Vols Fall Practice #1

[Fingers]

Sophomore safety Jourdan Thomas was out on the field going through individual work before making his way inside when group work began. He suffered a knee injury during camp that required surgery. He will continue to work himself back to full speed.

Dylan Sampson was in the same boat, as noted first on the Tuesday Volquest Podcast. He is working himself back from a minor lower-body injury and will be slowed the first few days of camp.

At quarterback, Joe Milton looked like he had a pretty good day. Again, it’s day one and there’s no contact or shoulder pads on – but his throws were strong with tight spirals and his touch passes looked crisp and not 100 mph. He has a nice throw to Dont’e Thornton out of the slot for a touchdown during the 7-on-7 period and connected with Jacob Warren on a dig route during the team period. He looked confident and in command.

Freshman Nico Iamaleava made some strong throws as well while the media was present, including one to McCallan Castles on the sideline from an out route. He also fumbles one exchange with a running back and overthrew a couple of balls. Normal routine stuff early in camp and especially for young quarterbacks.

The wide receivers were led by Ramel Keyton who looks a little bit different donning the No. 9 jersey. He made a couple of highlight plays, as did Squirrel White out of the slot. Thornton worked primarily out of the slot today and Bru McCoy made some good yards after the catch today during 7-on-7. Kaleb Webb made a few good catches from different quarterbacks during the workout.

Gerald Mincey was not practicing on the right side. Instead, he was repping as the backup to John Campbell at left tackle during the practice. ... it was Jeremiah Crawford who was the right tackle this morning with Dayne Davis going with the second group. Addison Nichols was seen going with the centers during group work and inside run but was the third center up during the team portion, behind Cooper Mays and Parker Ball.

The freshmen Arion Carter and Jeremiah Telander look like a million bucks. They have put in the work over the offseason and are sound int heir mechanics and steps. Will that translate to playing time? We’ll see, but those two pass the eye test.

Aaron Beasley and Keenn Pili are leading that group. Both looked good going through drills on day one. Elijah Herring is further along and knows a lot more about the defense, the position and what to do compared to this time last year and in spring.

Wesley Walker looks like the offseason program has done him some favors. Jordan Matthews picked off a pass during the 7-on-7 portion of practice and Tamarion McDonald continues to be more of a leader out on the field.

e.cain

The first-team offense looked to have more success than the following units with Small hitting a couple of nice runs up the middle and Milton getting the football out quickly to White and Warren. McCoy also made a contested catch on a slant over the middle with Milton throwing an accurate strike. Turrentine had a good play coming up from his safety spot to make a play in the flat.

The twos and threes weren’t as crisp with Nichols firing an errant snap to Gaston Moore and Iamaleava and Davis failing to connect on one of those patented pop passes to the tight end – the pass was both catchable but could have been more accurate. Wright had a good pass breakup for the second-team defense. Freshman tight end Emmanuel Okoye caught a pass with the threes.

Freshman linebacker Arion Carter looks like a couple million bucks, rookie defensive lineman Caleb Herring isn’t far behind and freshman linebacker Jeremiah Telander looks like he’s bulked up in the upper body. Hobbs, who was working at defensive end, looks good for a freshman, too, as he’s not carrying much bad weight after several months in the program. The freshman defensive backs are long, athletic, smooth and explosive and the likes of linebacker Elijah Herring, Tyre West and James Pearce Jr. jump out on defense.

On offense, wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. jumps out in how he moves, freshman tight end Ethan Davis looks the part with his combination of size and athleticism and freshman running back Khalifa Keith adds some size and bulk to the backfield. Staying at tight end, freshman Emmanuel Okoye is all limbs, a lean athlete with a unique frame. This all still looks very new to Tennessee’s international import, but he looks eager to learn and is playing fast even though he knows he might not be doing it all right.

Keyton had a good move on Doneiko Slaughter and beat De’Shawn Rucker as well for a catch. Warren is moving fluidly and confidently and is catching just about everything as he beat a couple of safeties on short routes for catches.

I thought redshirt freshman wideout Kaleb Webb had a good day in those two periods as he beat Brandon Turnage for a catch in one-on-ones and tight ends Ethan Davis and McCallan Castles had good reps.

On defense, Warren Burrell (against Bru McCoy) and Gabe Jeudy-Lally had good reps, Jordan Matthews picked off a pass in a rep against a walk-on who fell down and Christian Harrison got a PBU against McCoy.

Jaylen McCollough has a real leadership presence on this team. He was the one who broke the whole team down after stretch when they broke into individual work.

Watching the offensive line, the 329-pound listing for Brian Grant doesn’t look off – he looks like an SEC offensive lineman now. Masai Reddick looks like Javontez Spraggins 2.0 with his dimensions and how he pops the pads in blocking drills, and junior college transfer Larry Johnson III has slimmed down noticeably as well.

p.brown

- Jaylen McCollough was a clear leader of the team. He had a good rep against Bru McCoy, as well. However, he was not with the defense when starters were on the field. Wouldn't read too much into it, though.

- Squirrel White looks really good. Burned Dee Williams on a 1 on 1 drill. Was with the starting group.

- Bru McCoy looked rusty. Dropped some passes with no coverage that hit him square in the hands. Looked better by end of session.

- Nico Iamaleava has clear physical tools but still is adjusting to the offense. Will be fine with more practice.

r.silva

On the first play of 11-on-11 Small took a hand off up the middle and looked fast as he burst into the secondary, though it wasn't near full contact.

