Tennessee continued its prep for Georgia State on Tuesday, working outside in some warmer weather for the first time in several days.
It was lots of install and scheme work during the two open periods. Here are some quick observations from Tuesday’s practice…
Freshman cornerback Warren Burrell remains in line to start at cornerback opposite Alontae Taylor. Shawn Shamburger was again working as the first-team star. The secondary was working on some zone-blitz packages while we were out there.
Another freshman slated to start Saturday is linebacker Henry To’oto’o. With Daniel Bituli out (knee clean-up), No. 11 was again paired with Will Ignont. The backups today were Shanon Reid and Aaron Beasley while Jeremy Banks was working with Solon Page. JJ Peterson might’ve taken a rep later in the drill but the two minutes I was out there I didn’t see one. Banks spent every post-rep talking with analyst Kevin Simon.
With scout team work in full effect, freshman tackle Elijah Simmons was mimicking GSU nose guard Dontae Wilson, who Jeremy Pruitt gave a shoutout to on Monday. Kingston Harris was also giving a scout team look as GSU end Terry Thomas.
The trio of Darel Middleton, Latrell Bumphus and John Mincey were back with the outside linebackers today. Sans Simmons and Harris, the defensive lineman working with Tracy Rocker were Kurott Garland, Savion Williams, Aubrey Solomon, Greg Emerson, Matthew Butler and Ja’Quain Blakely.
During individual drills, Solomon was running first. During line drills, he was with Butler and Emerson.
The offensive line shuffled at least six combinations in the few minutes we were out there. At one point, Ollie Lane was working with the rest of the first-team as the right guard. Jahmir Johnson got a few reps today. The tackle combos were usually Wanya Morris and Marcus Tatum and Johnson and Darnell Wright. Jerome Carvin got a lot of reps at center, including with the supposed 1s. Trey Smith also took several reps.
I didn’t see much of the quarterbacks today but JT Shrout took the first reps at Jarrett Guarantano. Brian Maurer was running third. The tailback rotation was as expected: Ty Chandler, Tim Jordan, Eric Gray and Carlin Fils-Aime.
During the routes on air period, Ramel Keyton continues to make a move, running second behind Marquez Callaway today.