friend, Chris Rumph and Tracy Rocker leading the charge, were working hard to instill a specific pacing to the first practice. It was clunky at times with players and even some GAs still learning the script, but the message has clearly been delivered: We’re going to practice hard and fast.
There was no music during practice or anyone over the loud speaker. It's clear that Pruitt was making a statement by practicing in the rain on Day 1, too.
Immediately following stretch, Tennessee did a new 2X2 fastball team shell drill, where two full offensive personnel groups ran quick run plays. The shorthanded OL was challenged in this group, with a guy like Jerome Carvin having to do double-time at RT with the two backup units.
* The Vols worked a lively ball security drill, with the TEs competing with the OLBs, the RBs with the ILBs and the WRs with the DBs. Rumph, Brian Niedermeyer and David Johnson were meticulous about every rep.
* As expected, Darrell Taylor, Ryan Thaxton and Deandre Johnson are listed as DL on the official roster but all three players were working with OLBs during individual periods. The other OLBs were Austin Smith, Dillion Bates and Jordan Allen, who looks solid after just a few months in a new S&C program.
* We’ve noted on here that Princeton Fant is a guy the new staff is high on and will be moved around to a number of positions this spring. He’s listed as a tight end, but Fant was taking reps at RB on Tuesday. He was running behind Ty Chandler, who looks to have added some weight, and Trey Coleman.
* The routes on air period was similar to what we saw a year ago … way too many balls hitting the ground. In fairness, it’s Day 1 and the conditions were not ideal, but the QBs — with Jarrett Guarantano and Will McBride splitting reps with several walk-ons — were hot and cold, while receivers dropped too many balls. As expected, Guarantano ran first on every rep/drill.
A couple wideouts who did catch my eye were LaTrell Williams, Brandon Johnson and early enrollee Alontae Taylor. Taylor was working at the Z spot today. Marquez Callway and Jordan Murphy were among those at the X receiver spot.
* Tennessee’s tight end group had a nice showing on the routes on air period, though. There’s a lot of numbers at that spot — with Austin Pope, Eli Wolf, LaTrell Bumphus, James Brown, Ja’Quain Blakely and Jacob Warren all splitting reps. Bumphus did look big, too.
* On the OL, Riley Locklear worked at guard, as did DeVante Brooks. Ryan Johnson and Ollie Lane took reps at center.
* At inside linebacker, Daniel Bituli was participating in some drills despite battling offseason knee and shoulder injuries.
* Guys who look like they’ve added weight/changed their bodies: Will Ignont, Eric Crosby, Solon Page, Marcus Tatum, DeVante Brooks.
* Guys working with new S&C coordinator Scott Fitzgerald on the side included Trey Smith, DJ Henderson, K’Rojhn Calbert and Todd Kelly Jr.
* Athletics director Phillip Fulmer was in attendance for practice Tuesday.
* Numbers for the early enrollees:
Alontae Taylor - 6
Greg Emerson - 90
Jerome Carvin - 75
Ollie Lane - 78
Jacob Warren - 87
In Jeremy Pruitt’s inaugural practice, the media was allowed four open viewing periods, with individual work, routes on air, fastball and more during the 15 minutes of action.
Here are VolQuest’s observations…
* Tempo, tempo, tempo. The new staff, with guy like Pruitt, Will Friend, Chris Rumph and Tracy Rocker leading the charge, were working hard to instill a specific pacing to the first practice. It was clunky at times with players and even some GAs still learning the script, but the message has clearly been delivered: We’re going to practice hard and fast.
There was no music during practice or anyone over the loud speaker. It's clear that Pruitt was making a statement by practicing in the rain on Day 1, too.
Immediately following stretch, Tennessee did a new 2X2 fastball team shell drill, where two full offensive personnel groups ran quick run plays. The shorthanded OL was challenged in this group, with a guy like Jerome Carvin having to do double-time at RT with the two backup units.
* The Vols worked a lively ball security drill, with the TEs competing with the OLBs, the RBs with the ILBs and the WRs with the DBs. Rumph, Brian Niedermeyer and David Johnson were meticulous about every rep.
* As expected, Darrell Taylor, Ryan Thaxton and Deandre Johnson are listed as DL on the official roster but all three players were working with OLBs during individual periods. The other OLBs were Austin Smith, Dillion Bates and Jordan Allen, who looks solid after just a few months in a new S&C program.
* We’ve noted on here that Princeton Fant is a guy the new staff is high on and will be moved around to a number of positions this spring. He’s listed as a tight end, but Fant was taking reps at RB on Tuesday. He was running behind Ty Chandler, who looks to have added some weight, and Trey Coleman.
* The routes on air period was similar to what we saw a year ago … way too many balls hitting the ground. In fairness, it’s Day 1 and the conditions were not ideal, but the QBs — with Jarrett Guarantano and Will McBride splitting reps with several walk-ons — were hot and cold, while receivers dropped too many balls. As expected, Guarantano ran first on every rep/drill.
A couple wideouts who did catch my eye were LaTrell Williams, Brandon Johnson and early enrollee Alontae Taylor. Taylor was working at the Z spot today. Marquez Callway and Jordan Murphy were among those at the X receiver spot.
* Tennessee’s tight end group had a nice showing on the routes on air period, though. There’s a lot of numbers at that spot — with Austin Pope, Eli Wolf, LaTrell Bumphus, James Brown, Ja’Quain Blakely and Jacob Warren all splitting reps. Bumphus did look big, too.
* On the OL, Riley Locklear worked at guard, as did DeVante Brooks. Ryan Johnson and Ollie Lane took reps at center.
* At inside linebacker, Daniel Bituli was participating in some drills despite battling offseason knee and shoulder injuries.
* Guys who look like they’ve added weight/changed their bodies: Will Ignont, Eric Crosby, Solon Page, Marcus Tatum, DeVante Brooks.
* Guys working with new S&C coordinator Scott Fitzgerald on the side included Trey Smith, DJ Henderson, K’Rojhn Calbert and Todd Kelly Jr.
* Athletics director Phillip Fulmer was in attendance for practice Tuesday.
* Numbers for the early enrollees:
Alontae Taylor - 6
Greg Emerson - 90
Jerome Carvin - 75
Ollie Lane - 78
Jacob Warren - 87
