Vols Fall Practice #7

[Fingers]

It will be interesting to see how many players Tennessee holds out of the scrimmage on Friday night, but the Vols were a pretty complete football team during practice this morning.

Working to the side when the team went outside was a trio of skill players: Wide receivers Chris Brazzell II and Braylon Staley and running back Dylan Sampson, who notably had a small brace on his left knee.

On the offensive line, Andrej Karic looked to go through practice normally.

Linebacker Arion Carter and cornerback Jalen McMurray were out of the red non-contact jerseys. McMurray had a sleeve and a small brace on his right knee. Wide receiver Kaleb Webb started off in a regular white jersey before putting on the red, and running back Cameron Seldon remains in a red jersey.

Freshman linebacker Jordan Burns still isn’t practicing and stayed inside to work when the team went outside.

Offensive lineman Masai Reddick was mentioned during player interviews on Wednesday and we were asked about him – he is recovering from an injury and working on conditioning inside when the team goes out.

The quarterbacks and running backs came together for some quick passing-game work before the team went outside and it was not pretty. Like at all. The backs ran some corner routes out of the backfield into the flat off the near hash and the success rate was low thanks to bad throws and drops.

Freshman Peyton Lewis made a pretty good sliding catch on his first rep, but then had an accurate pass bounce off his hands. DeSean Bishop caught one, then had one go right through his hands. Khalifa Keith made a good catch, then was followed by the drop from Lewis and one from Seldon as De’Rail Sims was imploring his guys to catch and tuck the football quickly – the catching part eluded his backs.

The quarterbacks weren’t great either with some high fastballs and low throws and there was even a one-hopper or two.

The sharpness in the passing game didn’t really pick up much when the Vols went outside and worked some goal-line routes on air.

There again were missed throws in this period with some from Nico Iamaleava. At one point he was getting some one-on-one coaching from Josh Heupel. The quarterbacks as a whole just seemed a little off throwing the football early in practice, but for all we know they might be lighting it up behind closed doors.

Staes made a good adjustment on a throw to his back shoulder for a catch. Squirrel White was sharp with some of his athletic movement in snagging a couple, one that saw him tap his toes inbounds for a completion. Nimrod made an athletic catch but had his foot land on the pylon and the official in the corner ruled it an incomplete pass.

Will Brooks and Andre Turrentine led their respective lines. Freshman Boo Carter had a good rep and earned some kudos from the coaches.

The first group up in goal-line pattern-matching work was the same we saw on Wednesday with Jermod McCoy and Rickey Gibson III at cornerback, Boo Carter at Star and Brooks and Turrentine the safeties.

We wouldn’t pay too much attention to the lineups, but one group had Arion Carter, Edwin Spillman and Kalib Perry together with Keenan Pili, Jeremiah Telander and Jalen Smith the other.

p.brown

Dylan Sampson was off working to the side while the media was present. As was wideout Braylon Staley and Chris Brazzell. Linebacker Arion Carter and wideout Kaleb Webb were not in red non-contact jerseys this morning after donning them on Wednesday. Webb, however, put his back on during individual.

Offensive linemen John Campbell and Andrej Karic were doing much more today than they have been all week. Campbell will likely be limited in some fashion all season long while at practice as it is strictly a maintenance type deal for the seventh-year college player. Cornerback Jalen McMurray was again out of his red jersey (for the second-straight day) and appeared to be full-go. He still wears a brace and sleeve on his right knee/leg. Freshman linebacker Jordan Burns continues to not go through practice. Running back Cam Seldon remains in a red jersey.

Both Vysen Lang and William Satterwhite continue to get reps at center while swingman Dayne Davis is getting work in several different spots. Redshirt-freshman Sham Umarov looks like he is still at left guard, competing with Karic who has been getting more work lately. Tackle Larry Johnson continues to look miles and miles better than where he was this time last year.

Chas Nimrod had the catch of the day, reeling in a ball over the shoulder from Nico Iamaleava and kicking down the back right pylon of the end zone in the process. Nimrod has generated some buzz in fall camp and will play this fall. How much? We will see, but versatility is in his favor as he can play inside and out. Squirrel White also made a nice catch in the period. Miles Kitselman had a couple of touchdown grabs in the drill and shows that he can potentially be a redzone target for this offense.

