KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – After a day off on Sunday, the Tennessee football team was back on the practice field Monday morning to kick off week two of preseason camp.
Following Monday’s session at Haslam Field, offensive line coach Glen Elarbee and select offensive linemen spoke to the media about the group’s performance so far this camp.
Despite losing top-10 draft pick Darnell Wright and multi-year starter Jerome Carvin from last year’s unit, the o-line room brings back plenty of experience across the board with players ready to step in and fill those spots.
That depth has created some exciting position battles, particular at tackle and left guard, that continue to play out each day.
“We have more depth right now than we’ve had in years,” redshirt senior Jackson Lampley said. “There are a lot of guys who can fill out both spots … They all have a lot of playing time and experience here.”
With intense position battles taking place, UT’s line is leaning on the leadership from returning starters Javontez Spraggins and Cooper Mays, who enter the season with 49 combined starts between them.
“The energy, that guy is non-stop. Every day, he gets it going,” Elarbee said of Spraggins’ leadership. “There’s not a more energetic, juicy guy on the field play-in and play-out, and I think guys thrive off that.
“It’s energy, but also, when he goes on the field, he backs it up. It’s physicality. It’s not a fake ‘rah-rah’ energy, he’s out there competing, and he wants the best. Couldn’t be prouder of the way he’s playing, but the leadership he’s showing and demanding from his teammates, it’s awesome.”
While Spraggins brings unmatched energy and enthusiasm, Mays has been a rock in the middle of the offensive line at center, a position that is key in setting the pace for Tennessee’s high-tempo attack.
“This offense, as fast as it goes, making those calls and not having to double call stuff (is huge),” Elarbee said about Mays. “The way he sees the game, he sees all 11, understands it, provides leadership, knows the technical aspects too, can coach young guys, complete package. That guy is awesome. He gets it on every single level, from football to meeting room to leadership, all sides of it.”
A full transcript of Elarbee’s post-practice media availability along with select player quotes can be found below.
Offensive Line Coach Glen Elarbee
On the experience that Andrej Karic and John Campbell Jr. bring…
“At this time of year – spring, summer, fall – everybody is out there competing. Even guys who are returning starters or not, you never live completely in the past. Some guys who are a little older maybe catch a break here or there, but this early in camp, everybody is trying to go out there and compete and start. The competition makes everyone better.”
On if their (Karic and Campbell) practices reflect what they have seen on film…
“For sure, no doubt in that. I think both of those guys are even better. They’ve grown since last year. That’s the great part about it. They’re both really good. Glad they are here.”
On Addison Nichols’ development at the center position…
“He’s doing good. He had a better day today. He’s still roaming between center and left guard. I think all of our centers have to do a better job snapping the football right now, but that’s kind of the start of camp and spring any time, but we’re working to correct that as we speak.”
On how Nichols is balancing the two positions…
“That’s the same thing that Jerome [Carvin] had to do last year, Ollie [Lane] has to do, Vysen [Lang] is having to do. There are some guys that just have to be able to do multiple positions and it’s part of it. We script every single rep of practice, so we make sure you’re getting enough of left guard, you’re getting enough at center and balancing it out. (We) try to rotate the sections in which you get to play left guard or center, whether it’s inside, team-run or team. (You) try to give them the best shot to do it, but that’s part of it. You have to be ready to go if you’re going to be the left guard, and if you’re going to do center, you have to be able to do what Jerome did last year.”
On John Campbell Jr.’s improved conditioning…
“I think two things with John. I think he’s a little bit healthier. He played all of last year and had the injury, and I think he’s just moving better, but also, for sure in shape. Then it’s just the confidence of knowing the offense a little better. The more you know what you’re doing, and have confidence in it, the faster you’re going to play as well.”
On when first-team guys will begin to get more reps…
“You have to get through the first scrimmage, then it starts to solidify itself. We’re rotating, everything is scripted, so whatever the combination ends up being, they’re getting a portion, where it’s a half or a third or three-quarters of practice next to the guy that’ll end up potentially being the starter just because of the way it all rotates through. So, you try to get as much of that core unity, but also, if you don’t have competition, you don’t give guys a chance to go and earn a spot, you get stale real fast.”
