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Ahead of practice, Pruitt says Vols ‘gotta create some depth’

Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt speaks Tuesday as part of SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala. Pruitt acknowledged that part of the difficulty in rebuilding an SEC football program comes from teams across the league improving at the same time.
Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt speaks Tuesday as part of SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala. Pruitt acknowledged that part of the difficulty in rebuilding an SEC football program comes from teams across the league improving at the same time. Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt speaks Tuesday as part of SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala. Pruitt acknowledged that part of the difficulty in rebuilding an SEC football program comes from teams across the league improving at the same time.

By Gene Henley 3 min read

KNOXVILLE – The main focus for the University of Tennessee coaching staff as they begin fall camp Friday afternoon is simple: getting better.

Perhaps it’s going to be about continuing to develop the players in the program. It’s also going to include getting a number of new faces that weren’t around during the spring up to speed while developing the true freshmen, with any number of them expected to contribute right away.

“There’s lots of competition, probably the most since we’ve been here,” Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt said Thursday. “We’re excited; we’ve gotta create some depth. If you look across the roster, there are lots of talented guys, but many haven’t participated in a college football game, or have very little. They came here for a chance to play in one of the best leagues in college football.

“We have 28 practices before the first game, so there are lots of opportunities to learn how to play.”

Tennessee will practice Friday and Saturday before an open practice on Sunday afternoon at 2:30. The Vols’ first game is on Aug. 31 at home against Georgia State, one of eight home dates on the schedule.