Fingers
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Off the top, Vols new running back Lyn-J Dixon was present and accounted for Thursday morning, donning the No. 23 out on the practice field. He was wearing a helmet, but no shoulder pads like the rest of the team as his acclimation period is now a few days behind.
As far as how he looked, he appeared to be the typical 5-10, 195-pound running back we last saw play. I can’t comment on if he is ‘in shape’ or not, as the running backs were going over simple drills while the media was present. But just by watching him step, take the handoff and run through the ‘blaster,’ you can tell he’s been coached up and is a Power 5 college football player.
Christian Charles and Cheyenne Labruzza remain in red jerseys while Jaylen Wright – though dressed out – was not working with the running backs. The sophomore continues to get work in off to the side with a trainer.
Kamal Hadden was spotted and accounted for following Wednesday’s absence from practice (while the media was present). He was off to the side, wearing only a jersey with no helmet or shoulder pads. There was no visible evidence of a brace or sling for his elbow/arm. He was not doing any practice – from what it appeared. In conversations with people, the injury is not expected to be a big deal, but we will work to gain more information and continue to keep close tabs on his progress.
Tennessee’s skilled players continue to work on timing as routes on-air have looked a lot better this camp compared to last. You can really tell these veteran quarterbacks – along with Tayven Jackson – have spent time throwing with receivers this offseason. There’s not been too many balls hit the ground while we’ve been there this week.
For those of you wondering how Bru McCoy is looking – it’s better and better every day. Physically, he’s looked good all week, but his routes have become smooth and much more crisp as the week has progressed. He’s been getting coached up as the week has gone on and you can tell he’s been putting it to use, showing he’s a coachable player.
e.cainAnd finally, you can really tell the work these running backs have put in over the offseason. I know it’s been said before, but Jabari Small and Jaylen Wright look good. They’ve gotten noticeably bigger and look the part now – playing tailback in the Southeastern Conference.
Tennessee’s receiver rotation was par for the course over the last few days. Ramel Keyton, Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman led the way in drills though Jimmy Holliday went before Tillman in one drill.
Jimmy Calloway and Squirell White followed behind Hyatt while Walker Merrill and freshman Kaleb Webb and Chas Nimrod followed behind Keyton. Bru McCoy continued to be one of the last Vols to get reps.
The tight ends were included in the routes on air portion with Jacob Warren leading the way followed by Princeton Fant and Miles Campbell.
There’s only so much you can glean from routes on air but Tennessee continues to look really crisp in those sessions. It’s extremely rare for a Hooker or Milton pass to hit the ground. That’s all you can really ask for from that portion.
r.schumpertThe interior and exterior of Tennessee’s defensive line spent the majority of the open sessions working separate from one another. Sixth year senior LaTrell Bumphus worked with the outside guys.
Bryson Eason earned the ire of Mike Ekeler at one point, having to repeat a rep on the ladders.
The running backs started out individual work with the quarterbacks working on handoffs and burst and then drilled footwork before running through the blasters. Dixon looked fairly normal through all of it. You see some athleticism and physically while not the biggest back he looks like a player who’s been in college for a while. It’s all new to him and there’s going to be some rust.
Dixon was getting some one-on-one coaching from Josh Heupel himself as the running backs took handoffs from the quarterbacks and darted through a chute to improve their burst, vision and leverage. Heupel stopped Dixon briefly to give him some points on how to carry the football high and tight with two hands as he went through the simulated hole provided by the chute, pointing to freshman Dylan Sampson as an example on the correct technique. On Dixon’s next turn, he got some positive reinforcement and another pointer or two from Heupel before getting a helmet tap from the head coach as he headed back for his next rep.
With no Hadden and Charles a little limited, the cornerbacks getting the bulk of the work are Warren Burrell, Brandon Turnage, Dee Williams, De’Shawn Rucker, Christian Harrison and a few walk-ons – and Heupel watched nearly a full period of their drills on Thursday morning.
You never want to pay too much attention to what order guys are going through drills in practice, but consistently the first through the defensive line drills are Baron, Young, Harrison, Bumphus and Omari Thomas. Obviously that group has big leadership shoes to fill with Matthew Butler in the NFL (and slated for his debut on Thursday night). Thus that is worth noting.
p.brownHyatt ran a beautiful wheel-stop route (that Calloway and White weren’t quite able to replicate) and continues to look crisp and confident. Tillman looks and carries himself like a guy who’s going to be an NFL receiver in the not-too-distant future. Merrill and Holiday look athletic and McCoy, who we talked about at length in the latest GoVols247 Podcast, looked at little looser, to me at least, on Thursday morning as he continues to shake off the rust built up from an offseason injury, not playing (or practicing) last season and learning a new fast-paced
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