KNOXVILLE -- Two Southeastern Conference games, two interceptions for Tennessee's Todd Kelly Jr.
The freshman safety hopes the next step is a touchdown.
Kelly followed his diving interception at Georgia with a pickoff of a tipped Jeff Driskel pass in the Volunteers' loss to Florida last Saturday, though he would liked to have stayed on his feet and reached the end zone instead of tripping 17 yards out.
"That's the goal," Kelly said after Tennessee's practice Tuesday. "Our number one objective on defense is to get the ball back to our offense or score, one of the two. Preferably we'd prefer to get the ball back in the end zone ourselves, but it didn't happen.
"Looking at the film, I think I should have gotten it in the end zone and made a play for my team."
That Tennessee's sputtering offense turned his interception into a field goal was no fault of Kelly, who has made the most of limited playing time on defense. The freshman from Knoxville, the son of a former Tennessee All-American, is splitting time with starting safety LaDarrell McNeil. He's also playing on at least three special teams unit.
Perhaps most rewarding for Kelly, who's added 13 tackles and a fumble recovery to his interceptions, is that the picks came after he essentially lost his starting job for blowing a coverage that led to an Oklahoma touchdown, a sign that he's becoming more comfortable at this level.
"I would say you just have to adjust to it more," he said. "I wouldn't say it's slowed down, just because the competition is so high. The level of competition, everyone's good out there and able to make plays. I think the longer the season has been, the more I've been locked in and ready to go.
"The older guys have done a great job making sure I know what to do out there, because without knowing what to do I wouldn't have been able to make those plays early in the season."
More of Saulsberry
Tennessee coach Butch Jones announced Tuesday that the Vols will be without defensive tackle Owen Williams, a junior college transfer with 12 tackles and two sacks this season, for "a week to two weeks" after he underwent thumb surgery.
That means Trevarris Saulsberry, who made his season debut at Georgia after suffering a knee injury midway through training camp and played 37 snaps against Florida, will see his role continue to increase.
It's something the 6-foot-4, 296-pound Saulsberry couldn't envision happening after he crumpled to the Neyland Stadium turf with a knee injury during an open practice in August.
"Honestly, I thought my season was over," he said. "I felt everything go through my knee, and when it happened, I just knew. It was depressing. I just talked to my dad, and he just said, 'Keep positive and pray about it.'
"I'm back now, so I'm good."
Saulsberry missed most of 2013 with a knee injury he suffered at Oregon just as he was carving out a role for himself, and he sat out spring practice following shoulder surgery.
With marginal depth behind starters Jordan Williams and Danny O'Brien, his return is important, especially with Owen Williams now sidelined.
"Having Trevarris back," Jones said, "is a huge benefit and a bonus for us."
Bruised backfield
Freshman tailback Jalen Hurd (shoulder) practiced in a noncontact jersey while fellow tailback Marlin Lane (ankle) sat out practice Tuesday.
After saying Monday he expected Hurd to play against UT-Chattanooga on Saturday, Jones said the same for Lane on Tuesday and added that holding him out was simply precautionary.
The limitations to Tennessee's top two tailbacks mean more work this week for Devrin Young and freshman tailback Derrell Scott, a former four-star prospect yet to make his debut this season.
Jones said he liked Scott's approach and believes the 5-11, 194-pounder adds quickness and speed to the backfield.
"He's had a much bigger role in practice this week," quarterback Justin Worley said. "We know we've got to him developed and ready to go. You continue to see Devrin and Marlin and those guys progress, so that's always helpful to have.
"He's shifty. I think he hits the hole pretty hard and runs behind his pads. He's not a huge guy, so I think he may get lost a little bit, kind of like Devrin, but he's an explosive guy."
Status updates
Freshman receiver Josh Malone (shoulder) also practiced in a noncontact jersey, while Von Pearson, who returned from a two-game absence against Florida, practiced with a brace on his left ankle.
Receiver Josh Smith (ankle) remains in a walking boot and won't play against UTC, Jones said.
Cornerback Michael Williams (head), who left the Florida game in the second quarter, practiced in a noncontact jersey.
Freshman linebacker Dillon Bates, who had surgery Friday to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder, watched practice with his right arm in a sling, and freshman defensive end Joe Henderson, who has yet to play this season, didn't practice.
Berry in backfield?
Freshman defensive back Evan Berry, whose role on special teams has expanded in recent weeks, got some work with the running backs during individual drills early in Tuesday's indoor practice.
"Just experimentation," Jones said. "He had all the reps at defense, but every chance we had with individual periods and after practice [we're] trying to find a spot for him to utilize his speed."
The other Williams
After two plays against Florida, the game flow stopped because Jordan Williams was slow to get up, his left ankle prohibiting him from running back to the defensive huddle.
It didn't keep the senior on the sideline long, though, as he kept playing through it.
"The same thing kept happening, but it was fine," Williams said. "I'm out here practicing today. It feels fine.
"It was my last chance to beat Florida. There's no way I was going to go out. They were going to have to cut my leg off before I sit down on that game. I gave it my all, so that's all I can do."
Williams made three tackles, one for lost yardage.
"He's really taken on a leadership role," Jones said. "We thought he had his best game of his career Saturday. He's playing with a lot of confidence right now, and he's played with a lot of toughness."
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.