Golesh Transcript (PDF) | Player Quotes (PDF)
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — After Tennessee football’s fourth bowl practice wrapped up Tuesday morning inside the Anderson Training Center, offensive coordinator Alex Golesh and select UT players met with members of the media to discuss a handful of topics surrounding the Vols’ postseason preparations.
Golesh addressed his unit’s successful 2021 campaign that saw the Vols finish the regular season as one of nation’s top offenses, ranking top 20 in the FBS in numerous categories. Tennessee touts the No. 8 scoring offense in the country at 38.8 points per game and is just 19 points shy of breaking the program record for total points in a single season.
With early signing day less than 24 hours away, Golesh spoke on the offensive staff’s ability to use tape from this past season on the recruiting trail as an additional redeeming quality for potential prospects.
“You’re able to show your own film, which I think has been huge through these official visits,” Golesh said. “Being able to sit down and look at what a drive looks like, seeing what an operation of play-to-play, series-to-series, how we think about a game. I think it’s been super helpful to be able to sell the actual product. We always talk about having video tape evidence, now you have video tape evidence of what it looks like.”
The catalyst of the 2021 Tennessee offense has been redshirt senior quarterback Hendon Hooker, who recently announced his plans to return to Knoxville in 2022 for his super senior season and final year of eligibility. The signal caller met with local media for the first time since revealing his decision and provided some insight in his comments on Tuesday.
“Really, it was just prayer, talking to my family and the coaches as well, getting their feedback on what they thought of my season and my production,” Hooker said. “I have gotten a couple of grades back. It’s really about just trusting the process like I’ve always done, keeping my head down, working hard and controlling what I can control.”
Hooker will lead the Tennessee offense into a highly anticipated matchup with Purdue later this month as the programs square off in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl on Thursday, December 30 in Nashville. Ticket information is available at musiccitybowl.com and tickets can be purchased directly via TicketMaster.
Super senior wideout Velus Jones Jr. will get his first taste of bowl game action with the Vols since joining the program two years ago and is embracing each moment leading up to the season finale.
“I’m really excited,” Jones said. “I’ve seen the past bowl games, how this fan base travels and the pride they take in being fans of the Tennessee Volunteers. I’m truly blessed. This is my first bowl game here, so I’m going to soak up every moment of it, enjoy this with my teammates, this last stretch of practices leading up to the bowl game. We’re just going to live it up and have fun. We’re going to go out the right way this season.”
Existing season ticket holders can renew their tickets for the 2022 season now by visiting AllVols.com. Fans wishing to purchase new season tickets for the 2022 season can submit a request by clicking HERE.
Full transcript for Golesh’s media availability can be viewed below, along with select quotes from Hooker, Jones and redshirt junior wide receiver Cedric Tillman.
Offensive Coordinator Alex Golesh
On if any of the younger receivers have breakout potential like Cedric Tillman…
“Yeah, there’s a handful of those guys that played some early in the year, played some throughout, guys that we’re excited about. Jimmy Calloway comes to mind. He’s continued to progress and continued to show a level of want to to improve. That would be one. Jalin Hyatt would be another that’s got to continue to take steps for us. Both those guys are uber talented and we’re excited to see how they can take the next step. You know, Ramel Keyton has played quite a bit. The hope is Ramel can continue to grow and become that as we lose JaVonta (Payton) and Velus (Jones Jr.). (We’re) really counting on all of those guys to step up and take a major step. Second year in the system, you got to believe as that comfort level comes, at that position especially just because how fast we’re playing, the hope is those guys can all take a next step and we’re really counting on that.”
