Safety Brent Brewer is now a linebacker, running back Devrin Young has moved to slot receiver and new freshman linebacker Corey Vereen has moved to defensive end.
First-year Tennessee coach Butch Jones announced the moves today, one day before the Vols open the first spring practice of his tenure.
Brewer will compete for a job alongside Curt Maggitt and A.J. Johnson. Young, a junior from Knoxville, was the third-string running back last year. Vereen was the only linebacker in Tennessee’s 2013 signing class.
Maggitt is one of two players who will miss this spring, along with freshman Jalen Reeves-Maybin. Jones said both players would take “mental reps.” Offensive lineman Antonio “Tiny” Richardson would be limited and only practice a “little bit” this spring, Jones said.
What will practices under Jones be like?
Every session and every drill, he said, will have a winner and loser. The team will meet at the 50-yard line after every practice, driving home the game-like atmosphere while emphasizing team unity. To test players mentally, annoying noises -- like glass breaking or a baby crying -- might be played on the loudspeaker randomly.
For a comprehensive rundown on today’s press conference, including comments from new assistant coach Robert Gillespie, check out the live blog.
Evan Woodbery covers Tennessee football. Follow him on Twitter.
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 22
Show-me-your-TDs writes:
Go Vols!!!
realistic_vol_fan writes:
I think Devrin could realy excell as a slot reciever.
SewaneeVolFan writes:
Go vols, indeed.
I'm always interested in these position changes, both for the players themselves and also for what it reveals about the team. For the players, I always hope that they are ok with the changes because I want them to embrace whatever new role, although I want them to do what the coach wants whether they want to or not.
This is why I worry just a little bit about Young switching to receiver. He's certainly fast enough and I think his hands are good enough. But I seem to remember he felt strongly about UT considering him seriously as a running back.
For the team, moving Young may only mean they just need enough players to play receiver this Spring, or it may mean that they think that their needs are greater than those on campus can fill, or it may mean that even with the fine group of receivers coming in this Fall, they need even more help. If it's either of the first two, we might see Young back at RB in the Fall. If it's the third, I would say with all those receivers it looks like we're REALLY going to throw the ball around a lot, .
Vereen moving to DE and Brewer moving to LB to me shows that we're returning to the John Chavis/ U of Miami model of defensive play, where the DE's are what used to be interior LB's, the exterior LB's are what used to be safeties, and the safeties are what used to be the slower CB's and the CB's are the fastest players on the team, outside the WR's. If so, I like it because if ever a year showed that speed is of the essence in football, it was the horror show that was last year's D.
antonio14313 writes:
devrin in the slot sounds like a lot of bubble screens are a comin! go vols.
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bUTch_please writes:
+1
Like you I hope Young is good with the move. Worley said in the presser that Young was full go. Young ran really well last year unless the defense met him at the point of attack. He is much more effective with a little space so this could play out well. Sounds like we'll be tossing the ball around and Coach has seen enough of Youngs' effort to know he is a proven commodity that can help an unproven receiving corps.
Really liked how Coach Jones described the spring practice agenda. Heavy on the basics of how they want technique and heavy on consistent, competitive effort - teach "how we play" first.
Like the building one-step-at-a-time approach to learning the new schemes. With all the turnover in staff and scheme the past years, these kids will benefit greatly in getting one thing down very well before moving on to the next.
Really excited as well that there will be a lot more offense against defense learning. QB's will be under pressure more in practice so games won't feel much different.
Lots to like.
Go Team #117!
wigmeister writes:
So far, like what I see. Hope it works out.
tennrich1 writes:
I like your comment about the point of attack for Devrin...I agree completely....if he had the opportunity to create space, be it left or right, and gain an angle he was MUCH MORE effective to me....so creating space by putting him in the slot makes a great deal of sense...and it minimizes his lack of size and strenght while showcasing his speed...
budd#207344 writes:
If he wants to play sounds to disrupt their concentration why not play some of Dooley's press conference. That was a lot like a baby whining or fingernails on a blackboard.
OTPVol writes:
LOL
pcshowtime writes:
"Every session and every drill, he said, will have a winner and loser."
I love that.
6972 writes:
Ditto! I think it will stimulate pride and competition. I think the aggressive nature of this team just went up a notch.
BIVOLAR_BEARE writes:
Brewer as a LB makes perfect sense, he can hit like a train and his speed will match up well with TE's..Good call, coach..
Supersayin1 writes:
So the Defense will have some speed coming off the edges,and at LB!! Man i'm daring Oregon to run a toss sweep or short pass anywhere near Brent Brewer at LB! He's gonna take someones head off!! Having Brent,Sapp,and Curt in means some serious speed at LB, I see lots of blitzes coming to disrupt teams this year!! I think we win far more games than expected this year!! Vols will be the surprise team this year!! GO VOLS!!
Supersayin1 writes:
Agreed!
Supersayin1 writes:
I can't wait to see Worley vs Peterman in the Orange and White game!
pingkr62 writes:
It sounds like C.B.J. and staff have really done there home work. It's obvious they are focusing on speed, which the Vols desperately need. The only concern of course is depth. If the team can stay healthy, and get a few breaks here and there, they can win a game or two more than they have in the few years. I like C.B.J. and staff more every day. G.B.O.!!!
VolGrad writes:
I like what I'm hearing. I expect to like what I see.
Go Vols! This is BOC!!!
EDDIE_2 writes:
Sounds great.Defense was needing an upgrade.Hope everything works out.
Supersayin1 writes:
YES and YES!!!!I think this staff is gonna get the best out of what we have. I can't wait to see the end results! GO VOLS!!!
PHAT_VOL writes:
I have liked what I have heard from the beging from Coach B.J. In his first year just good effort and be able to stay in every game to give us a chance to win would be a great start.
GO VOLS!!!
PHAT_VOL writes:
Yea, it was a horror show.
GOOD POST!
johnlg00 writes:
I think these guys will all be fine with the position changes. They should all be hungry enough for a little success that a change of scenery, so to speak, will do them all good. Young surely can't complain that he didn't get a good look at RB, and I agree with you that he could thrive with a little more room to operate.
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