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Tennessee football: Five spring practice 2021 storylines

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 22: Smokey the live Tennessee Volunteers mascot on the sidelines during the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida won the game 47-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 22: Smokey the live Tennessee Volunteers mascot on the sidelines during the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida won the game 47-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Sep 1, 2018; Charlotte, NC, USA; A Tennessee Volunteers helmet is seen pregame before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2018; Charlotte, NC, USA; A Tennessee Volunteers helmet is seen pregame before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /

Just as the men’s Tennessee basketball season comes to an end sooner than expected, Tennessee football is set to begin spring practice. The Vols officially announced Tuesday, March 23 as the start of spring ball earlier this month with the Orange and White game now set for Saturday, April 24 at 4 p.m. ET, announced by the SEC Network.

With a 3-7 season in the rearview mirror, a new head coach and the NCAA investigation hanging over the program’s head, they have to push forward into a new era. This next month will give everybody their first glimpse at that new era.

What are the things to keep an eye on from a macro perspective during this time? How many issues could affect UT as they get set to focus on next year with the drama of 2020 still not over? Let’s break that down here. These are the five biggest questions facing Tennessee football for spring practice in 2021.

5. Will the pandemic continue to impact the program?

Don’t forget, the outbreak of COVID coincided with the start of spring practice last year for the Vols. UT held a couple of practices before everything shut down and we all began the long, depressing year that was 2020.

Well, just before the start of spring practice in 2021, an outbreak within the football program caused it to pause team activities last week. Things resumed on Monday, according to Patrick Brown of GoVols247, but now the start date has been rescheduled to Thursday, March 25. You have to think that won’t be the only time this issue comes up.

Outbreaks last year may have affected the development of Tennessee football in general, which could have been why the Vols had such a bad season. Given everything happening this offseason, they can’t afford to have too many practices missed or have too many players miss individual practices due to COVID. There is too much development needed.

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