Linemen nicked, but young backs, receivers developing fast for Vols

Freshman running back Ty Chandler catches a punt during Tennessee's first preseason practice on July 29 at Haslam Field.
Freshman running back Ty Chandler catches a punt during Tennessee's first preseason practice on July 29 at Haslam Field.

KNOXVILLE - Tennessee's deep, veteran offensive line was supposed to be a stabilizing force for an otherwise young offense in 2017, and it still could be.

That preseason storyline is quickly becoming outdated, however, as the Volunteers approach the halfway point of training camp with several linemen nursing injuries and some unexpected buzz coming from elsewhere on the offense.

Fresh off the news that right tackle Chance Hall will miss the season with a knee injury, Tennessee's coaches unleashed a wave of optimism this week about a crop of young running backs and receivers who entered preseason practice under the radar but have emerged during camp.

Head coach Butch Jones left little ambiguity Tuesday in saying about his freshman running backs that "all three are going to have to play, and they're going to be important to the success of our season."

Physical talent is assumed in the players the coaching staff recruited, but Jones and first-year offensive coordinator Larry Scott are impressed with how newly arrived running backs Ty Chandler, Timothy Jordan and Trey Coleman have adapted mentally to the college game through nine practices.

"A lot like the receiver group, they've kind of exceeded some expectations as far as just their ability to retain the amount of information that's been thrown at them," Scott said Thursday. "A big part of being a running back in our system is you're on special teams. So being able to retain the special teams information, the protections, the run reads and all those things, the kids have done a really good with that."

Scott backed up Jones' prediction for the group by saying they all will "find themselves playing for us at some point" behind starter John Kelly.

Jones and Scott credited Kelly for kindling some of the group's development. Playing running back in Tennessee's system requires what Jones described as "a number of different skill sets."

"It starts not only with the ability to run the football and take care of the football but also what we ask of them in the throw game and the pass-protection game," Jones said. "All those things go into it, and we've thrown a lot at them and also them being involved in summer school. I think they're handled that really well."

The wide receivers have a deeper core of second-year players than the running backs do, but the praise lavished on freshman receiver Josh Palmer has persisted since preseason practice began at the end of July.

"He's been what you thought he would be. I just didn't know it would start to click for him this fast," Scott said. "But with the way he works, it's not a surprise. We're excited about Josh."

Scott shied away from terming the line injuries a setback.

"But it does kind of rear back the development of that group coming together and the continuity," he said.

Overall, though, thanks in part to the quick start from the running backs and receivers, Scott is pleased with how the team is picking up the offense.

"The real important part about that is it's always being able to do what the kids can do," Scott said. "The tempo and speed of your install depend on where they are mentally and physically and progressing where we need to. I like where we are."

Contact David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com.

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