Vols RB Ty Chandler media availability transcript

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 07, 2020 - Running back Ty Chandler #8 of the Tennessee Volunteers during 2020 Fall Camp practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics

Vols RB Ty Chandler media availability transcript

KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 07, 2020 – Running back Ty Chandler #8 of the Tennessee Volunteers during 2020 Fall Camp practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics

Ty Chandler, Sr., RB

On Tee Hodge …

 “Tee (Hodge) is looking good, he’s a great individual. I’m excited to have him in the room. He brings a positive energy, a great running back overall and I’m looking forward to watching him grow and develop at the university.”

 

On if Eric Gray has made him a better running back …

“No doubt. Like they say, iron sharpens iron. I’m just grateful to be able to be in the room with him. He has a great skillset he brings to the game and he’s even taught me things. We talk about stuff all the time and we just feed off each other. I’m grateful to be able to go out there and compete with him. I feel like he gets me better, he gets the whole team better, I love it.”

 

On Coach Jay Graham …

“He brings a positive energy to the table. Just a great attitude overall, he’s taught me a lot about angles, taking on defenders and being able to read blocks, stuff of that nature. He’s improved my game a ton and helped me take it to the next level. Overall, a great mentor a great guy to learn from and I’ve enjoyed the time being with him.”

 

On the offensive line …

“I’m looking forward to working with those guys again; they’re a great group of guys. They come out every day and work hard. I’m grateful to be able to run behind them. They’re a bunch of big guys up front and I feel like we can build off and be even better than where we were last year. We are going to keep building and I’m looking forward to it. Those guys have been working their butts off and I’m excited to run behind them.”

 

On if the younger guys have to be ready to contribute …

“Everybody has to be ready to contribute, no matter what time it is. It could be anything. I see that happening – a lot of young guys stepping up being able to make plays down field. Young players always have to be ready to step up, it’s a rough time but everybody is staying positive about it and willing to work. That’s the main thing.”

 

On what he wanted to improve the most in the offseason …

 “Me personally, I just wanted to be able to finish runs and just seeing different things such as read keys and holes. Just going out and being able to execute, playing consistent. That’s something I really wanted to improve on my game and even catching balls out of the backfield, just being able to take that to the next level is something I wanted to improve on and making people miss and stuff like that.”

 

On a practice with 44 players out …

 “You know this whole time has been crazy. You have to take it for what it’s worth with a positive attitude and be ready to compete. I feel like if we bring that approach to every practice no matter the situation, I feel like we’ll be fine and I feel like that’s what we’ve done. We’ve gone out there ready to practice ready to get better and willing to take that next step to go forward and push this team to the level we know it can be at.”

 

On Jabari Small …

“Another great kid. I don’t want to call him a kid; he’s a great young man. He is very shifty and I’m happy to have him in the room as well. He’s learning great and picking up stuff well. He’s going to be a great player here and like I said, shifty little guy.”

 

On playing an SEC schedule …

“When you say all SEC schools, everyone knows what that means. It’s a grind week in and week out and I feel like that’s what everyone is looking forward to. It’s a lot of competition and that’s what gets you better. We are looking forward to it. I’m up for the challenge, the team is up for the challenge so we just feel good.”

 

On being a senior and his comfort into a vocal leadership role …

“I have to be. It’s growing on me – just the ability to speak up and help other people. That’s something that’s definitely growing on me. I am comfortable doing it. I take on that challenge to speak up more and make sure people are doing the right things. If someone needs help or doesn’t know what to do, I’m there trying to give my input and my knowledge to them and help them grow and develop as a player from my different experiences being on the field. I’m happy to help anytime I can just speaking up more and stepping out of my comfort zone.”

-UT Athletics

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