Butch Jones kicked off his second spring practice at the helm of the Vols with his Thursday afternoon press conference. He addressed several injured players, praised his early enrollees, and talked about the improvement the team has made in the offseason. Here are a few significant notes and quotes.

Notes

*Injuries will sideline receiver Drae Bowles, tight end AJ Branisel, tight end Brendan Downs, receiver Ryan Jenkins, safety Brian Randolph, and defensive tackle Trevarris Saulsberry this spring. They’ll work out and rehab with the team as they are able but will not participate in the contact portions of practice.

*Receiver Jason Croom, who broke his collar bone against Kentucky, appears to be a full go for spring practice. He’ll be needed to help fill the shoes of Pig Howard, who is away from the team for personal reasons but still listed on the roster.

*Jones addressed the team’s youth and lack of depth on the offensive line. He stated that they’d like to have 15 scholarship offensive linemen but just have “nine or ten” right now. Tennessee cannot afford any injuries along the offensive front.

*He confirmed that quarterback Josh Dobbs is up to 210 pounds and that he looks “vividly different” than the scrawny 180 pound player he was when he stepped on campus. Tennessee’s four quarterbacks will be evaluated in nearly everything they do this spring.

*Jones mentioned multiple times that his team is full of “hungry players” who are teachable and willing to respond to challenges.

*No players other than 5th-year senior defensive tackle Greg Clark left the team in the offseason.

*Jones singled out Jason Croom and Marquez North as two players who had a good offseason.

*Team speed, according to Jones, will be the biggest difference between Team 117 and Team 118.

Quotes

Opening statement: “It’s football time in Tennessee, so we’re excited. I want to start off and talk about the positive energy that is surrounding the University of Tennessee. That was never more evident than yesterday. I’d like to say congratulations to Coach Martin and our basketball team. We’re looking forward to a great Saturday- practice No. 2, a great opportunity for recruiting, a great basketball game. Looking forward to that and then Coach Serrano and our baseball team undefeated right now. As you guys know, I’m a big softball and baseball fan. Our softball team as well, Rainey and her no-hitter- the start that they’ve really been on and playing the standards of excellence that we talk about in our program. I think that’s important for our football players to see the excellence that’s going on in all the other programs and again, that really benefits us. We talk about being ‘One Tennessee,’ so I just want to say congratulations.”

On having Curt Maggitt back: “He’s our leader, he’s the one who has everyone’s respect. When Curt Maggitt talks, everybody listens. He’s the one getting up in front of the room, he’s the one that’s coming to me all the time, that constant communication, and then you look at adding him onto the football field.”

On moving forward: “It is a new beginning, and it’s a new football team. Our toughness must continue to improve both mentally and physically. We have to embrace sudden change, and we have to adapt and adjust. Football’s life just sped up a lot faster. We have to be able to handle midstream adjustments and embrace those. We have a lot of things that we have to continue to improve on as a football team. I will tell you this; I am excited in terms of hungry group of young men.”

On strength and conditioning improvements: “Right now, when I talk about great strides- last year at this time, we had zero individuals in our football program that could squat over 600 pounds. Right now we have nine. Again, it’s continuing to improve our strength level, relative to competing at a high level, especially in this conference. ”

On youth: “I don’t think I’ve ever been a part of a football program where just about 50 percent of the current roster is going through their first spring practice, so we cannot assume anything. We have to teach them everything. It’s not starting from ground zero, because of the foundation that’s been laid, but again, we cannot assume anything as we continue to elevate and move forward to what we’re doing.”

On the QB race: “I would like to have somebody step up and emerge and be our quarterback, but I’ll also tell you this: building our identity in the football team and in the quarterback position and in every position, it’s positive energy and momentum. I see individuals start that momentum from spring practice, carry it all the way through the summer months, to strength and conditioning and then moving forward into August camp.”

On the 2014 class:  “They’re going to have to have a great June and July and then into August camp because where we’re at in the program is, allot of these individuals will be playing, we have no choice. If not, you’re going to be playing and I’m going to be playing and it won’t be good. So they have no choice, so that’s why we’ve been challenging the individuals that are in the conclusion of their senior year, we’re challenging them right now at home to continue to get in the weight room and have that work ethic because they’re going to play.”