KNOXVILLE-Montori Hughes’ disappointing sophomore season spilled over into this offseason.
Violating team rules forced Tennessee’s big defensive tackle to miss the Volunteers’ first two practices of spring, but now he’s trying to make up for lost time, put his underachieving 2010 campaign behind him and aid a defensive line still looking for quality depth.
“Of course, I didn’t do near as good as I wanted to [last season],” the 6-foot-4, 327-pound Hughes said Saturday after UT’s fourth spring workout. “I’ve got a lot of improvement to do, so that’s what I’m going to do each and every day out here – just to get better so I can get where I want to be. I’ve got to work harder than I did last year and work on the little things and get better.”
Part of Hughes’ struggles last season were due to a stinger and two ankle injuries, but some of his problems were his own performance. Malik Jackson moved from end to tackle and redshirt freshman Joseph Ayres passed Hughes in the rotation by season’s end.
Hughes was suspended for the regular-season finale against Kentucky.