Vols Spring Practice #6

[Fingers]

David Cutcliffe was at practice this morning, making his spring SEC rounds. Former Tennessee offensive lineman and captain Spencer Riley was watching as well, as was former Tennessee Titans General Manager Jon Robinson. Former head coach and AD Phillip Fulmer was at practice for the second time this week.

Jermod McCoy, Jaydin Loftin and Jourdan Thomas were off to the side riding a stationary bike. Freshman Christian Gass, Jeremias Heard, Jamal Wallace, Arion Carter, Emmanuel Okoye, Daevin Hobbs, Mariyon Dye, and Christian Charles were in a group that was doing some light stretching while the team was in individual work. Freshman linebackers Jaedon Harmon and Jadon Perlotte were not full-speed. Caleb Herring was not in pads this morning. Nathan Robinson is also still sidelined. Freshman Isaiah Campbell was not in pads today. Miles Kitselman was not with the tight ends this morning while the media was present.

Wide receiver Amari Jefferson and tight end Cole Harrison were in yellow jerseys this morning.

Each of the three scholarship quarterbacks were taking turns rolling out and throwing to a stationary target while special teams drills were going on. Joey Halzle was praising freshman George MacIntyre during the drill.

Sprint-outs and bootlegs were repped and that’s a strength for Nico Iamaleava, in my opinion. He looks natural throwing on the run and did so this morning. Tennessee did that occasionally in last fall but needed to do it even more.

We thought G-Mac had a better day today. He still needs some more velocity on his throws and certainly has a ways to make up in terms of the mental side of the position – as do all young players – but he was much better today than he was on Tuesday. Jake Merklinger also had a bomb down the field on a rollout that was on target.

DeSean Bishop looks comfortable (as always). Peyton Lewis still needs some work on his route running, specifically ‘sticking and getting up-field’ as coach Da’Rail Sims was shouting. Star Thomas looked like he had done this plenty before. Justin Baker also had a nice catch on the sideline.

Chriz Brazzell had a nice catch in the back of the endzone. Braylon Staley did a great job of getting his feet in bounds in the back corner of the endzone on a fade. Mike Mathews climbed the ladder to haul in a throw in the endzone as well.

Bennett Warren was repping behind Lance Heard at left tackle while David Sanders and Larry Johnson were working the right side.

e.cain

Two absences of note from Thursday morning: Tight end Miles Kitselman and freshman defensive lineman Isaiah Campbell.

Campbell was riding the stationary bike with about four or five other players. We didn’t see Kitselman at all. Based on the early indications, it sounds unlikely we’ll see him the rest of spring, which means opportunity is now here for the other tight ends (Ethan Davis, Cole Harrison, Jack Van Dorselaer and DaSaahn Brame).

Nico Iamaleava was really sharp in the first period of work with his accuracy and ball placement standing out. His top three receivers, Mike Matthews, Braylon Staley and Chris Brazzell II, all comfortably caught the football and showed the awareness to get their feet inbounds on those catches. Freshmen Travis Smith Jr. and Radarious Jackson pass the eye test as tall, long pass-catchers, and Smith is a more fluid mover whose athleticism is of a smaller receiver.

Davis also looks like a million bucks physically and while the Vols need him to continue developing into a dependable blocker, they also need to throw him the football this season.

Sims gave DeSean Bishop quite a bit of coaching after his first rep, but was pleased with the second one. The coach also provided guidance for Justin Baker on both of the freshman’s opportunities. Sims seemed to be pleased with both reps by Peyton Lewis, who appears to have slimmed down or leaned up this offseason and is moving with better fluidity.

The standouts were Duke transfer Star Thomas and freshman Daune Morris. Thomas caught 54 passes in his three seasons with the Blue Devils and at New Mexico State, and his experience shows up as there is little wasted movement in his route-running and he naturally catches the football. Morris just glides on the move and gets in and out of his breaks and changes directions quickly.

Jeremiah Telander was loudly firing up the defense as they ran over from their field to the offense’s field ahead of some down-and-distance work as we were walking off the practice field.

p.brown

 

[Go Fight Win]

Kitselman out for the spring? damn

 

[T2P_Priceless]

Our entire team is injured

 

[WillisWG]

Thanks

 

[VOLfrombama]

Kitselman out for the spring? damn

Nothing on VQ atm. I will keep looking

 

[DeepPurpleFloyd]

e.cain









p.brown

Is opportunity now here or is opportunity nowhere? That is the question.

