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Tennessee football: Five concerning signs from 2021 spring practice

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee quarterback Brian Maurer (18) lines up a pass to Tennessee tight end Hunter Salmon (89) at the Orange & White spring game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, April 24, 2021.Kns Vols Spring Game
Tennessee quarterback Brian Maurer (18) lines up a pass to Tennessee tight end Hunter Salmon (89) at the Orange & White spring game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, April 24, 2021.Kns Vols Spring Game /
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KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE – SEPTEMBER 14: Shawn Shamburger #12 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates on the field after defeating the Chattanooga Mockingbirds at Neyland Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE – SEPTEMBER 14: Shawn Shamburger #12 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates on the field after defeating the Chattanooga Mockingbirds at Neyland Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images) /

3. Players leaving the program

This isn’t an on-the-field issue, and most of the damage on this front was done long before Tennessee football began spring practice. However, there are players who left the program after spring ball started, and you have to wonder if that’s some sort of a reflection on what Josh Heupel is running. It could be a negative reflection of Heupel or those players.

It all started two days before spring practice with tight end Sean Brown entering the transfer portal. Defensive back Shawn Shamburger, meanwhile, wasn’t on the roster and entered the portal after spring practice came to an end.

Defensive lineman Isaac Washington and linebacker Martavius French both entered the portal too. They were held out of spring ball due to a suspension related to a legal incident prior to practice starting, but quarterback Kaidon Salter and linebacker Aaron Willis were suspended due to the same incident, and they didn’t leave the program.

Finally, freshman defensive lineman KaTron Evans was released from his letter of intent the final week of spring ball. Numerous other 2021 signees wanted out after Heupel was hired, but Evans leaving was the biggest deal, as it suggested he did it because of spring practice. We don’t know for sure, but all of these are a bit concerning.

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