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For the first time during fall camp, Tennessee took the practice field on Saturday dressed in full pads, and Von Pearson returned after being reinstated to the team yesterday.
As per NCAA regulations, Pearson wasn’t allowed to work in pads, but participated in drills and worked on his pass-catching skills (Clip 1, Clip 2). According to Marquez North, he looked like “typical Von” out there.
Butch Jones said after practice he was pleased that Pearson kept himself in good shape, despite being suspended and away from the team.
“I thought Von did some good things,” Jones said. “To his credit, he’s in very good shape. You could tell just with the football endurance that he’s worked at it.”
“We’ll know a little bit more when he’s able to put the pads on and finish the acclimation period, but from what I could see of the work that he got in today, I was very pleased with his endurance.”
After being less than satisfied with his team’s overall performance yesterday, Jones was in better spirits this afternoon.
“I thought our players did a very good job,” Jones said of today’s practice. “I thought they had a very good workman-like approach. I liked their approach starting last night in the meetings. They understood yesterday wasn’t up to our standard and expectations and I thought they took ownership in that. They owned it, and they bounced back.”
“I was really particularly pleased with the running back position. I thought we ran the ball as a group with pad level, and showed some burst and acceleration.”
While much praise has been directed toward some of the true freshmen, like Shy Tuttle and Kahlil McKenzie, Butch warned not to expect too much from young players right away.
“We have some youngsters that are very, very talented, but they’re learning to play at a high level of collegiate football,” Jones explained. “We have to be very, very cautious that we don’t place too many expectations on 17-18 year-old kids being in a college football program for the first time playing in the Southeastern Conference.”
“A lot of times we look at the rankings and think that you just all of a sudden fix everything.”
DRONE INVASION
A drone flying over #Vols practice today. pic.twitter.com/NIom4BlYpq
— Matt Slovin (@MattSlovin) August 8, 2015
According to the Tennessean, “a mysterious drone hovered above Tennessee’s practice. It’s unclear when and how the drone was procured, or how the Vols might utilize it.” The Vols already use GoPro cameras and have their own digital studio.
“That was different for me too,” Marquez North said after practice. “I thought it was a big bug flying around actually, the way it sounded. I was looking for it and everything.”
ALVIN KAMARA FIRST TO LOSE BLACK STRIPE
After much speculation in the forum this week based on practice pictures, Tennessee confirmed this afternoon that Alvin Kamara is, in fact, the first player to have the honor of losing his black stripe.
First to have his stripe removed was RB @A_kamara6 ➖ pic.twitter.com/Eh1Ug3EhGF
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) August 8, 2015
OTHER NOTES
In post-practice interviews Marquez North said he’s now up to 230 pounds… Jason Croom didn’t practice for the third consecutive day and neither did Trevarris Saulsberry. Quay Picou practiced for the second day without pads…
BUTCH JONES PRESS CONFERENCE VIDEO
For more discussion of Saturday’s practice, check out the forum discussion: Practice #5 Updates 8.8.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]