Tennessee Starts Spring Practice On Tuesday With Plenty Of Offensive Position Battles Ahead – OutKick

KNOXVILLE — The beginning of the second spring observe for Josh Heupel and the Volunteer soccer program will get underway Tuesday morning. The Vols want to carry over the momentum established in Yr One below this employees, which needed to exchange just one place coach within the offseason.

The intriguing a part of the 2022 spring shall be having a pacesetter on offense, Hendon Hooker, and never having to seek for the subsequent beginning quarterback. Tayven Jackson arrived on campus a number of months in the past, and he and Joe Milton will compete for the backup spot.

On the offensive line, 4 starters are returning, which ought to assist with development from the primary to second yr. The return of Darnell Wright, Jerome Carvin, Cooper Mays and Javontez Spraggins permits the teaching employees to deal with discovering an appropriate substitute for Cade Mays. Might Dayne Davis, Jeremiah Crawford and even Florida switch Gerald Mincey be the lacking piece? That is one thing we’ll discover out over the subsequent 15 practices.

The Vols even have work to do on the extensive receiver place, changing Velus Jones Jr. and JaVonta Payton. However with Cedric Tillman returning after his breakout season in 2021, this staff additionally want to search out choices within the slot. Jalin Hyatt, Marquarius White, Walker Merril might be strong choices, as would Jimmy Calloway. Search for gamers like Ramel Keyton, Kaleb Webb, Chas Nimrod, Jimmy Vacation and some others to make a run on the spot on the alternative aspect of Tillman. This group has expertise, however discovering strong replacements for Payton and Jones shall be powerful.

We now have all seen Hyatt’s expertise. However can he take the subsequent step and be the man? He has expertise and generally is a weapon for this offense, so we’ll see if he can take one of many spots and run with it.

The operating again place group can also be intriguing. Jabari Small and Jaylen Wright have each returned and newcomer Justin Williams is an thrilling addition. We may see a three-headed monster at this place for many of the season, particularly with Williams, who has the dimensions to mow down defenders. Nonetheless, he’ll have to select up this offense shortly. I count on the employees to throw him into the fireplace and see what he can do. They’ve acquired time, so there’s no want for him to show himself in every thing proper now.

We are going to preview the protection over the subsequent few days.

This can be a large second for Josh Heupel, who appears to be like to construct upon the inspiration he laid in 2021. There shall be strain for this staff to take the subsequent step in 2022 and with the expertise nonetheless in place on offense, they need to have the ability to do exactly that.

Now the true enjoyable begins. The subsequent 15 practices will set the tone for the subsequent 4 months of soccer, earlier than the common season begins. Time to get to work in Knoxville.