Team 120 wrapped up its third week of spring practice on Saturday.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee practiced in front of an audience for the first time this spring as over 1,000 students and family members filed into Neyland Stadium for Saturday’s spring workout.
Team 120’s ninth practice of the spring came as a part of both Student Appreciation Day and Family Day, as both UT students and family members of the Volunteer players sat in on a two hour session on Shields-Watkins Field. The day’s full-padded workout featured scrimmage elements as well as a competitive round of the Circle of Life drill. Following the conclusion of Saturday’s workout, the Vols took to the stands for some photos with the devoted student attendees.
The Vols return to the practice field on Saturday when it hosts its third annual Student Appreciation day at Neyland Stadium, beginning at 1 p.m. ET. All University of Tennessee students are welcome to attend Saturday’s practice to get their first look at Team 120. Those attending Saturday’s practice should enter the stadium through Gate 4. The gate will open at 12:30 p.m.
Two weeks’ worth of practices remain for the Vols, culminating with the DISH Orange & White Game on April 16 at 2 p.m. ET at Neyland Stadium. Admission to the Orange & White Game is free to the public, but it will also be televised nationally on the SEC Network.
Butch Jones | Head Coach | 4th Season
The Vols hosted Student Appreciation Practice on Saturday afternoon at Neyland Stadium. Player families and former players were also on site, providing a different type of spring practice environment for Team 120. With a crowd of students on hand and music blaring throughout the practice, head coach Butch Jones was able to create a competitive, game-like atmosphere for the Vols. After practice, Coach Jones was grateful for the support from students and VFLs alike.
“You look around today, what a great day. You have Vols For Life like Ramon Foster and Eric Berry being back, you welcome over 300 members of your football family, your players’ families here today. We also had Inky Johnson who spoke to them on what it means to be a Tennessee Vol, a Vol For Life, being able to give them some NFL education and moving forward. Just a great day for our parents and our families, and it was Student Appreciation Day. Couldn’t ask for more with (DJ Sterl the Pearl) and all these students coming out. They’re very, very important to us.”
Joshua Dobbs | QB | Senior | Alpharetta, Ga.
Saturday’s practice wrapped up a busy week for Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs. Outside of his usual football and academic demands, the rising senior traveled to Atlanta on Tuesday to accept the Amateur Peach of an Athlete Role Model Award at the College Football Hall of Fame. From there, Dobbs began a fullFriday by speaking at the FIRST Robotics Smoky Mountain Regional competition for high school students. He appeared on the Paul Finebaum Show later that afternoon, receiving high praise from the host as to his impressive endeavors both on and off the field. But Dobbs confirmed after Saturday’s practice that he’s never struggled to maintain such a jam-packed schedule.
“It’s not tough at all. I’ve been doing it since the day I stepped on campus. Life’s busy and that’s a good thing. That means you’ve got things to do and things to accomplish. I kind of embrace it and I enjoy it.”
Drew Richmond | OL | RS Freshman | Memphis, Tenn.
Drew Richmond spoke with the media following Saturday’s practice where he explained his development over the past year and his journey to consistency during the redshirt process. Richmond discussed his transition from recruit to player, which challenged his mental toughness.
“It was a difficult road going from high school, being everything I was, to coming here and having to redshirt. Everything happened for a reason and it taught me a lot of things. I’ve matured as a person and as a player. I’ve developed my game to the next level. So, it was a good road. It was difficult. It was something different. I went from being everything to not playing, but guys stuck around me like Alvin (Kamara) and Curt (Maggitt). They made sure I was okay. They made sure they stayed in my area giving me wisdom, and making sure I stayed up. I had to embrace it. You can get worse or you can get better with the redshirt process. It took me a minute to get there, but I had to embrace it, move on and get better from it.”
Darrin Kirkland Jr. | LB | Sophomore | Indianapolis, Ind.
New defensive coordinator Bob Shoop has praised Darrin Kirkland Jr. for his work at middle linebacker this spring. Kirkland, who improved with each week as a freshman and played his best football late in 2015, is intent on making an immediate impact at the start of the 2016 season. He and Shoop share a passion for the mental side of the game and the two are working well together.
