Austin Pope, R-Jr. TE
On how the Vols move on from the Alabama game and focus on South Carolina:
“We came out Sunday and watched the film. We talked about it in the team meeting. It is what it is. We can’t go back and change it. Obviously, we’re disappointed about the Alabama game. We were hoping we could’ve won that game, or at least put forth a better effort toward the end. Now, we’re just looking forward to the future.”
On if the team is focused on finishing strong and making a bowl game:
“That’s the main goal, being bowl eligible and playing in the postseason. We’ve just got to take it one week at a time. We’ve got South Carolina this week so that’s what we’re worried about.”
On how much he associates himself with the offensive line:
“I like to think of myself as a glorified offensive lineman. I get to catch balls here and there, but they are the main guys I hang out with on the team. I love the O-line. They’re great guys. Just like them, I just try to do my job and I hope the run’s successful at the end of the day.”
On when he started to enjoy blocking:
“I enjoy blocking. I enjoy being physical. It’s a massive part of the game and if you’re not physical, then you’re probably going to get dominated out there. I definitely find joy in making my block and being physical with whoever I go against. I take pride in it. It’s just like a one-on-one battle. Like Coach (Jeremy) Pruitt talks about, I want to dominate my box. Whether it be me and the outside linebacker or me and the defensive end, I want to dominate him every play, for the success of the play.”
Wanya Morris, Fr. OL
On when the O-line began to play more physical:
“We have a young team. Everybody is still learning how to do it after injuries and stuff. They really emphasize it in practice, being tough in practice with team run, imposing your will. That’s what we have to learn that – practice habits build everything. We have to do better in practice if we’re going to do better in the game. Definitely (improving) with the communication ‘cause when you take off the pads and the stress off your body, it’s all about the mental. We stress communication, talking to each other, getting the calls in; that’s what we really communicate on and that helps us a lot.”
On how Tim Jordan has been able to improve as a running back and if it’s enjoyable to block for him:
“I have no idea. I’m facing that way, just making the holes. But, he’s definitely a leader on our field. He’s definitely picking everybody up. Like every day he’s like, ‘Wanya, I need you; Trey (Smith) I need you; BK (Brandon Kennedy) I need you.’ He keeps everybody heads up. He’s that encourager. It’s fun to block for all my backs. They all have good energy; they all have different personalities, that’s what makes them special. They all can do certain things. I love them all, honestly.”
On having pride on the left side of the O-line with Trey Smith:
“When you’re an offensive lineman, you really pride yourself on if the offensive coordinator is going to run the ball behind you. I feel like we can run the ball behind any of us. Just that he picked me and Trey’s (Smith) numbers this week, made me proud. I feel like we got a lot done, but there’re mistakes that we made and we can still get better.”
On quarterbacks:
“We just encourage all three of our guys to go out there and work hard every day in practice. Keep their heads up. They all do a good job of keeping each other’s head up to be honest because they talk to each other more than we do – different meeting rooms, obviously. But, I think they do a good job talking to each other, encouraging each other.”
Jaylen McCollough, Fr. DB
On his sack against Alabama on Saturday:
“We had a great play call called by Coach (Derrick) Ansley. We’ve repped that call many times in practice and he told me ‘Don’t be late.’ So, I timed it up off the snap. I got a good setup by Bryce Thompson, the corner. He setup the back. It left the hole wide open and I just took a shot.”
On what confidence the team can take away from the Alabama game:
“Before the game, we were always confident in our ability and our coaching staff. Seeing how we just played against them, it just raised our level of confidence even more. I feel like we can play with anybody in the country. We’re getting better each and every week. We’ve just got to continue to get better to keep gaining confidence.”
On where he feels that he’s getting better:
“Just learning how to play in the SEC. Becoming an all-around good defensive football player and just becoming a better football player in general. I follow Nigel (Warrior) a lot. Nigel Warrior and Theo Jackson, they mentor me. They push me. I’m just learning and trying to get better each day.”
On what he needs to do to become a better player:
“Just trusting in Coach Ansley and the guys around me. Continue to listen to them, because I know they’re just pushing me. They’re giving me tools to become a better player. We’ve just got to keep pushing as a team. Me, individually, I’m just going to keep grinding, keep putting my nose down and go from there.”
Matthew Butler, Jr. DL
On possible challenges against South Carolina:
“South Carolina is a well-coached team. The freshman quarterback they have, makes the throws the coaches want him to throw. They have some senior receivers, a very fast junior receiver, and some running backs that are very good. Their offensive line has some experience on their left side. They piece that together to hang onto games.”
On why South Carolina is a well-coached team:
“Knowing the history of the coach and coaches there, knowing some of them personally, and then just seeing on film how they’re usually in sync, able to string together drives, and make some big plays.”
On how close games with South Carolina in the past motivates team this year:
“It definitely gives us some motivation. Even if we had won last year or the year before, we definitely just want to win this game, and continue to win the rest of our games.”
On the defensive line’s improvement over the last several weeks:
“As a defensive line, we’ve definitely been able to make some plays, and step up. I didn’t play up to the standard I needed to play against Alabama, and that’s not going to happen again. So, that gives me and the guys a little extra motivation to step it up a notch each game. And if the games fall into our hands, we’re going to win it.”
On the defensive unit playing together more versus earlier in the season:
“I think it has improved. We’ve been playing together these past few weeks and it shows on tape. We just have to continue to do that, and we also need to continue to improve our game. And as that ties together defensively and offensively, we’ll win games.”
Darrell Taylor, R-Sr. LB
On how much confidence he and the team can take from the Alabama game:
“I think we gained a lot of confidence from this, because we improved a lot this week. As a defense we took a huge step forward, when it comes to doing the right things and making sure that we as a defense are doing everything that we can possibly control on our side of the ball.”
On improvement of the front seven:
“I just think our guys have been coming to practice with juice. We’ve been stressing it a lot. Come to practice with energy. Practice fast, practice physical all day and if we do that throughout the week then we’ll do it in the game. I think we showed that on Saturday.”
On how encouraging it is to watch the front seven playing more physical:
“I think it’s very encouraging, because we have another really physical team coming into Knoxville this weekend. I think it’s really encouraging for our defense to know that our front seven is playing so physical.”
On what makes games against South Carolina so close every year:
“This matchup is always close and always a nail biter, because they’re a good team, we’re a good team and good teams always fight it out until the very end. I think we’ll get their best game and they’re going to get ours, so I think it’s going to be a very competitive weekend and we’re going to have fun doing it.”
Tim Jordan, Jr. RB
On the key to having success on the ground:
“I would say the preparation at practice and the offensive line, with them just gaining confidence and doing what they do.”
On the offensive line’s push at Alabama:
“That play was really exciting, it brought a lot of energy. It was fun for the linemen too. It brought intensity to the game. That one play itself brought a lot of confidence to our line.”
On if he saw anything in film that they could do against Alabama:
“Watching film, we did see a lot of different things we could do against them. Just like I said, practicing and focusing on our game plan and seeing what we could do against them.”
On if the offensive line’s improved consistency:
“Most definitely. Every day they come to practice, like everybody, fix mistakes, corrections, and develop every day in practice.”
On the running back room:
“I know in our room, we press and talk about how physical we want to be. We want to be the most physical group on the team and I know we take pride in that.”
-UT Athletics
