Vols Fall Practice #2

[Fingers]

Wide receiver Squirrel White has entered camp with a tender hamstring and was limited some on Tuesday. It’s minor and is just taking precautions. Running back Dylan Sampson continues to deal with a minor lower body injury. He is not taking part in team drills right now, but was present during individual periods. Wide receiver Chas Nimrod and safety Jourdan Thomas are also not completely up to full speed but are present and active during individual periods. The rising sophomore defender (Thomas) had knee surgery back in spring practice.

Jaylen Wright and Jabari Small lead that group and are now the veterans in the room. The offensive line focused on group work with the centers and guards together and tight ends and tackles together. We didn’t get a lean look while out there, but it appeared Gerald Mincey was still repping on the left side.

Joe Milton showed off his arm strength by throwing a couple of bullets to Ramel Keyton and Dont’e Thornton over the middle for big gains. Both caught the ball well out in front of them and not with their bodies, something the Tennessee receivers couldn’t do two years ago when Milton first arrived. Kaleb Webb and Nathan Spillman both made a couple of catches while we were out here, but both dropped one pass and were forced to do pushups to account for the mistake.

Everyone is enamored with Thornton right now at the position, but Keyton looks the best through two days – in our opinion.

It’s just day two, but it looked like freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava looked even more comfortable today. He was on point with most of his throws while the media was present and displayed great footwork and zip on the football. Both were on display when throwing a simple screen route to Dont’e Thornton as he flipped his hips and shuffled his feet to quickly get the ball out to the flat.

John Campbell has had a good offseason transforming his body. He’s lost some body fat and gotten himself into great shape.

Looking at the defensive line, Elijah Simmons stood out to us today. The 340 pounds is being carried a little easier and he’s as explosive as ever off the line of scrimmage. Simmons was also leading the group through the drills this morning.

Part of their work during individual today was practicing coming off the edge in blitzing situations. If you remember, that was Elijah Herring’s role as a freshman a season ago, a lot of the times on third downs. Keenan Pili has been there, done that as he looked the part in blitzing techniques.

Newcomer Gabe Jeudy-Lally may still be getting caught up on the overall scheme, but his technique at the position is impressive. He’s also giving a hand to a lot of the younger freshmen who are new to the program as well.

e.cain

Tennessee has a good-looking running back group going into this season. Jaylen Wright led the line through mesh-point work with the quarterbacks and he and Jabari Small and Dylan Sampson looked quick and explosive running and cutting as they drilled taking the proper tracks with the football. Sampson and Joe Milton III were all smiles as they came together to discuss one of their reps – the quarterback has been noticeably loose and energetic on the practice field this week.

Freshmen Cameron Seldon and Khalifa Keith add some real size to the backfield as well, giving Tennessee some bigger-bodied options. Keith is listed at 230 pounds, but he said after Wednesday’s practice he’s more in the 220- to 225-pound range and he has a chiseled upper body so there’s not a lot of bad weight there. Seldon just looks more comfortable and confident compared to this stage of the spring, when running back was still quite new to him, and he’s got a SEC-running-back frame.

Notably, Elijah Simmons, donning his new No. 10 jersey, led the line through drills, something you haven’t always seen during his career. The fifth-year senior is still very big, but he looks to have as little bad weight as he’s had in his career and he’s always really moved well for his size. Simmons has teased before, and the Vols are hoping to see him build on what was a solid spring and become a more dependable player.

James Pearce Jr. looks the part of a big-time SEC edge defender, and this is a big camp for him as the Vols sort out that Leo spot. Fellow sophomore Tyre West, donning a wrap/cast on his hand, also passes the eye test and he strains through every rep like it’s his last. Freshman Tyree Weathersby physically doesn’t look like a guy who got on campus two months ago, but he’s still learning – he had to do a drill or two over because he didn’t do it right, but he knew he didn’t do it right and immediately went to the back of the line to go through again without fuss.

