HOOVER, Ala. – Tennessee football head coach Butch Jones, offensive lineman Mack Crowder, defensive lineman Curt Maggitt and linebacker A.J. Johnson represented Tennessee at SEC Media Days on Tuesday.
An immediate theme that Jones mentioned was the team’s youth. Half of the Vols roster in 2014 is composed of 32 new faces. To deal with the team’s youth, Jones has focused his players on the “Power of One.”
“You’ll hear me talk about the power of one,” Jones said. “The one is very powerful with this football team because being so young we have to focus on the moment. We have to win one moment at a time, one play at the same time, one practice at the same time, one day at the same time, have one unity of purpose, one common commitment and one mindset.”
Jones said that a normal college football team has to replace a third of their team every season either through graduation or players going professional.
“For us at Tennessee, we’re a little bit different,” Jones said. “We’re not at the norm in terms of having to replace a third of our football team. We’re having to replace almost half of our football team. That has brought a lot of positive energy, excitement and momentum that has surrounded Tennessee football.”
Jones also aimed to temper expectations.
“We are still going through the realities of building a college football program,” Jones said.
“We’re the only school in the country that has to replace both starting interior lines, both offensively and defensively.”
Quarterback battle
For the second season in a row the Vols will not have a frontrunner for the starting quarterback role going into their first practice of the season.
Senior Justin Worley, redshirt sophomore Nathan Peterman and sophomore Joshua Dobbs will compete with each other for the starting position.
“I’ve been excited about all three individuals,” Jones said. “I think they have had a tremendous offseason. They had a great spring ball season.”
With the talent around them at wide receiver with Marquez North, Joshua Malone, Von Pearson and others, the signal callers are expected to be able to put up even better numbers.
“They continue to get better,” he said. “All three individuals gained probably the greatest value you can gain in terms of they all have live game repetitions. You can’t put a price tag on that. I am as encouraged and optimistic at that position as anyone.”
There will be no timetable for a starting quarterback.
“When one individual distances himself, that’s when we’ll make him the starting quarterback,” Jones said.
Pig Howard in good standing
There’s still no final word on whether Alton ‘Pig’ Howard will be able to start at the beginning of the season, but Jones is encouraged by the progress he has made.
In the offseason, Howard was dismissed from practices and didn’t play in the Orange and White game for disciplinary reasons. Last season he led the team with 44 catches along with 388 yards and three scores.
“Pig has done a great job,” Jones said. “He still has a couple weeks to go but he has done well academically. I am very, very proud of Pig Howard. That’s part of the leadership development of our football team.”
Jones said the time off has helped Howard physically.
“Pig has changed his body makeup; he’s in the best shape he’s ever been,” Jones said. “Our players have embraced him. They have held him accountable and Alton has done a great job as of late.”
Bowl game expectations
Youth is not an excuse for current players, and the team expects to make a bowl game.
“Having young guys is no excuse,” offensive lineman Mack Crowder said. “We all have a job to do and we’re going to go out and do it to the best of our ability.”
Senior linebacker A.J. Johnson has complete confidence in the new young players.
“I believe in them,” Johnson said. “I know they’re going to get the job done.”
Jones, however, has a more moderate outlook than the senior linebacker.
He added: “There’s a lot of unknowns right now and we’ll know more as training camp progresses so stay tuned.”
Wes Tripp can be followed on Twitter at @Wes_Tripp.
