KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Fall practice No. 8 is in the books for the University of Tennessee football team, and the emerging theme throughout camp so far has been the competition throughout all of the position groups.
“Everyone is putting their identity on video,” head coach Butch Jones said after practice on Tuesday afternoon at Haslam Field. “For the individuals who are gaining an inordinate amount of repetition, that’s a great opportunity. Again, it’s in your mindset and how you approach it. Are you trying to survive the day or are you really trying to put your identity and really solidify yourself as one of those individuals that we can count on play in and play out.”
Palmer & Johnson Stepping Up at Wide Receiver
Jones was also quick to praise a pair of young wide outs after Tuesday’s practice, commending the play of freshman Josh Palmer and sophomore Brandon Johnson.
“He’s going to be an individual that’s going to play a lot of football for us this year,” Jones said in regards to Palmer. “He’s an individual who has really taken advantage of those repetitions, just like Brandon Johnson.
“I think Brandon is challenging for a starting position in the wide receiver corp. That’s a byproduct of the increased repetitions.”
Vols Expecting to Utilize Young Running Backs
Tennessee will feature a young and talent group of running backs this season, with junior John Kelly taking on a large leadership role among the group. Sophomore Carlin Fils-aime and a trio of freshmen in Ty Chandler, Tim Jordan and Trey Coleman have all impressed so far during fall camp.
Jones said he expects some of his young backs to get significant playing time this season.
“I think they’re pushing John Kelly and he’s doing a great job also of bringing energy and teaching them the expectations,” Jones said. “All three are going to have to play and they’re going to be very important to the success of our season.”
Linebackers Faster This Season
The Vols’ linebacker corps entered fall camp as one of the most experienced position groups on the team and according to senior Colton Jumper, the group has gotten much faster since last season.
“We have a little bit of a lighter linebacker group, but a lot more speed, and in today’s game that’s something you need a lot,” Jumper said after practice.
Upcoming Schedule
The Vols will practice on Wednesday and take Thursday off before practicing again on Friday and Saturday. Sunday will be the team’s official media day.
Post-Practice Quotes
Head Coach Butch Jones
(On the progress of the offensive line)
“Everyone is putting their identity on video. For the individuals who are gaining an inordinate amount of repetition, that’s a great opportunity. Again, it’s in your mindset and how you approach it. Are you trying to survive the day or are you really trying to put your identity and really solidify yourself as one of those individuals that we can count on play in and play out.
“Brett Kendrick, I give him a lot of credit. He is back out at practice today and it was great to have him out there. We anticipate getting Marcus Tatum back here very shortly. Trey Smith we expect to get back shortly. We need that competition. We were set to scrimmage on Saturday and we may change that based on where we’re at with the offensive line because we need a full group to make it as competitive as possible. Our defensive line needs it and our entire team needs it.”
(On Josh Smith and the receiving corps)
“We expect to have Josh Smith back soon. With him being out, the individual who has stepped up is a true freshman, Josh Palmer. He’s gained those repetitions and what he’s doing right now is putting his identity on video. He’s going to be an individual that’s going to play a lot of football for us this year. He’s an individual who has really taken advantage of those repetitions, just like Brandon Johnson. I think Brandon is challenging for a starting position in the wide receiver corp. That’s a byproduct of the increased repetitions.”
(On Josh Palmer’s progression)
“First of all, consistency with everything. He has a skill set, a lot of natural ability and he works very hard. He’s a very intelligent player so he’s been able to maintain the volume of the playbook and I see him getting better and better from his releases at the line of scrimmage. He’s a natural pass catcher and he has very good ball skills. He can run routes and again, just a level of consistency. He hasn’t missed one rep and he continues to get better.”
(On the quarterback competition)
“What I see is just constant improvement every day. I see both of those individuals getting better with repetitions. Everything is scripted out with their reps and I see both individuals getting better and gaining confidence daily as well.”
(On the running back competition amongst the newcomers)
“All three of them are going to play. I think they’re pushing John Kelly and he’s doing a great job also of bringing energy and teaching them the expectations. We’ve been very excited and very encouraged by all three. All three are going to have to play and they’re going to be very important to the success of our season. I see them continuing to get better, not just in terms of running the football, but in pass protection and also playing out on the perimeter as well.”
Tight End Ethan Wolf
(On working with new offensive coordinator Larry Scott)
“Coach Scott is a real energetic guy. Play wise, it’s day eight in camp, so we’ve got a lot of our base stuff in that we ran last year, but we have some new stuff as well. It’s kind of hard to tell right now but once we get really rocking, I’m sure there is going to be differences. Obviously, they’re different people, different play callers. I’m excited to see how he distributes the ball this year and I think that the tight ends could be featured a little bit more.”
(On improving his physicality over the offseason)
“I can improve in every field of my game, and if that’s what (NFL scouts) are saying, that I need to be more physical in the point of attack, then by God I’m going to come out here and do stuff until I throw up to get to that point. It’s definitely been a focus and a focal point of my practices so far.”
(On LaTrell Bumphus’ development as an incoming freshman)
“He’s going to be a really good player eventually. He’s young and he’s raw, but he’s conscientious and he’s explosive. He’s big, and I didn’t even really know how big he was coming in… I think of him a little bit like myself when I was a freshman. He’s an explosive kid and he can run very well, and the biggest thing is that he’s coachable. I’m excited about him and he’s really impressed me so far.”
Linebacker Colton Jumper
(On some of the other linebackers that have caught his attention)
“Linebackers as a whole, we are doing really well. Will Ignont, he’s a young guy and doing really well. He’s come in and caught everybody’s attention. A bunch of the young guys, guys that have speed are doing really well. Then you have the older guys, Elliot Berry, who’s lost a lot of weight and is looking really good right now and fast. Dillon Bates is looking really fast. We have a little bit of a lighter linebacker group, but a lot more speed, and in today’s game that’s something you need a lot.”
(On his progression as a player from a freshman to now)
“Anytime you play something every single day for four years now, you’re bound to change. I’ve been able to push myself and make myself a lot better and I’ve had a lot of good guys around me that have been able to push me and make me a lot better. It’s kind of funny, you can go back and watch film from our freshman year and just watch some of the drills that you used to do. It’s like night and day. How much we have transformed is pretty crazy. It’s a testament to our coaches and each other.”
(On Will Ignont)
“Will is head and shoulders above any other linebacker that has come in. He knows the game really well and is a smart guy. When I came in my first camp, it was just setting up the front and knowing where to line up. He’s way past that and he’s starting to get coverages down, pass patterns down. He recognizes the game really well and having that right off the bat can help him a lot.”
-UT Athletics
