Jauan Jennings was recruited to Tennessee originally to play quarterback. However, he ended up switching to wide receiver with the surplus of quarterbacks in Knoxville. His athleticism and speed are also big reasons his time at QB was so short. The Vols staff really wants to put him in positions to make plays and he won't get to do that behind starter Josh Dobbs.
Jennings got his first real go at wide receiver in a full team scrimmage Thursday night and it was not pretty. Receivers coach Zach Azzani was very supportive of the first-time receiver though in the media session on Friday.
"He struggled a little bit yesterday in a full scrimmage situation. It went a little fast for him, but that's good, that's why you do it — that's why we do those scrimmage situations. We sat down and critiqued it. The whole position (unit) was here till 11:45 last night because they didn't like the way they played. They came off, they helped each other, they graded the film. He did not like the way he played, and I'm like, 'Listen, you've been playing the position for seven days.' He was so torn up about it. I know, with that attitude, I'll enjoy coaching him. I can take that. That's going to be fun to coach."
Jennings was approached by coach Butch Jones and offensive coordinator Mike DeBord in the spring about making the switch so he can get on the field. The 6'4" athlete already knows the plays so well from studying the playbook as a quarterback so the transition shouldn't be too hard mentally, but he will have to prove his route running and catching abilities if he wants to see more time on the field.
