KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – As the Volunteers hit the road for the second time this season and the second time in SEC play with a trip to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to face the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, head coach Jeremy Pruitt is eager for the challenge with Tennessee’s longstanding rival.
Coined the “Third Saturday in October”, Pruitt has lots of experience with this matchup from different vantage points. However, this will mark the first time Pruitt has coached inside Bryant-Denny Stadium from the opposing sideline.
“It’s a pretty special event,” said Pruitt, who was the Tide’s defensive coordinator (2016-17) and on the staff (2007-12) in addition to playing for Alabama from 1995 and 1996 after transferring from Middle Tennessee State.
“This is the rivalry. This is the game,” Pruitt said. “I grew up watching it, I had an opportunity to play in it. I’ve had the opportunity to coach in it – now on both sides – so this week does It kind of get you going.”
Tennessee will look for its first win in Tuscaloosa since the historical five-overtime marathon in 2003 when the Vols snapped a two-game losing streak on a one-yard quarterback sneak from Casey Clausen that clinched the 51-43 win.
Pruitt said the Vols have “a tremendous challenge ahead” against an undefeated Alabama team (6-0), but with the energy from Saturday’s 20-10 win against Mississippi State – when the Vols sported orange pants for the first time since the Nov. 12, 2016, 49-36 win versus Kentucky – carrying over, he is confident in what he’s seen from his team.
“We are improving up front,” Pruitt said. “Our coaches did a nice job of getting our guys ready to play. Our guys executed the plan and probably covered them a little better in the back end.
“One of the big positives out of the game was the way our offense took over the last eight minutes of the game. We had a 91-yard drive. It was very positive. We challenged them to do that and they did that.
“I thought our guys played hard,” Pruitt said of the defense. “The effort and toughness were not an issue. They played hard and found a way. Getting three turnovers was really, really good. We probably had an opportunity to get a couple of more. Defense did a nice job controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.”
Warrior Anchors Defense
Senior defensive back Nigel Warrior touted a strong performance from UT’s defensive line after Saturday’s win against the Bulldogs after it limited MSU running back and SEC rushing leader Kylin Hill to just 13 rushing yards and forced three interceptions.
“I love my defensive line,” a proud Warrior said. “They are the reason I had my success. After I got my pick, I told all of them I love them. They help us out so much just because they make the quarterback panic.”
But it’s also been Warrior, who has the third most tackles on the team (28) and leads in interceptions (two) and pass breakups (five), that has consistently uplifted the defense throughout the first half of the regular season.
“I see a guy that has really developed over the last 22 months,” Pruitt said. “The habits of what he does on the field, off the field, in the locker room, being a leader, in the classroom, Nigel has really matured.
“He’s a good leader on our football team and he’s worked extremely hard to improve his game. I see some confidence there that probably wasn’t there when he first got here. I think he’s playing his best football right now.”
Martin Moves to Sideline to Help Flow of Receiving Corps
After spending the first five games in the booth, assistant head coach and passing game coordinator Tee Martin returned to the sideline this past Saturday against the Bulldogs, to control the on-field flow of the Vols notable receiving group, headlined by seniors Jauan Jennings and Marquez Callaway and junior Josh Palmer.
With the majority of UT’s subbing coming from the wideouts, the staff decided it was best for Martin, who leads the group, to be field level.
“With Tee, we play the most guys at that position, where they roll in and out, and we’re making sure that we get an opportunity to get guys on the field,” Pruitt started. “So, a guy like Tyler Byrd has an opportunity to catch a few balls. I felt like that gave us the best opportunity to have the best substitution plan for our wide receivers.”
With so much production coming from the team’s top receivers, particularly Jennings, who leads with 412 yards and five touchdowns and is the only wideout that has surpassed 20 receptions (29), Pruitt hoped to spread production with Martin’s presence on the sideline.
“With Jauan, Marquez and Palmer, it’s been hard to get these (other) guys on the field the first few games,” Pruitt said. “It was one of the reasons we wanted to move Tee down on the field, because we felt like our top three guys were probably playing more snaps than they probably should.
“We had guys that we felt like could play winning football, but you kind of have to have a feel of when to put them in the game. It’s a lot easier for Tee to be right there to grab them and put them in as opposed to telling somebody from up top. It’s just tough to communicate that based off working from one line on the offensive side from the play caller or giving the plays to signal in.”
Byrd Maximizes Opportunities
Tyler Byrd quickly produced after being called in by Martin against Mississippi State. The senior receiver hauled in a 39-yard pass from Jarrett Guarantano to cement the Vols’ first SEC win and conclude an impressive nine-play, 91-yard drive from the offense.
“He’s played in every game on the offensive side of the ball and it just so happened the balls went to him in this game,” Pruitt said. “He took advantage of it, and it was good to see.
“Tyler works hard out there, and he’s really worked hard on his hands, and improving his ball catching ability. That was good to see because he’s always been able to run and is a strong runner.”
A season ago, Byrd also found the endzone against the Tide on a 20-yard reception from Keller Chryst in the second quarter.
Byrd will look to find pay dirt again this Saturday as the Vols and Tide prepare to meet for the 102nd time. Kickoff is slated for 9 p.m. (ET) on ESPN.
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