On conversations with recruits after they’ve seen how successful the offense was this season…
“Well, this time around you’re showing your own film rather than a year ago showing UCF film and saying ‘hey, this is how you fit.’ I give a lot of credit to the guys that jumped in before they saw the product on the field. There’s a couple of guys – I don’t know if you’re particularly talking about skill guys – but o-linemen, skill guys, running backs that jumped in based on who we are and with somewhat of a promise of what the offense will look like. I think as much success statistically as we had, I think we got monumental growth ahead of us here starting with the bowl game, but really through the offseason. Obviously, you sell a vison when you first get to a place. This place is easy to sell, the tradition, the facilities, those that have come before them, what a VFL is – there are some incredible examples playing in the National Football League to show you that. I think that part was always here. In terms of being able to show your own film and saying ‘hey, you fit in like Cedric here on this film, you fit in to replace a Velus,’ or ‘hey man, you’re different than those guys, this is what we want to become,’ and you’re able to show your own film, which I think has been huge through these official visits. Being able to sit down and look at what a drive looks like, seeing what an operation of play-to-play, series-to-series, how we think about a game. I think it’s been super helpful to be able to sell the actual product. We always talk about having video tape evidence, now you have video tape evidence of what it looks like.”
On some of the other younger players who could make strides from now to spring practice…
“To be honest with you, those quarterbacks – through I guess four practices now – I feel like have taken a huge step. It’s like they’ve had a little bit of time off and both Hendon (Hooker) and Joe (Milton III) have practiced extremely well. I think that’s where it starts, you hope both of those guys continue to progress. Year two in a system for a quarterback – I used the word monumental earlier – could be really, really special with those two (if) they keep progressing like they are. Other positions, like Jaylen Wright taking another step, Len’Neth Whitehead at running back, both those guys have practiced extremely well. We’ve seen the best version of Jabari (Small), a healthy Jabari these last couple of weeks. That’s been awesome to see. Talked about Jimmy Calloway and Jalin Hyatt, both those guys have practiced extremely well. Jimmy Holiday has practiced well. I’m trying to think, up front, really just got to continue to grow with all those young guys. Dayne Davis continuing to gain confidence in who he is. J.J. (Jeremiah) Crawford, seen a really good four practices out of J.J. I think it’s interesting, when you let guys rest up a little bit it feels a little bit like spring ball in terms of guys are fresh, guys are running around really fast. Base offense, where literally day one of spring ball is all we’re practicing, so the guys can play fast because they’re not thinking. That’s really more than anything, how fast we play, the ability to see it or hear it, recognize it, see a defense, see what it looks like and be able to play and react fast – just as much as anything else we do, that’s monumental for our offense, for the guys within the system. I think in year two, the less guys are thinking, the faster they can play, I think we can take a ginormous step as a whole.”
On the return of Hendon Hooker making things easier…
“That was an awesome two-week conversation and, in a lot of ways, an early Christmas present for all of us, to get a veteran guy to come back. As much as anything, gratifying that he wants to be here, gratifying that he wants to lead the offense and I’m so proud of what he’s done and just the next step that he can take. I know I sound like a broken record but recognition within the offense, being able to line up, see it, play really, really fast. Playing quarterback is all about decision-making, timing, ball placement. With Hendon, the element of what he can do with his legs, we’ve got to continue to grow. We didn’t come into the season expecting that to be what we were doing. Obviously, it’s been an added bonus. He’s gotten us out of a lot of things, (that) makes it easier on third down where you can call a drop back pass and he’ll make you right and save your butt a couple of times. I’ve said ‘thank you’ to him several times on that. His growth, again, understanding what we do, how we do it. I think there’s a whole other evolution to what we do in terms of formational differences. You’ve seen us grow offensively as the year has gone on. We’ve looked different at times, continuing to add that to his plate. I think the more you change with pictures, how fast we play, the harder it is, especially at that spot. We’ve been able to do that as we’ve gone. He’s going to give us the opportunity to be more multiple as he develops. He’s been uber efficient for a year. If he can continue that efficiency and continue to grow … I think for us, the element of him being able to run the ball frees up so many things in the pass game. You’ve got to account for him running the football, which, in theory, creates a little bit more single-high coverage which allows you to throw it better. Just having him back there and knowing going into spring ball what you have makes it so much easier as the coordinator to figure out, even as you’re installing in the spring, that’s the guy. You build it around him. Again, I’m not discounting Joe (Milton’s) growth either because for him, second year – you’ve got to remember he got here in June – his growth for another year is going to be monumental for us to have success.”
