KNOXVILLE -- Tennessee is trying to cram a month's work of preseason practice into a little more than a week for receiver Preston Williams.
The freshman, only declared eligible late last week, remarkably is in line to debut in the season opener on Saturday in Nashville a little more than nine months after undergoing surgery to repair torn ligaments in his right knee.
The Volunteers are gauging what they can do with the 6-foot-4, 209-pound former five-star prospect this week, but it seems he'll be able to help the offense much sooner than expected.
"He's got freakish ability. He does," receivers coach Zach Azzanni said after Tuesday's practice. "The sky's the limit for him if he keeps growing and doing all the things we ask of him here. He can be whatever he wants to be.
"He's handled everything pretty darn good for a young kid at 18 years old. He's had a lot thrown at him the last nine months, and he's handled it great. Rehab, he came back, he's 100 percent and now we've just got to catch him up.
Tennessee freshman wide receiver Preston Williams runs upfield after catching a punt during the Vols' practice on Sept. 1, 2015."I tell him, 'We've got to jump the learning curve with you.' I don't have three weeks of a training camp to get you ready now, so we've got to jump the learning curve mentally and physically and seeing what you can handle."
Williams fielded punts and participated in all of the receiver drills during the open periods of Tuesday's practice with long black sleeves on both legs and a brace on his right knee.
Anything he can give the Vols on Saturday would be a boost to Tennessee's thin receiving corps. The Vols will be without the injured Vincent Perry and Jason Croom and the suspended Pig Howard. Of the other six wideouts, Marquez North and Josh Smith are coming off injuries.
"It's been great having Preston back out there," sophomore Josh Malone said. "I was happy for him, that he got all that situation cleared up and he could finally do what he loves to do now."
Williams would give Tennessee's another big target in the passing game along with the 6-foot-3 trio of North, Malone and freshman Jauan Jennings and the 6-foot-5 Croom when he's healthy.
"He's learning right now," offensive coordinator Mike DeBord said. "At the end of the week here we'll kind of zoom in with what plays he feels most comfortable with and what we feel comfortable with him. Obviously he's a big receiver (with) great speed.
"He doesn't have a lot of practices, so we have to see where he's going to be."
Center of attention
Coleman Thomas continues to get extensive work at center, and it's looking more and more likely the sophomore, who appeared settled into the starting spot at right tackle, will anchor Tennessee's offensive line in Saturday's opener.
Last season's starter Mack Crowder did not practice last Thursday and reportedly missed Monday's practice because he was upset about losing his first-team spot.
If Thomas does indeed start at center, Brett Kendrick likely would end up starting at right tackle.
Tennessee freshman Quart'e Sapp works through a drill during the Vols' practice at Haslam Field on Sept. 1, 2015.Sapp at safety
Freshman Quart'e Sapp worked with the safeties during Tuesday's practice after working at outside linebacker all preseason. The former four-star prospect is listed at 6-foot-2 and 214 pounds. Sapp likely will be one of the freshmen contributing to Tennessee's special teams units.
Banks decommits
Sevier County High School athlete Dorian Banks is no longer a part of Tennessee's 2016 recruiting class.
"I'd like to announce that I'm no longer committed to The University of Tennessee & that my recruitment has been opened back up," he posted on his Twitter account Tuesday afternoon.
Banks, a three-star prospect, committed to the Vols in February 2014.
Joshin' around
Malone said Tennessee's receiving corps has benefited from a settled quarterback situation this preseason.
The Vols had preseason quarterback battles where they rotated multiple players each of the last two years, but Joshua Dobbs has been the starter since turning Tennessee's 2014 season around with his play in the final six games.
"It's going to be fun and interesting," Malone said. "We all know what Dobbs can do, and he's a very, very dynamic player. As a team, I know we all feel confident with Dobbs back there at the helm. We're just focusing on balling and getting open for him."
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.