Vols Fall Practice #1

[Fingers]

We’ll start with defensive back Boo Carter after the update on him yesterday. The sophomore was present at practice on Wednesday morning and went through stretch alongside the rest of the defensive backs, but was not in a helmet like the rest of his teammates. He did not participate in turnover circuit or any other individual drills before the team went outside, and he stayed inside with a few other rehabbing players to work with strength-and-conditioning coaches and training staff on the indoor field and in the weight room.

All-SEC cornerback Jermod McCoy went through stretch with the team before staying inside to work with the strength coaches and trainers,

Wide receiver Chris Brazzell II did not go through stretch and was not involved in any individual drills

Tight end Miles Kitselman was in a red non-contact jersey, but with few limitations.

Merklinger was first in line for those, followed by Aguilar and MacIntyre then freshman Mason Phillips.

The quarterbacks were mostly accurate on a slew of short passes, including slants and post-corners. Aguilar showed a good connection with Kitselman and wide receiver Mike Matthews, who each made nice finger-tip catches before dropping back-to-back passes. The veteran transfer looked pretty comfortable for his first Tennessee practice.

First, the defensive line again looks loaded from a physical standpoint. There is a nice variety in that group in terms of size, build and length, and nobody looked to be out of shape, though those big guys will get tested even in the early-morning summer heat. Freshman Mariyon Dye looks like a freak of nature, Isaiah Campbell does not look like a freshman, Daevin Hobbs looks like a veteran and Tyre West looks excellent, too.

Another group that looked the part was at tight end. Ethan Davis always has looked like a million bucks, but freshman Jack Van Dorselaer looks like a player who’s been in a college program for a lot longer than six months. DaSaahn Brame has filled out his frame as well.

Another two who caught the eye were redshirt freshman linebacker Edwin Spillman, who looks like a big-time SEC linebacker, and redshirt freshman offensive tackle Jeremias Heard, who is mountainous.

The best-looking wide receiver physically is Travis Smith Jr., the freshman, though fellow rookie Radarious Jackson had the best catch in routes-on-air, adjusting his body quickly to snag a fastball thrown slightly behind his frame.

p.brown

Joey Aguilar looked the most polished from a mechanical standpoint with his feet, hips and drop back. You can tell he’s done this plenty of times before. His throwing motion is a bit different and stands out compared to the other two, but his footwork is easily the best. He’s got a quick release and was accurate at times this morning, but he was not the most accurate quarterback of the bunch.

That would have been Jake Merklinger. Again, there wasn’t much movement down the field, but the redshirt-freshman was fairly accurate with the football. His mechanics are night and day compared to when he started here at Tennessee and he will continue to improve. George MacIntyre had some bright spots as well, though his throwing motion and release is longer and slower than the other two. As expected for true freshman.

None of the quarterbacks lit the world on fire today but it’s not like we were there to see a ton of the action. They didn’t show us much by design. Merklinger was typically the first one to go in drills

On the offensive line, both William Satterwhite and Sam Pendleton were getting work at center. With the first team, Pendleton was at right guard with Satterwhite at center. Lance Heard was at left tackle, Wendall Moe at left guard and David Sanders at right tackle. When Pendleton was at center, Sham Umarov was at left guard.

Lance Heard looks like he is moving around better. Jeremias Heard is easily one of the first five off the bus. He was working behind Heard at left tackle while Bennett Warren was working behind Sanders at right tackle. Jesse Perry was getting interior work while the media were out here.

Ethan Davis was physical on the sled today – miles better than where he was two years ago. Jack Van Dorselaer was impressive on the sled and with the contact stuff today while DaSaahn Brame had plenty of twitch in space. As expected, the two compliment each other.

With Brazzell not getting reps at wide receiver today, there were more to go around for the other six scholarship receivers for Tennessee and walk-on Travis Weary. Both Trey Smith and Radarious Jackson showed well in routes on air while Miles Kitselman dropped a pass.

Speaking of, Campbell looks like a million bucks. Transfer Colton Hood does as well as he moves around well in pads. He was repping at cornerback today while Jalen McMurray was getting reps at STAR in the absence of Boo Carter.

