Friday, Aug. 1: Day one of practice went well for Tennessee, and like Butch Jones forewarned, the players were the ones coaching their peers.
Senior running back Marlin Lane was very vocal and supportive with the younger men on the roster.
Running backs coach Mike Gillespie will have a lot of talent to work with in the backfield, as the team can work well with their three freshman backs in Jalen Hurd, Derell Scott and Treyvon Paulk. To see Lane come out and be vocal and tell them what they were doing right and wrong was an early positive sign.
The quarterbacks had a rough first day with 62 incompletions throughout practice, and Butch Jones said a great practice for the signal callers consists of 18-20 incompletions.
Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Jordan Williams and Dontavius Blair are three players that coaches challenged to improve their strength and weight this summer and they all completed the task.
Freshman kicker Aaron Medley was quickly thrown in the fire, but executed a game winning field goal challenge to end the first day of practice.
Saturday, Aug. 2: Freshman Josh Malone was taking first team reps at wide receiver with highly touted JUCO transfer Von Pearson and third team All-SEC receiver Marquez North.
Josh Smith and Vic Wharton have received praise from wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni in camp.
Hurd drew great praise from his head coach and acknowledged that he realizes how many freshman running backs have run for 1,000 yards the last few season, but said he is focused on doing whatever he can to help his team win.
Sunday, Aug. 3: After occasionally getting on to his team in the first two days of practice, the Vols second-year head coach was not having any laziness on the field on day three.
The players were in pads for the first time in camp, but they lacked a mental focus and leadership was non-existent to begin practice. Strength coach Dave Lawson took a group of 14 leaders down to the “timeout pit” or “trouble zone,” where they did sit ups for not leading the right way.
Quarterback coach and offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian made it known his quarterbacks are not anywhere close to where he wants them to be, and that they must play with a greater sense of urgency.
The quarterbacks had many overthrows and passes hit come short of their receivers in practice. They just need to play “pitch and catch.”
Monday, Aug. 4: Nine players were scheduled to talk to the media after practice, but after a rough day on the field, only Jones spoke. Jones said before camp started that their patience would be tested and the first signs appeared on Monday.
Malone is one freshman in particular that the coaches have been calling on to break bad habits, such as jogging in practice and not keeping a steady focus on the field.
Through the first four practices not a single position group has shown solid consistency.
Tuesday, Aug. 5: Championship practices. That’s what the team is looking for.
Jones was much happier with this practice than the past two days, as the team came out ready and excited to play football.
Brian Randolph intercepted a pass in a goal line situation at the beginning of practice and broke up several other throws.
Justin Worley has been taking reps as the first team quarterback.
Vic Wharton, Josh Malone, Von Pearson, Jacob Carter, Cameron Sutton and Alton “Pig” Howard are in the mix for returning kicks.
