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Five Tennessee football players to focus on as spring practice starts

By Dean Zulkofske

Dec 5, 2020; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Harrison Bailey (15) hands the ball off to running back Eric Gray (3) during the first half against the Florida Gators at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2020; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Harrison Bailey (15) hands the ball off to running back Eric Gray (3) during the first half against the Florida Gators at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 08: Jeremy Banks #33 of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts to scoring a touchdown during a game against the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers at Neyland Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 59-3. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 08: Jeremy Banks #33 of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts to scoring a touchdown during a game against the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers at Neyland Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 59-3. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /

Linebacker. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Jeremy Banks. 2. 839. Senior

6’1″ 235 pounds; Hometown: Cordova, Tenn.

A massive question mark looms over Tennessee football’s running backs group as spring camp begins. On the defensive side of the ball, that question mark is stamped on UT’s linebacker corps. There may even be a question mark over Jeremy Banks, who battled through injury in 2020 and still hasn’t proven what he can do on the football field over an extended period.

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UT’s top inside linebackers from 2020, Henry To’o To’o and Quavaris Crouch, entered the transfer portal shortly after Jeremy Pruitt was fired in early January. While rumors continue to swirl above Neyland Stadium over the status of To’o To’o and Crouch’s current relationship with the Vols’ current coaching staff, for now, we can’t be certain those guys are returning.

That leaves Banks, who, in 2020 appeared in nine contests and registered a career-best 28 tackles. As a freshman in 2018 he split time at running back, in 2019 he was sidelined for off-the-field issues and in 2020, as we mentioned, the former four-star Cordova High School star played through an ankle injury.

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It’ll be interesting to monitor his relationship with new inside linebackers coach Mike Ekeler and Linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary as they work to make up for the combined 133 total tackles To’o To’o and Crouch accounted for in 2020. Banks is one guy who needs to step up given how thin this unit is, and that makes spring crucial for him.

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