Tennessee hit the practice field for the second time on Tuesday afternoon in preparation of their game against BYU (0-1) on Saturday. The Vols practiced on Monday following their embarrassing loss to Georgia State, but it was closed to the media.
In full pads, with a scout from the Baltimore Ravens in attendance, the biggest observation was that senior inside linebacker Daniel Bituli was back out on the practice field during the open portion. Bituli didn’t go through drills, but the veteran was off to the side barking out instructions.
Bituli particularly wasn’t pleased with how Jeremy Banks was going through drills after the sophomore went a little too far during thud. Bituli emphasized with Banks that “we don’t do that.”
With Bituli out, it was the same linebacker rotation we saw in fall camp. Henry To’oto’o and Will Ignont were first through drills, while Shannon Reid and Jeremy Banks were second. Aaron Beasley and J.J. Peterson were third.
The secondary, under the watchful eye of Jeremy Pruitt, worked on working back to the football and catching the ball. There were quite a few footballs that hit the ground. Derrick Ansley was emphatic about the defensive backs dropping “money.”
Along the defensive line, Aubrey Solomon, Greg Emerson, and Savion Williams were first through drills. Williams was very vocal. Tracy Rocker worked the defensive line through drills on the sleds as well as stunts. Elijah Simmons was working on the scout team.
The outside linebackers worked on pass-rush drills with Chris Rumph. Defensive linemen Darel Middleton, Latrell Bumphus, and John Mincey were once again working with the group.
On the offensive side of the ball, the usual offensive line combinations were intact. The guards and centers worked together while the offensive tackles worked with the tight ends.
Among the tackles and tight ends, Wanya Morris worked with Austin Pope, Marcus Tatum worked with Dominick Wood-Anderson, Jahmir Johnson worked with Andrew Craig, and Darnell Wright worked with Jacob Warren. Brian Niedermeyer was extremely vocal throughout the drill.
As far as the guards and centers, Ryan Johnson, Brandon Kennedy, and Riley Locklear were the first trio from left to right. Trey Smith, Jerome Carvin, and K’Rojhn Calbert were second through the drill. Ollie Lane rotated with Locklear and Calbert.
The quarterbacks looked fairly good when throwing the football. Maryland transfer Kasim Hill was playing the role of BYU quarterback Zach Wilson on the scout team.
Jordan Murphy was wearing a No. 14 jersey instead of his usual No. 11.
