Tennessee safety Todd Kelly Jr., wearing a new number to honor his slain friend, prepares to start a drill during practice at Haslam Field on Aug. 1, 2016.KNOXVILLE - Tennessee's Todd Kelly Jr. is switching numbers to honor one of his heroes.
The safety will switch from No. 6 to No. 24 this season to honor friend Zaevion Dobson, the Knoxville teenager who was shot and killed last year while shielding three girls from gunfire during a gang-related incident.
Kelly explained his decision after the Volunteers opened preseason practice Monday evening.
"My decision to wear number 24 is all for Zaevion," he said. "Everyone knows that he's not here with us anymore, but his legacy lives on. He's a kid from Knoxville that loved the game of football, so wearing this number 24, I feel like his legacy still lives on on the football field."
Also a Knoxville native, Kelly has known the Dobsons since he was in elementary school and recalled playing youth baseball with Zack, Zaevion's older brother and a Fulton High School senior committed to play football at Middle Tennessee State.
Kelly said Zack, who also will wear Zaevion's number this season, was "flabbergasted" by his friend's decision to honor his younger brother while playing for the Vols.
The Dobsons, who were in Los Angeles last month as Zaevion was awarded an ESPY for his courageous act, shared a similar reaction.
"They were excited," Kelly said. "I think they had a feeling just because they knew how special he was to this city and how much I love this city and how much I love him and his family. He represented Knoxville so well and loved the game so much. It was his dream to play Division I football, and that was cut short.
"I feel like with me wearing the (number), everyone knows what it stands for."
Kelly wanted to wear Zaevion's number in the Outback Bowl, but he wore "24" on his towel when the move couldn't be pulled off in time for the New Year's Day game.
He had to ask teammate Darrell Miller, who now will wear No. 15, to switch numbers so he could honor Zaevion.
"I really to want to wear this in honor of my friend who was slain and murdered on the streets," Kelly told Miller.
Miller didn't hesitate to give his number to Kelly, and Tennessee coach Butch Jones, who'd given a signed jersey from the team to the Dobsons, was open to the switch as well.
"I didn't want it to be a big deal," Kelly said. "I wanted it to be all about him and less about me, just because it's all about Zaevion. I know that he's looking down from heaven and is really happy about this. Hopefully his legacy continues."
'Slim' McKenzie
At his news conference late Monday morning, Jones proudly announced that defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie was now a "slim" 315 pounds.
"It's very hard to call him slim," linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. joked after practice.
The mammoth sophomore played closer to 350 pounds during his freshman season, and his dropped weight should improve his quickness and conditioning and enhance his chances of having a breakout season.
"I see Kahlil every day, so it's kind of over time," Kirkland said. "He dropped about 30 pounds and weighed in at 316 today. It's a great goal that he accomplished to be that light, and I know he's proud of his body of work."
Raises for three
Tennessee's release of updated contracts Monday night revealed six-figure raises for linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen and running backs coach Robert Gillespie.
Thigpen received a raise of $100,000, and his new salary for 2016 is $500,000, which makes him the highest paid defensive position coach on the staff.
Gillespie was handed a raise of $125,000, which makes his salary $475,000 for 2016.
At SEC media days last month Jones announced Thigpen (run game defensive coordinator) and Gillespie (assistant head coach for the offense) had received new titles.
Offensive coordinator Mike DeBord also received a raise of $75,000 and will make $575,000 this year.
Status updates
Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, wide receiver Jauan Jennings and defensive end Austin Smith were in green noncontact jerseys for Monday's opening practice.
Defensive tackle Shy Tuttle was a participant in the helmets-and-shorts session, but he was noticeably not moving around at his quickest. Jones indicated earlier Monday that Tuttle would be "very, very limited" to begin training camp. He is nearly 10 months removed from suffering a broken leg and torn ankle ligaments against Georgia last October.
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.