Tailbacks Rajion Neal and Devrin Young stood out during UT’s first closed spring scrimmage Friday afternoon at Neyland Stadium, and the Vols receivers helped pave the way with some of their blocking on the perimeter.
“They’re doing so much better on the perimeter. All of them,” coach Derek Dooley said after his team completed the 134-play scrimmage. “Those guys [Neal and Young], you just have to find ways to create a little air for them, because when there’s some air they can go.”
Neal, who’s back exclusively at tailback after playing mostly receiver last season, had 100 yards on 15 carries with an 11-yard reception. Young, the rising sophomore who doubles as the Vols’ kick returner, had 60 yards on eight carries with a 5-yard touchdown in addition to a 35-yard catch. Marlin Lane added a touchdown run from a yard out.
“The guys that showed some explosive plays, Devrin and Rajion, did a really nice job,” Dooley said. “I think Devrin has proven he can get out there and generate some explosion. ... Rajion showed some good promise.”
The Vols had just six runs of 20 yards or more all of last season, but both Neal and Young broke plays of such distance Friday. Young’s biggest concern is his size (5-foot-8 and 171 pounds), and Neal is struggling to run with confidence and physical aggressiveness while battling ball-security issues. What both players clearly have is speed. Neither was really used as a traditional tailback last season, when the Vols tried to get one or the other in space with reverses, end-arounds or even shovel passes. Young showed his explosiveness by averaging 23.3 yards per kickoff return in just nine games. Neal’s speed prompted his move to receiver as UT tried to find a way to get him on the field.
by P. Brown
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