For the first time in years, Tennessee entered spring practice with the feeling that the Vols are a legitimate contender in the SEC East.

One of the biggest questions UT must answer this spring: Who will inherit the “Mike” linebacker role from A.J. Johnson?

Dillon Bates, who played in four games as an outside linebacker in ’14 before getting hurt, will get a chance to grow into the role in his redshirt freshman season.

“Grow” is the key word, as he played at 222 pounds last season. Now tipping past 230 pounds, coach Butch Jones wants Bates up to 240 pounds to handle playing on the interior of an SEC defense.

Bates has worked closely with a nutritionist and strength coach. He wants to gain about 10 more pounds by the team’s spring game on April 25.

I’ve steadily been getting bigger and bigger. (That weight) has been coming on naturally, so it’s been feeling great,” Bates said after practice Tuesday. “I’ve kept my speed, kept my agility, so moving around feels great.”

Bates’ father, Bill, won three Super Bowls for the Dallas Cowboys as a safety, so he grew up immersed in the game. Playing prep ball in Ponte Verda Beach, Fla., Bates often shifted from safety to linebacker to defensive end depending on the specific game plan and the opposition’s personnel.

The biggest adjustment moving to “Mike” linebacker is that Bates must know the assignment of every defensive player so he can ensure the Vols are aligned properly. It’s an adjustment, especially mentally, he admitted, but his background should help speed up his learning curve.

Bates also said his shoulder (torn labrum) feels 100 percent, but he’s day-to-day this spring and the team will exercise caution. The more on-field reps he can get — not so much for contact, but to adjust to the speed at which he needs to recognize and react — the better chance he’ll be prepared to handle the middle linebacker role this fall.

Jalen Reeves-Maybin is solidified as a starter at outside linebacker. Curt Maggitt is capable of playing outside linebacker or defensive end. But the other spots are up for grabs. Darrin Kirkland Jr., out for spring due to injury, may eventually see time at inside linebacker, along with Gavin Bryant and Jakob Johnson.

“That’s one of the questions we need to get answered when spring ball concludes,” coach Butch Jones said Tuesday. “Who are our No. 2 and who are our No. 3 linebackers? That’s one of our points of emphasis that we have to get answered throughout the course of spring.

“Dillon’s an intelligent football player, but having him miss most of the year, having him out there, he’s going through the learning curve, just like all our young players are right now. He’s athletic. He’s very (instinctive). And he’s smart.”

OTHER TIDBITS

  • DE Corey Vereen, DT Owen Williams and DT Charles Mosley all participated in practice Tuesday. As part of an NCAA-mandated acclimation period, players can’t wear pads on the first day. With the Vols in helmets only, the deficit of healthy bodies at defensive line wasn’t as apparent.
  • The first-team defensive line during the portion of practice open to the media included Williams and Kendal Vickers at defensive tackle as well as LaTroy Lewis and Dimarya Mixon at defensive end, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
  • RB Jalen Hurd and WR Marquez North both participated Tuesday, but wore green no-contact jerseys. Clearly they will be pretty limited in the remaining 14 practices, particularly those with full pads.
  • Redshirt freshman Charles Mosley missed all of last season after breaking his leg in a car accident. At 6-foot-5 and 370 pounds, he’ll start spring practice working with the offensive line after initially launching his Vols career on the bother side of the ball last summer.
  • Kyler Kerbyson (left tackle) and Coleman Thomas (right tackle) worked with the first-team offense, according to the Times Free Press. Freshman Jack Jones (right tackle) and Chance Hall (right guard) operated with the second group.
  • Jones revealed Tuesday that he asked QB Josh Dobbs to sit in when he interviewed new offensive coordinator Mike DeBord, an unusual occurrence at the college level.
    Said Dobbs: “We still talk about that first interaction today. It definitely gave us a great introduction to each other. Coming in, he was a very upbeat guy. Obviously he knew a lot about football. His history tells that and that stands true today. He knows a lot, he’s helping us out a lot and he’s definitely bringing a new element to this offense that we’re definitely going to like this year.”The quarterback said there aren’t many major differences from last year’s offense, but that DeBord wants the team to operate at a faster tempo.

  • RB Alvin Kamara went through his first practice as a Tennessee football player. He’s the marquee name among the members of the ’15 class participating in spring ball.