KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Fall training camp has reached the most crucial point for Tennessee, with the season fewer than two weeks away.

The Vols are making final preparations to form an identity and continue installing the offense. The quarterback competition continues to dominate headlines.

But the Vols also need to identify playmakers capable of being reliable targets and go-to-guys on game day.

Butch Jones is confident he has them on defense. It’s the other side that raises questions.

“We need to establish who our playmakers are going to be on both sides of the ball,” Butch Jones said. “I have a better gauge on defense right now than I do offense. It’s a lot of these younger players understanding that we’re getting close now. Game time is getting closer and you have to come out and continue to put your identity on video.

“For some individuals, the margin of error is getting smaller and smaller and others are taking advantage of those opportunities.”

Tennessee’s most recent scrimmage was used to help define roles and rotations.

“We should have a pretty good gauge of where we’re at as a football team and what we need to concentrate on in the next week and a half,” Jones said of the scrimmage. “We should also have an idea of who is going to play this year. These young players have to understand that every rep counts whether it’s an individual rep or a team rep.”

John Kelly is an obvious big-play threat, and he’ll have more opportunities as the featured back this fall.

What Jones needs is for his receiver group to pose a bigger threat. The unit is deep.

Junior Jauan Jennings is the headliner, and he is confident that the group is in good standing as the season nears.

Behind Jennings are a number sophomores – Tyler Byrd, Marquez Callaway, Brandon Johnson and redshirt freshman Latrell Williams. Seniors Jeff George and Josh Smith will bring leadership.

True freshman Jordan Palmer has also been praised. Jordan Murphy is another true freshman looking to play a role. True freshman Jacquez Jones has been ruled out for the season with a knee injury, but can still play a role in being a leader in the wide receiver room.

Jennings said that he and the entire unit is ready to perform on game day.

“It’s almost here, it basically is here,” Jennings said. “We all just can’t wait, we’re all just a bunch of dogs that have been caged in and ready to be let out.”

First year offensive coordinator Larry Scott has been pleased with the wide receiver group, calling the unit “kind of a surprise” during camp.

“There are some young guys in there that haven’t necessarily played a little bit last year, but now they’re in some roles where that’s picked up for them,” Scott said.

“The way that they just responded to everything, with some of the things that we’re doing a little bit differently than we have in the past and different things like that, so I think that group has really kind of been a surprise, yet still has so far to go to be ready to go. But we’re definitely encouraged with what’s in that position group.”