Video Of Spring Practice Features Vols’ Starting QB Competition

The spring practices of the Josh Heupel era are underway as the first-year Tennessee head coach put the Volunteers through their first workout Thursday.

“We used the code word attack,” Heupel said following the first practice. “That’s a big part of who we are inside of our building."

Heupel will be looking to get the most out of his quarterback roster this season.

The signal-callers vying for the role are Virginia Tech graduate transfer Hendon Hooker, sophomore Harrison Bailey, junior Brian Maurer and true freshman Kaidon Salter.

Incoming four-star QB Salter did not practice Thursday and Heupel said he was among a group of individuals suspended from team activities indefinitely.

"At the quarterback position in particular, I thought they handled the tempo portion of some of our team sets extremely well and handled the communication piece of it," he said.

Salter arrived to Rocky Top with 4,459 yards and 38 touchdowns through the air over his career with just 14 interceptions. The incoming freshman added 1,063 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground.

“Kaidon was not on the practice field today,” Heupel said. “Kaidon’s a part of the group of individuals that are suspended from team activities at this point."

Although Tennessee didn't name any players in announcing the suspensions earlier this month or during Thursday's press conference, Salter is said to be one of four players arrested on drug charges, along with freshman Aaron Willis, redshirt freshman linebacker Martavius French and freshman defensive lineman Isaac Washington.

Heupel said the team made some mistakes, but they did a lot of really positive things too.

"The thing that we’ve challenged our guys on is ‘Don’t make the same mistake twice," Heupel said. "Be coachable. Accept the coaching in a positive way.”