On the difference in in-season and off-season reviewing…
“I’m really, really fascinated to go into June, and in a lot of ways really started it flying around the country these last two weeks. Going out and researching different ways to continue to evolve. You’ve got to continue to change as defenses and defensive coordinators figure out what you do, how you do it. You’ve got to continue to evolve and put wrinkles in. I don’t know that it will make it easier, it certainly will make it clearer for us, what we can do. Again, the quarterback run element, that wasn’t what we were going into the season thinking. We knew we had a little bit of deficiency in other spots, but that became a little bit of an out. You don’t want to run the quarterback as much as we did at times. Having that ability will change what we are. I think, also, just being able to sit down and reflect on (the season) a little bit. Having a little bit of time on flights and as we get into January, you get into the grind of a season and, sometimes, you’re on such a tight schedule, you don’t always have time to look back and say, ‘this was really good’ or ‘this was really bad.’ Or saying ‘man, I am screwing this up.’ Now that you’re going to have some time to go back and really reflect on … you have time to really process your thoughts instead of processing on five hours of sleep and 18 Red Bulls in a day. You can actually decompress a little bit, figure out what’s been good, what hasn’t. I think it will be huge to understand, like you said, instead of going into it blind. You’re going into it with a really, really clear and concise plan of who the guys are and how you can grow. I think in January once these new guys get here, as we continue to work through transfers and all that part of it, I think, even in the summer after spring it will continue to evolve in terms of personnel. But at least you know your key cogs to the whole deal, and you can continue to try and evolve. That’s the word, I guess, for me is how can we keep evolving the system? I feel like we’ve put a good product out there, at the end of the day how can we put an elite product out there? One, personnel wise, two, schematically? How can we continue to change? For us, I think it’s being more multiple in what we do. In year two, guys have a baseline of the system. Every time you come in with something new, they’ve always reflected to ‘I already know that. I am going to continue to build on it through that.’ Now they have a year’s worth of video, specifically on themselves doing it. Now I’m going to refer to, we did it like this, this is how we want to change it. I think in the thought process it makes it a lot easier.”
Cedric Tillman – WR – R-Junior
On if he’s decided to return for another year…
“A decision has been made. I’m still thinking about it a little bit, but for the most part, it has been made, and an announcement will be coming out soon.”
On the importance he places on bowl games…
“For me personally, I think the bowl game is very important. I have been looking forward to it all season. Just been grinding and trying to make it to one. Now that we are here, definitely not going to let up. We are definitely taking it as important as a team. We are looking forward to it. We are going out there full swing.”
On what his reaction would have been in August if someone said this team could set the school scoring record…
“I would have said absolutely. I saw it early. In the spring game, we got to see how explosive the offense could be, but that was against our defense. Especially after the first game, we missed out on a couple of opportunities, but I think I really saw the potential of what we could do. Right away, I saw and knew what we could do. It definitely doesn’t shock me.”
On how the team adjusted to the new offense so fast…
“I think we adjusted so quickly because we all just bought in. Nobody was begging for the ball or demanding other things. Everyone was bought in to the system. When people buy in, things can run smoothly. I think we have gotten better and better each week in our offense.”
Hendon Hooker – QB – R-Senior
On what went into his decision to return to Tennessee for one final season in 2022…
“Really, it was just prayer, talking to my family and the coaches as well, getting their feedback on what they thought of my season and my production. I have gotten a couple of grades back. It’s really about just trusting the process, like I’ve always done, keeping my head down, working hard and controlling what I can control.”
On how big of a step he believes he can take from this season to the next…
“Like I always preach on, it’s about being consistent in my play and leadership. I just try to build guys around me to improve their games and work ethic—just being a leader. I feel like that’s the biggest aspect of getting the offense to operate smoothly and take it to the next level that we’re talking about.”
