KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee football’s countdown to kickoff has reached single digits as the Volunteers are nine days from opening the 2021 campaign under the Thursday night lights against Bowling Green on Sept. 2. After the 17th practice of preseason camp Tuesday morning, defensive coordinator Tim Banks and select players met with local media to discuss UT’s preparation for the season opener.

“Particularly with the first game, it’s more of what do we do well?” Banks said. “Being able to play to our strengths and making sure our guys understand very clearly what we’re trying to get done. Obviously with your first opponent — particularly if they’re a team that’s returning a lot of starters — you have an idea of what you think you might get, but at the end of the day it’s a new season. I’m sure those guys have worked on some different things, so we want to just make that we understand what we’re trying to get done to give us the best opportunity to succeed.”

Widely recognized as a key leader on the defensive side of the ball, senior defensive back Alontae Taylor is most looking forward to playing in a full capacity Neyland Stadium. The Manchester, Tennessee, native was recently recognized by the league’s coaches on the preseason All-SEC third team.

“I’m very eager,” Taylor said. “A lot of guys are. Last season was different for everyone, being a COVID season. We’re just excited to have Vol Nation out there. We’re excited to have the traditional things going again, such as the Vol Walk and running out of the T. We are all excited about that.

“We have a lot of confidence in this staff, in our players (and) we’re ready to go compete and show the world what we have been working on the past couple months with this new staff.”

Junior defensive back Jaylen McCollough echoed coach Banks’ sentiments, expressing the secondary’s urgency to play with speed and physicality.

“We have been very urgent as far as our preparation, just honing in on stuff that will put us in position to win and be successful,” McCollough said. “Not only on Bowling Green, but as the University of Tennessee, just focusing in on us and the stuff we need to accomplish in order to be where we want to be.

“That is what we are priding ourselves on, being aggressive and taking no prisoners. Just flying around, getting to the ball and making plays.”

Memphis native Omari Thomas discussed the defensive line’s cohesiveness on and off the field and how that will translate to success for the unit under position coach Rodney Garner.

“We’re able to work together and build that brotherhood as a defensive line by spending time outside of football,” Thomas said. “We have all come together to give us that chemistry on the field to help us win games. That’s what we are going to do, we are going to make sure we play together and compete.”

Kickoff for next Thursday’s opener against the Falcons is slated for 8 p.m. ET. Tickets for the Bowling Green game, as well as season tickets and mini plans are available on AllVols.com.

The full transcript of Tuesday’s availability with coach Banks can be seen below, along with select quotes from the defensive trio.

Defensive Coordinator Tim Banks – Preseason Camp Media Availability – 8.24.21

On how the linebacker unit has grown through camp…
“I think the biggest thing we have depth right now. Obviously, we got here in the spring (and) we had guys who were banged up, trying to learn a new system. Having some transfers in and obviously getting some guys healthy is giving those guys the ability to compete better. There’s a lot more urgency within the room. Still some things we obviously want to do better but overall, I’m pleased with the depth that we’re developing, and I think we’re heading in the right direction.”

On the balance when it comes to game planning for the opponent while playing to your strengths…
“I think, particularly with the first game, it’s more of what do we do well? Being able to play to our strengths and making sure our guys understand very clearly what we’re trying to get done. Obviously, your first opponent, particularly if they’re a team that’s returning a lot of starters, you have an idea of what you think you might get, but at the end of the day it’s a new season. I’m sure those guys have worked on some different things, so we want to just make that we understand what we’re trying to get done to give us the best opportunity to succeed.”

On what he believes the defense does really well at this point heading into the season opener…
“As cliché as it may sound, I think the guys are playing extremely hard. I think at the end of the day, we’re doing a better job of understanding our fits and responsibilities within every package that we have. Now, exactly which package we run the most will be determined by who we’re playing and what they present, the challenges and opportunities we have. At the end of the day, I think for us right now we’re just doing a better job overall executing and playing extremely hard.”

On how he feels the players understand the different schemes and how many reliable pass rushers they have…
“I feel good with the guys in terms of the grasp that they have of the defense. Obviously, doing it under the lights and doing it at practice, it’s another step that you’re taking, but at the end of the day thus far, I feel really good with what we’re doing.

“As far as pass rushers go, I think it’s still that work in progress. We feel like we have some guys up front that have taken some strides in that way. But we also feel like we need to generate some more pass rush. We have different ways to get that done.”

On what this coming week will look like in terms of install and practice…
“I think it’s always different. I think if you speak for us right now, we’re really finishing up things that we have. We had a couple things on deck that we still wanted to make sure we took look at. Ultimately, we’re just trying to game plan. What kind of wrinkles  do we have within the system or within the plays that we already have in. Putting in a whole new package and things of that nature, I don’t see us doing that at this point.”

On senior DB Alontae Taylor and the increase in competition at the cornerback position…
“Yeah, I think so. Obviously, being an older guy, I think he had pretty good urgency from the beginning, but I think any time that you add other guys into the mix and those guys continue to push and continue to work, I think it becomes contagious. Alontae is a guy who’s always had great work ethic. He’s worked extremely hard during the offseason (and) we saw the fruits of that during camp and we’re hoping that he’ll take even another step going into the season.”

