Notes: Vols’ 17th Fall Camp Practice

With a scout from the Buffalo Bills in attendance on Wednesday afternoon, Tennessee hit the practice field for practice No. 17 of fall camp. Here’s everything I saw on the practice field on Wednesday.

The media was able to see two periods of practice, and as soon we walked on to the practice field, Jeremy Pruitt pulled Elijah Simmons and Savion Williams out of the defensive line drills. Pruitt proceeded to take them over to the sleds where he worked on getting off the ball with Simmons and Williams. It didn’t appear this was a punishment of sorts, but rather Pruitt simply wanting to coach the newcomers up one-on-one.

Elsewhere along the defensive line, Kurott Garland was nowhere to be found a day after his first appearance in fall camp. Garland had entered the transfer portal days before camp began, but according to Pruitt on Tuesday following practice, the redshirt freshman decided to remain with the Vols rather than transfer.

As was the case on Tuesday, defensive linemen Darel Middleton, LaTrell Bumphus, and John Mincey continued to work through pass-rushing drills with the outside linebackers.

At inside linebacker, Daniel Bituli was not present. Pruitt stated on Tuesday during his press conference that the senior linebacker was battling a sore knee. As a result, freshman Aaron Beasley continued to work with the group.

During drills, Kevin Sherrer made the ground re-do an entire drill, but he was pleased with Will Ignont during one of his reps.

Will Friend worked with the offensive guards and centers on Tuesday while Jim Chaney worked with the tackles. On Wednesday, Friend and Chaney worked with both the tackles and guards separately. Friend started off with the guards and then switched mid-way through drills.

With Friend, the offensive linemen worked on coming off the football and engaging with a defensive linemen. With Chaney, the groups worked with the sleds. Friend and Chaney were fiery as usual.

The guard/center combinations consisted of Riley Locklear and Brandon Kennedy, Trey Smith and Ryan Johnson, Ollie Lane and K’Rojhn Calbert, and then Jackson Lampley and Parker Ball.

At one point, Jahmir Johnson and Marcus Tatum paired together. The freshmen duo of Wanya Morris and Darnell Wright followed them.

During routes-versus-air, Jarrett Guarantano continues to take the first rep before giving way to JT Shrout and Brian Maurer. The two younger quarterbacks threw at the same time and took the remaining reps. While the quarterbacks were going one at a time while working with the running backs, however, Maurer took the second-team reps.

At running back, Carlin Fils-aime was back at practice for the first time in quite some time. The senior went through drills in shells.