Tennessee football: 5 takeaways from Vols first week of spring practice

5. There are fewer position changes than 2018.

This is something we may have expected but it wasn’t clear. Tennessee football switched numerous guys around last spring, and many of them switched back by the middle of the season. But almost all of them are at the position they finished the year at.

That includes Carlin Fils-Aime, who switched from defensive back back to running back, and Jeremy Banks, who went from running back to linebacker and then back to running back. Both are entering spring ball this year as running backs.

Tyler Byrd went from receiver to defensive back and back to receiver, and he’s opening this camp at receiver. Meanwhile, Alontae Taylor worked out on both ends but then played defensive back last fall, and he’s stayed at that position.

The only change that stands out, though, is Princeton Fant. He is back at running back after trying out time at linebacker and tight end. But Fant has played running back before, and this is Jeremy Pruitt’s attempt with him and Banks to find out who can be the power back. Whichever one doesn’t work out could end up moving to another position.

Other lesser changes included Greg Emerson and Kingston Harris. Harris and Emerson are back on the defensive line after working on the offensive line last year and Harris actually played offensive line some. Ja’Quain Blakely and LaTrell Bumphus are on the line as well after time at tight end. But these changes are all miniscule compared to last year.