KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee football will enter the 2024 campaign ranked No. 15 in the US LBM Preseason Coaches poll, which was unveiled on Monday.
The Volunteers are one of nine SEC programs in the preseason top 25, joining top-ranked Georgia, No. 4 Texas, No. 5 Alabama, No. 6 Ole Miss, No. 11 Missouri, No. 12 LSU, No. 16 Oklahoma and No. 20 Texas A&M.
Tennessee will face four teams in the poll with three of those games occurring away from Neyland Stadium, including No. 22 NC State in Charlotte, No. 16 Oklahoma in Norman, No. 5 Alabama in Knoxville and No. 1 Georgia in Athens. The Vols are one of eight SEC teams who will square off against a non-conference team appearing in the preseason poll, joining Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, LSU, South Carolina, Texas and Texas A&M.
UT is ranked in the Coaches poll for the 31st consecutive week, which is the program’s longest stretch since being ranked 34 straight weeks from 2003-05. The current streak dates back to Sept. 11, 2022.
After shutting out Big Ten West champion Iowa 35-0 in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, Tennessee concluded the 2023 campaign No. 17 in both polls.
The Vols’ first ranked test comes Week 2 against No. 22 NC State in Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium. Tickets for the Duke’s Mayo Classic are on sale now at AllVols.com.
The Associated Press Preseason Top 25 will be announced on Aug. 12.
AFCA Preseason Coaches Poll 1. Georgia (46) 2. Ohio State (7) 3. Oregon 4. Texas (1) 5. Alabama 6. Ole Miss 7. Notre Dame 8. Michigan (1) 9. Penn State 10. Florida State 11. Missouri 12. LSU 13. Utah 14. Clemson 15. Tennessee 16. Oklahoma 17. Kansas State 18. Oklahoma State 19. Miami (Fla.) 20. Texas A&M 21. Arizona 22. NC State 23. Southern Cal 24. Kansas 25. Iowa
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — One of Tennessee football’s most experienced position rooms was highlighted on Monday as UT wrapped up Practice No. 5 of preseason training camp. Offensive line coach Glen Elarbee and a trio of veteran, in-state O-line contributors spoke to media after Monday’s session on Haslam Field to break down the group’s development in the trenches.
Tennessee enters the 2024 campaign with one of the most veteran offensive lines in the country and returns three full-time starters from last season. The room has combined for 284 games played and 113 starts, ranking second and 12th in the FBS, respectively.
Elarbee discussed the impact that experience has on the young offensive lineman and labeled his veterans as ‘coaches’ on the field during fall camp.
“It’s a super veteran crew,” Elarbee said. “There are guys that have played a lot of football. You just go across the board; (Dayne Davis) is a coach on the field. (John Campbell Jr.) is a coach on the field. (Cooper Mays) is always a coach on the field. (Javontez Spraggins), coach on the field. (Andrej Karic) in his second year has become a great coach on the field. They know it so well, and they’re helping bring those young guys along.”
A preseason first team All-America and All-SEC selection, Cooper Mays provides continuity for the offense as he enters his fourth straight season as the starting center. The Kingston native was available to media on Monday and spoke about his connection with redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava heading into his fifth season with the program.
“Nico is so mature for his age,” Mays said. “He’s a younger guy, but he doesn’t act like that … We just have to be really communicative. Kind of the whole offense in general, but especially with me and the quarterback, you have to talk a lot and kind of pick each other’s brain. He tries to see how I’m seeing things and I’m trying to see how he sees things. So, just trying to get on the same page there has been really cool.”
Full comments from Elarbee and select quotes from Mays, redshirt senior offensive lineman Dayne Davis and redshirt senior offensive lineman Jackson Lampley can be viewed below.
Tennessee Football Press Conference | Aug. 5, 2024
On how much better the depth is on the offensive line… “So much better. Especially this spring where so many young guys got reps, and then you get all of the older guys back. One, it helps you with your older guys. You can plug in young guys and get them reps and the team doesn’t suffer. They can function. They can go and do the job, and it helps them continue to grow. Them moving up helps guys that have just gotten here like Bennett Warren and Lance Heard. Those kinds of guys still get reps, and it just makes life a lot easier, for sure.”
On if this is the most veteran-filled group he’s been around and how he’s seen them help the younger guys… “It’s a super veteran crew. There are guys that have played a lot of football. You just go across the board; (Dayne Davis) is a coach on the field, (John Campbell Jr.) is a coach on the field, Coop (Cooper Mays) is always a coach on the field, Spraggs (Javontez Spraggins), coach on the field. Dre (Andrej Karic) in his second year has become a great coach on the field. They know it so well, and they’re helping bring those young guys along.”
