Practice Notes: Vols’ Fall Camp Day 10

The Vols were back on the practice field on Wednesday afternoon, but they weren’t in full pads for this session. Tennessee’s players were back in shells for Wednesday’s practice, but that didn’t lower the intensity or physicality one bit. Practice was only open to the media for one period, but there was still plenty to see during that one period.

Here are our observations from the Vols’ 10th open day of fall camp this year:

The Vols have a couple players moving up the depth chart in the secondary, and there are a few clear cut leaders at linebacker. Read that and more in our Premium Practice Report from today’s practice!

• Jahmir Johnson is starting to come along on the offensive line. He’s a guy I circled as soon as the Vols landed him in the 2018 signing class, and I said all along that all he needed to do was work on his strength and consistency and he should be able to contribute in his first season after transferring from junior college. He has great mobility and quickness as a tackle and should at least be on the two-deep at the start of the season.
• Tennessee’s coaching staff is still working in Chance Hall to the offensive line rotation, and I would expect him to scrimmage when the Vols go out for their second scrimmage of the fall this weekend. It will be interesting to see just how game ready he is for Week 1. If he’s not still 100 percent by then, they may continue to rest him and only play him sparingly until the Vols play Florida.
• Riley Locklear is going to be interesting to keep an eye on for the offensive line. He and Ryan Johnson are likely vying for a starting guard spot alongside either Trey Smith or Drew Richmond, whoever UT’s coaches decide will be the better play there. Right now, it’s looking like Smith will be the guy they place at one guard spot, and I think Locklear and Johnson are fighting for the other one right now.
• Shawn Shamburger continues to work with the safeties, and I think he may have found a home there. He has excellent length and speed and could develop into a starter at that position next year assuming Nigel Warrior does go pro after this season. He’ll have some solid competition at that spot, but I really like what I saw from him today from an athleticism and physicality standpoint.
• Kenneth George Jr. is an intriguing wildcard playing for the Vols at cornerback. I think he’s moved his way up in the rotation and could crack the two-deep at the beginning of the season. We’ll have to see how the rest of fall camp goes, but he’s looked fairly consistent thus far.
• Both Theo Jackson and Trevon Flowers continue to impress me at safety. I think the Vols’ safety position is easily their most skilled unit this year, and it goes beyond just the trio of Micah Abernathy, Warrior, and Todd Kelly Jr. at that unit. The depth there is young, but there’s plenty of budding talent there.