University of Tennessee Athletics
Photo by: Jake Bradshaw/Tennessee Athletic
Vol Report: Improving Tennessee Ready for ‘Measuring Stick’ Game
October 16, 2019 | Football
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. –Tennessee football head coach Jeremy Pruitt said his Volunteer squad continues to improve and they will use this weekend's matchup at No. 1 Alabama as a "measuring stick" for the program's progress.
The Vols held a spirited practice in shells at Haslam Field on Wednesday night in preparation for the 102nd meeting between Tennessee and Alabama. The game will kickoff at 9:10 p.m. ET (ESPN) inside Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Vols will be looking to snap the Crimson Tide's 12-game win streak in the "Third Saturday in October" series.
Alabama enters the game 6-0 and ranked No. 1 in both the polls. The Crimson Tide is led by junior quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who was the Heisman Trophy runner-up a year ago and has 27 touchdowns and only one interception halfway through the 2019 season.
"There are lots of guys that continue to improve, and this is a great opportunity and a tremendous challenge for these guys," Pruitt said. "You talk about a measuring stick, you talk about the best team probably in the country at their place, if you want to be a good football player, if you want to be a good football team, this is a great opportunity to prove it against one of the best teams in the country."
One Vol who has made substantial improvement this season is redshirt junior tight end Austin Pope. The Knoxville, Tenn., native has five starts and has excelled as a tremendous blocker. He has three receptions for 15 yards. However, Pruitt thinks Pope could be more of a factor in the passing game soon.
"He's been a guy that I feel like continues to play good football." Pruitt said. "To me, I think he's a guy that has some playmaking ability as a pass catcher. Hopefully we'll have some opportunities to get him some balls there."
Pope, who has played in 26 career games, is healthy this season after battling a back injury in 2018.
"In the spring when we first got here, he was a guy that I recognized that was an instinctive football player and that had good toughness," Pruitt said. "He had some ability to play the position. Then he started having issues with his back, and after the procedure he's had a lot of relief there. He's been able to practice and compete on Saturdays, so he's much improved."
Maurer a Game Time Decision
True freshman quarterback Brian Maurer will be a game time decision, Pruitt said following Wednesday's practice. The Ocala, Fla., native took non-contact reps during practice following his first-half injury versus Mississippi State and he continues to be evaluated.
Maurer is 22-of-48 for 364 yards and two touchdowns with four interceptions this season. He provided an instant spark for the Vols in his first start against then-No. 3 Georgia, tossing two touchdowns in the first half, including a 73-yard bomb for his first-ever completion in Neyland Stadium, while giving the Vols a 14-10 lead in the second quarter. His 259-yard performance versus Georgia marked the second-most yards ever by a Tennessee true freshman quarterback in their first-career start.
George Standing Out
Redshirt junior cornerback Kenneth George Jr. has started the last two games opposite Bryce Thompson and could be in line for his third straight start on Saturday. George, a native of Lafayette, La., had an interception against Mississippi State and has 10 total tackles and three pass breakups this season.
George didn't play high school football and walked on to Trinity Valley Community College in Texas in 2016 where he redshirted a year before playing in 11 games in 2017 and drawing interest from FBS programs. He played in only four games in his first year on Rocky Top last fall due to injury, but is blossoming in his second year in the program.
"He continues to improve," Pruitt said. "Some of the questions that he asks on a daily basis you realize that he hasn't play a whole lot of ball. He's a guy that has good athletic ability and has some toughness to him and ball skills. He continues to work."
The Vols held a spirited practice in shells at Haslam Field on Wednesday night in preparation for the 102nd meeting between Tennessee and Alabama. The game will kickoff at 9:10 p.m. ET (ESPN) inside Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Vols will be looking to snap the Crimson Tide's 12-game win streak in the "Third Saturday in October" series.
Alabama enters the game 6-0 and ranked No. 1 in both the polls. The Crimson Tide is led by junior quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who was the Heisman Trophy runner-up a year ago and has 27 touchdowns and only one interception halfway through the 2019 season.
"There are lots of guys that continue to improve, and this is a great opportunity and a tremendous challenge for these guys," Pruitt said. "You talk about a measuring stick, you talk about the best team probably in the country at their place, if you want to be a good football player, if you want to be a good football team, this is a great opportunity to prove it against one of the best teams in the country."
One Vol who has made substantial improvement this season is redshirt junior tight end Austin Pope. The Knoxville, Tenn., native has five starts and has excelled as a tremendous blocker. He has three receptions for 15 yards. However, Pruitt thinks Pope could be more of a factor in the passing game soon.
"He's been a guy that I feel like continues to play good football." Pruitt said. "To me, I think he's a guy that has some playmaking ability as a pass catcher. Hopefully we'll have some opportunities to get him some balls there."
Pope, who has played in 26 career games, is healthy this season after battling a back injury in 2018.
"In the spring when we first got here, he was a guy that I recognized that was an instinctive football player and that had good toughness," Pruitt said. "He had some ability to play the position. Then he started having issues with his back, and after the procedure he's had a lot of relief there. He's been able to practice and compete on Saturdays, so he's much improved."
Maurer a Game Time Decision
True freshman quarterback Brian Maurer will be a game time decision, Pruitt said following Wednesday's practice. The Ocala, Fla., native took non-contact reps during practice following his first-half injury versus Mississippi State and he continues to be evaluated.
Maurer is 22-of-48 for 364 yards and two touchdowns with four interceptions this season. He provided an instant spark for the Vols in his first start against then-No. 3 Georgia, tossing two touchdowns in the first half, including a 73-yard bomb for his first-ever completion in Neyland Stadium, while giving the Vols a 14-10 lead in the second quarter. His 259-yard performance versus Georgia marked the second-most yards ever by a Tennessee true freshman quarterback in their first-career start.
George Standing Out
Redshirt junior cornerback Kenneth George Jr. has started the last two games opposite Bryce Thompson and could be in line for his third straight start on Saturday. George, a native of Lafayette, La., had an interception against Mississippi State and has 10 total tackles and three pass breakups this season.
George didn't play high school football and walked on to Trinity Valley Community College in Texas in 2016 where he redshirted a year before playing in 11 games in 2017 and drawing interest from FBS programs. He played in only four games in his first year on Rocky Top last fall due to injury, but is blossoming in his second year in the program.
"He continues to improve," Pruitt said. "Some of the questions that he asks on a daily basis you realize that he hasn't play a whole lot of ball. He's a guy that has good athletic ability and has some toughness to him and ball skills. He continues to work."
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