Four downs — Tennessee starts week two and preps for first major scrimmage
Following spring break, the Tennessee football team returned to the practice field on Tuesday as the Vols prepare for their first major scrimmage of the spring next Monday night.
Josh Heupel’s Vols are young in spots and they are new in other spots particularly in the line of scrimmage, but through the first third of spring practice as the Vols have donned pads, the head coach has liked the physicality his team has shown.
“Been really physical,” Heupel said. “This is a mature group, just in how they’ve handled themselves up until this point as a football team. Just the culture of accountability, building trust. They work and compete extremely hard. It’s been extremely physical bunch of, as we unfold our practices, individual and the group work where you’re competing against a guy on the other side of the ball as you’re working certain fundamentals and techniques. And then when we get into 11-on-11, it’s been really competitive.”
Tennessee is replacing four starters on the offensive line from last season and they lost four defensive linemen from a year ago.
As for the scrimmage itself Monday night, The first focus is on operation with no coaches on the field.
“First scrimmage, find out where our guys are at in game-like scenarios,” Heupel said. “Coaches off the field. (The players) got to go handle it, manage it, operate, signals, offense and defense. Communication on both sides of the football. Want to see guys go play extremely hard and then find out who’s going to go make plays, too, in competitive situations.”
Year two growth
During Heupel’s tenure at Tennessee, the second year in the system as a wide receiver has been a big jump for some like Jalin Hyatt and Donte Thornton among others. Heupel said that’s a credit to the players as well as natural growth in doing something for a second year.
“I think a part of it is credit to them and the work that they’ve put into it,” Heupel explained. “But in year two, it’s true for every player, but in what we do offensively, the understanding of what we’re doing, the decisions that they got to make and being on the same page. Fundamentals and techniques continue to improve. But they got a great understanding having played in it, what it looks like, what it feels like and how they have to operate within it.”
Tennessee has multiple receivers in their second year for the 2025 season including Chris Brazzell, who admits he’s in a much better place mentally than the was a year ago.
Number one wide out?
Tennessee lost their top three receivers from a season ago as well as a couple of depth pieces to the transfer portal.
That means their plenty of opportunities and plenty of youth in the receiver room and it means that there’s not clear cut number one receiver for Nico Iamaleava. Heupel said getting a number one to emerge isn’t as important as the development of the entire group.
“I think you got to be good by committee,” Heupel said. “If it’s just one guy, they’re able to roll coverage to a certain player. And end of the day we’re going to need all 11. But your wide receiver core group is going to have to function and operate at a really high level as a complete unit. (I) expect all those guys to continue to grow. They’ve been really good here the first five days. Guys that have some experience in what we’re doing, have played extremely well. They’ve grown from where they ended the season. And young guys that are getting their first taste of it have made plays, they’ve grown. There’s a long journey still ahead for the entire group, but certainly the young guys too. But expect those guys to grow into playmakers for us.”
Ethan Davis’ Role
Tennessee tight end Ethan Davis has been talked about for the last couple of years as a guy who can really help as a tight end because of his ability to play in space. Davis’ role has been limited to this point because of injury and his adjustment physically from being a big receiver to being a tight end.
Heupel said on Tuesday that he likes the development that Davis has shown in becoming a more complete tight end.
“Ethan has done an elite job just growing through our winter,” Heupel offered. “Took full advantage of the weight room. He’s done a great job with his body. He’s just continued to mature as a man. Just how he approaches every single day. He’s been really consistent. We have great understanding of what we’re getting from him every single day. And that’s a credit to him just continuing to grow as a man.
“And then within the scope of what we’re doing offensively, he’s always had the ability to play out in space. He’s done a really nice job in that area. But he’s continued to improve just his fundamentals and his technique just inside the core. As a tight end there’s so many things that you have to be able to do. You’re playing wide receiver when you’re split out or releasing from the core. You got to be able to pass protect and obviously the run blocking. And what has done here the first five days, real credit to him.”
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