Daevin Hobbs has had a good offseason as he appears to have added on some decent weight. He also moved down to jersey No. 5. Some of the freshmen linebackers were working in a group together. Both Jadon Perlotte and Jaedon Harmon looked to be full-speed.

Edwin Spillman carried himself like a starter.

It looked as if Andre Turrentine and Edrees Farooq were the first two safeties up in drills for Tennessee. Kaleb Beasley was right there as well. They weren’t in full pads this morning, so everything is taken with a grain of salt, but the freshmen DBs (Dylan Lewis, Sidney Walton, Tre Poteat, Tim Merritt, Ty Redmond) all moved around well, high-pointing the football in drills.

e.cain

Redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger was first in line when the quarterbacks started passing drills. UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar, a former Appalachian State transfer, was second. Freshman George MacIntyre was third.

Five-star freshman David Sanders, the No. 1 tackle in the 2025 class, has bulked up his 6-foot-6 frame from 270 pounds when he enrolled in January to 305 pounds to start preseason practice.

Sanders was at right tackle with the first team in offensive line drills, indicating that he’s the starter there. The depth chart could change throughout the preseason, but Sanders is in prime position to hold his spot after contender Larry Johnson transferred to Colorado in the spring.

The rest of the first team offensive line in drills included left guard Jesse Perry, center William Satterwhite, right guard Wendell Moe and right tackle Lance Heard.

a.sparks

 

[Adam2014]

First

 

[WillisWG]

Thank goodness. Appreciate you Fingers

 

[PA Vol]

 

[TheVolsFrog]

In on Practice #1

Can we petition UT to get rid of that sound track they keep using?

 

[VolsLFC]

TYFYS

 

[GoBigOrange_2309]

LFG!!!

 

[HeuperDrive]

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

 

[Adam2014]

I wonder what's up with Brazzell. I am watching our receivers like a hawk because we don't have many.

 

[WillisWG]

Boo...daggumit dog house

 

[chvy1986]

Zero mention of RB's

 

[Adam2014]

Zero mention of RB's

Heard we are going zero RB this year.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

PHANGERS!!!!

 

[WillisWG]

Merk being 1st up Day 1 isn't surprising.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

@joevol33

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Joey A might've been in the film room a lot but he hasn't missed leg day either. Good quads on the young man.

 

[WillisWG]

TE, DL, LB, OL size wise look great

 

[TheVolsFrog]

Merk being 1st up Day 1 isn't surprising.

I said in another thread I hope the list Merk as QB1A and Joey as QB1B just to hear the speculation but yeah I agree, Merk 1st up on Day 1 isn't surprising. I still have a feeling JA will be starting game 1 but if not, from his interview he sounds like a team player and ready to step in if needed.

 

[McDad]

Fingers doing his thing.

The season has officially begun.

Vamos Vols!

 

[JCVol00]

I said in another thread I hope the list Merk as QB1A and Joey as QB1B just to hear the speculation but yeah I agree, Merk 1st up on Day 1 isn't surprising. I still have a feeling JA will be starting game 1 but if not, from his interview he sounds like a team player and ready to step in if needed.

And watch, Heup will roll a trick play on play 1 vs syracuse with both qb’s on the field

 

[Jackcrevol]

Heard we are going zero RB this year.

We have 2 WRs

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

I said in another thread I hope the list Merk as QB1A and Joey as QB1B just to hear the speculation but yeah I agree, Merk 1st up on Day 1 isn't surprising. I still have a feeling JA will be starting game 1 but if not, from his interview he sounds like a team player and ready to step in if needed.

Efficiency, also. Merk knows how the coach wants the drills run at UT so Joey can follow him and not have to listen for "we do this now." Just flow behind Merk and work.

 

[TAF]

Joey A might've been in the film room a lot but he hasn't missed leg day either. Good quads on the young man.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

TE, DL, LB, OL size wise look great

Yeah we definitely look the part physically.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Hehehehe. I never liked Nico's bird legs. I like to feel like a QB can at least push an extra half yard through a DB if he has to.