By Grant Ramey of the Knoxville News Sentinel

Tennessee football coach Butch Jones confirmed on Monday that sophomore receiver Jauan Jennings, sophomore defensive tackle Shy Tuttle and junior-college transfer defensive tackle Alexis Johnson will all be available for Thursday's season opener against Appalachian State (TV: SEC Network, 7:30 p.m.).

How many snaps either defensive tackle will play is yet to be determined.

Tuttle spent the preseason coming back from the broken leg that ended his freshman season. Johnson returned to practice two weeks ago from his indefinite suspension.

"He has been on scout team," Jones said of Johnson. "He has to go earn his way into our football program. We moved him down a little bit (on Sunday) on the defensive side of the ball.

"Again, he continues to be work in progress, still taking it one day at a time. He still has some work to do to be completely game ready, but I like his attitude. I like everything that we've seen so far from him."

First-year Tennessee defensive coordinator Bob Shoop said the flow of Thursday's game will determine snap totals for every player on defense, including Tuttle and Johnson.

"That'd be neat if we could get them both in there," Shoop said. "Both of them, Alexis has just kind of come back. He's been a nice surprise."

Johnson was forced to work out on his own while serving his indefinite suspension, which came after a February arrest.

"Probably a more realistic goal for him is being ready to go in a couple weeks," Shoop said of Johnson. "I think if he can give us some help at some point that would be great. Shy, same thing. He's obviously further ahead."

Jennings, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in the spring, has been in a green non-contact jersey during fall camp.

More details online later and in Tuesday's News Sentinel