’ve been somewhat impressed by the running back’s abilities catching the football out of the backfield so far in camp, but today wasn’t their sharpest day. Plenty of footballs hitting the ground.

Physicality was stressed in the drill, especially for the young guys. It was no issue, however, for guys like Jakobe Thomas and John Slaughter. Boo Carter was getting some special attention from Tim Banks and a few of the analysts.

They were also going over some third down packages where an extra linebacker comes in and blitzes off the edge. This is the role that Kalib Perry held last year and Elijah Herring played back in 2022. Jalen Smith looked good during this period. It’s obvious that physicality and a part of his game that he excels out where playing ins pace is still a work in progress.

e,cain

Still, running backs Cam Seldon and walk-on Jack-Henry Jakobik were working in red non contact uniforms.

Chris Brazzell, Dylan Sampson and Braylon Staley were all limited and didn’t go through all the drills while we were out on the practice field. Brazzell was also banged up during Wednesdays practice but Sampson’s limitations seemed very cautious.

Tennessee quarterbacks did some work with running backs on routes out of the backfield and it was not a good period for the running backs. Drops were constant for the running backs and coach De’Rail Sims was getting after his group pretty hard. Sampson, who is the best pass catcher of the bunch, was not going through the drill.

When Tennessee moved outside the running backs worked on blocking drills where Sims was more pleased. Particularly with sophomore Khalifa Keith.

After a bad passing session with the running backs, the routes on air portion of practice was a mixed bag. Nico Iamaleava was working with Bru McCoy, Squirrel White, Kaleb Webb and then both Holden Staes and Miles Kitselman at tight end.

Iamaleava wasn’t wildly inaccurate or anything but wasn’t super sharp either. He missed McCoy on a pair on passes to the sideline. Kaleb Webb also dropped a pass. Freshman receiver Mike Matthews was out there working at full speed for the second straight day. He was catching passes from Navy Shuler.

After having a red non contact jersey on during Wednesday’s practice, Arion Carter was back in his normal red jersey during practice. That could have just been because Tennessee was working in shells but Carter was full go in every drill while we were out on the practice field.

As has been the case all camp, freshman linebackers Jordan Burns and Grier Short (walk on) were not dressed out and were working off to the side.

After spending most of the last week either not dressed out or in a red non contact jersey, Temple transfer Jalen McMurray was on the practice field fully dressed out and going through all the drills we saw. He did still have a brace on his right knee.

In the secondary all eyes remain on the STAR battle where Boo Carter and Christian Charles seem like the top contenders to win the job. McMurray is the X-factor in this battle to me. With him back healthy, I’m curious to see if he’ll push for the job.

r.schumpert

Among the red jerseys shed were Jalen McMurray and Arion Carter on defense. However, McMurray still sported a brace on his knee.

On offense, Dayton Sneed, Tommy Winton III and Nathan Roberts were no longer in red.

Cameron Seldon, Jack-Henry Jakobik in red.

Kaleb Webb started in a white jersey but switched to red after warmups. Still went through everything fine.

Mike Matthews and Dont'e Thornton were full participants.

Chris Brazzell II, Dylan Sampson, Braylon Staley were not participating in drills but also did not wear red jerseys.

Quarterbacks threw to running backs and it was ugly. Pretty much every running back that ran routes had a drop.

Running back order with Sampson out: DeSean Bishop, Patrick Wilk, Khalifa Keith, Peyton Lewis, Cameron Seldon, Hunter Barnes. Bishop, Lewis and Seldon were among those with bad drops.

WR depth chart in those drills:
1s: X - Bru McCoy, Y - Squirrel White, Z - Kaleb Webb, H - Holden Staes
2s: X - Dont'e Thornton, Y - Chas Nimrod, Z - Trey Weary, H - Miles Kitselman
3s: X - Nathan Leacock, Y - Dayton Sneed, Z - Nate Spillman, H - Ethan Davis

Jake Merklinger had a couple bad throws to open the red zone period but bounced back in the second time around. He's had some of those freshman inconsistencies but overall has looked the part of a 4-star highly recruited freshman.

