Vols Feel It's Almost Football Time In Tennessee

Baylor Product Colton Jumper In MLB Competition

  • Wednesday, August 26, 2015
  • Special to Chattanoogan.com
Sophomore running back Jalen Hurd and newcomer Alvin Kamara provide Tennessee with talent and depth at the pivotal position on the Vols' offense.
Sophomore running back Jalen Hurd and newcomer Alvin Kamara provide Tennessee with talent and depth at the pivotal position on the Vols' offense.
photo by Tennessee Athletics

 After weeks of preseason training and kickoff in Nashville now just 10 days away, the Tennessee players and coaches are just as excited as their followers for the 2015 season to begin.

The sweltering heat of early August has lowered to a late-summer simmer at Haslam Field, signaling that fall is on the horizon and it is almost Football Time In Tennessee.

"We've really tried to concentrate on getting one percent better every practice, and really concentrate on the practice," UT offensive coordinator Mike DeBord said.

"But you can see [it], and coach (Butch) Jones is talking about, 'Hey, it's getting close. It's coming.' You can see that energy. We had a really good practice yesterday and today, and our guys are giving us great energy and focus right now."

All of the hard work poured into training camp and battles for starting spots will pay off once the whistle blows for the Vols to take the field against Bowling Green on Sept. 5 at Nissan Stadium. On Wednesday, Tennessee's assistant coaches answered questions regarding player progression, team depth and starting spots.

MLB Race Narrowing

One of the most hotly contested positional battles of last spring and this fall's training camp has reached its final stages, according to defensive coordinator John Jancek.

"It's really been narrowed down," Jancek said of the mike linebacker competition. "To get three guys reps at this stage in the season, in camp, preseason, it's hard to do. It's really between Colton Jumper and Darrin Kirkland."

Jancek noted that Jumper's work ethic is what set the Lookout Mountain sophomore apart from the rest of the linebacking unit.

"He's spent countless hours in the film room on his own, taking notes, watching video and all that hard work is paying off. He's really a great example for a lot of players in college football. Guys that come as four or five stars but lack the maturity or the work ethic that it takes really make yourself a great player. I think Colton is an example of that. He's made himself a very good football player."

WR Johnson Having Strong Camp

Senior Johnathon Johnson is having one of the best camps of any UT receiver. Johnson and Jauan Jennings have benefited from being healthy every day of camp, enabling them to improve with each practice.

The 5-foot-8-inch Texas native received praise from wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator Zach Azzanni for his hard work and leadership.

"Jonathan Johnson I can't say enough about that kid," Azzanni said. "He is one of our best football players on this team in my opinion. Just because of everything he brings in special team value. He's a leader, he's smart, and he can play every position. He's a senior playing his best ball right now and that's what a senior should do."

Azzanni said that Johnson has been working both on the inside and on the outside.

"He's a little guy, but on the outside he's tough to cover because he can get separation, because he's so quick," he said.

Talent and Depth at RB

On paper, the Tennessee running back corps looks anything but experienced. The sophomore duo of Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara headline a group that features two true freshmen and another redshirt sophomore. Even the lone upperclassman of the group is a newcomer in redshirt senior transfer Ralph David Abernathy.

Despite the relative newness that precedes the Vols tailback unit, running backs coach Robert Gillespie is thrilled with the depth and experience he has found in this group.

"In this league, the best groups have guys who can lead by example and I think for (freshmen) John Kelly and Joe Young, to have two guys like Alvin and Jalen to show every day them how to practice, how to study in the meeting rooms, being accountable to each other. I think it's been really good. Both those guys are going to be able to help us this year."

With two leaders taking the reins of a young and talented group, Gillespie believes Tennessee's running backs are becoming one of the complete units in a running-back-heavy Southeastern Conference.

"We talk [about it] all the time, and I talk to Butch (Jones) about it. In this league, if you have three NFL guys in your room, three out of five or six, you've got it going. And I think right now we're kind of at that point where we have guys that it takes in this league to make plays and help us to be explosive running the ball."

Depth a Luxury on D-Line

One year ago, the biggest question surrounding Tennessee's defense was who would fill a holes on the defensive line. Now, the defensive line represents one of the deepest units on the team and depth has become a luxury to coach Steve Stripling.

"I think we will go in with 10 that I will feel good putting on the field," Stripling said on the number of guys he is comfortable with playing. "Obviously, Bowling Green presents the tempo issue, so you aren't able to substitute exactly when you want, but I feel like we can go out there with 10 guys."

Having depth on the line means that Tennessee can spread out the amount of reps and keep fresh legs on the field.

"If you could play enough guys where they are all playing [40 snaps], you would be really excited. Last year, we had guys playing 70 and 80 snaps. That's not what you want. If you could get guys evened out between 30 and 50, I think that is healthy for your defensive line."

 

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