Tennessee Vols Host Annual Orange and White Game

Staff Photo by Angie Stanley

In the presence of 67,027 fans who were attempting to get a fix of football to hold them over until September, the University of Tennessee Volunteers hosted their annual Orange and White Game.  The day is a fan-appreciation hosted by the university that allows fans to meet, greet, and get autographs from their favorite coaches and players.  It is also a sneak peek of what the Vols are going to look like for the 2016 season.

Team 120 wrapped up the spring practice season in true Neyland style Saturday afternoon.  Complete with the gameday DJ, Stearl The Pearl (Stearling L. Henton), and the United States Navy Leapfrogs Skydivers, the crowd was buzzing with excitement as the Volunteers rushed the field.  The offense dressed in white, the defense dressed in orange, and the quarterbacks dawned the smoky grey; the Vols were ready to show off what we can expect.

The event started with the circle of life drill, where an offensive and defensive lineman were paired up to face off against each other.  Both sides of the ball look like they will be well protected in 2016. The passing game seems like it’s going to be redeemed for the Volunteers with the transfer of Jeff George.  George, a junior college transfer from Dodge City Community College, showed great promise on the receiving end of the ball.

Another impressive performance for the afternoon came from Quinton Dormandy, who had just slightly more field time than senior quarterback Josh Dobbs Saturday afternoon. Dormandy showed that he was a strong back up for Dobbs.

Jalen Reeves-Maybin, still reeling from an injury late in the last season, did not suit up, but fans have been reassured that he will be well by September.

Running backs Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara did not see much field time, but third string RB John Kelly showed just how much depth the running game will have in the 2016 season.  In his 15 carries, the sophomore picked up 65 yards, and fans should expect to see a lot more of him during the next couple of seasons.

Staff Photo by Angie Stanley

Another big announcement for the Tennessee Volunteers was the appointing of permanent team captains for the 2016 season.  This is the first time that Jones has done so, usually appointing captains before each game.  The men appointed for the honor were Alvin Kamara, Josh Dobbs, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, and Cameron Sutton.  “The number one thing in our football team is intensity,” Jones added. “We can’t assume anything. Yeah, we’re not an older, veteran group, but you never assume anything. That’s why the leadership, that’s why the captains, all that are really important. This football team has been pretty focused all spring.”

“Today was a good teaching tool. Another evaluation tool, not just in the team segments – whether it was tackle or whether it was touch – but also in the one-on-one situations,” Jones stated Saturday Afternoon.  We talk about that grit and internal drive to be the best and always competing in all that you do. We have a long way to go. The next three months are going to be extremely, extremely critical in the development of this football team. We have to get stronger. We have to work on our football endurance. We have to get in football condition. We have to continue to elevate our play at every single position, develop depth, and then we’ll have our recruiting class coming in here too. So, the competition should be ramped up even that much more.”

The Tennessee Volunteers have been plagued by injury throughout spring practice, so the Orange and White Game was slightly less high-impact than fans were used to seeing. Still, fans got an incredible sneak peek into what to be excited for in September.

Staff Photo by Angie Stanley