On how much easier it is to operate with quality depth at the tackle position… “Because those guys have gotten reps and having the depth, it helps not only us, but it helps the team. You can practice and put guys out there when you don’t need to necessarily rep that guy and you can still continue to go and function. It will help us when we get to the fall, hopefully you’re rotating guys, preparing them for the next year and also helping guys last for what is hopefully a very long season.”
On having former offensive lineman Parker Ball on staff… “He’s the smartest guy in this building. Last year – love him as a player – (but) he was already a coach in the making. He got with (John Campbell Jr.) every Friday and studied tips. He’s just picked up where he’s left off. One, he’s been in it for three years, so he knows it inside and out. He’s the freakiest, smartest human being walking the planet. He keeps me correct. We’ll be sitting in the meeting room, I can just hear him go (imitates cough and sniff sound). That’s your Parker noise, and I’ll know I misspoke, and I’ll correct it, and if I don’t, he’ll jump my button and get me corrected. He’s awesome man. He’s going to be a way better coach than I ever could have been.”
On finding a second center behind Cooper Mays… “It’s awesome. It’s a great competition. (Vysen Lang) and Satt (William Satterwhite) probably are taking most of those reps and competing. Satter has come along at a high rate. Vysen has improved in a ton of areas. Max Anderson and Jesse Perry have also taken some center reps. You always have (Dayne Davis) if a bomb went off. He did it last year if he had to. But, we’re doing a bunch of different guys. We’re on day five of camp and have two more weeks. Let the competition sort itself out.”
On John Campbell Jr. on the right side of the offensive line… “Really good. You can tell he put in a ton of work this offseason. When we were on break, he’s always sending me videos of him doing work, getting sets (and) asking for critiques. He’s a meticulous note taker. He has, in my opinion, looked flawless. He’s done a phenomenal job, and all of that credit is due to him.”
On who is working at left guard and if he likes one starter or multiple players to be able to play … “I think you always let the competition sort itself out. (Andrej Karic) has worked left guard. (Dayne Davis) has worked left guard. Lamp (Jackson Lampley) has worked left guard. Sham (Shamurad Umarov) is working left guard. Even BG (Brian Grant) has bounced in there. We are kind of moving guys around day-to-day. At the end of day, whoever is the best, that guy is going to play and then we are going to have to play somebody behind him. It’s going to be a long year. Coach Heupel is making an emphasis on us rotating, so I’m trying to make that point in the way we practice that guys are rotating in and taking a lot of reps with ones and twos.”
On how to manage workload for a veteran group and how comfortable he is rotating players in game situations … “One, every practice we have a rep plan for exactly the number of reps guys are getting. There are some drills that I know I probably don’t need to get Coop (Cooper Mays) into. There are other things where it’s tempo or third downs, and I know he does need to be in there. Same thing with a John Campbell Jr., a Spraggs (Javontez Spraggins), older guys. Their bodies have been playing for a long time. You give them the reps they need and then, again, having the depth helps so that we can go and play guys. As far as rotating goes, if you’re relatively equal, I love the rotation because it keeps guys fresh. The only time you get nervous is when you have a drop-off when you put a guy in. With this bunch, I feel like we’re far along.”
On guys deciding to stay another year in college rather than move on… “I think it speaks to who we are in the room. One, we talk about it all the time, there’s stuff outside football that we talk about. There are things in life. We were in there after chapel the other day, and I was telling them, ‘I know I don’t say it enough, but I love every single one of you in here.’ I think there’s a family in that room and they enjoy being in it. It’s a healthy (and) fun environment. When it’s time to get to work, by gosh it has to happen, but we enjoy playing the game too. They all want to win a championship. They want to go do that and they want to go compete.”
On if having to face the defensive line each day in practice has helped… “For sure. Iron sharpens iron. I feel like we’ve gotten better. They’ve also have taken steps. It’s a great defensive line. You get to go against those guys every day in one-on-one pass rush, or any drill honestly, it helps you grow. I do think our young guys have taken big steps. Now getting some of the vet guys back, that’s going to help prepare them to be ready to roll in the season.”
