Tennessee football practice report: Vols wrapping up training camp

photo Tennessee head coach Butch Jones

KNOXVILLE -- Preseason training camp is now over.

Game-week preparations are right around the corner.

Tennessee wrapped up its preseason practice on a cloudy afternoon at Haslam Field on Monday, and the Volunteers will turn their focus more toward Utah State after breaking for a couple of days with UT's fall semester classes starting on Wednesday.

Here are some notes and observations from Tennessee's practice:

*Tennessee coach Butch Jones reintroduced the three-man basketball-style weave to practice -- complete with the Harlem Globetrotters' theme playing over the loudspeakers -- for the first time this season. After all the non-linemen went through it without a ball hitting the ground, Jones proudly pointed out that was the first time that'd happened "in the history of Tennessee football."

"That means we're getting better!" he barked.

The second trip through was not so efficient, though.

*Defensive end Curt Maggitt (ankle) again did not practice, though he was doing some agility work and running on the side while his teammates went through individual drills. It's the most extensive work Maggitt has done in more than a week as the Vols try to get him ready for the season opener. Freshman Derek Barnett continued to deputize for Maggitt with the first-team defense.

*Michael Williams, the walk-on track athlete, continued to get first-team work at cornerback ahead of freshman Emmanuel Moseley. Freshman Rashaan Gaulden, who missed some practice early in camp with an ankle injury, continued to get more looks after he made some impressive plays in Saturday night's open scrimmage at Neyland Stadium.

*Receivers Vic Wharton and Johnathon Johnson, who continued to wear a boot on his left foot, both missed practice, though defensive end Jaylen Miller returned following more than a week out.

*Tailbacks Devrin Young and Derrell Scott were again in non-contact jerseys, as was safety Geraldo Orta.

*Tight end Ethan Wolf and defensive tackle Jordan Williams continued to get some work at long-snapper, though Matt Giampapa most likely will handle that job.

*Freshmen linebackers Elliott Berry and Dillon Bates and junior college transfer linebacker Chris Weatherd were all with the first-team kickoff coverage unit, along with defensive backs Williams, Lemond Johnson, Cam Sutton, Malik Foreman, Devaun Swafford and LaDarrell McNeil and linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin.

George Bullock handled the kickoff duties.

*Jones likely will update defensive tackle Trevarris Saulsberry's status after practice. The 6-foot-4, 296-pounder, who missed most of last season with injury, hurt his left leg in Saturday night's open practice.

More coverage online and in Tuesday's Times Free Press.

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