Inside job likely for freshman
KNOXVILLE — Tennessee football coaches have made a clear effort to temper the expectations for freshman offensive lineman Trey Smith over the past several months.
A week from today, it might be hard to conceal the type of player the Volunteers have with the 6-foot6, 320-pound newcomer from Jackson, Tenn.
Smith, the state’s No. 1 prospect in the 2017 signing class, is likely to play when the Vols open the season against Georgia
Tech on Labor
Day at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, even as the staff continues to warn of his youth.
“He’s getting closer and closer,” offensive coordinator
Larry Scott said.
“Trey, we can’t forget he’s 17 years old and he’s still learning.”
Smith actually celebrated his 18th birthday on June 16. But Scott’s point resonates. To lessen the mental burden of adjusting to major college football, coaches moved Smith from tackle to guard, even though his long-term position is expected to be tackle.
“Inside (at guard), there’s a little less thought process with the protection part of it,” offensive line coach Walt Wells said.
The Vols have continued shuffling players in and out of the lineup and rotating them through different positions as the line has dealt with injuries during preseason practice. Still, it appears likely Smith will get his earliest playing time at guard while the staff defers to veteran players at tackle.
Smith was a consensus top-50 player in the country out of the University School of Jackson and chose Tennessee over Alabama, Ohio State and Ole Miss to much fanfare. He enrolled in the spring and was the first newcomer to have his black helmet stripe removed.
“The one thing you like about Trey inside is his power,” Wells said. “He’s got great power. He’s one of our stronger offensive linemen that we have. Obviously, he’s physically gifted.”
Senior Jashon Robertson, who is prepared to play guard or center, pointed to Smith’s size as a reason
for the freshman’s suitability for guard.
“Big dude, heavy-handed, plays well with good feet and good leverage and tight hands,” Robertson said. “On the inside, the margin of error is very small. It’s just more crammed in there. Your footwork is vital, your hands, leverage, all that stuff. He’s done those things well for us, and he’s also been pretty solid and firm in the pass game. So with both those things together, it just fit to put him inside.”
The line is still a game of musical chairs, leaving Scott and head coach Butch Jones preaching the need to develop continuity with five players up front before kickoff arrives.
“It’s still a work in progress of who is going to be the whole five,” Scott said.
If Smith makes the final cut, Scott has a warning.
“I don’t care how big or how strong a guy is, mentally they’re still young,” Scott said. “They’re still a freshman, and it’s the grind of it all, too, especially at this position in this league. As an offensive lineman, you cannot have a bad day. Through all of that, he’s still learning and maturing and doing all those things.
“But he’s another one of those guys you’re excited to see what happens when the lights are on and you’re in the stadium. It’ll be interesting and fun to watch.”
Contact David Cobb at dcobb@ timesfreepress.com.