On what it has been like having a quarterback who is younger than him… “I have been thinking about it a little bit, but it is kind of hard to think though because (Nico Iamaleava) is so mature for his age. He’s a younger guy, but he doesn’t act like that. Like you said, I have had guys that weren’t just mature, they were 24 or 25 years old, like older guys. It’s been a little bit of an adjustment. Just got to be really communicative. Kind of the whole offense in general, but especially with me and the quarterback, you have to talk a lot and kind of pick each other’s brain. He tries to see how I’m seeing things and I’m trying to see how he sees things. So, just trying to get on the same page there has been really cool.”
On if this has been the most veteran group of offensive linemen he has been around… “Probably. I’m not sure exactly the numbers or anything. Maybe I have been on one that is older earlier in my career, but it has been really, really cool seeing guys develop. Kind of like I said with the d-line, there has been guys added from the transfer portal that are here now with significant roles and there are also guys that have been here the whole time like me and Spraggs (Javontez Spraggins) that have gone here and developed the whole way through. So, it has been really cool to see everybody mix together and make one unit.”
On how much better he feels going into this year after battling an injury early last season… “A lot, just really it’s the mental thing, knowing that I feel good and knowing I’m 100 percent. Yeah, I feel really good.”
On what position on the offensive line is he spending the most time at right now… “So far in fall camp, three or four. We will hit that five mark eventually I would assume. Just working everywhere, priding myself in versatility, you know left tackle, right tackle, left guard, center, everywhere. Just having the versatility to go anywhere.”
On how taxing it is mentally to play multiple positions on the offensive line… “It is at times for me, talking myself into knowing the offense. It’s not really mentally taxing. Sometimes it does get physically taxing just having to switch up your technique up, fundamentals and stuff. Footwork is completely different at both (sides). There are completely different players at all of those too on the other side (defensive line). Inside you got Big O (Omari Thomas) and you got Big E (Elijah Simmons) and then outside you got going against (James Pearce Jr.), Joshua Josephs and those guys, so sometimes it does get physically tough.”
On if starting and playing well at the end of last season played a role in his decision to come back for another year… “You know, that was part of it, for sure, just to be able to go out there and start and have a positive impact. I think that was a big reason why I decided to come back. The other reason why I really decided to come back was the guys in the locker room, you know? They’ll always have a special place in my heart. And same here as at the University of Tennessee. I mean, this school has done a lot for me throughout my entire life So I think those two factors were really why I decided to come back.”
On working at the left guard position… “Yeah, just being consistent. Playing the way I typically play, especially the run game and also the pass game. Just being able to move people, but also playing smart. I think those two things are really going to help me.”
On his relationship with the coaching staff… “It’s great. Coach (Glen Elarbee) and I have a great relationship. Coach (Josh Heupel) and I also have a great relationship. To speak volumes about Coach Heupel, the day my grandfather died, he called me and my family and was just devastated that it happened, and (he) really cares about me as well as my family. He also cares about everybody else on this team. I mean, he’s the perfect guy you could have as a head coach.”
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) As hurricane Debby looks to advance up the eastern seaboard, members of the Knoxville Fire Department are deployed Monday afternoon to aid in the response.
Knoxville Fire Department officials announcing a possible 10-day deployment of its Swift Water Team to South Carolina to support local emergency services and communities affected by Hurricane Debby.
“We are committed to helping our neighbors in South Carolina during this critical time,” said KFD Chief Stan Sharp. “Our firefighters are trained and prepared for high-risk situations, and we will do everything we can to support the local emergency services and communities affected by Hurricane Debby.”
KFD says the team is a specialized task force of 12 firefighters, including experts in Swift Water Rescue and emergency medical services, equipped with emergency response vehicles and essential supplies.
12 firefighters will deploy to South Carolina, equipped with emergency response vehicles and essential supplies.
Morgan County, TN (WOKI) A woman is charged in a string of arsons and vandalism in Morgan County.
The Morgan County Sheriff’s Office says 59-year-old Anita Hall was charged in the crimes on July 27.
A storage unit complex on Petros Highway then an explosion with black smoke at a home on Malachi Drive where deputies found a new F450 truck on fire, both reported on that Saturday.
MCSO says Hall was also seen setting cardboard boxes on fire and tampering with several trailers at an RV Park in Petros.
There were more vandalism reports along with Hall allegedly stealing a car’s registration tag.
Hall reportedly admitted to the crimes when detectives caught up to her. She is charged with numerous crimes including: Vandalism over $60,000, Arson, Burglary and theft.
She is being held on a $210,000 bond, with more charges pending.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. added to his impressive list of preseason accolades on Monday when he was named to the 2024 Walter Camp Player of the Year Award Preseason Watch List.
