One of Tennessee’s biggest moves of the offseason was hiring strength coach Derek Owings away from Indiana.

We heard all offseason about the physical transformation that Tennessee made under Owings. It even impressed former players from rival schools.

The impact that Owings has made on Tennessee’s roster is undeniable. But now that the season has started, many fans are wondering what kind of impact the longterm strength coach will make in-season.

Voice of the Vols Mike Keith addressed that very question on Thursday morning during an appearance on 104.5 The Zone’s Ramon and Will.

Mike Keith details Derek Owings’ in-season role at Tennessee

“Did you notice him on the field during injury situations? Have you watched him during huddles?” said Keith when asked about Owings. “I can tell you he’s evident on the plane. He’s a coach. That’s the part of Derek Owings that you need to understand is that he is a coach. He’s not just a strength guy. He’s not the strength coach that many of us had that also taught typing and driver’s ed. He is a coach, and he is involved in all parts of the program — even on game day.

“And I think from that standpoint, that is the biggest difference in what he has brought. He is around. He’s ever-present, and the guys really rely on him. He is, outside of the head coach, one of the few members of the staff who is a touch point to every player on the team. Maybe your defensive backs coach knows everybody on the club personally, but they’ve got to concentrate on their room. This guy has a relationship with all 105 players, just like Josh Heupel does, and so that part of it and staying in touch in that way is a big deal.”

The way Keith describes Owings reminds me a bit of former Alabama strength coach Scott Cochran, who was always very visible on the Crimson Tide sideline during the height of Nick Saban’s run (Cochran is now the head coach at West Alabama).

As for the early returns on the physical state of the Vols after an offseason with Owings?

Well, it’s all positive.

“They like their physicality,” said Keith. “They like the fact they didn’t get tired. They like the fact that they haven’t seen a bunch of cramps in the first two games. I mean, it all ties together.”

We’ll see how the Vols hold up over the rest of the season. That will be the true test.