KNOXVILLE -- The five offensive football players that enrolled at Tennessee earlier this month made their media debuts in the Volunteers' team meeting room on Tuesday afternoon.
Quarterbacks Jauan Jennings and Quinten Dormady, running back Alvin Kamara and offensive linemen Jack Jones and Chance Hall, along with five incoming defensive players, began spring semester classes last week.
"The excitement around here is awesome," Jones said. "Seeing these guys that have worked so hard these past few years, and they're talking about getting their bowl rings and stuff, and I'm looking at that and it's awesome. It's going to be even better when we're winning bigger games against bigger teams. We're getting better and better and better."
Here's what some of the new players had to say.
Walking the line
Tennessee may not need multiple freshmen to play immediately on its offensive line this year after Jashon Robertson started the entire season and Coleman Thomas made multiple starts in 2014.
That may not prohibit Jones or any other incoming linemen from eyeing immediate playing time next season.
"I really want to come up here and help any way I can," Jones said. "I just want to be out there and do anything for (offensive line) Coach (Don) Mahoney and Coach (Butch) Jones any way they need me.
"I think this offensive line's made a lot of strides this year, and they did a great job. As the year developed, they just got better and better. I hope to continue that into next year. We're just going to keep getting better and better, and if it means me getting to play a little bit, that's awesome, but I'm just here to work.
"Hopefully I get to play early, but if I don't, it is what it is, but I'm having a mindset of I'm here to work and I'm here to get this offensive line and this team better."
QB chatter
With incumbent starter Josh Dobbs and Nathan Peterman the lone two returning scholarship quarterbacks, Jennings and Dormady, both former four-star prospects, should get their opportunities to jumpstart their development this offseason.
The two newcomers feature different styles. Dormady is more of a traditional quarterback, while Jennings, once thought to project better as a safety in college, is an athletic dual-threat option who's still developing as a passer.
"I can use my feet as well as my arm," Jennings said. "I think scrambling outside the pocket not always looking to run, but looking to throw, can definitely divide a defense way easier.
"Me being able to run and throw, and also being able to have quick judgment skills, it goes well with this offense knowing that you've got running backs and multiple receivers that can go get the ball."
Dormady, who played for his father, Mike, at Boerne High School in Texas, said the offense he ran there was "very similar" to what Tennessee does.
"I like to play from the pocket and extend plays with my feet," he added.
Since Dobbs solidified his role as Tennessee's quarterback with a strong finish to the 2014 season, there's not as much pressure to be ready right away for Jennings or Dormady, who's still not cleared to throw as he deals with a shoulder issue, as some other freshmen quarterbacks have faced at Tennessee.
The two also should get a leg up on Sheriron Jones, the Vols' third quarterback expected to arrive this summer, and having some younger players to mentor this offseason should help both Dobbs and the freshmen.
"I think the quarterback room as a whole is pretty tight already," Dormady said. "Being around him and following him around and picking his brain, that's definitely been advantage as I've been here."
Hall hoping for spring return
After sitting out his senior season with a torn Achilles tendon, Hall is working toward a return in time for spring practice in a couple of months.
The former three-star recruit from Virginia suffered the injury while playing on defense during a benefit game before his final season.
"They're saying spring time I should be back," the 6-foot-5, 315-pounder said. "That's what I'm pushing for, too. I'm working really hard right now trying to get back as fast as I can."
In addition to averaging a double-double for Roanoke Northside's basketball team, Hall was a two-way all-state player, but he'll start his Tennessee career on the offensive line.
"I just like pancaking people," he said with a grin.
Fun with Phillips
As one of the first commitments in Tennessee's class, Jones, who played at Murfreesboro's Oakland High School, spent plenty of time trying to get other players to join the Vols' recruiting class, including a handful of mid-state targets.
Jones said of the fellow recruits he pursued the most was Kyle Phillips, the five-star defensive end from Nashville who picked Tennessee over LSU and Ole Miss at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl earlier this month and enrolled last week.
"That was the guy right there that I really worked on," Jones said. "We've been going against each other since we were sophomores and freshmen, so we were really tight. Kyle was one of my close friends, so I was like, 'I want you do to what's best for you, but what's best for you is to come to Tennessee, so why don't you go ahead and come up here.'
"I didn't know until the Friday before he committed that he was coming here, and he was messing around with me the night before saying stuff, and I was like, 'Oh my gosh, this is going to be terrible.' He came, and I'm real excited about that."
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.