KNOXVILLE - Madre London is plunging from the known to the unknown for his final season of college football, but the graduate transfer running back is comfortable with the overarching theme of Tennessee's preseason practices.
"You've still got to compete anywhere you go," London said Thursday.
As the Volunteers prepare to scrimmage Saturday at Neyland Stadium with two weeks remaining until the season opener against West Virginia in Charlotte, North Carolina, roles are still up for grabs.
It's a familar scenario for London.
After splitting carries the past three seasons at Michigan State, the 6-foot-1, 213-pound senior is jockeying with sophomores Ty Chandler (5-11, 201) and Tim Jordan (5-11, 203) and freshman Jeremy Banks (6-1, 211) for playing time in Knoxville. London's experience is unique in the group.
"I think Madre is very mature," Vols coach Jeremy Pruitt said. "He's really fit in nicely with these guys."
Originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, London transferred to prep powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for his final two seasons of high school football. Rated a three-star prospect, he redshirted his first season at Michigan State before jumping into a major role the next year, though he split carries with multiple backs throughout a Spartans career he finished with 924 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
Tennessee's "straight downhill-type running" is a contrast to what was expected at Michigan State, London said, adding it's a style he's "still learning." He has tried to be a leader during the transition, though. After four years with the Spartans that included three seasons with double-digit wins totals, London said "it's not hard to just step out and communicate."
"That's what being a leader is," he said. "You've also got to contribute on the field and do things right on the field. But communicating, making sure (we're) on task, we're finishing our runs, ball protection, things like that, it's not hard to just speak up."
During the final six games of the 2017 season, he averaged fewer than five carries per game. London told MLive he began thinking about the possibility of becoming a graduate transfer last year as it became apparent his fellow running back and close friend L.J. Scott's role was increasing.
Former Tennessee running back and current offensive quality control assistant Montario Hardesty helped recruit London to Knoxville for Pruitt's first Vols team.
"It was a great opportunity to be part of a great organization," London said. "I like the wave that's going on with Coach Pruitt and his staff and the teammates, so it was a good choice."
Part of the pitch to London included offensive coordinator Tyson Helton's assertion the Vols will utilize multiple players at running back.
Chandler, Jordan and Trey Coleman (6-0, 210) - yet another sophomore - went through spring practices, which gave them a familiarity with Tennessee's new scheme when preseason practices began earlier this month. Banks and London had not enrolled at that time, but as preseason practices have continued and the competition has increased, the relationship among players in the position group has grown.
"All these guys at running back, they've really done a good job kind of bonding together," Pruitt said. "You see them competing out there with each other every day. But I see a closeness in that group that I like."
London said this offseason was tough. He was finishing his degree at Michigan State during the spring semester while the Spartans and Vols were going through practices, in both cases without him.
"It was kind of hard getting away from them because I missed them a lot," London said of leaving the Spartans. "And coming to a new program, teammates have got to feel you out to figure out what type of guy you are. That type of thing. There's no regrets. I think I'm cool with everybody on the team. It's just the little things you've got to go through as far as transferring to another school."
Now he's settled in for one final college season that has a similar theme to his first three.
"I was competing at Michigan State," London said. "I'm going to continue to compete here. As far as the coaches, they're going to choose who they want to choose. It's not in our hands. We've just got to compete, and it'll be easy from there."
Contact David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DavidWCobb and on Facebook at facebook.com/volsupdate.