*** Along the offensive line, Jahmir Johnson got a lot of work at left tackle Wednesday, both during individual and team work. When the unit when to a five-man line, Johnson was at left tackle with Jerome Carvin at left guard, Ryan Johnson at center, Marcus Tatum at right guard and Nathan Niehaus at right tackle. When the next unit came in, Niehaus stayed at right tackle while the rest of the group was freshman Wanya Morris at left tackle, K’Rojhn Calbert at left guard, Brandon Kennedy at center and Riley Locklear at right guard. Position coach Will Friend was really harping on tempo/pace during individual work.
*** Defensively, Tracy Rocker had his unit working on run-gap assignments. The veteran DL coach was coaching redshirt freshman Kingston Harris especially hard. Harris is working behind Emmit Gooden at nose tackle. Flanked next to Gooden with the 1s were transfer Aubrey Solomon and newly-converted lineman Latrell Bumphus. John Mincey got some work at end with the group, too. Working with Harris was Matthew Butler and Mincey. The last group consisted of Ja’Quain Blakely and Greg Emerson with walk-on Airin Spell at nose tackle.
*** Kevin Sherrer is really trying to accelerate the development of newcomer Quavaris Crouch. Two days ago, the freshman was running close to last in line during individual work. Today he was 3rd or 4th each time. Crouch is clearly swimming mentally with everything being thrown at him right now, having to redo a pair of drills. Still, his potential is obvious, especially when he does exactly what Sherrer is looking for. During “strike drills,” his pop are among the loudest from the group. Crouch and Daniel Bituli also worked some at outside linebacker toward the end of the open practice, as the Vols need more pass rush help from a group that returns just Darrell Taylor and Deandre Johnson as known quantities. Chris Rumph got all over Jordan Allen after the former JUCO transfer jumped offsides during a pass rush drill.
*** In the secondary, the corners and safeties worked individually before coming together for a pattern-matching drill. Notably, the first group out on the field had Nigel Warrior and Theo Jackson at safety, with freshman Jaylen McCollough and Shawn Shamburger inside and Alontae Taylor and Bryce Thompson outside. Baylen Buchanan and Trevon Flowers were with the 2s. Like Crouch, McCollough is being groomed to contribute on Day 1. The freshman is a sponge and stays close to either Derrick Ansley, a GA or a vet like Buchanan at all times. Lastly, Maleik Gray stayed with the cornerbacks for the second consecutive practice.
*** Finally, the quarterbacks were just OK on Monday. All three had their moments but there were also lots of throws late and low. Jarrett Guarantano did have a couple nice connections with Jauan Jennings, especially after the two couldn’t get on the same page Saturday. Brian Maurer also uncorked a couple nice tosses on deep roll-outs, including one to Jordan Murphy, who continues to flash again this spring. Murphy had two nice catches (including a one-hander) Monday. Tee Martin has challenged his route depth on multiple occasions.