Sleep Coaches, Bunk Mates, and Competitive Depth on Mind of Vols Butch Jones

September 2, 2015

Rick Nyman,

Head coach Butch Jones announced there will be a ‘Vol Walk’ for Tennessee’s so-called home game in Nashville Saturday against Bowling Green. Jones is trying to do everything he can to make sure his team is comfortable before their first game of the year.

While the expectations are high for Tennessee this season, it seems Coach Jones is always quick with a reminder that this is not a veteran team.

"We’re actually younger this year than we were last year. You can say we have 27 freshmen making the trip, but only five are red-shirt freshmen. 22 are true freshmen. 34 individuals have never represented Tennessee nor taken a snap at the University of Tennessee."

Vols have a veteran quarterback in Josh Dobbs, but Jones wants to see freshman QB Quinten Dormady in action too.

"I do anticipate him playing. I anticipate him playing throughout the course of the year."

With such a young team, Jones is trying to maximize everyone’s potential, even utilizing a different kind of assistant coach.

"The way they take care of their bodies obviously with our sleep coaches."

Jones isn’t even taking any chances with bunk mates for the opener in Nashville.

"We probably spent more attention to our rooming list, which individuals are rooming with whom."

Is Jones a coach or scientist?

Dobbs might be a scientist as an aerospace engineer major, and he’s already dreaming of an aerial attack with his wide-outs.

"Since I’ve been here, we haven’t graduated a receiver. Shows all the experience in that group that has played a lot together."

Injuries have turned the Vols secondary from a strength to a concern. So DB Cam Sutton is ready to help out where needed.

"I don’t know where I will be at. Right now my mindset is to just be a corner right now. If they ask me or need me to play another position on our defense, that’s nothing that I wouldn’t be able to do."

The Vols situation at defensive back should be a reminder of what may happen in the season.

Said Jones,"With the world that we live in in college football, and the physicality played in the SEC, everything is about depth and competitive depth. It’s every individual understanding you are one snap away."