On if he’s enjoyed being a running quarterback this season…
“It’s football, so I love everything. I love barking out the signals. I love looking off the safety and working the other side of the field. I love just catching the snap. Whatever I can do for the team to win is what I’m going to do. Just being a natural football player, instincts take over. When everything breaks down, let’s make a play.”
On the children’s book he wrote and what he knew about Tennessee before his arrival…
“I’ll start with my book first. It’s going pretty well. I’ve gotten a lot of support from fans and family members, also. My teammates have been telling me that their families are reaching out about the book. They are coming out this week, so they’ll be shipped off to their respective addresses that were put in. I’m looking forward to people enjoying the book as much as me and my family.
“As for Tennessee, it was the rich tradition and the great fanbase. Growing up, I always wanted to play for a great fanbase. Really, just the guys who were already here. Talking to them, they were telling me, ‘You can come in here and lead our team.’ That’s really all I’ve asked for—just a fair shot to come in and operate at a high level at the quarterback position.”
On how he decided to write a children’s book and how he did it…
“It’s kind of been circulating (between) myself, my father and my brother. I was just talking about having a children’s book because we grew up with an ABC children’s book, which was kind of similar, but it wasn’t a sports or athletic-based book. We kind of got the thought of it because of my little cousin. His name is Landon Hooker. He plays football and enjoys it. I love watching him play. I got inspired by him, just trying to be a positive influence in his life and other kids’ lives that are in the community. That’s pretty much how it got started and now we’re rolling. We’ve got a lot of support, so I’m excited.”
Velus Jones Jr. – WR – R-Senior
On his reaction to being invited to play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl…
“Man, that’s something that I will remember for the rest of my life. Growing up in Mobile, Alabama, and going to the Senior Bowl, I remember like it was yesterday. Looking up to those Senior Bowl players and all the best college athletes and players coming from all across the U.S. to play in their last college game, that was the best time of the year for me, better than Christmas. Looking up to those guys like superheroes, and it’s just amazing. I’m truly blessed for Jim Nagy and them to give me the opportunity to come back and play in the all-star game in front of the scouts, but overall in front of my city and my family. That’s something that will stick with me forever.”
On head coach Josh Heupel‘s impact on the program in his first season at the helm…
“After last year’s season, with the turnaround and new coaches coming in, I didn’t know what was going to happen honestly. I just took a leap of faith. I came here for a reason, and I was going to stick it out. I prayed about it, talked about it to my family. Just truly blessed to have a coach like Coach Heupel to come in to turn this thing around with a positive mindset. Everything he told us from the beginning, he lived up to it, and that’s what I can really respect about Coach. He’s really for the players, hands-on with the players. Been on a national championship team in Oklahoma, so he knows how to relate to us, knows what we’re going through, knows how to solve problems.
“It was all about buying in, and I feel like that’s what the team did. We had no doubt going into this season that we were going to compete with anybody in the nation. Still believe that we could compete with anybody in the nation, but it was all about people buying in. Coach Heupel did a good job with the staff he brought along with him. Really family-based, comfortable. We interact with those guys on a day-to-day basis. Great guys, and we’re truly blessed to have them here.”
On being named SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Year…
“Man, I can just say I’m blessed and thank God for my God-given talents and my genetics from my family. A part of that is also my teammates laying their bodies on the line for me, blocking the schemes up right and sacrificing their bodies for me. I repay them by taking one to the crib. I want to give those guys the credit, because they come out there and work their tails off every day. A lot of people look at the return and say how good the returners are, but without the blocks it wouldn’t be possible. That goes for the best returners, like Devin Hester and even the ones before him. You’re nothing without your teammates and your blockers, so I give those guys all the credit.”
On his excitement to play in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl…
“I’m really excited. I’ve seen the past bowl games, how this fan base travels and the pride they take in being fans of the Tennessee Volunteers. I’m truly blessed. This is my first bowl game here, so I’m going to soak up every moment of it, enjoy this with my teammates, this last stretch of practices leading up to the bowl game. We’re just going to live it up and have fun. We’re going to go out the right way this season.”
-UT Athletics