Trey Weary had a really nice catch across the middle while walking the tightrope of the back boundary. Brought it in with his feet in bounds while Kelsey Pope wailed him with a bad.

Nico Iamaleava's family was here. Looked like his dad and brother, Madden Iamaleava, who is a UCLA commit headed into his senior year of high school.

r.sylvia

 

[TheVolsFrog]

Still hearing about drops is a little concerning
GBO

 

[WillisWG]

Oh boy

WR depth chart in those drills:
1s: X - Bru McCoy, Y - Squirrel White, Z - Kaleb Webb, H - Holden Staes
2s: X - Dont'e Thornton, Y - Chas Nimrod, Z - Trey Weary, H - Miles Kitselman
3s: X - Nathan Leacock, Y - Dayton Sneed, Z - Nate Spillman, H - Ethan Davis

Everything Tennessee WR Coach Kelsey Pope Said About His Deep Unit Thursday | Rocky Top Insider

See everything Tennessee receivers coach Kelsey Pope said about the Vols deep receiver room on Thursday morning.

www.rockytopinsider.com

 

[Rocky Knocksville]

Thank you Fingers!! You’re a Champ for sure. Appreciate all the work you put in to bring us these updates!! GBO!!

 

[Volfan76]

No confusion today about how the running backs were catching and the qbs throwing.

 

[white65]

Fingers is the GOAT!

 

[DeusExMachina]

SEVENTH!!!!

 

[DonDiego]

When Brazzell gets back to practicing, does the WR depth chart change with him inserted at 1-Z?

 

[KeyVol14]

When Brazzell gets back to practicing, does the WR depth chart change with him inserted at 1-Z?

Yes...he will start IMO

 

[PEPPERJAX]

PHANGERS!!!!

 

[PEPPERJAX]

Yes...he will start IMO

Agreed.
Methinks it will be Bru, Squirrel, and Brazzell as starting WRs.

 

[AlsaceFreak]

When Brazzell gets back to practicing, does the WR depth chart change with him inserted at 1-Z?

I'm sure it will but ones and two's will probably all play on most offensive series since we are so deep at that position.

 

[KeyVol14]

No confusion today about how the running backs were catching and the qbs throwing.

Think they'll will be fine. Passing game with the RBs is something heupel doesn't do all that often.

 

[volum3]

first page!!

 

[onevol74]

It sure dampens my enthusiasm when we are trying to build a roster and there are so many injuries. Especially when we have yet to have our first scrimmage and it seems we always get nailed there with something major.

 

[Volfan39]

It sure dampens my enthusiasm when we are trying to build a roster and there are so many injuries. Especially when we have yet to have our first scrimmage and it seems we always get nailed there with something major.

There has been only one serious injury? These things happen in every single fall camp across the nation

 

[onevol74]

There has been only one serious injury? These things happen in every single fall camp across the nation

We are one week into practice.

 

[Pride85]

The reports about a bad routes on air session are not great, but don't break down in chicken little syndrome. If it continues, then worry. This is the reason they practice before the season. If they struggle with one route tree, then they will work it a bit longer. If our first game was this weekend, maybe be worried.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Is Kaleb Beasley back from his injury? That’s 7 practices and no mention of him. Same with Marcus Goree.

 

[mitzustu]

Jakobe Thomas notably absent from the report. I thought the took him out of the portal to start him.

 

[Volfan39]

Jakobe Thomas notably absent from the report. I thought the took him out of the portal to start him.

He was mentioned in the report. Talked about how physical he was

 

[Volfan39]

We are one week into practice.

So? Besides one injury everyone is as healthy as you could expect. Almost every team in the country has had a notable injruy

 

[KeyVol14]

It sure dampens my enthusiasm when we are trying to build a roster and there are so many injuries. Especially when we have yet to have our first scrimmage and it seems we always get nailed there with something major.

What are you talking about? They're all precautionary, nothing major at all. Every team goes through this.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

Think they'll will be fine. Passing game with the RBs is something heupel doesn't do all that often.

It could be the difference maker for second guy in before Seldon gets back.

 

[JRVOL11]

Is Kaleb Beasley back from his injury? That’s 7 practices and no mention of him. Same with Marcus Goree.

they’ve both been out there