Even some of the older players physically look really good running through drills. Omari Thomas looks twitchier having leaned up this offseason, Roman Harrison always has been a physical specimen even without the desired dimensions for his position and Tyler Baron and Bryson Eason look like you want SEC defensive linemen to look. Arizona State transfer Omarr Norman-Lott is another wide frame with some quickness to him.

Quarterbacks Joe Milton III and Nico Iamaleava looked sharp and accurate working comeback and in-breaking routes with their targets.

The top trio of Bru McCoy, Ramel Keyton and Dont’e Thornton Jr. looked really good with Kelsey Pope especially pleased with one route, catch and rep from Thornton out of the slot, and redshirt freshman Kaleb Webb looks like a player growing in confidence with each rep he gets.

At linebacker, Aaron Beasley and Keenan Pili are the clear veteran presences, but the energy of Arion Carter and Elijah Herring is noticeable, too, and each of them broke a huddle for their mini-groups when the defense went from its turnover circuit to individual drills.

p.brown

Sophomore receiver Squirrel White was the only offensive player I didn’t see on the practice field Thursday morning.

On to the routes on air portion of practice where Bru McCoy, Ramel Keyton and Oregon transfer Dont’e Thornton all led the way at their respective positions. Tennessee was working mostly on the short passing game, not throwing the ball more than 15 yards down the field.

Joe Milton III was extremely accurate and crisp in the period. Only one pass Milton threw while the media was present, ironically the last pass we saw, hit the ground and it was an accurate throw that Keyton dropped.

Freshman Nico Iamaleava is clearly more comfortable and confident than he was in the spring, but he was definitely less accurate than Milton. No glaring issues but high throws seemed to be the consistent shortcoming.

The running backs were all accounted for and going through drills Thursday after Dylan Sampson didn’t go through team portions of practice Wednesday. Like we mentioned yesterday, Jaylen Wright just looks really impressive right now and appears poised for a big season.

I did get my first up close look at freshman Sham Umarov today. There was some debate among the recruiting sites whether Umarov was a tackle or guard in college but he has a tackle body in my estimation. If the feet and handwork follow suit, the former four-star looks like he’ll play tackle in college— a needed sign for an offensive line that will have little offensive tackle depth following this season.

The biggest observations of note on the defensive line was sophomore Tyre West and freshman Daevin Hobbs worked with the strong side defensive ends and not with the defensive tackles during the drill portion of practice.

Watching Tennessee’s linebackers work now compared to two years ago is pretty darn crazy. When Heupel and linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary arrived Tennessee was decimated at the spot. Now it might be the deepest group on the Vols’ defense.

After day one, the most intriguing development in the secondary is Andre Turrentine. The Nashville native didn’t play any last season after transferring from Ohio State, but was working with the starters Wednesday. He’s always looked the part so if he can put it all together it would be an exciting development for Tennessee.

While Turrentine was working with the starters over super senior Jaylen McCollough it still feels like McCollough is the leader of the secondary— at least the safeties. He’s been very vocal the first two days of camp and has provided instruction for younger players.

r.schumpert

Joe and Nico were extremely accurate. Didn't see them miss a throw during the time we were allowed to watch. No defenders, though.

Didn't see Squirrel White out there. Cross checked with some other reporters and none of us could find him. Happens, though. We'll see if he's there tomorrow.

Fr. TE Emmanuel Okoye came up with a slight tweak in what appeared to be his hamstring. Should be fine.

Jacob Warren has some sure hands. Should be a factor in the pass game.

Bru McCoy bounced back. Dropped some passes yesterday but had sure hands today.

Chandavian Bradley is a big guy for a freshman.

r.sylvia

 

[MemphisVol77]

1st

 

[TheVolsFrog]

Finally. I've been refreshing..
GBO

 

[VolBricks]

I am excited to see this group play this season. Everyone seems to keep saying that the team looks more like an SEC team should look, that encourages me.

