KNOXVILLE, TN – AUGUST 17, 2020 – Offensive lineman Trey Smith #73 of the Tennessee Volunteers during 2020 Fall Camp practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
The Tennessee football team hit the practice field Monday afternoon to open up the 2020 Fall camp, as the SEC pushes forward to playing on September 26th.
The Vols found out earlier Monday afternoon they would open the season on the road at South Carolina, as the SEC released the Week 1 schedule.
Jeremy Pruitt met with the media via Zoom after practice to discuss the teams first day of official camp.
KNOXVILLE, TN – AUGUST 17, 2020 – Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers during 2020 Fall Camp practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
The biggest news item came in the form of transfer Cade Mays. Jeremy Pruitt said, “he had his initial waiver denied by the NCAA.” The university is appealing the denial. Pruitt added, “the circumstances around him and his family, he had no control over.”
There’s no question this stings, especially when you look around the country and see players getting granted waivers every week.
If Cade cannot win his appeal, he’ll have to sit out the upcoming season and there’s a chance he never plays a game at Tennessee.
Jeremy Pruitt was visibly agitated by the decision, as he discussed his time as a transfer and helping others in the process.
“I hate it for him. I know it’s frustrating for him, and it’s frustrating for our team.”
Some good news for Tennessee was having Jeremy Banks back on the football field. Banks, who was dismissed from the team last season has fought to keep an opportunity open for him to return.
Pruitt added, “Jeremy Banks practiced with us today. He’s done a fantastic job over the past nine months and has been an inspiration to me.”
He told Coach Pruitt that he wanted to stay at Tennessee, didn’t want to be an embarrassment to his family.
KNOXVILLE, TN – AUGUST 17, 2020 – Linebacker Jeremy Banks #33 of the Tennessee Volunteers during 2020 Fall Camp practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
Banks will have every opportunity to prove himself and get into the rotation for the Tennessee defense.
On the Covid front, Jeremy Pruitt said, “We’ve had a total of 23 total players test positive for Covid. We had some guys come back from break last month and test positive. We’ve learned a lot of lessons, we’ve had no contact tracing that came back to the building.”
This is a very good sign for the Vols, but they currently have some players that are being quarantined, so it is something to keep an eye on over the next week.
As for the on field product today, Jeremy Pruitt said, “it was fun for all the players to get back out there and be able to have fun with their teammates and coaches.” If you wanted info about the QB’s, Pruitt was coy as usual, “we had some really good throws out there today, it is all about consistency.”
KNOXVILLE, TN – AUGUST 17, 2020 – Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers during 2020 Fall Camp practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
Jeremy Pruitt said that Quavaris Crouch has officially moved to inside linebacker, so Henry To’oTo’o will have help around him. Vols QB signee Jimmy Holiday will move to WR, mentioning he came to Pruitt and asked, so he could see the field more.
via: Tennessee Football
One source said of today’s practice “hell of a practice,” while another said, “guys were flying around and full of energy, you can tell they’ve been waiting for this moment.”
It’s day one, but the players sound ready to go and Jeremy Pruitt was thankful to get back to some kind of normal on the practice field.
Here are the full highlights from opening day of Fall Camp, courtesy of Tennessee Athletics.
Check back with Fox Sports Knoxville for more from Fall Camp
