A few notable nuggets from Tennessee coach Butch Jones’ appearance on Monday’s post-spring SEC Teleconference...
After inheriting a program that had run off the train tracks, Jones, set to enter his fifth season in Knoxville, lauded his team’s growth in the last two years, highlighting Tennessee’s NFL draft success this April, its recent APR score and consecutive 9-win seasons.
"We started from ground zero building this football program in the toughest conference in America,” he said. “That’s what it’s all about: Winning football games. Graduating players and getting them ready to play at the next level. I think our program has a lot of momentum.”
After two years with no draft choices, Tennessee had six players selected, including defensive end Derek Barnett going No. 14 overall to Philadelphia. Josh Dobbs was UT’s highest-drafted quarterback (fourth round) since Peyton Manning, and the APR score was the school’s best in program history. The Vols have also won 18 games in the last two years, tied for 3rd-most in the conference with Georgia (18) behind Alabama (28) and Florida (19).
“There’s only three teams in the SEC that have won 9 games or more the last two seasons and Tennessee is one of those,” Jones said. “Those individuals had a big play in that.”
Jones pleased with spring practice, excited for continuing QB competition
Despite missing a number of key contributors with injuries this spring, Jones was pleased with his team’s overall development over the course of 15 practices. Repeating his latest offseason moniker, he said Tennessee “focused on the details, the accountability and toughness of what it takes to play SEC winning football on a consistent basis. I thought our players really answered that.”
The quarterback battle between Quinten Dormady and Jarrett Guarantano generated the majority of headlines this spring, and Jones said both players had great practices and “we’re excited about those individuals. They’re very, very talented.”
Being able to sit and watch Dobbs really helped their development, per Jones.
Jones withholding final judgment on early signing period
While several of his SEC counterparts were vocal in their concern about the new December signing period, Jones said, “I’ll make a judgment as we go through it. There’s a lot of things we have to get ironed out.”
Tennessee’s coach acknowledged that the recruiting calendar will be accelerated, noting “challenges” in scouting, evaluating, building relationships and more. He did add, “We’ll adjust and adapt.”
“I know if I was still probably at Central Michigan or Cincinnati I would want an early signing day. To not have as many signing day surprises,” Jones said.
Earlier on Monday, Florida coach Jim McElwain said the new date is “going to call some people’s bluffs,” citing “reservations” vs. “commitments.”
This & That
Jones wants an “on-going discussion” about the SEC’s graduate transfer rule. … Once again, Jones called promoting Larry Scott to offensive coordinator “an easy choice.” “I didn’t want to make wholesale changes offensively,” Jones said. “There will be some because you have to fit your scheme and system around your current team and current players, but Larry knew our current players so there’ been no learning curve there.” … Jones is “definitely in favor” of the proposed rule allowing freshman to play up to four games without blowing their redshirt season.
