Tennessee football: 5 most encouraging signs from Vols 2019 spring practice
1. Strongest positions got deeper
Tennessee football had clear strengths at linebacker and wide receiver heading into spring practice. Everybody would have considered those two units the Vols’ strongest, even if running back Ty Chandler is their best playmaker.
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What’s so impressive, though, is the fact that they got deeper. That’s a big deal. Last year, if the Vols were strong somewhere, they still weren’t that deep. Such was the case, as we mentioned on the previous slide, with the defensive line.
Well, this spring, the rotation at both positions found new talent. Wide receiver already had Jauan Jennings and Marquez Callaway as the most consistent playmakers. But Josh Palmer managed to become the most improved player in spring practice and had a touchdown in the spring game.
Meanwhile, inside linebacker was already set with Daniel Bituli provided Darrin Kirkland Jr. can get healthy again before the fall. But Shanon Reid became a breakout star there, and Solon Page III was not that far behind.
At outside linebacker, it was even better. Deandre Johnson is a returning contributor and Darrell Taylor is a potentially explosive star. But the Vols were able to add a third guy in Kivon Bennett, who burst onto the scene this spring. Jordan Allen is still in the system as well.
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Simply put, Tennessee football showed itself in the spring not to just have strong positions. They showed themselves to have depth at those positions, which was an issue for them last year. It’s a huge plus heading into the summer and one that should make things much easier on Jeremy Pruitt as he begins fall camp.