Two weeks out from its season opener against Virginia in Nashville, Tennessee hit Haslam Field early Saturday morning for its 14th practice of fall camp.

Though the Vols will practice behind closed doors for the remainder of camp and likely the regular season, special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach Mike Ekeler, along with returner Dee Williams, punter Jackson Ross and kicker Charles Campbell spoke with the media afterward.

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Here the key takeaways.

After missing the first four games of the 2022 season, it didn't take Dee Williams to make an impression in the punt return game at LSU.

Williams' return in the first half set up a scoring drive in Tennessee's 40-13 win and flashed his big-play ability on special teams, which showed up again with a 73-yard return for a touchdown in a 56-0 drubbing of Vanderbilt.

WATCH ON VOLREPORT: Tennessee football specialists meet with the media

Williams, who is listed as a defensive back, says he has improved in both areas since joining the team from the JUCO ranks last fall.

"I would say (my) confidence (has grown)," Williams said. "Being a (defensive back), I've gained a lot of confidence since last year. After the LSU game when when I first got back, I was kind of shaky getting out there after the hamstring injury, but I've just been working this past offseason and all summer at DB, trying to get better at that and also as a punt returner."

"(Williams) is confident," Ekeler added. "He understands his role. He's got the opportunity to be the best return guy in the country. He's earned that and he's got the instincts, he's got the ability."

Williams didn't the only speedster Tennessee has at its disposal.

According to Ekeler, the Vols boast a plethora of options both in the punt and kick return game, from wide receiver Squirrel White to running backs duo Dylan Sampson and Cam Seldon that could quickly shift momentum.

WATCH ON VOLREPORT: Tennessee football specialists take the stage at fall camp

"We've got a bunch of them, too now," Ekeler said. "Squirrel White, he's real. Cam Seldon, he's real. (Dylan) Sampson, he's real. We've got a bunch of those guys, which we should."

Though Williams has proven himself as a game-breaker at punt return, returning kickoff has been more of adjustment.

He has only just been taking on kick return duties in fall camp and having to transition to a different approach with the ball in his hands.

"I just started working kickoff return a couple of weeks ago," Williams said. "It's a lot different than punt return. You have 11 guys coming at you full speed. You're really just depending on that front line to protect you...You just have to be precise with your decision."

Since Josh Heupel's arrival in 2021, the coaching staff has put an emphasis on special teams for incoming freshmen.

For many first year players, it's the best opportunity to see the field and offers early development before they contribute in other areas.

MORE FROM VOLREPORT: Key takeaways from Tennessee's 13th practice of fall camp

In Year 3, that continues to be the case with a number of highly touted newcomers making a name for themselves on punt and kickoff and return teams, including tight end Ethan Davis, defensive lineman Caleb Herring and defensive back Jordan Matthews, among others.

"One of the really cool things if you look back from the time we got here is we take freshmen and we put them out there," Ekeler said. "We play them on special teams from the jump ans developed them and got them game reps right there and got them acclimated so when they go in on offense, when they go in on defense, it's no big deal. They're ready to rock and roll. That's kind of what we look at as a staff, from a special teams standpoint, we develop those guys there...We've got a bunch of them.

"We've got a bunch of those (defensive backs), receivers...We've got some guys who are doing some great things...It's cool. Love our freshmen, love their mentality. They love the game and they're only going to get better."

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