Tennessee football coach Butch Jones discussed the start of spring practice and staff changes on Monday.
Rhiannon Potkey/News Sentinel
Tennessee football coach Butch Jones, during his news conference Monday, March 20, 2017, talks about the mantra for Team 121: details, accountability, toughness.
Mike Strange
Rhiannon Potkey and Mike Strange recap Tennessee football coach Butch Jones’ news conference Monday, March 20, 2017, on the start of spring practice.
The University of Tennessee football team will be staging a quarterback competition this spring to replace Joshua Dobbs. Jarrett Guarantano, Quinten Dormady, Sheriron Jones and Will McBride are in contention for the role.
Wochit
Former Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer spoke at a Catholic Charities fundraising dinner on Thursday night at the downtown Marriott.
Rhiannon Potkey/News Sentinel
Brady Hoke was introduced as Tennessee football’s new defensive line coach on Tuesday afternoon.
Rhiannon Potkey/News Sentinel
UT wide receivers coach Kevin Beard talks about getting to know the players.
Dan Fleser/News Sentinel
Walt Wells talks about his philosophy as UT’s offensive line coach.
Dan Fleser/News Sentinel
Larry Scott is the first black offensive coordinator in the Tennessee football program’s 121-year history.
Rhiannon Potkey
The Tennessee football players discuss new strength and conditioning coach Rock Gullickson.
Rhiannon Potkey/News Sentinel
Zach Azzanni’s departure for the Chicago Bears is the latest Tennessee football staffing change this offseason.
Will Woodbery
Butch Jones talks about all the people who contribute to Tennessee’s signing class.
Mike Strange/News Sentinel
Butch Jones describes how Tennessee addressed needs with this recruiting class.
Mike Strange/News Sentinel
Scenes from the UT Football Recruiting Announcement Event
Five players have already enrolled at the University Tennessee and are part of the 2017 signing class.
Phil Kaplan/News Sentinel
Larry Scott and Mike Canales discuss their new roles on the Tennessee football staff. Scott was promoted to offensive coordinator and Canales arrives as the new quarterbacks coach.
Rhiannon Potkey
New Tennessee quarterback coach Mike Canales talks about his past with UT offensive coordinator Larry Scott at South Florida
MIke Strange
Vols new defensive backs coach Charlton Warren talks with the media Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.
Mike Strange
Eight players will not participate in spring practice for the University of Tennessee football team because of injuries.
UT coach Butch Jones said Monday defensive backs Micah Abernathy and Rashaan Gaulden, defensive linemen Kyle Phillips, Kendal Vickers and Shy Tuttle, wide receivers Josh Smith and Brandon Johnson and offensive lineman Brett Kendrick will be sidelined this spring.
The Vols open the first of 15 spring practices on Tuesday. UT is scheduled to practice every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, concluding with the Orange and White Game on April 22 (TV: SEC Network, 4 p.m. EDT) at Neyland Stadium.
“We have them in an intense recovery program, and also from a mental standpoint and the mental repetitions for them are going to be paramount moving forward,” Jones said. “We have them on their own development schedule when we start tomorrow.”
Kongbo to ‘Solely Focus’ on End: Jones said redshirt junior Jonathan Kongbo will move back to defensive end after spending some time at defensive tackle last season because of injuries.
“I think the experience he gained at having to move inside will really benefit him,” Jones said. “It allows us some flexibility within our defensive schemes to be able to move him around. It’s finding the right 11 to put on the field, whether it’s offense, defense or special teams, that give you an opportunity to win. But he’s going to play mainly defensive end.”
No major position changes are expected during the spring, although Jones said it could change once practices begin.
More on spring practice:
Mike Strange: New staff, spring challenges for Tennessee football
Tennessee’s Jarrett Guarantano spends spring break with QB guru
5 things to watch as Vols open spring practice
Tennessee football releases spring practice schedule
2017 Tennessee spring football practice dates
Tuesday, March 21 – Practice #1
Thursday, March 23 – Practice #2
Saturday, March 25 – Practice #3
Tuesday, March 28 – Practice #4
Thursday, March 30 – Practice #5
Saturday, April 1 – Practice #6
Tuesday, April 4 – Practice #7
Thursday, April 6 – Practice #8
Saturday, April 8 – Practice #9
Tuesday, April 11 – Practice #10
Thursday, April 13 – Practice #11
Saturday, April 15 – Practice #12
Tuesday, April 18 – Practice #13
Thursday, April 20 – Practice #14
Saturday, April 22 – Practice #15 (Orange & White Game)