Len’Neth Whitehead

Vols’ running back eyeing spring ball return

Vols’ running back eyeing spring ball return.

KNOXVILLE – Tennessee returns to action Saturday at Arkansas in Week 7 of the Southeastern Conference’s 2020 league-only season.

The Vols had an open date last week.

Jeremy Pruitt kicked off Week 7 with his Monday press conference.

The third-year Tennessee head coach discussed freshman running back Len’Neth Whitehead that is eyeing a return during spring practices.

“He had been out because of his foot injury, but came back and was doing really well and unfortunately hurt his shoulder in camp and is probably going to do surgery on it in the next week to get him back in time for spring ball,” Pruitt said of Whitehead.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound freshman suffered a Lisfranc injury in his fifth game during his senior season at Athens Academy in Athens, Georgia.

Jeremy Pruitt updates Len’Neth Whitehead’s rehab progression

Jeremy Pruitt updates Len’Neth Whitehead’s rehab progression.

KNOXVILLE — Freshman running back Len’Neth Whitehead is going through his first fall training camp at Tennessee.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound freshman suffered a Lisfranc injury in his fifth game during his senior season at Athens Academy.

Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt discussed Whitehead’s injury and how the Athens, Georgia native is progressing since arriving in Knoxville.

“He had a significant injury and we knew that when we signed him,” Pruitt said of Whitehead on a Zoom call with reporters. “Len’Neth is really progressed very well with his rehab.

“He’s not practicing as far as full-speed reps. He’s doing individual things. Hopefully, in three to four weeks, he’ll be at a point to where he can start taking full-speed reps. If he’s able to do that, maybe in the last half of the year, he’ll play a little bit. Again, he’s right on schedule with where he’s supposed to be and he’s working hard to get there.”

Recruiting Player Profile: Len’Neth Whitehead

KNOXVILLE – As Tennessee football brings in new talent during the Early Signing Period, Vols Wire is releasing player profiles on each individual that signs with UT.

As of Wednesday morning’s first signings, Len’Neth Whitehead came in as a nice surprise for Tennessee football when the four-star inside linebacker out of Athens, Ga. signed to be a Vol.

The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Georgia product is rated as the No. 10 inside linebacker per the 247 Sports Composite, however Whitehead was a two-way player in high school as a running back and linebacker. It is unclear which position he will play for the Vols, but programs such as Georgia, South Carolina, Oklahoma and Michigan were all vying for his services.

In a big get for Tennessee out of Georgia’s backyard, Whitehead is currently the fourth four-star linebacker prospect in Tennessee’s 2020 class.

NEXT LEVEL: Len'Neth Whitehead

• Vision
• Agility
• Power#NSD20 / #2THET0P / #PoweredByTheT pic.twitter.com/CWrBXmSdXK

— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) December 18, 2019

Stay tuned to Vols Wire for more player profiles on each Tennessee signee during the Early Signing Period.