From there, Small and Wright rotated in and out with the first team with Sampson running with the second team and freshman newcomer Khalifa Keith on the third team offense.

Davis, who suffered a collar bone injury in the second half of the Orange and White Game in April, was accounted for on the first day of fall camp. He went through every drill and wasn't held back, making a few catches against defensive backs in passing drills.

Warren and Castles looked the part of seasoned veterans, splitting reps with the first team and catching everything that came their way.

White flashed his speed against the first team defense, creating separation and catching a Joe Milton III pass.

McCoy, who missed spring practice as he recovered from injury, didn't look sharp in the open portion, dropping some passes during drills but did snag a Milton pass in 11-on-11.

Corner Warren Burrell was sidelined most of last season following an injury in Week 2 and was sidelined in the spring. He looked back at full health with the first team, breaking up a Milton pass to McCoy early.

n.taylor

Dylan Sampson didn’t participate in the team portion of practice we saw and receiver Chas Nimrod did some stretching work off to the side.

It was our first look at freshman running back Khalifa Keith who enrolled this summer. He lives up to his billing as a big physical back. Looks more like a linebacker than a running back. Excitement remains high about what Jaylen Wright can do in his senior season and the well put back is even bigger this season. Still, his size pales in comparison to Keith.

First team offensive line left to right was: John Campbell, Ollie Lane, Cooper Mays, Javontez Spraggins, Jeremiah Crawford.

Second team line left to right: Dayne Davis, Jackson Lampley, Parker Ball, Ollie Lane, Gerald Mincey. Third team line left to right: Larry Johnson, Masai Reddick, Addison Nichols, Vysen Lang, Brian Grant.

Nigeria native Emmanuel Okoye committed and arrived in Knoxville later in the summer. He’s starting out at tight end and looks like a million bucks out there. He could add some bulk but is shredded. Okoye is a project so there’s no need to draw massive conclusions. He did struggle catching the football.

The rotation at receiver came as expected. Ramel Keyton and Bru McCoy started out wide with Squirrel White starting at the slot. Oregon transfer Dont’e Thornton quickly got in the rotation primarily working in the slot but getting some work out wide too.

Dominic Bailey and Roman Harrison led the way in defensive line drills as the seniors are looking for big season. Changing to No. 10 doesn’t make Elijah Simmons any thinner. He’s still an absolute unit who Tennessee is hoping can breakout this season.

After missing spring practice, Daevin Hobbs was fully available and active to open camp. He’s slightly smaller than I expected for an interior defensive lineman but moves well. It was also our first look at freshman edge rusher Chandavian Bradley who arrived this summer. He will benefit from a full year in the weight room but he looks like an edge rusher with a slender frame and freaky long arms.

First team defensive line during team portions left to right was: Tyler Baron, Omari Thomas, Bryson Eason, Roman Harrison. Second team: Dominic Bailey, Simmons, Kurrott Garland, Josh Josephs. Lots of substituting along the defensive front.

William Wright — the walk on corner who played on the final drive against Alabama — was working at the STAR spot.

r.schumpert

 

[84Volfan]

Let's go!!!!

 

[RDU VOL#14]

It’s here LFG!

 

[JCHateSteve]

Today is the day.

 

[OrangeTsar]

Can we get a comment Coach Saban?

 

[K-town Vol Fan]

Finally

 

[TheMagnificantOne]

I was waiting with baited breath to get Fingered today

 

[Enki_Amenra]

 

[mrmax86]

 

[tdbigorange11]

Here we go! Vols football is back!

 

[LouderVol]

LFG!!!!

 

[Adam2014]

First

 

[PEPPERJAX]

PHANGERS!!!!

 

[PEPPERJAX]

@joevol33

 

[cherokeeeVOL]

 

[OffTackleVol]

e.cain
















p.brown




r.silva

Excited about the present and future of our linebacking room..........

 

[LakeMaryFLVol]

 

[Vols All Day]

Best part of the report was "but his throws were strong with tight spirals and his touch passes looked crisp and not 100 mph."

 

[cherokeeeVOL]

 

[KeyVol14]

No mention of Joshua Joseph…that seems odd. I’m sure it’s nothing

 

[csheaton]

No mention of Cam Seldon?

 

[PEPPERJAX]

No mention of Joshua Joseph…that seems odd. I’m sure it’s nothing

Running with the second team defense.

 

[DougVol]

I like football……and the grill with the charcoal biscuits

 

[NO SIR EEE]

Josh Heupel media notes from this morning:
-on freshman TE Emmanuel Okoye: Length, athleticism — that’s why we started him at the position we did. He has a long football journey ahead of him. You think about where he was 12 months ago and where he is today, it’s a big difference. Excited about him.

-Squirrel White cares. He’s really engaging, likes to have fun. He comes out with a lot of energy every day.

-on Vols trying to decide on starting OTs by season opener: The reality is, we’re going to need all those guys to play. This is the time of year you have to let the competition unfold. We’ll see where that is at the end of training camp.

-The new guys inside of our program, you’ve got to understand it’s the first day for them. There are a lot of things they have to clean up to practice the way we want. But overall I’m pleased.

-on improvement of Vols roster over past two years: It’s dramatically different than we were from Year One. You just look through the depth of our roster, length, ability to bend. It’s dramatically different.

 

[butchna]

Heartening to read Brown’s note on Grant and Reddick looking the part. Also I remarked a few months ago that Telander had already transformed his frame in the off-season workouts and got called out for having no proof.