As Tennessee continues to recover from an injury-plagued 2016 season, at least eight players will miss all of spring practice due to various injuries.
Butch Jones announced that wide receiver Brandon Johnson, offensive lineman Brett Kendrick, defensive back Rashaan Gaulden, defensive end Kyle Phillips, receiver Josh Smith, defensive tackle Shy Tuttle, defensive tackle Kendal Vickers and safety Micah Abernathy will all be out this spring.
“We’ll have an intense recovery and rehab program,” Jones said on Monday afternoon. “But also from a mental standpoint – and the mental reps will be paramount for them going forward. We have them on their own development schedule and we start tomorrow.”
Others, such as offensive tackle Chance Hall, will be limited or less than 100 percent. Defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie and defensive back/return specialist Evan Berry are among the other players who are coming off of major injuries and will likely be at least somewhat limited this spring.
Tennessee, which opted to begin practice after UT’s spring break in order to give the team more time in the weight room and to get players back from injury, opens spring practice on Tuesday afternoon.
