Vols Practice Thread 8.26.19

[Fingers]

With cornerback Bryce Thompson indefinitely suspended Warren Burrell got the work as the #1 corner opposite of Alontae Taylor in the individual work at the start of practice.

At linebacker, Henry To’oTo’o and Will Ignont were the first two inside linebackers with senior Daniel Bituli out following a knee procedure early last week

Behind Henry T and Ignont were Shannon Reid and Jeremy Banks at inside linebacker.

Pruitt made it clear Monday at his press conference that the plan is to play a lot of guys on the offensive front as they continue to seek their most productive combination of 5. It did appear that Wayna Morris was working ahead of Jamir Johnson on Monday at left tackle.

With the wet weather, it meant extra ball security work for the running backs and interestingly, wide receiver Jacquez Jones good a few reps with the running backs in the ball security drill then hoped back over to work with the receivers.

-hubbs

Along the defensive line, Aubrey Solomon and Greg Emerson worked with the first team, while Darel Middleton, John Mincey, and LaTrell Bumphus continued to work on pass-rush drills with the outside linebackers.

Along the offensive line, the group continued to split up. Jim Chaney would work with the tackles, while Will Friend worked with the guards, then the groups would switch.

Ryan Johnson received work at both guard spots and right tackle on Monday. Wanya Morris worked at left tackle and left guard. Marcus Tatum continues to work at right tackle and guard. Brandon Kennedy continues to work solely at center while Riley Locklear works at both guard spots. Trey Smith was not very active during the open portion today. Darnell Wright worked at tackle and guard.

b.mckee

Pruitt pulled freshman outside linebacker Roman Harrison aside for about a minute to give him some tips on his pass-rush technique.

After it initially looked like redshirt freshman J.J. Peterson would pair with Shanon Reid, it was converted running back Jeremy Banks who jumped in to get a handful of reps at his new position.

K'Rojhn Calbert and Jahmir Johnson looked to be a little bit limited and did not appear to take any reps during the open-viewing portion of practice.

It looks like freshman Elijah Simmons will be spending the week with the scout-team defense. He was in a No. 52 jersey, the number worn by Georgia State nose tackle Dontae Wilson

With just three scholarship quarterbacks this season, though, the Vols this particular week are having to turn to a walk-on to handle that role, but this particular week they have a pretty good option in former Maryland starter Kasim Hill.

p.brown

 

[macutvol]

First

 

[VOLFan65]

First

 

[VOLFan65]

Dang it! Haha

 

[My VOLS are huge]

Not first but first page

 

[Mackdknife]

First page! Woo Hoo!

 

[Golf freak]

Best time of the year.Game week with every game still to go.GBO!

 

[UTDB#1]

Almost time ladies and gentlemen

 

[Alto1]

Can’t wait for Saturday!

 

[Creeker]

Game week!

 

[Volnatic]

First page! I have nothing further to contribute

 

[scienceteaching_vol]

First page for first time! Now someone tell me why this is a big deal in these practice threads?

 

[Volnatic]

First page for first time! Now someone tell me why this is a big deal in these practice threads?

It isn't. First time I've ever done it too...just felt right.

 

[joevol33]

I'm saying first page just because it annoys people! Thanks Fingers.

 

[American_PitVol]

I seen'em FIRST!

 

[Sara Clark]

Do we need to start a "Post your Game Day Picture Thread?" Of course on game day......thoughts?!

 

[Power T-Rev]

Jeremy Banks at LB. I like it

 

[michael_scott]

Took Banks 5 seconds to pass JJ on the depth chart. Dude doesn't have it.

 

[Roustabout]

Took Banks 5 seconds to pass JJ on the depth chart. Dude doesn't have it.

On the official chart Banks doesn’t appear. But, yes, it does make you question his ability. Crouch and To are ahead.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

BOOM BABY BOOM! Let's go Vols, game week!!!!! GBO!

 

[NEVolFan]

I'm saying first page just because it annoys people! Thanks Fingers.

Dang that makes me hopping mad.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

Took Banks 5 seconds to pass JJ on the depth chart. Dude doesn't have it.

It does make you question whether JJ is going to be a player or not. However, highly rated players waiting their turn is not necessarily a bad thing. The teams that compete for championships have good players buried in the depth chart. Some transfer but most of them do not. Perfect example is Omar Gaither (signed with VOLS in 2002). He was highly recruited and did not see significant playing time until his junior year. He had to watch Kevin Burnett for a while. Once he saw the field in 2004, he made plays & was a beast. He eventually got drafted by the Eagles in 2006. Do not know if JJ will have the same path but you never know. If UT wants to get back to being elite, then UT coaches need to stockpile the roster with studs.

 

[beneVOLence]

Took Banks 5 seconds to pass JJ on the depth chart. Dude doesn't have it.

Discouraging to say the least. Maybe the light will come on and he will be an excellent player for us in the future. Some players just get it faster than others and I’m not giving up on him, but man it’s hard not wonder what the issue is.

 

[Dudleys87]

Discouraging to say the least. Maybe the light will come on and he will be an excellent player for us in the future. Some players just get it faster than others and I’m not giving up on him, but man it’s hard not wonder what the issue is.

It might be past his ability to perform at this level. Hopefully he turns a corner and he can steal some minutes this season

 

[05_never_again]

It does make you question whether JJ is going to be a player or not. However, highly rated players waiting their turn is not necessarily a bad thing. The teams that compete for championships have good players buried in the depth chart. Some transfer but most of them do not. Perfect example is Omar Gaither (signed with VOLS in 2002). He was highly recruited and did not see significant playing time until his junior year. He had to watch Kevin Burnett for a while. Once he saw the field in 2004, he made plays & was a beast. He eventually got drafted by the Eagles in 2006. Do not know if JJ will have the same path but you never know. If UT wants to get back to being elite, then UT coaches need to stockpile the roster with studs.

Don't know if Gaither ever had the level of smoke around him that Peterson has though. Peterson was supposedly strong to Georgia until a bunch of questions came up as to whether he'd be academically eligible, so we got him. Once we got him, there was some work that had to be done to get him eligible here (that part was publicly known and well-documented), and when he finally showed up on campus in the middle of the season last year he supposedly had put on weight and was really out of shape. He had a shoulder problem in spring ball this year, and here we are a year later and he's buried on the depth chart. In these practice reports that come out, Peterson either hasn't been there or is working out separately, away from the other LBs in a bunch of them. Every bit of news that comes out about him, either rumor/speculation or confirmed, isn't encouraging.

I know he's still just a redshirt freshman, but I'd be really surprised if he ever ends up being a productive player for us.