By Jimmy Hyams 

Arkansas coach Sam Pittman described Tennessee as a “big physical good-looking team that loves to throw the ball deep.’’

Arkansas (2-3) hosts Tennessee (2-3) Saturday at 7:30 on the SEC Network.

Pittman, a former Tennessee offensive line coach in his first year at Arkansas, said he’s very impressed with UT’s offensive line, he said UT’s defensive front is “very big and powerful’’ and Henry To’o To’o is a “wonderful linebacker.’’

Pittman said UT’s safeties are an “extension of the linebacker group because they will run and hit.’’ He also said you can see Pruitt’s “fingerprints all over’’ the defense.

Tennessee is a “big, physical team that is playing well,’’ Pittman said, even though the Vols have lost three in a row in lop-sided fashion to Georgia, Kentucky and Alabama.

Pittman said Arkansas QB Feleipe Franks, a Florida transfer, was elected a team captain: “That tells you his leadership skills have been outstanding. He’s a tough kid. He’s getting better each week throwing the ball, taking care of the ball. .. We’ve been very fortunate he elected to transfer to Arkansas.’’

Pittman said he’s not surprised by Franks’ mobility. “We knew he could run when we recruited him.’’ Pittman said he used Franks more in the run game against Texas A&M (13 for 91) because “we needed to even the numbers in the box.’’ Pittman called Franks and “adequate’’ runner who likes to run.

Pittman and Vols offensive coordinator Jim Chaney are long-time friends who have coached together at several schools (Tennessee, Arkansas, Georgia).

Pittman said if Chaney could “turn around and hand off 75 times, he’ll do it.’’

Pittman said Arkansas needs more size along the defensive line and he’s worried about UT’s run game.

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By Jimmy Hyams 

Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt said UT had a “few false positives’’ based on Sunday testing. He did not say how many. He said those players missed practice Monday but returned Wednesday.

Here are other notes about Tennessee:

* Tennessee is last in the SEC in third-down conversions (26.1%) and only once had at least a 33% ratio. Pruitt said it’s a combination of lack of execution and too man third-and-longs. “We need to be in manageable third downs,’’ he said.

Pruitt: `It’s much easier to convert third and 1 or 2 than third and 9 or 10. Winning first and second down is important. The other thing is creating explosive plays. When you have to covert third and long over and over, the odds are against you putting long drives together.’

* Pruitt said he thinks Arkansas WR Traylon Burks (6-3, 232) is “one of the best players in the conference. … He’s a mismatch guy.’’ Burks is 6-3, 232 and runs about a 4.4, Pruitt said. Burks has had 18 catches for 254 yards and 3 TDs in the last 2 games and had 7 for 102 v. Georgia.

* Arkansas coach Sam Pittman also likes Burks: “He’s talented, has big hands, wears a 5X glove … good speed.’’ Arkansas has used Burks in the slot, at wideout, run him out of the backfield and had him throw a pass. “We just try to use him every way we can on offense,’’ Pittman said.

* Pruitt said Arkansas’ talent level is much better than it was in 2017, when he played against them while Alabama’s DC. “On each side of the ball, they’ve got 6-7 players that have a chance to be All-SEC type players. Their guys are playing hard and with confidence and playing together.’’

* Pruitt said he hopes UT has improved its tackling during the open date; UT had 23 missed tackles for 97 yards against Alabama, Pruitt said. He said Bama did a good job getting guys in space and making UT “play all over the field.’’ He said UT needs to contain the edges and be closer in pass coverage.

* Pruitt said he wants his offensive ID to be balance: “You’ve got to be able to run the football, throw the football, got to have quarterbacks make all the throws, got to execute at a high level, mix up tempo, sometimes got to play fast and sometimes slow down and protect the defense or protect the lead. Got to create explosive plays, whether its run game or throw game and score touchdowns in the red area.’’

* Pruitt said QB Jarrett Guarantano helps get UT in the right plays and “one thing about being a quarterback is how you lead the other 10 guys on the field.’’ He said a QB must recognize a blitz or get OL aligned when a DL stems. “He’s done a nice job leading the quarterback room, helping these (younger) guys understand,’’ Pruitt said.

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