Tennessee football worked inside the Anderson Training Center on a foggy Knoxville Sunday morning while gospel music blared over the loud speakers.
The first three portions of practice were open to the media meaning we were able to watch only approximately 15 minutes of practices. We did get to see some competitive reps between the offensive line and defensive line as well as linebackers, tight ends and running backs. Still, with that limited of a practice viewing time, there are only so many takeaways that one can glean.
With that, it’s on to the notes and observations.
Offense
Let’s start with injury notes and there were a handful of new ones on the offensive side of the ball. Andrej Karic, John Campbell Jr.,Dont’e Thornton and Kaleb Webb were all fully dressed out but didn’t go through any action during the open portions of practice. Thornton and Webb did stretch but Karic and Campbell did not. Given they were dressed out, it’s possible that they could have joined practice later on but they did not while we were out there.
Running back Cameron Seldon remained in a red non contact jersey as did walk on receiver Tommy Winton III. Five-star freshman receiver Mike Matthews did not have a helmet on and did not do any team work which has been the case throughout camp to this point.
Let’s start with routes on air where Nico Iamaleava continues to be very crisp during the first week of practice. He was working with Bru McCoy, Squirrel White, Chris Brazzell and Ethan Davis during Sunday’s portion.
It was as a whole a much crisper routes on air portion than Tennessee had on Saturday. The only two passes I saw hit the ground with a scholarship pass catcher receiving were Squirrel White and Cole Harrison (freshman tight end) both dropping a pass.
Also for those keeping track at home, Davis has now been the first team tight end three time during routes on air while Notre Dame transfer Holden Staes has been the first team tight end once.
The running back/tight end versus linebacker drill included one or both offensive players running a route. Most reps one ran a route while the other stayed in to pass block and the corresponding linebacker blitzed the coach playing quarterback.
This drill was very much played in a box with the offensive players running only short routes. That knowledge gave the defense an advantage and the largely one the drill. Some good offensive reps included Cam Seldon beating Edwin Spillman on an out route and Holden Staes beating a walk on linebacker on an in route.
While doing fundamental work, offensive line coach Glen Elarbee was getting after his group pretty good for some sloppy work. The most notable rep during the offensive line versus defensive line one-on-ones was LSU offensive tackle transfer Zalance Heard locking down James Pearce Jr. on a rep. Heard continues to be a bit limited at practice but it was a positive that he was getting some legit one-on-one reps on Sunday.
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Defense
Starting with injuries and absences, the big one was Jourdan Thomas being off to the side on the scooter and the subsequent news that he is out for the season with a right knee injury. Other defensive injury notes remain the same as they’ve been in recent days. Temple transfer Jalen McMurray was not dressed out and working to the side, as was the case for freshman linebackers Jordan Burns and Grier Short (walk on).
Spent a good portion of the open practice periods watching Tennessee’s defensive line work after I didn’t catch any of their work on Saturday. In my eyes, that group is the most impressive one on Tennessee’s roster. It’s just so deep with the obvious star power than James Pearce Jr brings.
The two questions I have is whether someone else emerges as a star and what the strongside defensive end rotation looks like. Dominic Bailey is the proven veteran at that spot and junior Tyre West looks like the next man up but redshirt freshman Tyree Weathersby also looks great early this camp and I could see him pushing for playing time.
Of all the defensive line spots, strongside defensive end is the spot that I’m most uncertain about what the rotation will look like.
During offensive line versus defensive line one-on-ones, Pearce did have a dominant rep against Dayne Davis and Tennessee’s defensive line got the better of the offensive line for the most part.
A number of linebackers had really good reps in the previously mentioned drill against linebackers and running backs. Kalib Perry broke up a pass intended for Ethan Davis. Edwin Spillmaan had great coverage on Khalifa Keith and walk on Ben Bolton had strong reps both rushing the passer and in pass coverage.
With Thomas now out for the season, all eyes are on Boo Carter and Christian Charles at STAR. It was largely zone concept and technique work for the defensive backs during the open portion of practice. Both of those things are particularly important for the true freshman Carter.