On Gerald Mincey’s summer…
“(He’s) done a really good job. Probably had his best day today. You never know until you go back and watch the tape, but him and JJ [Jeremiah Crawford] both being able to flip and play both sides, they’ve done a good job with it. It’s not easy, trying to flip the plays in your head and play fast. That is a tough ask. He’s done a really good job. There are still some technical things here and there he has to clean up, and we all have to get in shape to play the speed we want to with the physicality we want to, but he’s had a really good start to this camp.”
On the relationship Joe Milton III is developing with the offensive line…
“I think Joe has been awesome. You feel him at practice every day, just his energy, his leadership, his vocality, and honestly, his play, too. All those things to be a leader count but being able to put it on the field and guys seeing you make throws and make the offense go builds confidence in him. They kind of just gravitate to him, it’s built in. If you are an o-lineman and you don’t love your quarterback and don’t protect with everything in your life and think he’s the world, then you’re in the wrong position.”
On the energy Javontez Spraggins is bringing…
“I think if anyone will have the biggest jump in their tape, I’m hoping it’s going to be Spraggs because he’s been just unbelievable this spring, summer and fall. From his protection to the knowledge of the game, to the leadership, just such a growth out of him. The energy, that guy is non-stop. Every day, he gets it going. There’s not a more energetic, juicy guy on the field play-in and play-out, and I think guys thrive off that. It’s energy, but also, when he goes on the field, he backs it up. It’s physicality. It’s not a fake ‘rah-rah’ energy, he’s out there competing, and he wants the best. Couldn’t be prouder of the way he’s playing, but the leadership he’s showing and demanding from his teammates, it’s awesome.”
On the value Cooper Mays brings as a veteran…
“It makes it a lot easier. This offense, as fast as it goes, making those calls and not having to double call stuff (is huge). The way he sees the game, he sees all 11, understands it, provides leadership, knows the technical aspects too, can coach young guys, complete package. That guy is awesome. He gets it on every single level, from football to meeting room to leadership, all sides of it.”
On having to manage egos for tackles fighting for starting spots…
“I think that’s part of it. I do think Danger [Dayne Davis], that guy has started some games too and has continued to improve. I feel like we have four tackles. Ego plays a part in it. You try to stress in the meeting room every day, if you are an offensive lineman, you have to love the guy next to you more than you love yourself. If his successes are better than yours, you have to be cheering him on just as much as you would cheer yourself on. You try to put that mentality into it, but at the end of the day, you have got a room full of 21 guys, and there are only five that can start. Everyone is here to start and go play, and they’re trying. All we can do is continue to stress the core values of who we want to be as a team, and right now, they’ve done a great job of pushing each other and not letting ego play a role.”
On Brian Grant’s development…
“(He’s been) really good. He had a challenge. He was a right tackle his first year and kind of bounced over and played left. His body has changed so much. He’s like a freaking computer. Smart young man and gets it strain-wise. Does everything right; there’s never a question. You tell Brian to do this, Brian is going to go do it. Obviously, the year after this year, we have a few guys that may graduate and move on, so it’s important for his development to continue, because there are going to be some of those young guys that are going to have to step up real fast.”
On if Spraggins leadership has developed in recent years…
“I think Spraggs has always had energy, juice (and) effort. He would try to lead, and it was just like a missile with a fin missing, (it) was not always just right on the mark. But now, that guy has pinpoint accuracy. Every word that comes out of his mouth, he’s on it. He knows what the pulse of the situation is, what needs to be fixed, what direction – as an offensive line, as a team – we need to go, young guys, everything. Super, super proud of him.”
Redshirt Senior OL Dayne Davis
On the competition at the offensive tackle position so far throughout fall camp…
“It’s been great. Everybody is working hard to better themselves. We are feeding off each other, giving each other pointers where we see fit and helping each other out. Overall, it’s been a battle with those guys. I’ve been competing hard with those guys, and I’m looking forward to seeing where it comes out at the end.”
On how much more comfortable he is now compared to his first few seasons at Tennessee…
“It’s night and day. I catch myself a lot in meetings. There will be stuff that I forget here and there. It’s little stuff that you really have to be solid with to know the offense. More times now I’m helping the younger guys figure stuff out. That’s the part that comes with being an older guy with experience is you get to help those younger guys come along and learn the playbook.”
