Vols prepare for offense without suspended back Coker

‘If two or three of them are ready, we’ll let them compete’ for the position, Cutcliffe said.

Coach Phillip Fulmer announced Tuesday that Coker has been suspended indefinitely while he deals with an unspecified ‘medical situation’ and other issues.

With the Sept. 1 season opener at Cal approaching, Cutcliffe said hard work will be needed in finding a back to accompany Arian Foster and Montario Hardesty, who is nursing a sore hamstring.

‘We’re going to have to make a decision pretty quickly on who is ready to play,’ Cutcliffe said. ‘That’s a whole bunch of stuff to get in with pass protections and everything else But we can only hit them and beat them up so many times.’

Senior David Holbert, who is currently listed as a tight end on the depth chart, was a name mentioned in the mix due to his experience with the offense. The other alternative, Cutcliffe joked, was to go with a five-wide receiver package.

At receiver, Kenny O’Neal was back at practice after missing Tuesday with a hamstring issue.

‘I hate watching, and coach said you can’t make the team in the tub,’ O’Neal said. ‘I’ve been playing this game my whole life and was anxious to get out there.’

O’Neal, who Cutcliffe said was an early standout among the receivers, plans to be ready for Saturday’s scrimmage, which will help Cutcliffe get a better feel for his fresh corps of wide outs.

‘As a group, they’ve shown flashes,’ Cutcliffe said. ‘We’re certainly not displeased with anybody, but we’re not ready to single anybody out yet.’