Tennessee starts spring practices on Thursday afternoon, and the Vols welcome in 10 early enrollees and two transfers to the roster this spring. UT updated their football roster on Thursday, and the 12 newest Vols all have their new numbers assigned to them.
The Vols have 10 true freshmen and two transfers from other Power Five programs on their roster at the start of spring camp. Defensive lineman Aubrey Solomon transferred from Michigan to Tennessee, and Deangelo Gibbs transferred from Georgia to the Vols. Gibbs played defensive back for the Bulldogs but will play wide receiver for UT. The other 10 newcomers are all part of Tennessee’s 2019 signing class.
Here’s a look at all the new jersey numbers for Tennessee’s newcomers:
- Eric Gray, RB – No. 3
- Warren Burrell, DB – No. 14
- Tyus Fields, DB – No. 17
- Brian Maurer, QB – No. 18
- Jaylen McCollough, DB – No. 22
- Quavaris Crouch, LB – No. 27
- Wanya Morris, OL – No. 64
- Chris Akporghene, OL – No. 77
- Ramel Keyton, WR – No. 80
- Jackson Lowe, TE – No. 82
- Deangelo Gibbs, WR – No. 6
- Aubrey Solomon, DL – No. 98
It’s worth noting that Quavaris Crouch is wearing the No. 27, the same number Al Wilson wore while at Tennessee. Wilson was a team captain on Tennessee’s undefeated 1998 National Championship team and played several years in the NFL.
Warren Burrell will be wearing the No. 14, which is synonymous with Vol legend Eric Berry. Burrell will be a defensive back like Berry, though it’s believed Burrell will play cornerback instead of safety like Berry did.
Though he wore the No. 16 at Tennessee, Peyton Manning is known for his No. 18 jersey in the NFL. New UT quarterback Brian Maurer will wear No. 18 in his first year with the Vols.
Eric Gray will take Ty Chandler’s old number. Chandler wore No. 8 last season, but prior to that he wore the No. 3 on offense as a freshman running back himself.
Also of note is that redshirt freshman linebacker J.J. Peterson will be wearing the No. 6 this season. Alonte Taylor wore the No. 6 last season, but he’ll be wearing No. 2 in his second season with the Vols.
