With Marlin Lane in and out of practice because of an ankle injury and Jalen Hurd suffering from a banged-up shoulder, Tennessee decided to try something new during Tuesday’s practice.
When the running back group came together during individual workouts, freshman defensive back Evan Berry was an active participant during running back coach Robert Gillespie’s drills.
“That was just experimentation,” second-year head coach Butch Jones said. “He had all the reps at defense, but every chance we had in individual periods and after practice (we were playing him at running back), trying to find a spot for him to utilize his speed.”
Berry – currently listed as the backup kick returner behind senior running back Devrin Young – has only seen the field this season in kick coverage, amassing two tackles in five games while also drawing praise from the coaches for being disruptive in that area.
“He’s an explosive player,” senior linebacker A.J. Johnson said. “Just seeing him out there on kick and punt returns, you can see he is an explosive player. And he’s real fast.”
The Fairburn, Georgia native, however, is far from the only running back looking to benefit from all the work left behind by Hurd and Lane.
Freshman running back Derrell Scott has been mentioned by Jones as player who could see offensive snaps in each of the Vols last two contests, and yet has not played a down.
But with two more weeks of recovery on a left ankle injury that rendered him unable to suit up for Tennessee in its first three games, it seems as though Scott is coming closer to seeing the field.
“I really like his approach to practice,” Jones said. “He adds another level of quickness and speed to our backfield. I like the progression that he is going through right now. He’s an individual who has missed some valuable reps throughout the course of the season, so to have him back healthy right now is a bonus.”
As for Lane, Jones stated the senior will practice on Wednesday and that he “fully anticipates” him being ready for Saturday’s contest against Chattanooga. Jones also mentioned that Hurd participated in a limited-contact practice as a precaution.
VFL returns: When Jones took over the Tennessee program back in December of 2012, he made a point to have an open door policy to any former Volunteer players who wanted to come back and be a member of his rebuilding process.
Since then, hundreds of former Vols have set foot onto Neyland Stadium, Haslam Field and the Anderson Training Center.
During Tuesday’s practice, Jones and the Vols welcomed back a current Atlanta Falcon offensive lineman, who started 40 games in the orange and white en route to becoming a sixth-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.
“It’s great to see Zach Fulton out here,” Jones said. “Last week, we had Ja’Wuan James and I think it speaks volumes for Knoxville, the University of Tennessee and our football program when these individuals in the National Football League have a bye week and they choose to come spend it with us.”
Smith sidelined: For the third consecutive contest, the Vols will be without sophomore wide receiver Josh Smith, who was ruled out for Saturday’s contest once again by Jones after Tuesday’s practice.
Smith has been missing in action because of a high ankle sprain he suffered against Oklahoma back on Sept. 13. There has been no timetable set for his return to the field.
