Tennessee football returned to the Haslam Practice Field Tuesday morning after having Monday off. It was the Vols’ fifth fall practice and their final one before putting on full pads for the first time on Wednesday.
Only three periods of practice, about 15-20 minutes, were open to the media Sunday morning so there’s only so many observations to glean from the action. With that, it’s on to the notes and observations from Tennessee football’s fourth fall practice.
More From RTI: How Tennessee Quarterbacks Performed In Routes On Air During The First Week Of Practice
Offense
Let’s start with some injury notes. Mike Matthews was back full go after missing Sunday’s practice. But it was one in and another out as Braylon Staley was not out on the practice field while the media was active. That was also the case for Chris Brazzell who has yet to participate in practice while the media has been present.
Miles Kitselman remained in a red non contact jersey but redshirt freshman tight end Cole Harrison was a full participant for the first time this camp. Offensive lineman Brian Grant was working off to the side.
Now it’s on to routes on air as Tennessee worked in the red zone Tuesday. Red zone routes on air means no video for the media but we have plenty of notes here. The Vols were starting reps at the five-yard line.
Overall, it was a much crisper routes on air portion of practice. There were no true drops though a couple of passes could have been caught. But very few balls hit the ground which is a good step in the right direction.
Jake Merklinger completed nine-of-10 passes while Joey Aguilar completed all nine of his pass attempts. George MacIntyre struggled after finishing last week strong, completing just four-of-eight attempts.
Merklinger’s lone incompletion was a slight overthrow that Miles Kitselman could have hauled in but I wouldn’t classify as a drop either. There were a few throws behind receivers that would have almost certainly been incomplete with defense. That included a Merklinger pass to Travis Smith Jr. and a Joey Aguilar pass to Amari Jefferson where the Alabama transfer made a really nice one-handed catch.
Tight end DaSaahn Brame also had a fantastic catch from fourth string quarterback Mason Phillips. Joakim Dodson also caught a beautiful ball on a fade route from Merklinger.
On the offensive line, William Satterwhite was back in action after missing Sunday’s practice. He worked at center along with Sam Pendleton, Max Anderson and freshman Nic Moore. Wendell Moe has been working at left and right guard this camp but he was at left guard Tuesday. Tennessee’s guards were working on pulling during the open portion.
Lance Heard and Jeremias Heard worked at left tackle while David Sanders and Bennett Warren worked at right tackle during the open portions of practice.
Defense
Let’s start with some injury notes. Jermod McCoy and Christian Gass worked off to the side as they have been all fall camp. Star edge rusher Josh Josephs remained absent at practice for the second straight practice. The big news on this side of the field is that Boo Carter was back as a full participant for the first time during camp.
Tennessee worked on special teams drills during the first open portion of practice. William Inge and special teams coach Evan Crabtree were leading those drills and Crabtree had linebacker Jordan Burns repeat a drill.
The fourth linebacker competition is one that intrigues me right now. I consider Burns to be the favorite to round out the two-deep with Arion Carter, Jeremiah Telander and Edwin Spillman. But i’m not counting out Jadon Perlotte or Jaedon Harmon in that discussion.
The Vols’ defensive backs were walking through coverage drills. There was no true divide between corners and safeties so Boo Carter was just working amidst that group.
