KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee (2-6) concludes its 2020 road slate on Saturday in Nashville, against in-state rival Vanderbilt (0-8, SEC) with a 4 p.m. ET kickoff on the SEC Network. Volunteers senior Velus Jones Jr. (WR) and freshman Tyler Baron (LB), who will participate in the longstanding rivalry for the first time this weekend, talked with media members on Tuesday about their expectations and mindsets for the week.
Velus Jones Jr. – R-SR – WR
On how QB J.T. Shrout impressed him on Saturday…
“He came in and he did his job. We’re all on scholarship. It’s our job and duty to perform and put our talents on display. He came in, did his job and did a really good job. I’m proud of him. I’m proud of my brother. He delivered two 90-yard drives. That’s also a great look for him.”
On if he anticipated his expanded role on Saturday and why he believes he was given that opportunity…
“It’s just consistency. At practice, you prove to the coaches that you’re the guy for the job and that you can get it done, no matter how many targets you get. Really, it’s just about being patient, trusting the process and sticking with it. When any opportunity comes my way, I’m going to make the most of it. That’s what happened on Saturday. I was blessed to be targeted as many times I was targeted.”
On his first touchdown as a Tennessee Vol…
“It was honestly a great feeling. The crowd went crazy. Is it 25 percent capacity? I’m not even sure how many fans there are, but it seemed like a packed house when I scored that touchdown. I can say, it was an amazing feeling for me because I think the last time I scored a touchdown was 2018. It felt good, like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I know how hard I prepared during the offseason, back at home. It felt like it all paid off. It’s not new to me. That game’s behind me now. I’ve got to get ready and focused on Vanderbilt and see if I can score some more.”
On what the coaching staff has told him about Tennessee’s in-state rivalry with Vanderbilt…
“This is my first season in the SEC and the coaches have been saying that Vanderbilt is a very competitive team. This is a great rivalry. Every week, we’re going to get every team’s best fight. I respect those guys. I’ve been watching them this season and studying them. They bring it every week, no matter who it is. We’re definitely looking forward to getting their best game. I can’t wait for this historical rivalry. It’s going to be fun competing against those guys. They’re a great team.”
On what this unprecedented season has been like for him mentally…
“With the mindset I have, whether they’re going to cancel games or postpone games, I have to go in with that mindset, each practice every week, of being ready to play the opponent. If the game is cancelled, I have to figure out what I’m going to do to help my team be successful in the next game. If the game is cancelled, I’ll go back to the basics and work on my craft. Mentally, (preseason postponements due to COVID-19) kind of slowed my process down, in terms of getting used to the system because it wasn’t in-person. I was at home, so I had to figure the routes out on my own, but I’m thankful that we had fall camp. I really learned a lot and caught up on a lot when I got here. It’s about trusting the process and staying ready whether you have a game or not. If you’re not having a game, ask yourself, ‘What can I do to get myself better during that bye week. That’s been my mindset.”
Tyler Baron – FR – LB
On his ability that has allowed him to play right away…
“For me, really, I feel that my mindset has been a big reason as to why I have been able to play so early. Also, with our strength staff, A.J. Artis and his staff, they have done a great job this summer really increasing my physical durability and getting it to where I can play 40-50 plays a game.”
On having a successful personal season amid a losing season…
“It’s been a blessing to have the little bit of success that I have had. The most important thing to me is winning and I know this season hasn’t gone as planned for most people but it hasn’t changed my mindset at all. I’m still going to come to work every day and try to get better and get better as a team.”
On the Tennessee-Vanderbilt rivalry…
“This is a great rivalry. Being from Nashville, I know a little bit more than most. I know Vanderbilt is going to come ready to play and we are going to do the same. It’s going to be a lot of fun playing against a few guys that I played in high school.”
On his celebration after his sack…
“It’s kind of something silly but just to get my first sack was my favorite moment of this year so far. It was great and I didn’t really put much thought into it, just something on the fly.”
On getting more playing time…
“It was definitely good to get more third down reps and more pass rushes. I feel like the only way to really improve in that area is to work on it and to get more of those reps. I definitely think it was beneficial to me and beneficial to that aspect of my game.”
On the defense’s lack of quarterback pressure against Florida…
“There are a lot of things that we saw on film that we could do better on. Personally, I just got to be able to pressure the quarterback and get him off his spot more. I put that burden a lot on myself and a lot of things that I didn’t do well. There are a lot of things that I can improve on.”
On why the team is still so dialed in despite a difficult season…
“I feel like it starts with our coaching staff; they come to work every day to make us a better team and take the next step. We take that same energy and display it on the field, always running to the ball and the small things. I feel like we do that well and that will be a big reason we will be successful in the years to come.”
-UT Athletics
