Tennessee Vols coach Butch Jones won't comment if player suspended for season opener

Tennessee football coach Butch Jones wouldn't comment after Friday's practice when asked whether someone would be suspended for the Vols' season opener against Georgia Tech.

"I know there's a lot of rumors out there and I don't comment on rumors," Jones said. "If there is a suspension, I think we've been pretty consistent. We'll make an announcement and we'll talk about that."

More:Find out when Vols play | 2017 Tennessee football schedule: Dates, times, TV and radio info

When asked whether any such announcement, if necessary, would come on game week, Jones: "I don't know. We'll see. There's a lot of rumors out there."

The Vols and Yellow Jackets play Sept. 4 in Atlanta.

In other matters, Jones said via Twitter before the team workout at Haslam Field that freshman cornerback Shawn Shamburger has had the stripe removed from his helmet. Such decisions are made by the first-year player's position peers.

Jones said Tuesday that the 6-foot-1, 191-pound Shamburger was "getting better and better and better." 

Freshmen Theo Jackson (safety) and LaTrell Bumphus (tight end) had their stripes removed last week.

"The other night, I liked the way (Shamburger) filled in run support," Jones said. "We challenged him with some deep balls and he was able to play the ball and find it in the blind spot as we talk about in terms of turning your head in coverage."

Jones was referencing a team scrimmage that took place Wednesday night at Neyland Stadium. UT great Peyton Manning spoke to the team beforehand.

The scrimmage consisted of 85 plays, Jones said. He wasn't counting some special teams plays.

"We have a long way to go and it's just the overall discipline to execute," Jones said, "the ability to focus, especially when its the eighth or ninth play of an extended drive."

Jones had emphasized before the scrimmage the need to find "playmakers." He said Friday that the search was "ongoing."

"We need playmakers. We need more explosive plays," Jones said. "But it's starting to reveal itself."

Jones said the Vols will hold another scrimmage in "the next couple days."

Georgia Tech announced Friday that its top returning offensive player, running back Dedrick Mills, has been kicked off the team for a violation of athletic department rules. Jones said Tennessee's preparation wouldn't be changed by the absence of Mills, who rushed for 771 yards and 12 touchdowns in nine games last season.

"I doesn't effect it one bit," Jones said. "I believe they were 3-0 without him last year."