Tennessee’s Quart’e Sapp, left, goes against Gavin Bryant during practice earlier this month. Sapp made several big plays at linebacker during the Vols’ second scrimmage of the spring last weekend.KNOXVILLE – When Bob Shoop spoke to the media Thursday, he was sure one of his unproven outside linebackers would stand out in practice later that afternoon.
The new defensive coordinator for the Volunteers just had no way of knowing which one.
The absence of Jalen Reeves-Maybin for all but one week of spring practice has meant more opportunities for some younger players, but each has made an impression at different times this month.
“It depends on what day you catch me,” Shoop said. “That’s kind of how it’s played out.”
“Cortez McDowell has played in games and has that to his advantage, and he came out on Tuesday and had his best practice of the year. He had a big interception in a third-down drill. He ran to the ball and did some good things, and I’ve really tried to challenge him over the last six practices to take his game to the next level and separate.
“If you had talked to me after Saturday’s scrimmage, I’d have said Quart’e Sapp. He had three or four really big plays. He’s long, he’s tall, he’s athletic, and he looks like an SEC linebacker. He just needs experience. He’s really good in space. He needs to do a better job in the box in the run game, but he’s getting better all the time.
“Elliott Berry’s a guy coming off an injury who shows that he can do some things really well.”
Tennessee made finding depth at linebacker beyond the star duo of Reeves-Maybin and Darrin Kirkland Jr. a point of emphasis this spring, and the Vols often have rotated freely at those positions to provide opportunities.
However, finding clarity has been a murky task, though Shoop said Colton Jumper has emerged as the clear-cut backup to Kirkland at middle linebacker. The walk-on and former Baylor School standout started two games early last season before Kirkland took over and put together a standout freshman year.
Shoop said that Jumper has “taken his game to the next level” over the past week.
“That’s been a very, very big step for him,” Shoop added.
Making room
Shoop believes three players have had strong performances at safety this spring.
The problem, of course, is only two of them can play at a time in the Vols’ base defense, and almost exclusively that’s been Todd Kelly Jr. and Rashaan Gaulden. But the Vols are trying to find a way to get Micah Abernathy on the field, with coverage packages employing more defensive backs the likely route.
“Micah is a very versatile player,” Shoop said of the sophomore. ” He’s played nickel (fifth defensive back) in the past. He’s played strong safety for us this spring. In our three-down package, which is essentially a dime (package with six defensive backs), he’s playing what we call the ‘Cheetah,’ or the dime.
“We’ve tried to create a way to get him on the field versus four and five wide receivers, and he’s really excited about that and very eager.”
Thinking ahead
Whenever defensive line coach Steve Stripling has been frustrated this spring, all he has needed to do is look at the players watching practice in T-shirts and shorts.
Tennessee began the spring missing six linemen, and Corey Vereen’s class schedule prohibits him from practicing during the week. Then Austin Smith hurt his shoulder last week.
At times, Stripling and the Vols have been down to seven or eight available linemen, half of them walk-ons. Despite the absences, Stripling likes the players in his position group and can’t wait to have all of them healthy again.
“A lot of times I can look at the sideline, and they’re all standing there,” he said. “That helps my attitude a little bit. There’s really some outstanding players. I was talking to the strength coaches about (those injured guys), that they’re having to hold them back in the weight room a little bit.
“They’re all wanting to do a little bit more than maybe they’re supposed to do at this point, so that’s a good attitude.”
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.