“We (Kirkland and Shoop) talk about how different things play in things. We watch a lot of NFL film. Recently this offseason, we watched a lot of Broncos and Panthers film and really just how they do things and how we relate it to our defenses. So it has been different and it’s been fun.”
Rashaan Gaulden | DB | RS Sophomore | Spring Hill, Tenn.
After missing all of last season with a foot injury, Rashaan Gaulden is happy to be back on the practice field with the Vols. This spring, he’s made the transition from nickelback to safety under new defensive coordinator Bob Shoop, who previously recruited Gaulden at Vanderbilt. Gaulden says he’s embraced the new position, which allows him to showcase his physical style of play.
“I was very excited. I embraced the change. At the same time, it was a different position that I had to learn as well. With the learning, it’s an ongoing process. Having to fill the shoes of one of the most cerebral safeties that we’ve had here in Brian Randolph, that’s pretty tough. But I’m willing to take the change and I’m really excited for it.”
Brett Kendrick | OL | RS Junior | Knoxville, Tenn.
Entering his fourth season with the program, redshirt junior offensive lineman Brett Kendrick has taken on a leadership role with the offensive line. He takes pride in leading by example, and has noticed a lot of progress from a couple of younger players.
“I think we’re growing a lot. We’ve got a new left side in there that just keeps on improving every day. Drew Richmond is really striving to be as great as he can. He’s going to be a good player for us. Venzell Boulware, too. It just takes time, but we’re getting it. When you’ve got (Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara) back there, it makes it a lot easier on us.”
SOUND BITES
Head coach Butch Jones
(On how the wide receivers have played this spring)
“I’ve been really pleased with the wide receiver corps as a group because they are coming out and they’re working every day. I think Jauan Jennings has made tremendous strides, Preston Williams has made tremendous strides. We’ve talked aboutVincent Perry, obviously Josh (Smith) is kind of the elder statesman of the group. Josh Malone is working to get back and he’s finally able to catch footballs now. You can see that group progressing.”
Quarterback Joshua Dobbs
(On the development of the passing game through the spring)
“Different guys step up. We have our weapons, you know, Alvin (Kamara) does a lot out of the backfield. But (it’s) just getting on the same page with the receivers. Having Preston (Williams) and Jauan (Jennings) step up as they’ve done has been huge for us. They’re making hellacious plays on the edge and that’s what we need this season. (Those guys) will be a great complement to the already-proven Josh Smith and Josh Malone, when he gets back, and Vincent Perry is stepping up. So various guys are stepping up and it will be big to have that consistency when the younger guys get in.”
Offensive lineman Drew Richmond
(On catching up mentally to the speed of SEC football)
“It’s certain things. My football IQ went up to par as it should have. That’s expected going from high school to a complex offense to learning different things and techniques. In high school, I was bigger and more athletic than everyone, so things came easier. Here, you have to be more than just that. Especially in this conference, you have to learn to use your mind. You have to learn to use other things to win. It’s not just based off of your athletic ability or size anymore.”
Linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr.
(On his mindset this spring and his commitment to improvement and becoming a leader)
“This spring and this semester, I’m really just trying to grow as a better football player and overall just trying to learn this defense, so when it comes fall, there’s no missteps and no mishaps. I’ll lead the defense to the best of my ability. I feel if I do that, we will be very successful when that time comes.”
Defensive back Rashaan Gaulden
(On getting the chance to play for Defensive Coordinator Bob Shoop)
“I love Coach Shoop from having high school relations with him. He recruited me (at Vanderbilt). He was my very first offer. I knew what kind of guy he was coming into this program. I knew he was the right fit. He’s a great guy, down to Earth, a very aggressive-style coach and I love that.”
Offensive lineman Brett Kendrick
(On the evolution of his role from a year ago)
“I feel like since Kyler (Kerbyson) left us, it’s just my turn to step up and be a leader — me and Dylan (Wiesman), the oldest two. We’ve been around the longest, so we put the weight on our shoulders. If we have a bad day, it’s on us. We’re really just trying to lead the O-line as best as we can.”