Vols Football: Tennessee Opens Fall Practice

In just 30 days, it will officially be football time in Tennessee.

But on Friday evening it was football time for the players that make up team 118.

The Vols opened fall camp on Friday evening and practice had a different tone than it did this time a year ago.

The start of fall camp a year ago was all about intensity.

On Friday, the atmosphere had a much more business-like approach.

Don’t get me wrong. There was still plenty of intensity to go around, but overall the team — and the coaches — seemed much more focused.

Butch Jones might be telling everyone that the only goal of this team is to play as well as they can, but make no doubt about it — the goal is a bowl game and anything less will be unacceptable.

The Vols, sans pads of course, took the field on Friday evening to practice elements that have become the norm at Haslam Field over the past 18 months.

At one point, Butch Jones was standing on the opposite side of the field and noticed newcomer Evan Berry, who was working with the punt return unit, turning his body away from the ball. Thanks to Jones’ microphone that he’s used during practice since he arrived at  Tennessee, he was able to point out Berry’s need to “square up”.

Basically, you’re never out of the eye of Butch.

Speaking of punt returners, there were a few new faces working as a returner. There were the usual faces: recently reinstated Pig Howard, incumbent punt returner Devrin Young and Cam Sutton. Newcomers Von Pearson, Josh Malone, Vic Wharton and the aforementioned Evan Berry also took turns fielding punts.

Young should be the guy to start the season, but I could also see true freshman Wharton and junior Howard getting some work as well.

I think it’s highly unlikely that you see expected starters Von Pearson or Josh Malone returning any punts this season.

That’s because wide receiver, a weakness last year, is now expected to be a strength of the team.

Marquez North, Josh Malone and Von Pearson worked with the first team unit in the practice opening walk-through on Friday, with Pearson working mostly from the slot (quarterback Justin Worley and sophomore Marlin Lane worked with the first team as well).

True freshman Malone looks like he’s been playing the position for years. He is fluid in his movements and his hands are exceptional. It’s obvious that enrolling early helped Malone’s development. He will be a big asset, from day one, for whoever wins the quarterback job.

As far as the other receivers, North is entrenched as a starter across from Malone.

And even though Pearson worked with the first team on Friday, I still think it’s very possible that Howard ends up as the starting slot receiver. That’s not a popular opinion these days, but he’s a natural fit in Jones’ offense. I believe opening up the playbook this season will mean the Vols are able to better utilize Howard.

Howard, along with the monstrous Jason Croom, worked with the second team unit during the Vols’ opening practice.

Of Note: 

• Ryan Jenkins, who redshirted last season, was back on the practice field, running and cutting. It’s unclear if he’ll be able to stay healthy, but if he does he could be an unexpected weapon this year. He has great hands.
• Running backs coach Robert Gillespie coached the punt return unit for a bit. He seemed like a natural.
• True freshman Treyvon Paulk, who had knee surgery last fall, was on the practice field with a brace on his surgically repaired left knee.
• Some said they wouldn’t believe it until they saw it, but linebacker Chris Weatherd was indeed on the field on Friday. It’s now, I suppose, officially official.
• Curt Maggitt ran with the defensive line unit — and he was energetic. His presence alone on the field this fall will be huge for the Vols.