Tennessee scrimmage storylines: Bru McCoy's eligibility, freshmen battle at running back

Southern Cal transfer wide receiver Bru McCoy still isn’t eligible to play for Tennessee, which may open the door for Walker Merrill.

McCoy participated in the Vols’ intrasquad scrimmage Tuesday. But coach Josh Heupel said there is no update on McCoy’s eligibility status.

That could change before Tennessee’s opener against Ball State on Sept. 1. But if McCoy is not eligible when game preparations start in about 10 days, his reps go to receivers who are guaranteed to play.

Merrill, a sophomore and former Brentwood standout, is near the top of that list. He has made progress in a competition with Ramel Keyton at the outside receiver spot opposite Cedric Tillman, a preseason All-SEC selection.

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Jalin Hyatt is the front-runner at slot receiver, but Heupel also mentioned Jimmy Calloway at that spot.

“I feel like Ramel (Keyton) did some positive things. Walker Merrill has been out there, has made some plays, operated really efficiently,” Heupel said. “Bru (McCoy) has done some really good things in some of our practices. We’ve got to have multiple guys step up and certainly would like at least one of them to step up and grab hold of that position.”

McCoy could earn that starting spot at outside receiver if he’s eligible. His multiple transfers have created an obstacle.

The NCAA allows players to transfer once without sitting out a season. In January 2019, McCoy enrolled at USC, transferred to Texas several weeks later for spring practice and then transferred back to USC that summer before playing a college game.

Typically, a player must receive a release from their previous school or get a waiver from the NCAA to become immediately eligible. Neither has occurred in McCoy’s case.

Here are other key observations after Tennessee’s first preseason scrimmage, which was closed to the media. But Heupel gave his impressions on it, as well as position competitions.

Dylan Sampson making strides at running back

Returning starter Jabari Small is the clear-cut No. 1 running back. But the depth chart gets hazy after that.

Sophomore Jaylen Wright, who finished last season as Small’s backup, has been limited by injuries in the preseason. Heupel said the priority is to have Wright healthy when the season starts.

That’s provided reps for freshmen Justin Williams-Thomas and Dylan Sampson and new transfer Lyn-J Dixon, who played four seasons at Clemson.

Heupel said Dixon is eligible to play immediately, but he must make up ground in understanding the offense. Williams-Thomas, a four-star signee, has improved his pass protection since debuting in the spring as an early enrollee, and he could factor into the rotation.

But Sampson has gained momentum after only eight practices. Already one of the team’s fastest players, he has picked up the playbook and pass-blocking assignments quickly.

“(Sampson) has grabbed on to playing (and) competing at this level, understanding how to function and operate within our offensive system,” Heupel said. “(He) does a great job of delivering blocks and is a willing blocker, too. So I’m really pleased with the progress he’s made.”

Defense made timely plays, must make more

Heupel said linebacker Jeremy Banks, a preseason All-SEC selection, made an interception for the only turnover of the scrimmage. The secondary will take any help it can get in trying to improve on the SEC’s worst pass defense (273.2 yards allowed per game).

Cornerback Kamal Hadden is still out with an injury. In his absence, returning starter Warren Burrell, Christian Charles and Brandon Turnage are leading the competition for the two starting cornerback spots.

Heupel said the defense played well in the red zone, forcing the offense to stall and settle for field goals. That’s a point of emphasis after the Vols ranked 13th among 14 SEC teams in third-down defense (42.1%) last season.

The pass rush still must improve. Heupel said he likes the progress of defensive ends Tyler Baron and Byron Young, a preseason All-SEC selection. But the Vols have not won one-on-one battles enough to rely on a four-man rush.

“I do think we’re further and deeper than we were a year ago,” Heupel said. “But we’re not where we need to be and where I want to be.”

Separation is coming to the depth chart

A second intrasquad scrimmage will be Sunday, when position competitions should gain clarity. Expect some freshmen to fall behind experienced players, at least until they can regain ground later in the season.

That’s usually the trend about two weeks into preseason practice, and Heupel hinted at that separation.

“(Freshmen) are in a progression to get where they need to by opening weekend, by Week 3, by Week 5,” Heupel said. “Expectations for young guys (in their first scrimmage) is to go out and compete extremely hard (and) play as hard as you possibly can every single snap.

“It’s an opportunity to sit back and look and learn just what a game situation looks like and how to operate in it.”

Reach Adam Sparks at adam.sparks@knoxnews.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Observations from Tennessee football's first preseason scrimmage