Tennessee football practice highlights were on full display Tuesday morning as local media received their final preseason look at the Vols during the first three periods of an open practice.
GoVols247 captured practice observations and video highlights from the session, and the full report can be read through this 247Sports piece that accompanied the coverage.
Key Takeaways
- This was the last open practice for media before Tennessee closes its preseason schedule and moves to media-only availabilities ahead of the Furman opener.
- The team’s fall camp schedule continues toward a Neyland Stadium scrimmage, with practices No. 11 and No. 12 still on the calendar before Saturday’s final scrimmage.
- Co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Anthony Poindexter and cornerbacks coach Derek Jones were set for post-practice availability along with five defensive backs.
- GoVols247 recorded the first three periods and produced video highlights from practice No. 10 while quarterbacks were not filmed.
Tennessee football practice highlights secondary rotation and position battles
The open session gave a last public view of Tennessee’s secondary group ahead of closed practices and the Neyland scrimmage. Reporters on site noted that five defensive backs were slated to address media, which provides clarity about who the staff sees as contributors in the secondary mix.
Those defensive backs named for media availability were sophomore corner Tre Poteat III, Auburn transfer Kayin Lee, Penn State transfer Dejuan Lane, Kansas State transfer Qua Moss and sophomore safety Dylan Lewis. Their presence for interviews indicates each is part of the secondary conversation entering the final week of preseason.
The open periods allowed coaches and reporters to evaluate communication and alignment in coverage work, with particular attention paid to how transfers integrate with returning underclassmen. Observers used the live reps to assess which players are handling assignments cleanly and who might factor into early-season rotational packages.
Coaching notes from Anthony Poindexter and Derek Jones
Co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Anthony Poindexter and cornerbacks coach Derek Jones were scheduled to speak with media following the open portion of practice, offering the staff’s perspective on the secondary’s development. Their availability was positioned as one of the last formal coach interactions before Tennessee closes the remainder of preseason practices to the public.
Local reporting emphasized schematic focus on coverage communication and situational work during the open periods, with coaches prioritizing alignment on route-to-man responsibilities and safety coverage reads. Those fundamentals were the through-line of Tuesday’s access and provide the clearest public window into the staff’s defensive priorities heading into the scrimmage week.
DB backgrounds and expected roles
| Player | Background | Reported role in coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Tre Poteat III | Sophomore cornerback | Part of secondary group meeting with media and participating in open reps |
| Kayin Lee | Transfer from Auburn | Listed among five DBs slated to speak and evaluated during open periods |
| Dejuan Lane | Transfer from Penn State | Included in media availability and observed in coverage work |
| Qua Moss | Transfer from Kansas State | Named for post-practice availability and part of the secondary rotation observation |
| Dylan Lewis | Sophomore safety | Attended media session and participated in the open segments of practice |
SEC roster implications for Tennessee’s defensive look
Having multiple transfers mixed with young, returning players in the secondary is a repeated theme across the SEC, and Tennessee’s public practice gave a snapshot of how those pieces are meshing. The staff’s public evaluations this week will matter for early-season depth charts and situational packages against non-conference competition and beyond.
From a recruiting and roster-construction angle, visible reps for transfers alongside sophomores can help the coaching staff demonstrate positional continuity to prospects and the fan base. The final scrimmage at Neyland Stadium will be the next chance for both evaluators and recruits to see the group in a game-like setting.
GoVols247 captured the open segments of Tuesday’s practice and produced video highlights and a podcast recap of the preseason scrimmage; fans and reporters should consult that coverage for play-by-play observations and the practice video. Local media access will narrow after this week as Tennessee moves to media-only availabilities before the Sept. 5 season opener against Furman.
