Tennessee hit the practice field on Tuesday afternoon following a couple days off on Sunday and Monday.
The Vols held scrimmage No. 2 of fall camp on Saturday afternoon. Following a scheduled day off on Sunday, Jeremy Pruitt rewarded the team with a second consecutive off day on Monday and treated them with a trip to the movies.
With a scout from the New England Patriots in attendance, here’s what I observed during the two open periods of Tuesday’s practice.
Freshman Aaron Beasley had been working with the safeties through 15 practices, but the Georgia native was working with the inside linebackers during the open portion of practice today. The word on Beasley when he signed with the Vols was that he was capable of playing safety, linebacker, or running back. It appears that Tennessee is putting that to the test in an effort to find the best spot for him.
Daniel Bituli looked on while Henry To’oto’o and Will Ignont were the first duo of inside linebackers through drills. This is likely an effort to increase To’oto’o’s reps leading up to the season opener. Bituli has been slowed by injury of late, however. He was the first individual through drills in which the backers were working back to the football.
Along the defensive line, the linemen worked with Tracy Rocker on stunts under the chute. Elijah Simmons and Aubrey Solomon were first through the drill, while Matthew Butler received praise from Rocker during his run through.
The biggest observation with the defensive line was that Kurott Garland was back at practice. Garland had entered the transfer portal shortly before fall camp began, and Tuesday marked the first time he had been on the practice field this fall.
In addition to Beasley working at a new position, John Mincey, Darrel Middleton, and LaTrell Bumphus worked at outside linebacker.
Offensively, the media didn’t see much routes-versus-air during the open portion, but of what we did see, it was a fairly clean throwing session. Jacquez Jones continues to work ahead of Jordan Murphy in the slot.
One interesting note from the throwing session, however, is that Dominick Wood-Anderson was called over from the tight ends to run some routes. He was split out wide and looked good. It’s the first time this fall camp we’ve seen a tight end catch a pass during the open portion of practice.
As for the rest of the tight ends, the group continued to go through blocking drills with Brian Niedermeyer.
At running back, the group worked on handoffs and catching passes out of the backfield with the quarterbacks. Ty Chandler continues to be the first running back, with Tim Jordan, Eric Gray, and Jeremy Banks following his lead. Carlin Fils-aime was not in attendance once again.
As has been the case for most of fall camp, Jim Chaney worked with the offensive tackles while Will Friend worked with the offensive guards. Darnell Wright received reps at right guard.
From a distance, Chaney and Friend didn’t seem pleased with Wanya Morris or Jahmir Johnson.
Nigel Warrior was very vocal with the secondary, screaming, “It’s money time.”
Tennessee will take the practice field again on Wednesday afternoon, and the team will turn their attention away from fall camp and to the first week of the season later this week.
