Tennessee’s up-tempo offense under second-year coach Josh Heupel hasn’t been a match made in heaven just for quarterback Hendon Hooker and receiver Cedric Tillman.
For junior right guard Javontez Spraggins, it’s right up his personality alley.
“Since I was a kid, I’ve always been a high-energy guy,” Spraggins said this week in a news conference. “It’s an everyday thing with me. It doesn’t stop. I knew in high school that I was a twitchy guy, even though I was a lineman.
“When the coaches first got here, it was already set in stone: ‘Hey, we’re moving the ball up and down the field, and we’re not going to waste time for anybody.’ We got a hold of it, and we’ve been rolling ever since.”
Though right guards can often live in obscurity, Spraggins stepped into the limelight after last Saturday’s 38-33 topping of Florida by being recognized as the Southeastern Conference’s offensive lineman of the week. The 6-foot-3, 325-pounder played 70 snaps against the Gators without allowing a sack, hit or pressure.
It was the 17th career start for Spraggins, a former three-star prospect from East St. Louis, Illinois.
“He always plays with great energy and passion, and he plays to the echo of the whistle,” Heupel said. “I love his football energy, excitement and demeanor every single day. He cares in a really, really good way. He has just gotten better, being fundamentally better in pass protection. His growth through spring ball and through training camp has allowed him to play more efficiently in the pass protection world.
“Obviously, we are going to continue to need that there.”
The No. 8 Volunteers practiced Thursday, which was their final workout of this off week.
Spraggins played in eight of Tennessee’s 10 games in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, compiling 91 snaps without allowing a sack or pressure. He ranked third on last year’s offense with 861 snaps, with that offense setting single-season program records for yards (6,174) and points (511).
This year’s offense has been even better, averaging 559.2 yards and 48.5 points through Tennessee’s 4-0 start, and Spraggins has played 264 snaps without allowing a sack or a quarterback hit.
“I’m just taking into account all the little details,” Spraggins said when asked about his success. “It’s an everyday process for me. Whatever I can do to get an edge.”
Already a two-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, Spraggins is quickly leaving the unheralded world behind. As any of his teammates will readily admit, his energy has always been there.
Even before the first of his 1,214 career snaps.
“Spraggs is a very physical guy, a very, very physical guy,” redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Bryson Eason said. “He’s a great player who brings a lot of energy each and every day.
“He’s going to give you his best, so you’ve got to give him yours unless you want to be on the ground somewhere.”
Breaking out
Senior receiver Ramel Keyton has 183 yards through four games, topping his 148 yards from the past two seasons combined. In the last two weeks alone, the 6-3, 195-pounder from Marietta, Georgia, has a 57-yard touchdown against Akron and a diving, 43-yard catch against Florida.
He discussed his sharp rise in productivity earlier this week.
“I had to self-reflect, and I wasn’t working that hard,” Keyton said. “I was working, but I wasn’t pushing myself to a new level, so I couldn’t get mad at the situation. I had to readjust and work a little harder so when my opportunity came, I could take advantage of it.
“I learned a lot last year by watching Ced, JaVonta (Payton) and Velus (Jones), and I’m still learning from watching, but you still have to put the work in.”
Two more sellouts
Tennessee announced Thursday that the Alabama game on Oct. 15 and the Kentucky contest on Oct. 29 are now sold out, giving the Vols at least four sellouts inside Neyland Stadium this season. The school also revealed that just a limited number of tickets remain for the UT Martin (Oct. 22) and Missouri (Nov. 12) games.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.