Vols Spring Football Practice #1

[VolRage]

GMac definitely looks like he’s refined his fundamentals. Gotta master the details. Faizon you can tell is Uber talented, he just has to hone in on the finer things. It’s GMac’s job to lose. I think our offensive line will be better which will help whoever’s playing QB

Watching QB footwork and ball placement, GMac is further along and like you said, it’s his job to lose. I’m liking what I see from GMac more than Nico at the same point in his Vol career. GMac looks more refined.

 

[IndianaVol]

THANKS FINGERS !!!
Crazy excited practice is finally here !!!

My thoughts of the day:
- Did not realize G Mac was an absolute TREE...or is the new guy, Straub that short?
- Like that you can see G Mac has added to his frame - it's only a few pounds, but pounds in the right place
- Practice seemed fast...like faster than I recall in years past in the early practices
- Safety should be light years ahead of last year
- Faizon is doing the right things early...watching the older guys, listening to the coaches, getting the most out of everything

 

[Iravolfan]

G-Mac is one white, white boy. I can't accuse the young man of spending his winter on the beach.

He looks Thin !!!

 

[#1HomeGrownUTVOL]

If I'm not mistaken, Osenda will be the first 600 pounder to play for the Vols.

600+! I think he’s listed at 630

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

He looks Thin !!!

Indeed. And pale. We can rule out both the beach and the weight room for his off season activities.

I notice Staub has some actual quads and a little leg definition. My first time seeing anything other than his name.

 

[adam.vol]

Loaded? With what? I can't recollect a safety making a play all of last year.

Loaded with whiskey and high hopes.

 

[MOOOOONEY]

Lot of bodies at safety. Hopefully that equals vastly improved play.

Will be interesting to see who emerges opposite of Ty at corner.

LB could be the strength of the defense this season.

RT should be a good battle.

QB will be the position of concern. Maybe the run game and defense will be good enough to mask a young QB like 2024.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

One thing I noticed In the films is there appears that the Olinemen and D linemen are not carrying around a big roll of body fat like they have been the last couple of years. This leads me to think that the mot important new coach is the S&C coach. Our guys looked thick, but not fat. Number 74 looked like a mountain out there.

 

[barrylee]

We’re back!!!! Excited for this year!

 

[SubVet676]

Appreciate the updates. Interested to see how fast FB grasps the offense. He's a very talented athlete, and has the potential to have a street near the stadium named after him one day.

Defense, same thing. How fast, and how far, can Knowles...his staff...the returning players...and the transfers, come up to speed. IMO, the '26 defense will have more of a say in the season results than the offense will. Defense Wins Championships. I don't expect the Vols to challenge for the FBS title in '26, but it would be nice to see them ruin someone else's chance.

And as we have learned over the years, don't read anything into spring ball, the O&W game, or even fall practice. While that is where the steel is folded and shaped, April and August are not where we see what the Vols can do. It will be in October when they are facing a tough opponent when we really see what the Vols are made of. Too many times last season, UT was weighed, measured, and found wanting. So I'll believe it when I see it. Not in April, or August, but in October. That's when it counts.

That being said, the game has changed. It's no longer the college football game most of us grew up loving. It's "NFL Lite". Rosters, results, and the pecking order now change on a year-to-year basis. Exhibit A: Indiana Football. It is what it is.

Coach Heupel is charged with navigating this new landscape. If he's up to the challenge, UT will compete for a Natty at least once every 4 years. To do that, he has to make the CFP 3 out of 4. New World Order, CFP style. It's Year 6 for Coach Heupel, but it's Year 0 for the new way in the FBS. Until the Portal and NIL are reigned in, every year moving forward will be Year 0. Unless you're Clemson.

So...enjoy the updates. Now and in July/August. But understand that they mean nothing when September comes. Hitting routes on air is a completely different thing than hitting a 4th and 6 against Bama when you're down by 4 with 1:15 left in the game.

Keep it real.

Go Vols.

 

[BatteredVolFan]

Lot of bodies at safety. Hopefully that equals vastly improved play.

Will be interesting to see who emerges opposite of Ty at corner.

LB could be the strength of the defense this season.

RT should be a good battle.

QB will be the position of concern. Maybe the run game and defense will be good enough to mask a young QB like 2024.

Our other CB will almost certainly be Lee from Auburn. He will be good. I’m more worried about the depth there. Hopefully a young guy steps up like Ty did last year

 

[Franklin_Vol09]

I’m worried about our RB position

 

[WaywardVol]

a.sparks







e.cain








p.brown







r.sylvia

Justin Baker is ripped. Holy cow.

 

[orangebloodgmc]

Loaded? With what? I can't recollect a safety making a play all of last year.

Very few of our last year safeties are out there now, and I see about 10 names there who were NOT here then, not to mention change of DC and position coach. So, yeah, it was recognized we needed more and different at that position, and some action has been taken. We all want to see improvement on the field.

 

[IndianaVol]

I posted earlier on players, but wanted to wait until I could go back and watch again about Coach's presser.

It seems like CJH is just more relaxed and at ease this year than this time last year. No QB drama, coaching staff upgrades all around, and some good roster upgrades as well.

Great, class move too acknowledging the absence of Wes Rucker.

For reference, here's last year's first day press conference.

 

[Buzzbait]

Faison will push GMac. They talk about the size of Joel Wyatt then don't include a pic...

Patience, Grasshopper

 

[VOL-TIL-I-DIE]

Now this is the type of post you look forward to seeing after logging off of work for the day.

 

[zeppelin128]

a.sparks







e.cain








p.brown







r.sylvia

 

[zeppelin128]

I’m worried about our RB position

RB is the one position with Heupel that I never worry about, we'll be fine there.

 

[Ace]

Don't sleep on Staub. Great depth and you never know when you'll need him. Especially if these guys need to eat lol.

If he is playing, we are in trouble

 

[zeppelin128]

I posted earlier on players, but wanted to wait until I could go back and watch again about Coach's presser.

It seems like CJH is just more relaxed and at ease this year than this time last year. No QB drama, coaching staff upgrades all around, and some good roster upgrades as well.

Great, class move too acknowledging the absence of Wes Rucker.

For reference, here's last year's first day press conference.

I noticed the same; much more relaxed, less stressed, less worried it seemed. I have a feeling last year our defense kept him up at night, I know it gave me nightmares.

 

[utvolpj]

I posted earlier on players, but wanted to wait until I could go back and watch again about Coach's presser.

It seems like CJH is just more relaxed and at ease this year than this time last year. No QB drama, coaching staff upgrades all around, and some good roster upgrades as well.

Great, class move too acknowledging the absence of Wes Rucker.

For reference, here's last year's first day press conference.

Good luck coach Harper?

 

[Volle]

Faizon looks like he will play this year-- quick twitch, snappy throwing motion, surprised it is that good at this point.

GMAC looks like he is throwing downhill-- high release point + 6'6" tall, should mean few tipped balls.

The kid from Colorado is a gamer, wouldn't count him out either.

Overall we have something to work with here.

 

[particlesmatter]

Yes!!! Let’s go!!!!

 

[Skooter]

I’m worried about our RB position

I expect Morris to surprise people. He has good cutback ability, jump cuts, burst out of cuts and good hands. Also decent size. I’d like to see him get 3-4 targets/game in space as he has ability to make the first guy miss.