On being able to tackle more and avoiding targeting penalties…
“We spent a lot of time talking about body position, obviously your feet and making sure you keep your face out of it, you know, safety first, I think we all know that. To be honest, over the last five years or so, kids have gotten better because the coaches have gotten better teaching. Ultimately, when you start tackling and tackling at high speed when the lights come on, you hope the kids will revert back to their training because we’re not tackling live every day, more footwork and hand placement. As the lights come on and we have more opportunities to do it, hopefully the tackling will be better. To your point, I think we have done a good job emphasizing safety first, we will have to see what happens Thursday night, but I think those guys will protect themselves and obviously our opponent.”

On finding a signal caller with a new defense…
“We put a lot on our linebackers, getting them to help set the front, help reiterate what we are trying to get done from the back to the front. Those guys (the linebackers) have been great with it to be quite honest with you. All of those guys get their chances, whether it’s our MIKE or our WILL, everyone has a certain level of communication that they have to have with the defense. It’s still a work in progress, but to this point Coach BJ (Brian Jean-Mary) has done a great job staying on top of those guys to the point where we are head-and-shoulders above where we were in the spring.”

On Kwauze Garland and Solon Page III…
“Both of those guys have shown flashes. I think, like with anything, the older guy, he hasn’t played a lot of snaps in the game, but he’s gotten special teams reps and has gotten better from the spring to the fall. Pakk (Kwauze Garland), he’s a kid who obviously transitioned from a defensive back to a linebacker. I think, for the most part, you can see his athleticism because of his background. He’s working hard every day, putting it all together to become a well-rounded linebacker, so to speak. I like both of those guys to be honest. At the end of the day, they are going to help Tennessee this year.”

On specialty situation guys with a clear-cut strength…
“I think that is vital to anything. We’ve got to identify what every one of these kids brings to the table, what are their strengths, what are their liabilities? If you have a legitimate pass rusher or a guy who is really good in coverage, when the time is right you want to showcase them. If you can develop a role on this defense to help us win, we will find you, we will develop you, and give you a chance to showcase it.”

On how many cornerbacks are ready for the opener…
“That’s a tough question. It is probably a fluid situation. We’re still trying to figure that out. We feel like we have three guys who we think will play a considerable amount of reps and we have a couple of guys who are pushing for that fourth spot and even that fifth spot. We have different packages, obviously, where all the guys will have opportunities. As far as that first unit, that first rotation, we feel pretty good about three guys, but that fourth or fifth spot are still a work in progress.”

On the nickel and STAR spots…
“We feel good about our first one. We have a strong battle for the second and third spot. Theo (Jackson) has done a great job for us all camp, extremely athletic for his size and does a great job of understanding schematically what we’re trying to accomplish. We have a couple of guys who are having a strong camp and (we’ll) get it all figured out in the next day or so.”

On what he’s seen from Juwan Mitchell… 
“(Juwan) is a go-go guy. He goes extremely hard. You see him start to settle in, how we do things and how we go about our business. He’s a football player. He loves to play when he’s between those lines. He’s a physical kid, probably runs a little better than we thought on tape, so we’re excited to see what he does on Thursday. He’s been a guy who’s playing really hard for us and playing fast. He looks like a linebacker.”

On the adjustments required to avoid targeting penalties… 
“It’s always tough. Refs have a tough job. But at the end of the day, if they’re going to err, they’re always going to err on safety. Which for us in this game of football, we all want guys to be able to go home afterwards and see their loved ones. I played defensive back. I understand how hard it is, but at the end of the day, we’re going to do what’s best for the game of football. We’re going to try to teach it the right way, and hopefully we can execute it the right way and let the chips fall where they may.”

On Omari Thomas’ production in preseason camp…  
“(Omari) has worked really hard. I think our whole front has worked hard. Coach (Rodney) Garner has done a nice job continuing to push those guys and get them going. It’s going to be a little bit by committee up there. For us to play at the level that we all want to play at, we’re going to need to be good up front. It might have to be by committee, so (Omari) is part of that mix. He’s working hard. How much of a role he carves out is yet to be determined, like it is with a lot of those guys up front.”

On what the defensive line needs to accomplish prior to next week’s season opener… 
“Just stay in the process. I know that’s cliché, but the reality of it is we’re still working. We’re finishing up, just playing hard. How many guys will we play? As many that earn the opportunity. You get what you earn. Again, understanding big-picture wise, for us to play at a high level, we’re going to need to be able to rotate guys. We aren’t rotating guys if they’re not ready to play at the standard that we’ve established. The way I see it right now, Coach Garner’s doing a good job with developing not just our first group, but the second group and hopefully even some of the third group will have an opportunity to play. At the end of the day, (it’s) no different for the d-line, the linebackers, defensive backs – you get what you earn. How do you earn it? Through your performance not just one day, but the consistency in your daily approach. I think (Omari Thomas) and the rest of those d-linemen, I think those guys have bought into that, and I think they’re working extremely hard to make sure they earn the right to step between those lines and take the field.”

