Tennessee Vols assistant coach provides encouraging update ahead of season-opener against Chattanooga

Tennessee Vols running backs coach De'Rail Sims provided an encouraging update on a key player on Tuesday while speaking with reporters.

Sims, who is entering his first season as an assistant coach with the Vols, told the media that Tennessee is going to "turn loose" sophomore running back Cam Seldon against Chattanooga on Saturday in the 2024 season-opener.

Seldon suffered an injury during spring practice that put his availability for the start of the regular season in doubt.

“He’s been doing good," said Sims when asked about Seldon. "He’s been doing a really good job of sitting up there attacking the practice. So we’ll turn him loose on Saturday and let him see what we can do.”

Seldon, a former four-star recruit from Virginia, rushed for 106 yards on 25 carries as a true freshman last season. When healthy, Seldon is expected to serve as Tennessee's No. 2 running back behind junior Dylan Sampson.

"I think you sit here and look at it, he’s smooth," noted Sims when asked about Seldon's strengths. "He has really good vision. He’s able to anticipate where the holes are going to be at the second level. I think, just like with all taller backs, just being able to work on that pad level. Instead of running upright like Eddie George, make sure we’re doing a really good job running behind our pads and being able to finish off runs.”

I wouldn't expect Seldon to receive a heavy workload against Chattanooga, but it sounds like the Tennessee staff wants him to get some reps against the Mocs before the grind of the 2024 schedule truly hits.

Related: Former Sooners QB Jason White offers strong comments on Josh Heupel's time at Oklahoma and Heupel's exit from Norman