The talented junior edge rusher is one of 50 total players, including just nine on the defensive side of the ball, tabbed as players to watch for the prestigious award, which is presented annually to the nation’s top college football player.
Pearce Jr. was recognized as a Walter Camp Football Foundation Preseason First-Team All-American earlier this summer, as well, following a breakout sophomore season in which he earned first-team All-SEC honors after racking up 14.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.
The Charlotte, North Carolina, native also added two forced fumbles, a pass breakup and an interception return for a touchdown last year and enters this season as projected top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The watch list will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists in early November and three finalists will be announced on Nov. 26. The 2024 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, which is voted on by the 133 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced on ESPN’s College Football Awards Show on Dec. 12.
The complete list of 2024 Walter Camp Award Preseason Watch List can be found HERE.
James Pearce Jr., DE, Jr. First-Team All-American (Athlon, Phil Steele, Walter Camp) First-Team All-SEC (Athlon, Media, Phil Steele, Walter Camp) Walter Camp Award Watch List Lott Trophy Watch List Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
August 2, 2024: Earlier this afternoon, we received a call from TWRA Biologist Janelle Musser. She set a trap this morning for a bear that destroyed a homeowner’s garage door. Within two hours, the bear was trapped. Sadly, the bear was female and had three cubs.
A bear that is willing to break apart a garage door to get inside for trash and a refrigerator full of food is a very dangerous bear. TWRA had no choice but to euthanize her. The homeowners were saddened, but explained that there are a lot of rentals in their area and that rental company housekeepers drive around with their cars and open-bed trucks full of trash every day. This sow was in this trash every day.
The bear family was technically trapped at a Sevierville address in Sevier County, Tennessee, but the home was right outside Gatlinburg. Unfortunately, there is no public trash service in the county areas of Sevier County. People must take their trash to convenience centers. To exacerbate the problem, there is a lot of construction going on in the area. There are lots and lots of construction dumpsters that are not bear-resistant. It’s a known problem that cabin cleaners often find unsupervised construction dumpsters and throw all the trash in them. It’s much faster than driving to a convenience center or to the cabin cleaning business’ dumpster. It’s very difficult to control and it creates an environmental hazard when bears and other wildlife drag the nasty trash out of the dumpsters and up and down our mountainsides.
Fortunately, TWRA was able to trap all three cubs. That’s a very difficult task and we sincerely appreciate Janelle’s efforts and skill. Curators Greg and Katrina met Janelle to pick up the cubs and transport them to UTCVM-University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine for exams. The three cubs are all female and are healthy. ABR 411 broke a canine tooth while in the trap and doctors pulled the tooth. It’s just a baby tooth that the cub would lose soon anyway. ABR 411 weighs 15kgs (33 pounds). ABR 412 also weighs 15kgs (33 pounds). ABR 413 is the smallest of the family, but she is not small. She weighs a healthy 14kgs (30.8 pounds).
Curators will place the three arrivals in Hartley House tonight. The three rooms in Hartley will allow them to split up the siblings to take their worm meds over the next three days.
Please welcome ABR 411 Bubbles, ABR 412 Mojo and ABR 413 Fuzzy. We will do our best for them and with your help, we will give them a second chance at life in the wild where they belong.
To donate to help Appalachian Bear Rescue please click below:
The suspect on the run in connection to two separate shootings is in custody.
20 year-old Robert Steed was arrested Friday in connection to a pair of shootings on July 20th, charged with aggravated assault and reckless endangerment. He was released on bond Saturday morning, is scheduled to appear in court today (Monday morning).
Steed reportedly fired several shots at a home on Hazen Street because a man living in the home allegedly slept with the mother of his child.
Later that day, Steed encountered the man, identified as 23-year-old Dereke Upton, at the Shell gas station on Summit Hill Drive, and a fight escalated into gunfire. Steed was hit with a bullet from his own gun.
Upton was taken into custody, charged with aggravated assault in connection to the shooting.
On the morning of July 31st of 2024, Clinton Police Department officers responded to a residence on Rolling Acres Lane on the report of a shooting. Officers arrived at the scene and found a male victim at the residence with an apparent gunshot wound to the abdomen. Officers requested EMS to the scene for treatment of the victim, who was then after transported to the University of Tennessee Medical Center.
Clinton Police Department detectives were able to learn the identity of the suspect, who had left the scene prior to the officers arrival. Detectives requested assistance from the Anderson County 7th Judicial Task Force to help with a search for the suspect. The suspect was later located at a residence in the Marlow community of Anderson County by task force agents and deputies of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office. Agents took the suspect, Cody Alexander Thomas, into custody and transported him to the Anderson County Detention Facility.
