For Vols, 14 down and Orange and White Game to go

Spring has pretty much sprung at Haslam Field.

After Tennessee's final spring practice Thursday, defensive coordinator Bob Shoop and quarterbacks coach Mike Canales shared their (mostly) positive thoughts about how the 14 sessions leading to the Orange and White Game went.

Here's a sample:

Keep 'em engaged

A bunch of players were either limited or sidelined by injuries and surgeries. Shoop described the defense's spring depth as "not too hotsy-totsy,'' perhaps a Pennsylvanian category we're not familiar with in the SEC.

However, the injured guys weren't playing video games. The coaching staff kept them mentally engaged.

"We try to give them an assignment each day,'' Shoop said, "whether they're either coaching a position or looking for something. I've even called on them to report at times. They've done a good job helping the younger guys.''

Reaping NFL Draft dividends

With Derek Barnett, Alvin Kamara, Josh Malone, Cam Sutton, Joshua Dobbs and perhaps Jalen Reeves-Maybin and others getting picked in the NFL draft next week, both current and future Tennessee players are impacted.

"Pro Day was such a nice event,'' Shoop said. "To have all 32 teams represented here. To have Dobbs go on the (ESPN's Jon) Gruden show and for Barnett and Kamara to continue to fly up the radar .... all those things are positive. They all help recruiting. ... This team, it serves as motivation for them. It's almost like (a) field trip when you take 'em to the Pro Day. They look at it and say, 'I can do that.' ''

Shoop, like everyone else, is gratified to see the soon-to-be-draftees rewarded.

"Josh is the best,'' Shoop said. "He and Derek Barnett I feel like in many ways carried this team on their shoulders last year. We had so many injuries.''

Dillon Bates is alive and well

In spring linebacker discussion we hadn't heard much about Dillon Bates, the four-star 2014 signee who has struggled to stay healthy and get on the field. Shoop offered an unsolicited update.

"He's had a good spring,'' Shoop said. "He was actually forced to play (some) nickle this spring, which we tailored to his skill-set. In space he did a nice job. I think this is the best opportunity he's shown since I've been here.''

Bates is competing with Austin Smith at Sam linebacker, a third linebacker the Vols use only against power-set formations.

Will McBride Fan Club

The only two names usually mentioned in the quarterback race are Quinten Dormady and Jarrett Guarantano. But Sheriron Jones and early enrollee Will McBride are also competing. Shoop has noticed McBride. Canales has done more than notice the 6-foot-1 Texan who switched from Memphis to Tennessee in time to enroll in January.

"I love Will; we all do,'' Canales said. "The whole team loves this kid. He's got some moxie about him. We didn't get him as many reps as he would like, I'm sure, but you could see there was something there.

"We're going to be glad we have him here. He competes well, he throws well, he understands coverages and the ball comes out quick.''

Alexis Johnson loses weight, stripe

An invisible man in 2016, mostly for off-the-field reasons, defensive tackle Alexis Johnson has won hearts and minds this spring and at a position of dire need, no less. The junior-college product who redshirted last season had his black "newcomer" helmet stripe removed for the final week of practice.

"He’s lost 15 pounds,'' Shoop said, "and I think he’s demonstrated a pretty high level of commitment to the unit, to the team.''

Reach Mike Strange at mike.strange@knoxnews.com and on Twitter @Strangemike44.