The Vols have just two more practices before wrapping up the spring season withnext Saturday’s DISH Orange & White Game.
Much of Saturday’s session featured scrimmage elements as Team 120’s offense and defense battled on Shield-Watkins Field. The Vols will have just two more practices to tighten the screws before they put their spring progress on display in the annual DISH Orange & White Game next Saturday.
The DISH Orange & White Game on April 16 at 2 p.m. ET marks the culmination of Tennessee’s spring season. 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
Saturday’s practice wrapped up a busy week for Tennessee football, which hosted its annual Coaches’ Clinic. One of the highlights of the clinic came Friday when Archie Manning addressed the attendees. With only one week left in spring practice, head coach Butch Jones praised the defense for their consistent work in generating a pass rush and creating some turnovers on Saturday. However he also cited the need for improvements in the passing game in the final week of preparations before the DISH Orange & White Game.
“It has been great having coaches from around the country here. Obviously Archie Manning, we are very blessed and fortunate to have him come and talk, Faculty Appreciation Day, all the success we have had academically and being ‘One Tennessee’ and also Law Enforcement Day as well, so another busySaturday. On the field, I thought our defense came to play today. A lot of situations I thought we were able to generate a pass rush. I was not pleased the way we played on offense, we had way too many dropped footballs, we have to be able to execute better in the throw game and that will be a point of emphasis as we close out spring football next week.”
Cameron Sutton | DB | Senior | Jonesboro, Ga.
After forgoing the NFL Draft for a chance to return to Rocky Top for one more season, Cameron Sutton hopes to lead his team to a successful 2016 by improving every aspect of his own game mentally and physically. Sutton explained the importance of his leadership role and how he harps on the other defensive backs to maintain an edge and a relentless work ethic.
“Mentality. They bring it each and every day as well. I stay on them. I harp on them as well as they stay on me. We keep the rest of the guys going as well. It’s just playing to get out there on the field, being energized, and just making plays.”
Alvin Kamara | RB | RS Junior | Norcorss, Ga.
Running back Alvin Kamara spoke to the media following Saturday’s practice just one week out from the Orange and White Game. Kamara explained his personal improvements this spring and what he and fellow tailback Jalen Hurd hope to showcase in the fall.
“I’m really working with my hands in pass protection. That’s one thing I struggled a little bit with last year. My hand placement and pass protection recognition. So, I worked a lot with that this spring and I feel like I’ve gotten a lot better.”
Aaron Medley | K | Junior | Lewisburg, Tenn.
With two seasons under his belt, rising junior kicker Aaron Medley has spent time this spring working out the small kinks in his game and adjusting to new members on special teams. He is also looking to build off the success he had down the stretch last season and carry that momentum to the fall.
“I have been working on reps with a new snapper and holder. Personally, I have been working on finishing down the line and not falling off. Some of my kicks would fade right, so I am just making sure they are straight.”
Kenny Bynum | LB | RS Senior | Jacksonville, Fla.
Redshirt senior linebacker Kenny Bynum will study abroad next month for a business class. He leaves May 11 for a two and a half week trip to Bath, England to take a class on finance and management. Bynum is excited for his first trip across the Atlantic.
“I’ve always been interested in studying abroad. I saw that we had a study abroad fair. I went to it and asked around about how I could do this trip since I’m in grad school. I just asked around and found that one. I have my passport. I have my tickets. I’m ready to go!”
Marquill Osborne | DB | Freshman | Cornelius, N.C.
The only true freshman to enroll at the start of the spring semester for Tennessee, defensive backMarquill Osborne has quickly adjusted to the intensity and speed of the college game. With his first four weeks of spring practice now in the books and with an eye already toward fall camp, Osborne is in a rush to gain as much knowledge and experience regarding the nickel position as possible.
“It’s new. You’ve got to be a more of a leader and you’ve got to know everything on the field. I think that corner is easier than the nickel spot. You’ve got to know so much more and you’re blitzing, too. I just started blitzing this year. It’s definitely fun, though, and I like the physicality of it. I’ve just been getting in the film room with the coaches to make sure I learn it faster before the spring is over.”
SOUND BITES
Head coach Butch Jones
(On what he wanted to see from senior defensive back Cameron Sutton this spring)
“Continue to elevate your game; he’s been able to do that. Perfect your technique, being able to play the ball in the air, finding the ball in the blind spot, going up and getting it and also just overall leadership. We voted the other day, on the offensive side of the ball and the defensive side of the ball, our two most powerful leaders and Cam Sutton was one of the top vote-getters on this football team. Our football players respect him and he comes out here and works. Like he told me, he treats every practice like its gameday and you can see that because he continues to grow and elevate his play.”
Defensive back Cameron Sutton
(On importance of his experience in the defensive backs’ room)
“It is very important just because I have the most experience out of everybody in the room. I’m older than all the guys in the room, I’ve played more games that the other guys in the room, and I’ve just experienced more than them. That’s not to knock on them. I just know a little bit more than them right now, and my job is to get them on the same level as me. When we’re all clicking on the same cylinder, we don’t care about who gets the credit. We’re just about making plays out there.”
Running back Alvin Kamara
(On the two-back tandem between he and Jalen Hurd)
“Jalen works super hard. We always push each other to work hard. We just want to kill it. We haven’t really set exact, specific goals, but it’s kind of an understanding between me and him. We want to do it big.”
Kicker Aaron Medley
(On how he would evaluate his performance during the 2015 season)
“Overall, not too bad. During the first part of the season, I was inconsistent. Towards the last part, it really came down to focus, and I started making some kicks. It’s mental. I am still in that learning process. It is different. In the SEC, it is important to make the kicks when it counts.”
Linebacker Kenny Bynum
(On how Bob Shoop’s defense fits the personnel)
“Definitely. We have a lot of speed on the field. I’m just hoping to get in that base personnel and send me off the edge. It’s always fun blitzing. That’s the best thing about defense – it’s blitzing pretty much.”
Defensive back Marquill Osborne
(On if enrolling early has been advantageous)
“I think it’s giving me a huge edge over everybody, to be honest with you. It’s totally different from high school. All the people that are coming in are going to be in for a rude awakening … I get a lot more time (to learn the system) now that I’m here early. So it’s definitely a huge edge over (other incoming freshmen). I’m glad that I’m here. I’m learning everything faster.