Tennessee hit the practice field Monday afternoon as it continues to prepare for the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl against Indiana. Jeremy Pruitt stated on Friday afternoon that the Vols wouldn’t start preparing for the Hoosiers until practice No. 6, instead focusing on bettering themselves for the first week or so. So, Monday’s practice centered around fundamentals.
Brandon Kennedy was absent from practice, and as a result, Kingston Harris found himself working as the second team left guard behind Trey Smith. Harris was signed as a defensive lineman and had been working as a scout team D-lineman most of the season.
The starting offensive line through drills consisted of Wanya Morris at left tackle, Smith at left guard, Jerome Carvin at center, K’Rojhn Calbert at right guard, and Darnell Wright at right tackle.
As for the second team O-line, Jahmir Johnson worked at left tackle, Harris was at left guard, Jackson Lampley worked at center, Chris Akporoghene worked at right guard, and Ollie Lane was at right tackle.
Defensively, it was much of the same for Pruitt’s unit. Both the defensive line and outside linebackers worked on their pass-rush, while the secondary focused on high-pointing the football, and the inside linebackers worked on tackling. The D-line also worked on their get-off, focusing on explosion and pad level.
While freshman outside linebacker Quavaris Crouch took his normal reps with Chris Rumph and the outside linebackers, it wasn’t until after he received teaching points from Jim Chaney, who was working with the quarterbacks and running backs at the beginning of practice. Crouch worked with the running backs during the first period of the open portion.
After being absent for Friday’s practice because of graduation, Jauan Jennings and Marquez Callaway returned to practice. Jennings had a great catch.
Jarrett Guarantano took the first reps at quarterback as expected. Brian Maurer went second, and JT Shrout went third. All three quarterbacks looked fine throwing the football, but Guarantano was the most consistent.
Pruitt won’t speak with the media again until Wednesday after — the first day of the early signing period. Players will speak following today’s practice.
