Tennessee hit the indoor practice field on Tuesday morning in Knoxville for their second workout of the spring camp slate. The Vols began spring camp on Monday and will go through the 2024 Orange & White game on April 13 in Neyland Stadium.
Tennessee’s spring camp provides a look at the newcomers on the Vols’ roster with intriguing turnover at some positions. Tennessee has 14 players from the 2024 recruiting class on the field for spring camp as well as eight players from the transfer portal.
One of the most interesting roster aspects this offseason will be in Tennessee’s secondary. The Vols lost seven defensive backs to the transfer portal with one to the NFL Draft, creating plenty of opportunity for Tennessee’s younger players. Four of Tennessee’s 14 spring enrollees are defensive backs: safety Boo Carter, cornerback Kaleb Beasley, DB Marcus Goree Jr., and safety Edrees Farooq.
Carter, the highest-rated safety in Tennessee’s class, was a big in-state win for Tennessee on the recruiting trail. The Tennessee native dominated the high school scene on both sides of the ball but is slotted into a position with the secondary and special teams to start his career in Knoxville. Carter was the third highest-rated prospect from the state of Tennessee in 2024.
Beasley, meanwhile, is a fascinating story of how he arrived on Rocky Top in time for spring camp. Beasley and fellow Lipscomb Academy teammate Edwin Spillman enrolled at Tennessee on Monday, in the middle of the spring semester, so that they could participate in spring workouts with their teammates. Beasley is a highly-touted four-star prospect from the 2024 recruiting class.
Carter, Beasley, Farooq, and Spillman all met with the media on Tuesday after their second career spring camp workout. The four freshmen spoke about the acclimation process onto the team, some initial takeaways from the first two days of camp, and much more.
More from RTI: Tennessee DC Tim Banks Talks Vols’ Spring Camp, Newcomers and Returners
Check out all four interviews below:
Tennessee S Boo Carter
On his adjustment from bowl practices to spring practice…
“It’s been pretty good. I came in in December, but it was like a head start for me and the other guys. It was a great start for me.”
Tennessee CB Kaleb Beasley
On what the cornerback position has been like with the mix of newer players and players from last year…
“I am just playing my role and trying to get everything down. Rickey Gibson III has been helping me out. I haven’t really been worried about trying to get a starting spot or anything like that. I am just trying to get everything down and get into the rhythm of it. Then when my time comes it will come.”
Tennessee LB Edwin Spillman
On being an early enrollee and spring practice…
“It’s been awesome just getting to learn how college works. From the football aspect of it and also in the classroom. It’s definitely been a learning process, but it’s something I can always get better on and improve on. But it’s been good so far.”
Tennessee DB Edrees Farooq
On his first impressions of the defensive coaches…
“Coach Banks is one of the best coaches I’ve been coached by. Everybody else – they show me steps on how to get better. All around, all of the coaches help me improve my game.”
