Vandy's head coach Derek Mason, right, congratulates UT's head coach Butch Jones and tells him to represent the state of Tennessee well in his bowl game after the Volunteers won over the Commodores with a final sore of 24-17.KNOXVILLE -- Butch Jones declined to name names, but it seemed pretty clear to whom he was speaking during his news conference Monday morning.
Tennessee's coach addressed a question about players who potentially would not return in January after the Volunteers cap the 2014 season in the Taxslayer Bowl against Iowa on Jan. 2.
"We have a couple of individuals right now that are trying to sort out what they want to do with their lives and what lies ahead of them," Jones said. "We'll be supportive of them.
"If they decide they want to be part of something special, then, hey, let's go. If they decide, 'Hey, this isn't for me, and I want to take another life path and go home or do this,' then we'll support that as well.
"We want people that want to be here, that are committed to this program and the state of Tennessee and the University of Tennessee."
Those comments came roughly three days after a pair of freshmen -- tailback Derrell Scott and defensive end Dewayne Hendrix -- were absent from Tennessee's first bowl practice.
Both players were four-star recruits in the Vols' touted 2014 class and had future potential, but their absence leaves their status with the program up in the air.
Hindered by a preseason foot injury and a late-season hand injury, Scott got just 11 carries in games against UT-Chattanooga and Ole Miss in October. Hendrix, out of the St. Louis area, played in seven games as a reserve behind Curt Maggitt, Derek Barnett, Corey Vereen and LaTroy Lewis at defensive end.
"I think it's inappropriate (to discuss specifics) in this setting," Jones said. "Some of that is personal, because I care about them. Just like every player in our program, I want what's best for them."
Investigation update
The Knoxville Police Department said the investigation into the alleged rape and sexual assault involving Tennessee linebacker A.J. Johnson and cornerback Michael Williams remains ongoing.
"The investigation is continuing," KPD spokesperson Darrell DeBusk said in the released statement. "Investigators have follow-up work to do on some of the interviews prior to completing the investigation. It is expected the additional work will take most, if not all, of this week to complete."
Johnson, a two-time All-SEC selection, and Williams, a five-game starter this season, were suspended from all team-related activities on Nov. 17, the day after they were accused of rape and sexual assault by two 19-year-old women.
Police will hand the case over the district attorney's office once they complete their investigation.
Poaching programs
The month of December means plenty of movement on the coaching front, and its wake includes head coaches, coordinators and position coaches.
Tennessee kept its staff intact last offseason to maintain the same staff in consecutive years for the first time since 2007, and Jones was asked Monday about other programs targeting his assistant coaches for their vacancies.
"I think if other coaches or institutions come after your coaches, it's a compliment to your football program," he said. "It's a compliment to what you're doing. Everyone around the country knows what we're doing here at Tennessee when you look at the improvement on the field and the growth and maturation of this program, but also from a recruiting standpoint.
"When you're doing things right, there are going to be people that try to come after your coaches."
More on Malone
Jones wasted little time in defending one of his freshmen.
As part of his opening statement Monday, the coach mentioned receiver Josh Malone amid rumors that the five-star recruit was unhappy. The freshman has been hampered by a shoulder injury for most of the season. It's significant enough that he's worn a shoulder wrap in practice for weeks.
After posting season bests with 75 yards on five catches at Ole Miss, Malone caught just three passes in Tennessee's final five games, and one pass bounced off his hands for a costly interception in the loss to Missouri.
"Josh Malone has been going through some nagging injuries in a number of areas," Jones said. "Josh doesn't say anything. He just tries to compete. I know it's bothered him, because he hasn't been able to get out there and give everything that he has. He's attempted to give all that he has, and he will give all that he has.
"Just like all the individuals that have been hurt, he'll bounce back, because he's Josh Malone."
Freshman tight end Daniel Helm, Jones said, has played through an ankle injury since September.
"He never says two words about it," Jones added, "and he just continues to go out there and practice each and every day."
Hurting Hurd?
After he sat out the final three quarters of the Vanderbilt win with a mild concussion, freshman tailback Jalen Hurd was back in practice on Saturday in a non-contact jersey and is full go.
"He's had a green jersey for about the last four weeks, and a lot of that has nothing to do with health," Jones said. "It has to do with the health of the position. Right now we don't have much depth at the running back position, so you have to pick your spots when you practice with a high level of physicality.
"A lot of that is just protecting him because of our depth at that position."
Contact Patrict Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.