Vols Football: Practice Notes for Kentucky Game Week

Vols quarterback Joshua Dobbs practices taking snaps during Wednesday’s practice session as QB Justin Worley looks on. PHOTO: Nathanael Rutherford

The Vols took the practice field Wednesday afternoon, but all traces of the warm weather early in the week were gone, as a brisk northern wind was blowing in colder weather. The players, however, seemed unfazed in shorts and no sleeves.

Butch Jones, however, was sporting a black jacket and black gloves, but the cold didn’t temper his enthusiasm any. He was all over players during practice, preaching the importance of the fundamentals and not committing costly mistakes.

After stretches, Jones and his staff gathered the team up for the famous “Circle of Life” drill where players take on one another in one-on-one match-ups.

Here are some notes from today’s practice:

• Marlin Lane, Jalen Hurd, and Marquez North all wore green, non-contact jerseys, but all of them are expected to play this Saturday against Kentucky. Right tackle Coleman Thomas is also expected to be available Saturday, but Jacob Gilliam is expected to start for the rest of the season.
• Justin Worley was seen observing practice today sporting a sling for his surgically-repaired shoulder.
• The first kick-off during kick-off drills was called back because of a holding call and a block in the back penalty on Todd Kelly Jr. After this, Butch Jones reminded him that he’s no longer blocking guys at Grace Christian, and he went on to remind Kelly that Grace Christian had beaten Webb (Kelly’s high school).
• Joshua Dobbs was seen taking snaps and passing with the first string as expected, and Nathan Peterman and Mike Wegzyn were the other QB’s getting reps.

Observations

Tight end Alex Ellis made a beautiful one-handed catch during a quarterback-receiver drill. Ellis has really come on as the season has progressed, and he has added some depth to an already deep tight end position.

Evan Berry still seems poised to be the kick returner for the Vols, but Pig Howard and Von Pearson were getting some time returning kicks today, and it would not be a stretch to say those two could see some time in the remaining games possibly.