Today's practice started at 6 and updates should begin shortly after it ends.
Fort
Brice
Just helmets, jerseys and shorts today, so even through Shy Tuttle is limited, he was out there. Didn't have any issues that stood out...Which of course, doesn't mean he's ready to play, but still. That's something. Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Austin Smith and Jauan Jennings wore green jerseys even though there was no real contact to begin with. Saw Preston Williams make an acrobatic catch on a crossing route.
Dustin Dopirak
Players in green today, if you want real updates and not just slow motion foolishness: Jauan Jennings, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Austin Smith.
Grant Ramey
Jonathan Kongbo defintely looks the part. He is very, very big and looks like he moves really well. Nigel Warrior looks the part as well. Definitely looks like he's physically ready to play.
Jarrett Guarantano has a nice arm. We knew that, but he looked pretty good tossing the ball in the time we saw.
Brandon Johnson looked good as well. He made a really nice catch in the time we saw QBs and receivers work together. I thought Tyler Byrd looked quick, too.
I think Preston Williams looks good and dialed in. Seemed focused while we were out there. Jalen Hurd looks every bit as good as he has since he's been in Knoxville.
I really like the look of Chance Hall as well.
Fort
I love the way the ball comes out of Jarrett G.'s hand. He throws a very nice ball. Lots of velocity on his outs.
I thought overall, the qb's seemed to be in a solid rhythm for day one.
J. Jennings is in green and everyone was reminding him not to overdo it on day one.
The safety battle is going to be fantastic to watch. Gaulden looks quick, bigger and vocally was leading. Nigel Warrior knows he's good (that's not a negative). He carries himself that way.
McKenzie clearly looks more athletic and quicker.
Back to receivers, I get the like for Brandon Johnson, quick with a good frame. And I still love Tyler Byrd athletically. He athletically looks really good and has a chance to be really good.
On the offensive line, the three freshman look promising but should all get the luxury of redshirting. Drew Richmond looks better and Charles Mosley is clearly the lightest he has ever been.
Hubbs
There is no question that Josh Dobbs is the guy, but I thought Quinten Dormady threw the ball on time and showed some crisp passes on day #1. Lets move to freshman Jarrett Guarantano who looked every bit the part of a future quarterback in the SEC. It's the first day so I'm not going to build him up to much, but the arm was more than noticeable.
I was very impressed by Josh Malone and Preston Williams. Then there is Jauan Jennings who is still working his way back from injury but appeared to do most of everything when we were allowed to watch. He looked very solid in his movement.
Austin Price
Hard to believe how much better McKenzie looks out there. Completely different looking human being than this time a year ago and it's beyond obvious that it's really helped with his mobility. Tuttle was dressed today and hanging around with the DL during drills but didn't do a whole lot in the periods we were allowed to observe.
Nigel Warrior is a smooth looking player. Does not look like a freshman out there with the other DBs at all. Obviously going to face a steep learning curve but he looks the part for sure
Rob Lewis
Anyway, all the quarterbacks were pretty solid and in good timing with their targets. Weren't a ton of drops; couple at the tight end position but both Ethan Wolf and Jason Croom looked good; Croom continues to look more comfortable there and Wolf continues to look better equipped to handle the physical rigors.
Jonathan Kongbo is, well, a specimen. No other way to say it. He walked by me earlier today on his way into meetings without gear and hardly looked like he's carrying 280+ pounds. And yet, he is and he's huge.
Defensively, LaTroy Lewis, Kendal Vickers, Danny O'Brien and Derek Barnett got the early work with the first group. Rashaan Gaulden looks a bit thicker, and Todd Kelly Jr. looks really good, in great shape and donning the #24.
Brice
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9US3KXoiAk[/youtube]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T45ZO8oVVo[/youtube]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e8CSmJ4uR0[/youtube]
Todd Kelly Jr. (TK) @ToddKellyJr
Honored and privileged to wear the #24 this season in honor of Zaevion Dobson, your legacy lives on and will never be forgotten
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af4Ww8YGr94[/youtube]
VQ Video:
https://player.vimeo.com/video/177161395
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp0KQrdDcGQ[/youtube]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyjkqU21_3A[/youtube]
Nigel Warrior
Tennessees running backs group could rival the 1998 squads Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, Travis Stephens before this season is over with, particularly if Jalen Hurd stays healthy. Hurd, a 6-4, 240, looks every bit as light on his feet as speedy Alvin Kamara (5-10, 215). Newcomer Carlin Fils-Aime is another impressive tailback candidate. Jones said John Kelly will get more work this fall, too.
For all the talk about Josh Dobbs struggles throwing the deep ball, the UT senior quarterback looked particularly sharp in his throwing drills through the first six periods.
Dobbs also connected with Preston Williams on one of his impressive long throws. Brandon Johnson learned to be ready coming out of the break, as Dobbs delivered a dart on target before Johnson had even turned on his out route.
Griffith
The biggest thing I noticed was the muscle Butch Jones has talked about the past several weeks. This is a bigger, stronger football team, and you don't even need to see them in pads to notice that. The offensive line, in particular, looks bigger and stronger. Junior center Coleman Thomas is definitely a lot bigger.
Rucker
Freshman running back Jeremy Lewis, a late addition to Tennessee's 2016 recruiting class, showed a nice burst of speed but a relatively thin frame that likely will need to add some additional weight to handle the physicality of playing in the SEC. He's currently wearing a brace on his right knee coming off an injury from his senior year of high school, but he appears to have some talent and upside.
Freshman offensive lineman Marcus Tatum clearly has added some weight over the past few months, but he still appears to be in the process of developing into an SEC offensive lineman physically.
Callahan
GrantRamey (8:25 p.m.)
Practice is (at this point) 25 minutes past the scheduled end time. Midseason form on Day 1.
Butch stated today that Warrior was starting out at safety and that's where he worked tonight.
Lewis
And closing practice, @josh_dobbs1 is first to nail the corner target drill by arcing a pass into the stacked tires. #Vols
Brice
James Guarantano @JamesGuarantano
The start of something special ......... SEC Championships r coming . pic.twitter.com/oYuOW5Pjrf
Everyone wanted Jonathan Kongbo for a reason. Holy buckets hes big and fast.
Rucker
AFTER PRACTICE INTERVIEWS
https://t.co/lMNkGylDok
"He's a grown man... A man amongst boys." DKJr on Kongbo.
DKJr said Kahlil has dropped around 30 pounds. Added Nigel Warrior has impressed throughout the summer.
Fort
-Darrell Miller gave up #24 so TKjr could honor Dobson.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otwExFHPE_U[/youtube]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg_Lb9GsK30[/youtube]
