From 247:
Tennessee coach Butch Jones said Thursday that the redshirt freshman linebacker still is getting “better and better,” and the Vols will be counting on him to “excel on special teams” in addition to providing valuable depth at linebacker — perhaps at two different positions.
“Dillon’s role starting off, right away, is he has to excel on special teams. And we all know what special teams has done for the Bates family,” Jones said, referring to the role Bates’ father, former Tennessee standout Bill Bates, played as a special-teams standout throughout his 15-year NFL career.
“Dillon is as competitive of an individual (as) we have in our program. He’s of the highest character, and he wants to do it. His care factor is very, very high, and he will do a very good job for us on special teams. He’s also continuing to get better at the linebacker position.”
Bates has worked primarily at Mike linebacker during the VolsÂ’ preseason practices over the past few weeks.
But with freshman Darrin Kirkland Jr. and sophomore walk-on Colton Jumper battling for the starting Mike linebacker job, and redshirt junior Kenny Bynum providing depth behind them, Jones said Bates now will “move around a little bit” and get some work at Will linebacker behind junior starter Jalen Reeves-Maybin.
“We're going to move him around a little bit,” Jones said of Bates. “His football intelligence allows him to do that, so we’re also going to get him some repetitions at Will linebacker.”