On how he would describe this senior group on the offensive line…
“We have a lot of experience and a lot of old guys. We’re all going to be ready to play at the end of the day. The guys that came in like me, Ollie (Lane), Gerald (Mincey), Jeremiah (Crawford) and Cooper (Mays) are trying to lead these younger guys to come along. We are trying to let them know that when we’re gone that they are going to have to keep up the reputation of the T and the power of the T. It’s going to have to come back with those guys, so we are trying to bring them along quickly.”
Senior OL Javontez Spraggins
On if being a big presence in the offensive line room throughout his time at UT has affected him…
“I’m the same guy as I was last year. As far as the football standpoint, I’m pushing even further every day because I know those guys are gone (Darnell Wright and Jerome Carvin). Our road isn’t bumpy as far as the o-linemen, we can have guys plug-in, and it would be the exact same offensive line or even better than you’ve seen in the past. It’s not really a big panic for us, now we got guys who can fit into those spots and can get this National Championship for us. We are basically working every day just to get to that point. To get to that point of maximizing our abilities so we can go ahead and go out there and play. Really just show everybody what type of team we are this year.”
On what it means to have the mentality of loving the guys next to you more than you love yourself in the offensive line room…
“It means everything to me. Without having love for the guy next to you or anybody on your team, you’re not going to play to the best of your ability for that person. It’s all up to the individual himself, whether it’s our offensive linemen, defensive linemen, big skill person, whatever position it is, if we’re a team we’re all working together to fulfill each other’s goals. We all have one goal, which is a National Championship.”
On what he liked from what he did last season and what he wanted to improve on…
“As far as me, I have a great a time with what I’m doing now. Really pass sets and getting to run sets and a lot of stuff, but the main thing I really wanted to focus on was me being able to change directions really good. Really just stay on guys for longer than what I’m supposed to. Being able to hold on an extra four or five seconds when it gets rough, when it gets to those deep balls needing to be thrown. Just being able to finish and complete my job but not only be able to help other guys around me. No matter what we’re doing, wherever we’re taking the ball, whether I’m helping my right tackle, helping my center, I just want to be able to move the ball and just really be playing. What I saw from last year is I can do all the things but it’s just tiny things that might interrupt. Just getting those tiny things fixed will be the key for me to finishing.”
Redshirt Senior OL John Campbell Jr.
On his relationship with Joe Milton III…
“I knew Joe for a long time, (we were) high school rivals. We used to go on bus tours together. It’s just a great plan for having someone you know from high school, that’s one thing I didn’t have at the U, any of my guys there. Just seeing other guys, having high school teammates and friends that they knew, it was just really good to play for those guys, it really builds chemistry. I just think it’s a good thing to play with someone you know. It just probably makes someone just want to go harder and the extra mile for that person, just have their back.”
On his confidence from spring practice compared to now…
“I’m not going to lie, my confidence skyrocketed. Throughout the spring, I was figuring it out. It’s just schemes, football is schemes. We kind of run the same plays, but here probably splits are wider, fast tempo. I had tempo with Coach (Rhett) Lashlee, so I’m used to it. It’s been smooth, though. I feel like I’m going the right direction. I feel very, very confident. I feel like I got my high school senior year confidence.”
On what he brings to the table in terms of skillset that he feels the most confident about…
“I just feel like I bring a lot to the table. I can pass block, I can run block, I can get in space, I’m fast, I can run. I feel like this is a system to show what I can really do. This system, they’re putting me in space, they’re giving me opportunities to make plays, big plays for the team. I’m just going to make plays, that’s what I’m going to do.”
Redshirt Senior OL Jackson Lampley
On how the left guard and right tackle position have looked so far throughout fall camp…
“We have more depth right now than we’ve had in years. There are a lot of guys who can fill out both spots. Me, Addison Nichols, Ollie Lane and Andrej Karic are the guys that you would see at left guard. At right tackle, we’ve had a lot of guys like Gerald Mincey, Jeremiah Crawford and Dayne Davis. They all have a lot of playing time and experience here. It’s really good to look at them in that spot.”
On areas that his game has improved in…
“For me, one of the biggest things that I’ve improved on heading in to fall camp is my punch in pass pro, pass blocking and also leadership in general. I think those have been the biggest things that have really helped me out so far.”
On what John Campbell Jr. brings to the table…
“John is really sound in the pass game. He’s as quick as a cat and big. He’s a really athletic player, and it’s really good to have him at left tackle, especially considering we got him from his previous school last year.”
-UT Athletics