On Brandon Turnage and Kamal Hadden’s impact as transfers… 
“They’re still fighting and pushing and clawing and scratching. I think the thing that they’ve afforded us right now is some flexibility. Being able to play inside, being able to play outside, being able to move some different guys around. We’re pleased that they’re here. Those guys will carve out some sort of role. Whether it be a starter, whether it be a backup, I think that’s yet to be determined. Ultimately, I think the fact that they’re here, they’ve already made us better.”

On his impressions of transfer DL Da’Jon Terry…  
“Power. Power and strength. We knew that he was a kid that played hard on tape. He hasn’t disappointed. He’s a physical kid, he’s big. He’s obviously learning our system and how we go about our business, but we’re pleased with him. Talk about a wonderful kid, a kid who wants to do right, wants to be great, takes coaching. I’m excited for him. I’m really looking forward to watching him play and help this defense win.”

Senior DB Alontae Taylor

On how the competition in the secondary has been with the addition of transfers…
“It’s been good. Everyone has been working really hard. Everyone has been competing. No one has had bad body language. Everyone is going in there and doing the best they can.”

On how the understanding of the scheme has changed for the secondary from spring to fall camp…
“Anytime you have a new staff come in, you try and figure out the new defense. There were some wrinkles here and there, but we always say at the end of the day, football is football and defense is defense. Just being in the meeting room with the coaches, talking to the GA’s, talking to all those guys to get a better understanding of that, but also walking through those things during the summer, going out on the practice field and seeing it in a better view as we are walking through it and it’s not as fast. The understanding of it is really good, everyone is flying around. We can make those checks a little faster and make faster decisions.”

On how the secondary handles the responsibility that is put on them on defense….
“At the end of the day, we make everything right. If there are any holes, we have strong safeties come down and fill those gaps. As far as the outside, we are going to cancel anything we can. Whether that’s PBU’s or interceptions. I feel like a lot of guys have confidence. Coaches put a lot of confidence in us and showed that they trust us to do what we are supposed to do. Taking that in as players and going into the meeting room, just as a DB unit, and going over certain situations ourselves, that is a big difference than last year.”

On how eager he is to play next Thursday and start the new season….
“I’m very eager to do it. A lot of guys are. Last season was different for everyone, being a COVID season. We’re just excited to have Vol Nation out there. We’re excited to have the traditional things going again, such as the Vol Walk and running out of the Power T. We are all excited about that. We aren’t worried about last season and how it ended. We have a lot of confidence in this staff, in our players (and) we’re ready to go compete and show the world what we have been working on the past couple months with this new staff.”

Junior DB Jaylen McCollough

On how he would describe the prep of this new staff and the anticipation of the new season…
“We have been very urgent as far as our preparation, just honing in on stuff that will put us in position to win and be successful. Not only on Bowling Green, but as the University of Tennessee just focusing in on us and the stuff we need to accomplish in order to be where we want to be.”

On if he sees this defense playing fast or physical….
“Both. That is what we are priding ourselves on, being aggressive and taking no prisoners. Just flying around, getting to the ball and making plays.”

On how the defense is adjusting to the new scheme from the staff….
“Scheme is scheme. The biggest difference is just us locking in and focusing on what the coaches are trying to get us to execute and actually going out there and executing.”

On how it’s helped the secondary practicing against a fast-paced offense….
“The offense plays extremely fast and has gotten us into shape. We’re back there, reading our keys, calling out formations, knowing plays from those formations, and it just puts us a step ahead.”

Sophomore DL Omari Thomas

On his growth since freshman year and focal point for 2021…
“I feel like I have been able to grow since last season going through the spring and actually getting an offseason, I was able to work on my craft. Coming in, having a coach like coach (Rodney) Garner who pushes me every day to get me better and tells me what I need to work on, he wants me to be a better player than I was last year. I think I have grown and will continue to grow through the season.”

On what he has specifically worked on for this season…
“Hearing it from coach Garner, it is working on my pad level, working on keeping my knees bent since I am a taller guy. He always tells me when I am low, I need to get lower. I struggle with this as a player and am going to be able to overcome that. He has been pushing me every day through camp, working with me extra outside of practice. He has done all that to help me become a better player.”

On how he believes the defensive line has improved…
“I feel like we have grown as a defensive line, not just on the field but off the field, too. We are able to work together and build that brotherhood as a defensive line by spending time outside of football. We have all come together to give us that chemistry on the field to help us win games. That’s what we are going to do, we are going to make sure we play together and compete.”

On whom has improved the most on defensive line since new coaching staff came in…
“I would say Tyler Baron. He has had a really good camp. Byron Young has done very well too, as well as LaTrell Bumphus. LaTrell got hurt last year and when he came back, he did not miss a beat. He was doing everything the right way with tempo and playing vertical. Matthew Butler, as well. Coach Garner pushes all of us to be good young men off the field.”

On why he changed his number to 21…
“It is something different. It is a new year, a new team, a new everything. I am a different type of person. I don’t like to follow a crowd.”

-UT Athletics