 

[RAVOL]

The exciting news is WR Travis Smith who is looking more athletic and ability to move like a smaller WR. We all knew he good get downfield and Boss someone as he plays a Physical game. There were some during his recruitment that said he had 5 star ability and sounds true to those statement. In CHRIST Alone

 

[orangebloodgmc]

Kitselman out for the spring? damn

Also would like more info on Hobbs status.

 

[Godfatha]

Is opportunity now here or is opportunity nowhere? That is the question.

Ahhh, memories....

 

[Batman1948]

Is opportunity now here or is opportunity nowhere? That is the question.

I knew this was coming when I read the sentence. Some of you guys never disappoint

 

[UTblood4life]

Ty fingas

 

[DrTNT]

Is opportunity now here or is opportunity nowhere? That is the question.

When I read that I wondered if Dooley was doing the editing on it…

 

[VolinMichigan]

Kitselman out for the spring? damn

He knows the offense. He’s a good blocker. He’ll be healthy by fall. The younger guys need the reps anyway.

 

[VOLfrombama]

 

[LittleVol]

Is opportunity now here or is opportunity nowhere? That is the question.

Just gotta open that door first

 

[VOLfrombama]

Kitselman had pectoral tear repair surgery today. Probably going to be out until September at the earliest.

Miles Kitselman to be sidelined with pectoral injury

Tennessee tight end Miles Kitselman will miss extended time after suffering a pectoral injury this spring. Additionally, sources tell Volquest that Kitselman has undergone surgery to repair the injury and will begin his rehabilitation immediately once he is cleared to do so. Kitselman is...

www.on3.com

 

[orangebloodgmc]

Kitselman had pectoral tear repair surgery today. Probably going to be out until September at the earliest.

Miles Kitselman to be sidelined with pectoral injury

Tennessee tight end Miles Kitselman will miss extended time after suffering a pectoral injury this spring. Additionally, sources tell Volquest that Kitselman has undergone surgery to repair the injury and will begin his rehabilitation immediately once he is cleared to do so. Kitselman is...

www.on3.com

Well, dang.

Those younger TEs better come on with it.

 

[joevol33]

Thanks Fingers

 

[Volunteer Boy]

Nothing on VQ atm. I will keep looking

Kitselman.
Out for the spring. Upper body pectoral injury that required surgery. Should be back this fall.

 

[Jackcrevol]

e.cain









p.brown

Excited about seeing Bonamego ST.

When CMU was winning Michigan Trophies, their ST were really solid. His NFL pedigree shouldnt be discounted. Cant help but think we upgraded coaching.

Did y'all see passes to HB?

 

[Brave Volunteer]

Here, let me summarize spring practice for you so you don't have to read all these threads...

blah blah blah - we look great - blah blah blah - player x is bigger now - blah blah blah - we look faster and stronger - blah blah blah - player y has really emerged as a leader - blah blah blah - freshman A looks like he's ready to play right now - blah blah blah - coach B aint playing around - blah blah blah - our team looks really focused - blah blah blah - we look bigger and more "SEC" like as a team - blah blah blah."

 

[norrislakevol]

Here, let me summarize spring practice for you so you don't have to read all these threads...

blah blah blah - we look great - blah blah blah - player x is bigger now - blah blah blah - we look faster and stronger - blah blah blah - player y has really emerged as a leader - blah blah blah - freshman A looks like he's ready to play right now - blah blah blah - coach B aint playing around - blah blah blah - our team looks really focused - blah blah blah - we look bigger and more "SEC" like as a team - blah blah blah."

That pretty much summarizes every spring practice that I can remember.

 

[InspectorVol]

Just gotta open that door first

Rommel is hiding behind that door.

 

[WillisWG]

Kitselman had pectoral tear repair surgery today. Probably going to be out until September at the earliest.

Miles Kitselman to be sidelined with pectoral injury

Tennessee tight end Miles Kitselman will miss extended time after suffering a pectoral injury this spring. Additionally, sources tell Volquest that Kitselman has undergone surgery to repair the injury and will begin his rehabilitation immediately once he is cleared to do so. Kitselman is...

www.on3.com

Brother-in-law had type 1 repair took just over 6 months but he didn't have level therapeutic support that Kitselman will have

 

[VOLfrombama]

Brother-in-law had type 1 repair took just over 6 months but he didn't have level therapeutic support that Kitselman will have

There’s definitely some debate over how bad it was vs rehab time. I guess we wont know much until fall camp as far as a timeline.