Preston Williams is Progressing

#1
Kristy*

Kristy*

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Butch Jones: Preston Williams is progressing - GoVolsXtra Story

HOOVER, Ala. — Tennessee has remained cautiously optimistic about four-star freshman wide receiver Preston Williams’ chances of playing this season, but coach Butch Jones said Tuesday that he will participate in preseason practice.

Williams suffered an ACL tear in November of last season and has been limited ever since, but the Hampton, Ga., native has made significant strides according to Jones.

“He’s progressing,” Jones said at SEC Media Days. “He’s able to run straight lines. I would guess right now he’s probably 75 to 80 percent. He’ll be one of those individuals that will start practice. Now, we have to do a great job of monitoring him. ... We have a training camp plan in place for him.”

Williams appears to be the Vols’ biggest concern going into preseason practice, even though the list of walking wounded during spring practice was very long.

More than a dozen key players missed significant time in the spring and 11 didn’t participate at all because of injuries.

Jones said he expects all of them will be ready for preseason practice. The Vols report Aug. 3.

“We had a lot of individuals miss valuable repetitions in the spring,” Jones said. “... They’ll all be available when we start training camp, which is a great thing. We have to do a great job of monitoring those individuals in that we don’t push them along too soon.”
 
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#3
#3
Hmm. I think Butch already has it in his head to red-shirt him.
That really seemed to workout for Curt Maggitt.

Me personally, I would have a wait and see approach for Preston.

If he can play, i'd play him. But if we red-shirt him that's cool too
 
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#4
#4
I'd rather redshirt him unless we end up having some more bad luck on the injury front this season. It would probably be better for him in the long term anyway.
 
#6
#6
Kristy* said:
I don't think he'll stay for 5 years. So, unless he just can't go, he shouldn't be red-shirted.
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This 100% I think a lot of our fans have forgotten what it's like to have these high talent players. These guys have a plan to play in college for 3-4 years then turn pro. On paper PW looks to be a talent that can go pro after 3 years, red-shirt or no
 
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#8
#8
Why redshirt him? If things pan out we'll be getting ready for a serious run at the playoffs next year. Why not get him experience? He's the type of guy that's leaving in 3 years whether it be his true junior year or his redshirt sophomore year. Why not have the guy play 3 years instead of 2?
 
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#9
#9
We are talented and deep enough at WR that CBJ should try and RS Preston this season. The kid could be special and we will really need him to be ready come 2016
 
#10
#10
dduncan4163 said:
We are talented and deep enough at WR that CBJ should try and RS Preston this season. The kid could be special and we will really need him to be ready come 2016
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So how does having him sit out a year get him ready? Players that are red shirted don't game prep bc they know they aren't going to be playing
 
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#11
#11
dduncan4163 said:
We are talented and deep enough at WR that CBJ should try and RS Preston this season. The kid could be special and we will really need him to be ready come 2016
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If healthy very unlikely PW is still around after his 3rd season as a Vol.

Play him as soon as he is ready.
 
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#12
#12
I think you have to play him if he's ready. If Pearson is back you might be able to think about the idea. No Pearson and I think he has to play.
 
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#13
#13
I just hope he gets healthy first before trying to over do it. Kid should be a good one when he's 100%
 
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#14
#14
Preston has already said that he does not want to redshirt and has been putting in the work to try and get ready. If the doctors clear him then we need to play him. This kid has a lot of what we have been missing. He is an alpha male with down the field speed and believes that every ball is his. We have a lot of big wr's that play small.
 
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#15
#15
dduncan4163 said:
We are talented and deep enough at WR that CBJ should try and RS Preston this season. The kid could be special and we will really need him to be ready come 2016
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If Pearson doesn't make it back we're gonna be a bit short on depth IMO. North, Smith, Pig, Croom, Malone and Johnson would be about it. That's 6 when Z and Butch have said multiple times they would optimally like to play 9-10 Wrs. I think if PWill is ready to go that he oughtta suit up this year.
 
#16
#16
This is a player that we should be very careful with. It doesn't matter what he wants to do. It doesn't matter how many years that CBJ believes Preston will be around.

It only matters that he is 100% ready to play. Injury probabilities go way up when a player steps on the field at less than 100% readiness. His body build only adds to the chance of another similar injury.
 
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#17
#17
LittleVol said:
Hmm. I think Butch already has it in his head to red-shirt him.
That really seemed to workout for Curt Maggitt.

Me personally, I would have a wait and see approach for Preston.

If he can play, i'd play him. But if we red-shirt him that's cool too
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how do you know this? please tell us more of butches plans.
 
#18
#18
His health comes first no matter what.

He needs practice and real game reps to learn and grow but if doing that is a risk of reinjury and a huge setback for him then make him sit, learn the playbook and take mental reps to learn as much as he can and get him back to 100% healthy before risking anything.

He has too much potential to ruin his confidence this early in his career.

#BrickbyBrick...VFL...GBO!!!
 
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#20
#20
Preston is very confident in his abilities and won't stay for a 5th year if he can help it. If ready, play him. If not, wait until he is. I just don't think we will benefit from a redshirt either way with him.
 
#21
#21
ATLVols said:
Preston is very confident in his abilities and won't stay for a 5th year if he can help it. If ready, play him. If not, wait until he is. I just don't think we will benefit from a redshirt either way with him.
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It would surprise me if he stays 4 yrs
 
#22
#22
Obviously, the first criterion for redshirting would be his health.

The second might be whether or not Von Pearson is back.
 
#23
#23
08Vol said:
So how does having him sit out a year get him ready? Players that are red shirted don't game prep bc they know they aren't going to be playing
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It's not just physical healing from that type of injury,but it is also mental healing. You basically have to learn how to walk again,your cordination maybe off. If you use to jump off your left leg you may try to jump off with both legs or your right leg now. PW can run straight now,which is good,but it is when he has to plant that leg running full speed & make that cut when the pads comes on full contact that makes the difference. I had the same injury & rushed back in 6 months cause I couldn't stand being out & it was a big mistake. I should have stayed out the full year & I hope PW does also.
 
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#24
#24
chad4930 said:
Preston has already said that he does not want to redshirt and has been putting in the work to try and get ready. If the doctors clear him then we need to play him. This kid has a lot of what we have been missing. He is an alpha male with down the field speed and believes that every ball is his. We have a lot of big wr's that play small.
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Exactly. He has the skills and on the field attitude to be special. He is the type of receiver that will make a corner his b!tch. Not too many of those around.
 
#25
#25
KBVol said:
If Pearson doesn't make it back we're gonna be a bit short on depth IMO. North, Smith, Pig, Croom, Malone and Johnson would be about it. That's 6 when Z and Butch have said multiple times they would optimally like to play 9-10 Wrs. I think if PWill is ready to go that he oughtta suit up this year.
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Not sure about this RS debate for the kid. By my count, we have 12 WRS on the roster, not counting Pearson. Preston, based solely on expectations, could be the MAN in a year or so. North and Malone played because they HAD to play...and then they kind of disappeard. If he needs to RS, then I am confident Butch and Z can sell it to him (assuming he is not another headcase like Vic Wharton). If he proves in camp that he is one of the best we have and can play the position and help us win, then I am confident he will be on the field. But he not only has to be healthy enough to play, he's gotta earn the right to play just like everyone else.
 
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