Tennessee head coach Butch Jones’s emphatic microphone dialogue was one giveaway.
The debut of the blue scout-team jerseys, used to emulate an opponent, was another.
Either way, both signs conveyed the same message at Thursday’s practice. With the conclusion of fall training camp, attention has now firmly turned to the Volunteers’ Aug. 31 season opener with Utah State.
“It’s ten days away, and you’ve got the countdown clock in the meeting rooms everyday to get a reminder,” said defensive line coach Steve Stripling after UT’s first practice since Monday afternoon. “But I feel good that today we took a step forward.
“I think they’re all ready to play a game but as a coaching staff, we have ten days. And we’re going to utilize those ten days. And I think as players too, they know that now we’re starting to put the game plan in, focusing more on Utah State rather than just daily improvement.”
This time last season, a sense of uncertainty clouded the air as Jones and company prepared to embark on a treacherous inaugural season in Knoxville.
But now, with the first-year jitters a thing of the past and no coaching turnover to discuss, the added confidence is evident.
“Significantly better,” offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian said when asked how he feels going into this year’s opener as opposed to last. “Guys have developed quite a bit more. The guys that were here last year, those guys are a year into the program and much further along. And even the guys that joined us in January have a lot of reps and a lot of skills under their belt.”
Curt back in action: After missing the majority of recent football activities — most notably Saturday’s open practice — redshirt junior Curt Maggitt returned to Haslam Field and didn’t appear to have any legitimate problems with his sprained right ankle.
“He’s been staying in shape,” defensive coordinator John Jancek said. “He’s been in the water, on the treadmill, on the bike, on the elliptical — all those things. “So I think he’s done a good job maintaining his conditioning levels. It’s just going to be getting out there and actually playing to see what he can do. He hasn’t played in a game in a long time.”
In recent practices, defensive end/linebacker hybrid donned a hefty walking boot, but Maggitt’s right ankle only sported tape on Thursday afternoon.
Weatherd cracks discussion: While senior A.J. Johnson and sophomore Jalen Reeves-Maybin are likely to secure most of the first team linebacker reps early on, Jancek did suggest that junior college transfer Chris Weatherd could possibly see the field when the Vols implement their 4-3 defensive scheme.
“I think he’s got a (productive) trait in terms of pass rushing ability and change of direction,” Jancek said of Weatherd, who arrived from Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas. “He gives us another athlete on the field. He’s done some good thing in regards to that.”
The lone enigma of UT’s heralded 2014 recruiting class, Weatherd’s Knoxville tenure was nearly derailed as the Carrolton, Texas, native wasn’t academically cleared for enrollment until mid-July—more than five months after originally signing.
And while linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen did admit the 6-foot-4, 225-pound linebacker is ‘behind a lot’ in terms of grasping the necessary knowledge to compete in the SEC, Weatherd’s ‘natural ability as a pass rusher’ could potentially make up the deficit.
“We’ve got a plan to speed him up,” Thigpen said. “He comes in the morning, comes in the afternoon, and we’re trying to speed him up to the level of the guys that have been here in the summer time. The kid has a lot of pride, and he’s a smart kid.”
Notes: Noteworthy scout-team members included freshman running back Treyvon Paulk, redshirt senior wide receiver Jacob Carter, freshman safety Evan Berry and freshman defensive back Cortez McDowell.
As he went through early wide receiver drills, redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jason Croom sported a significant cast on his left wrist. Even so, the 6-foot-5, 243-pound pass catcher was a full participant during the practice portions available to the media.