 

[#1HomeGrownUTVOL]

I would love to see Turrentine step up and lock down a spot!

 

[VolInDayton]

15-0

 

[WillisWG]

what we're hearing about the LB room, just it

 

[tripplg]

Ayeee

 

[cherokeeeVOL]

 

[Volz4lif3]

Love love hearing about the looks and the depth Tennessee has at all positions, also like hearing bout the secondary. The weakest along with outside LB last year, very excited for this season. GBO

 

[JRVOL11]

joy to my ears to hear that about turrentine, hope he wins the job

 

[WillisWG]

Be nice if Hobbs was our next Reggie White or Derek Barnett

 

[imw8n4u]

Thanks for all the updates! Really starting to get excited for this year. August always seems so long!

 

[ENGRVOL]

Crazy how good our WR group is. We lose 2 great WR last year, bring back Bru who was clutch last year including making one of the greatest catches against bama in program history, bring back Keyton who made one of the greatest catches against Florida in program history, bring back Squirrel whose last game was a 100+ yard performance against a good Clemson defense and the big buzz it seems is for Thornton.
Man I really wish Jauan Jennings would have been able to play in this offense.

 

[NO SIR EEE]

Crazy how good our WR group is. We lose 2 great WR last year, bring back Bru who was clutch last year including making one of the greatest catches against bama in program history, bring back Keyton who made one of the greatest catches against Florida in program history, bring back Squirrel whose last game was a 100+ yard performance against a good Clemson defense and the big buzz it seems is for Thornton.
Man I really wish Jauan Jennings would have been able to play in this offense.

Jennings would've been an absolute nightmare in this offense. How fun that would've been.

 

[butchna]

Never bought Umarov as an IOL…despite some of the faux insider’s input on the subject.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

FANKS THINGERS!!

 

[DC_Vol]

THANK YOU, FINGERS!

it’s that time again.

 

[VolFanNC09]

I have been drinking a lot of orange kool aid lately. I am really excited to see how much our defense improved this year.

 

[KeepinUpWithJones]

Jennings would've been an absolute nightmare in this offense. How fun that would've been.

Bru and Jennings would form the most physical WR tandem in recent memory

 

[IndianaVol]

DAY TWO !!!...Thanks Fingers !!!

Excited about this WR Corps - Squirrel, Keyton, Thornton, and McCoy could end up being the GREATEST WR group to ever take the field in college football.

 

[TCNC53]

And here I was thinking I could get through this review of practice #2 without someone saying “routes on air….” Still has to be the dumbest description of anything, anywhere - ever. But I’m old and grumpy, so take it for what it’s worth. GBO!

 

[IndianaVol]

And here I was thinking I could get through this review of practice #2 without someone saying “routes on air….” Still has to be the dumbest description of anything, anywhere - ever. But I’m old and grumpy, so take it for what it’s worth. GBO!

Why can't they just say "not covered" or "pitch and catch"...routes on air is just stupid.

 

[mitzustu]

Crazy how good our WR group is. We lose 2 great WR last year, bring back Bru who was clutch last year including making one of the greatest catches against bama in program history, bring back Keyton who made one of the greatest catches against Florida in program history, bring back Squirrel whose last game was a 100+ yard performance against a good Clemson defense and the big buzz it seems is for Thornton.
Man I really wish Jauan Jennings would have been able to play in this offense.

I don’t think we are super deep at WR. May be contrary to popular opinion but behind the top 4 no one has taken a meaningful snap, and it appears Squirrel is hurt.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

I am not including Squirrel White even though he is a baller but the other 3 WRs that will be on the field at the same time with him have heights of 6'3" (McCoy), 6'3" (Keyton), and 6'5" (Thornton). It is also good to hear that Webb at 6'3" is making progress as well. Joe is going to have plenty of tall, fast, and athletic targets as pass catchers this upcoming season. Hopefully Nimrod is not slowed down too much with injury. GBO!!!