> Tennessee is expected to have some of its recently-signed recruits join the team for some bowl practices in Knoxville. But none of the expected names, a group that potentially includes running back
Justin Williams, defensive lineman
Tyre West, transfer offensive tackle
Gerald Mincey, wide receiver
Squirrel White and linebacker
Elijah Herring, were at practice on Friday morning. It's possible they could arrive over the weekend, which would still give them three or four practices to get even just a little bit of a head start on their Tennessee careers.
Thus the only 2022 signee to be at practice on Friday again was
Jordan Phillips. The defensive lineman looks the part, as the coaches have noted he's changed his body and gotten leaner since the summer, and you can see him straining through drills, trying to make the most of every rep and taking coaching. Phillips was in a scout-team jersey on Friday, so he figures to get some chances to go up against Tennessee's first-teamers on offense.
> Speaking of the offensive line, still no
Cade Mays (ankle). It looked like
Jeremiah Crawford was working with the rest of the starters at right tackle during some individual and full-line drills. The junior college transfer split time with
Dayne Davis during the Vanderbilt game and may get a chance to build off it in the bowl game if Mays can't get healthy.
> Freshman athlete
Trinity Bell continued to work with the defensive line and freshman athlete
Kaemen Marley again was with the linebackers.
> Tennessee had a punt period during the open-viewing portion of practice with assistant coaches
Mike Ekeler,
Jerry Mack,
Willie Martinez and
Kodi Burns all collaborating to ensure the Vols were sharp in their execution. The defense also worked through its usual turnover circuit and then went into some individual work. The offense did some individual work and then had routes-on-air with quarterbacks
Hendon Hooker and
Joe Milton III sharp in the wet weather, particularly on some deep throws.
> With several players in scout-team jerseys, the Vols appear to be shifting to an extended game week and will start some work on Purdue mixed into some good-on-good and cross-positional periods.
> Bell was in a non-contact jersey along with defensive backs
Theo Jackson and
De'Shawn Rucker and running back
Jaylen Wright.
> Scheduled to speak after practice: Defensive coordinator
Tim Banks and some defensive players.
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Nice! I laughed way too hard.