KNOXVILLE - With NCAA-mandated restrictions requiring football teams to start preseason practices without pads and ease their way toward full contact, it can be hard this time of year for coaches to get an immediate gauge on their players, especially the offensive and defensive linemen.
But for all the things that new Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt can't learn about his offensive line just yet, there is one thing that stuck out about the group as the Volunteers opened preseason camp Friday at Haslam Field.
"At least we have numbers," Pruitt said. "That'll be a start."
That number is 20. With redshirt junior tackle Chance Hall and star sophomore Trey Smith back as limited participants in Friday's practice, Tennessee's offensive line looked like an army compared to the ragtag bunch of underclassmen and walk-ons that was left standing at the end of last season and in the spring.
"In the spring we didn't have numbers," Pruitt said. "At least we have a few more. We've got to develop some football players."
The urgency of that mission was clear Friday during the first of 25 practices before Tennessee's season opener against West Virginia on Sept. 1. The dwindling depth of the unit last season exacerbated issues with quarterback play and receiver depth as the Vols' offense collectively tanked on the way to a 4-8 record.
Tennessee was predicted by media to finish sixth in the Southeastern Conference East this season. A healthier offensive line would be a boost toward surpassing those expectations. Compared to last season, Tennessee already is off to a better start. By this point last year, Hall and then-true freshman lineman K'Rojhn Calbert were lost for the season with knee injuries requiring surgery.
Though Hall and Smith are beginning preseason camp limited as they work back from their respective health issues, offensive coordinator Tyson Helton said Thursday when asked about the offensive line that "I think we're a healthy football team."
"I think we'll continue to add people in that area," Helton said. "We're going to do what we need to do to win the game, but our offensive line at the end of the day, in this conference, they're going to have to be able to dominate the line of scrimmage. They're going to have to be able to move people off the ball; they're going to have to be able to protect the quarterback."
Redshirt junior Drew Richmond worked at left tackle during positional drills Friday, while Smith spent time at left guard. Alabama graduate transfer Brandon Kennedy played center, while freshman Jerome Carvin lined up at right guard and redshirt sophomore Marcus Tatum played right tackle.
Pruitt said "you're really trying to practice under control" when it comes to offensive line work before full pads are permitted. That entails learning to step with the right foot, playing with the right pad level, proper hand placement and finishing blocks well.
"But you've also got to be smart as you do it," he said, alluding to the need to avoid injuries.
In that regard, the Vols are already off to a better start than a year ago.
"They're the reason why you get it done on offense," Helton said. "They understand that, and I love the group that we have. I think they're very passionate about winning. I think that (offensive line) Coach (Will) Friend does an unbelievable job. I think that they will continue to get better and better and grow from the start of the season to the end of the season."
Contact David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DavidWCobb and on Facebook at facebook.com/volsupdate.