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Thursday, October 29, 2026Oct 29

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Vols cornerbacks need to develop quickly

Tennessee NCAA college football head coach Jeremy Pruitt speaks during Southeastern Conference Media Days Wednesday, July 18, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Tennessee NCAA college football head coach Jeremy Pruitt speaks during Southeastern Conference Media Days Wednesday, July 18, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) Tennessee NCAA college football head coach Jeremy Pruitt speaks during Southeastern Conference Media Days Wednesday, July 18, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

KNOXVILLE – Tennessee’s football season opener against West Virginia and preseason Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Will Grier on Sept. 1 is shaping up as an intriguing test of Jeremy Pruitt’s ability to work magic on a secondary.

Grier certainly will test an inexperienced crop of Tennessee cornerbacks as he distributes the football to a deep group of experienced receivers.

photo In this March 20, 2018, file photo, special teams coordinator/safeties coach Charles Kelly is shown during spring practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, Tenn. (Photo: Kyle Zedaker/Tennessee Athletics)

That’s why it’s important for Volunteers head coach Pruitt, who likes to work with the secondary in practice, and secondary coaches Charles Kelly and Terry Fair to have a productive set of preseason sessions.

At safety, the Vols have three experienced returners and at least one emerging young player capable of challenging for playing time. Cornerback, however, is a position of mystery as the Vols prepare to hit the practice field Friday.

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