Tennessee Vols linebackers bigger on strength than weight

Colton Jumper considers Tennessee's linebackers and sees less of them than before, which has him thinking more highly of the group's potential.

The senior noted that fellow linebacker Elliott Berry, who's listed at 206 pounds, has lost weight and "is looking really good right now and fast." Jumper then expanded his observation to essentially include the whole group.

"I think we have a little bit of a lighter linebacking group but a lot more speed, which I think in today's game is something you need a lot," Jumper said.

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UT defensive coordinator Bob Shoop didn't dispute Jumper's perspective. But he doesn't think the linebackers have sacrificed another essential: strength.

"Even though they're lighter that doesn't necessarily mean not stronger," Shoop said. "I think they're all a little bit stronger."

Shoop said body weight wasn't a factor when figuring out an offseason conditioning program with Rock Gullickson, who's in his first year as UT's director of strength and conditioning.

"When we talk about guys I want them to get stronger and more explosive," Shoop said.

A comparison of UT media guides from last season and now sizes up the linebackers differently than Jumper. Darrin Kirkland Jr., Daniel Bituli, Quart'e Sapp and Dillon Bates, for example, all are listed as having gained weight. Berry, on the other hand, has lost 16 pounds and Cortez McDowell is listed as seven pounds lighter at 228.       

Shoop said Jumper is "leaner than he's ever been, he's moving better but he's still strong." Yet he is listed at 229 pounds, five pounds heavier than before last season's Music City Bowl. Apparently body weight isn't a factor in this case either.

Shoop reiterated Thursday that Jumper is having a great preseason. Earlier in camp, Shoop said he considered Jumper to be "a one" based on the experience the former two-star prospect from Lookout Mountain banked last season in playing every game and starting seven. Jumper considered the distinction to be "a very high compliment."   

Shoop stopped short of repeating the assessment on Thursday, primarily because of Kirkland's progress after starting the preseason "very very limited." UT coach Butch Jones said last month. Six of Jumper's seven starts last season came at middle linebacker in place of Kirkland, who was injured.

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"Kirkland these last few days has really stepped up to where we were expecting him to be," Shoop said.

Shoop said Bituli has "not been 100 percent" health-wise, which has given freshman Will Ignont an opportunity. Shoop described the 6-foot-1 228-pounder from Huntsville, Ala., as "an alpha male" who has "some of that 'it' factor to him."

"I'm not sure if it will be in 2017," Shoop said, "But I think Tennessee football fans have a pretty good player for the future."