Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt meets with media after Wednesday’s practice.
Posted by Tennessee Vols Update on Wednesday, October 10, 2018
KNOXVILLE - A year ago, Trey Smith's primary assignment as an offensive guard consisted of bullying players he refers to as "fat guys."
That task, he said, is easier than the one he faces this season as Tennessee's starting left tackle.
"It's a different breed of athlete," Smith said.
Auburn's Marlon Davidson is a great example.
Just halfway through his junior season, the 6-foot-3, 278-pound defensive end has started 32 of the 33 games Auburn has played since he arrived. He leads the Tigers in quarterback hurries with six and was one of three Auburn defensive linemen voted to preseason All-Southeastern Conference teams by the league's coaches.
Tennessee's chances at an upset today against the No. 21 Tigers (4-2, 1-2) at Jordan-Hare Stadium will hinge largely on the ability of its offensive line to handle an opposing front regarded as one of the best in the country.
That task begins with Smith, who is midway through his first full season at the offensive line's most important position after playing mostly at guard as a freshman last season.
"We've kind of put him at one spot to leave him there, let him get good, gain confidence," Volunteers coach Jeremy Pruitt said. "I think he will do that over the rest of the season. I think if you talk to Trey, he'll be another guy to tell you that he's not played his best game yet, but he's working hard to do that."
Smith returned to full contact late during the preseason practice schedule after undergoing offseason treatment for blood clots in his lungs. The health scare, time away from full-contact work and adjustment to a new position have tested Smith, who was Tennessee's lone preseason All-SEC selection.
The former five-star prospect from the University School of Jackson in western Tennessee is clearly displeased with his performance so far this season for the Vols (2-3, 0-2).
"I think I need to do a better job in a lot of aspects in how I lead," Smith said. "I also believe I've got to do better myself on the field before I can tell other people."
Smith's treatment kept him from hitting defensive players in practice for months. Those missed repetitions were magnified because Smith played left tackle for just three games in 2017. He is still mastering the requirements of the position charged with protecting quarterback Jarrett Guarantano's blind side from the pass rush. Typically, they are not the "fat guys" he faced last season at guard.
"At tackle, I've got to be patient, man," Smith said. "That dude's a lot smaller than I am. I'm 330 pounds. There's not many 330-pound defensive ends out there. I've got to worry about his speed and versatility. He's a wiggle guy."
Tennessee's offensive line has allowed an average of 1.6 sacks per game, compared to 2.17 for Auburn's offensive line. But Guarantano has been hit regularly this season beyond those sacks, and Tennessee's running game has struggled to pick up yards between the tackles. That blame falls on the shoulders of the offensive line.
As the Vols head for a fifth straight game with the same projected starting offensive line, though, hope is emerging that a unit with no seniors led by Smith can begin to morph into one capable of paving the way for a revitalization of the program.
"We're a young group, and obviously we're going to have a lot of chemistry working together in the next couple of years," Smith said. "I expect everybody to be here, and we're going to get together and become a powerful unit on this team. We're working to do that every day right now."
Contact David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DavidWCobb and on Facebook at facebook.com/volsupdate.