Source with in Athletics program on the EEs & their impact from day 1

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Of course everyone wants to know more on how the 12 newcomers look and early returns

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But honestly, the phrase we heard no less than three times this week from different people best sums up this newcomers: "It's a new level around here. These aren't like guys that have been around here in a while. No disrespect to anyone else, but this is just a different level of prospect coming in. It's ability, confidence, swagger, attitude, all that."

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However, there's no denying the athletic ability of the new skill guys from Jalen Hurd to Josh Malone and to Lavon Pearson. Suffice to say, the Vols are more athletic today as a receiving corps than any point last season.

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Also, we wouldn't be surprised this spring if a guy like Devrin Young or Pig Howard doesn't work at different positions to try and add some depth and versatility to the offense as it grows in its second year. The newfound depth and potential explosiveness at the wide receiver position helps make this possible.

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At the tight end position, as one source put it to Volquest this week, the upgrade in simply adding two bodies made the position better. But it's more than just added bodies. Ethan Wolf arrived with good size and looks to be a guy who can be physical early in his career and Daniel Helm is a guy that athletically looks to be able to add a different dimension to the passing game. Remember, too, Brendan Downs has been on crutches so it's going to be a ton of reps and opportunities for the new guys.

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Defensively, Jakob Johnson is that guy just commanding an early buzz. Johnson is a physical specimen, coming in right around 6-3 and 230 pounds.

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D'Andre Payne has shown good early athleticism; it will be interesting to see if he can potentially be a factor at perhaps nickleback. Emmanuel Moseley has appeared incredibly explosive. Moseley's challenge will be to get his weight up and prove durable, but he's an instant boost to the athleticism in the Vols' secondary, we're told

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