KNOXVILLE - Tennessee was down to three available scholarship wide receivers for Saturday's Orange & White Game, but two of them had standout Saturdays at Neyland Stadium.
Preston Williams lived up to his reputation as the offense's most improved player during spring practice with a couple of big catches, and Jeff George had two nice grabs of his own during the Volunteers' Orange & White Game.
Williams had catches of 22 and 39 yards over Justin Martin on downfield 50-50 balls as part of his 77-yard day.
"I think it's been a progression throughout the winter," backup quarterback Quinten Dormady said. "Since the season ended he's just been working hard, trying to be the best player he can. I think that's starting to show.
"He's a big body, so having that out there is a huge asset."
Coach Butch Jones said Williams' "remarkable progress" this offseason made him an easy pick as the Vols' most improved offensive player.
"It all started with his mentality and his attitude and inner drive to be the best," Jones added. "He'd be in the training room at 6 a.m. on off days getting treatment and in the cold tub. It's a byproduct of his investment in the receiver position, in the program and in himself. He still has strides that he has to make but his attitude, his mentality - it's been great to see."
George, a junior college transfer who joined the program in January, used his 6-foot-6 frame to make a leaping touchdown catch over Darrell Miller on an end-zone fade and snag a back-shoulder pass over Marquill Osborne.
He'd struggled with drops and his physical aspect at points this spring, but he had some impressive moments Saturday.
Dormady said George made "a ton" progress in his first spring with the Vols.
"He played really well today," he added, "and I look forward to see him this fall."
Spring standouts
Three players who have turned heads all spring excelled in Saturday's showcase.
Running back John Kelly ran for 65 yards on 15 carries, linebacker Quart'e Sapp made a team-high nine tackles and cornerback Marquill Osborne had one sack among his eight tackles.
Defensive ends Corey Vereen and Darrell Taylor each generated pressure on the quarterback on multiple occasions.
Todd Kelly Jr. intercepted a pass that bounced off Jason Croom's hands on the opening series, and Jones praised the junior safety for his leadership after the game.
"About the last two weeks (he) really, really had a really good spring," Jones said. "He's shown really, really good leadership. His attitude, his mentality has been great."
LaTroy Lewis and Danny O'Brien, two unheralded veteran defensive linemen, were among the Vols' spring awards winners. O'Brien was named the defense's most improved player. Lewis took home the "Spring 63" award.
"They really challenged themselves every day," Jones said. "They did not have one poor practice. Your older players set the standard."
Status updates
The Vols wound up playing without 24 players Saturday.
Wide receiver Josh Smith, cornerback Malik Foreman, offensive lineman Jack Jones and kicker Aaron Medley were among the other nonparticipants Saturday. Stars such as running backs Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara and linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. had their workloads limited.
"In years past we would have had to cancel the spring game," Jones said. "A lot of those were pre-existing injuries from the fall. Some we held individuals out that maybe could have possibly played, but we didn't want to risk anything."
Defensive end Taylor returned after hurting his ankle in the first half, but offensive tackle Brett Kendrick left the game with a sprained ankle, the severity of which is unknown.
Three's company
Three of the dozens of unofficial visitors Tennessee hosted this weekend committed to the Vols on Saturday.
Solon Page III, an outside linebacker from Marietta, Ga., pledged to Tennessee before the practice began. Less than 90 minutes after it ended Albany (La.) cornerback Cheyenne Labruzza became the fifth public commitment for the Vols' 2017 class. DeSoto (Texas) wide receiver K.D. Nixon committed Saturday evening.
Labruzza visited Alabama, Tennessee and LSU earlier this spring, and his offer list included Florida, Baylor, Texas A&M, Missouri and others. Page, who plays at the same high school that produced former Tennessee safety Brian Randolph, had offers from North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Northwestern, Louisville and others. Both are three-star prospects.
Nixon recently visited Baylor and Oklahoma and had offers from California, Missouri and Oregon State.
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com