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Tennessee football position changes: Tyler Byrd back at WR

By Caleb Calhoun

TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 26: Smokey, mascot of the Tennessee Volunteers, against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 26, 2013 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 26: Smokey, mascot of the Tennessee Volunteers, against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 26, 2013 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee football changed seven positions Tuesday in its first practice after Saturday’s scrimmage. The Volunteers switched Tyler Byrd and Alontae Taylor.

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Jeremy Pruitt and the Tennessee football coaching staff are still experimenting with lots of different players this spring. That showed more than ever on Tuesday in the Vols’ first practice back from their scrimmage on Saturday.

Mike Wilson of the Knoxville News Sentinel and Mike Griffith of SEC Country reported seven more position changes for the Vols on Tuesday. One of them was a return to an old position.

The one to return to his old position was Tyler Byrd, who switched back to wide receiver from defensive back. In his place, four-star freshman wide receiver Alontae Taylor switched over to defensive back. The other four switches were:

  • Freshman defensive lineman Greg Emerson to offensive line
  • Sophomore defensive lineman Matthew Butler to offensive line
  • Redshirt freshman defensive lineman Eric Crosby to offensive line
  • Redshirt freshman tight end LaTrell Bumphus to defensive line
  • Redshirt freshman athlete Princeton Fant to linebackers

Clearly, Pruitt is looking for more depth on the offensive line, which is crucial given the injury situation. This could mean that the defensive linemen for the Vols higher up in the depth chart have proven enough, so he has more luxury to move guys around. That could be good news for Tennessee football.

Meanwhile, as Byrd returned to receiver, Bumphus’s switch was also a return. He came to campus last year as a defensive lineman, and Butch Jones’s staff converted him to tight end. By moving him and Princeton Fant out, it looks like the fight to start there will come down to Eli Wolf and Dominick Wood-Anderson. Austin Pope, James Brown and Jacob Warren are all threats too.

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Simply put, all of these position changes were impactful for Tennessee football. It’s not clear how well these will play out. But, as Pruitt and his staff are starting from scratch, there’s nothing wrong with trying and seeing what works.

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