Clinton Police have charged Thomas with the offenses of attempted murder, possession of a firearm in commission of a felony, unlawful possession of a weapon, and tampering with evidence.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee donned the pads on day three of training camp as the Vols continued their runup to kickoff of the 2024 season.
First-year linebackers coach William Inge met with the media after Saturday’s practice at Haslam Field and took questions on what he looks for in linebackers, has learned about his position group and how versatile the group has been through three practices of preseason camp.
“We do have different types of personalities and styles,” Inge said. “But the biggest thing you have to do is you have to be fast. You have to be fast, you have to be athletic, and you have to be big.
“Probably one of the biggest things is that they love to work. Their element of preparation I would say is beyond their years right now. To see the things that they do when no one is watching or when you’re not around. They are what you would call your junkies in the building.”
A deep position room with a mix of veteran players and talented underclassmen, Inge stressed the importance of adaptability as the group progresses through the season.
“The thing you do is you have to be able to play or understand what both positions do, just because offenses can motion or shift to trade and get you in some jams if you don’t understand the concepts. We’d like to have someone who is a true Mike linebacker and someone who is a Will linebacker, but they have to know both elements just because offenses can get you pigeonholed.”
On what he’s seen out of Keenan Pili and Arion Carter in fall camp… “We’ve been seeing some really good growth from them to where we say the injuries and things like that are kind of in the rearview mirror now. From a growth standpoint, just seeing them continue to take the next step to being able to be better, to being able to be elite and to be what we call the trendsetters of linebacker play on our team, our organization and in the country.”
On what Arion Carter can show now since he was limited in the spring due to injury… “In the spring, you couldn’t see the elements of contact, because he was limited to that. There were some times in the spring that I didn’t know there was a problem, seeing him move and do things like that. He just couldn’t have any contact. I knew from the element of him being able to move, run and change direction that we were going to get something that was going to be elite or on the top end of everything from a linebacker play standpoint. Now, you put together some of the physicality, him being able to make the plays at the point of attack from a contact standpoint.”
On how he manages Keenan Pili through the next month… “Probably the best thing about the management that you can do is the growth with the young men in the rest of the room. We know we can take care of him. He’s already been there and done that. The one thing you must do is walk the line of knowing he has to be able to strain to be able to accomplish some things, but also in some of the physical elements we can be able to gear him back and put someone else in. That gives us the ability to be able to see if this young player, let’s say someone like Jalen Smith, can do what he’s supposed to do. Can Kalib Perry do what he’s supposed to do? Can (Jeremiah Telander) do what he’s supposed to do? That allows us to be able to give those guys some extra reps and some extra eyes on them for their growth and development.”
On what about Arion Carter’s game is mature for his age… “The element that he has, that is something that you can’t coach, is his speed and quickness. He is elusive when he’s on the football field, almost like a cheetah. It’s great to have a linebacker who can move like that but has the body that he has from a physical nature. He’s someone we are going to be able to really utilize in the days, years and games to come.”
On Edwin Spillman’s growth… “You will know who number 13 is when he’s on the field. It was 47 in the spring, and it’s 13 now. Everyone knows who he is. You all will know for sure. From a physicality standpoint, he is exactly what you want. To see him growing and developing each day, as a coach, is so gratifying and satisfying. Probably one of the things that’s unique is we have some examples in our room of what the gold standard of linebacker play is. When you think about that with the history and tradition of this place, you think about Al Wilson. To have Al Wilson at practice today, I think that really brought some elements to the guys in the room. Edwin was one of them, because he is walking in the footsteps of someone like that for sure.”
On if he wants guys to be interchangeable between the two linebacker spots… “The thing you do is you have to be able to play or understand what both positions do, just because offenses can motion or shift to trade and get you in some jams if you don’t understand the concepts. We’d like to have someone who is a true Mike linebacker and someone who is a Will linebacker, but they have to know both elements just because offenses can get you pigeonholed. That’s what you do not want to do. The things that we tell our guys is you have to be able to run fast and hit hard. If you can do that and play in space, you’re going to be able to be on the football field.”
On his preferred personality type in a linebacker… “We do have different types of personalities and styles, but the biggest thing you have to do is you have to be fast. You have to be fast, you have to be athletic, and you have to be big. The biggest thing we have to be able to do from an offensive perspective, the first thing they try to do is get you out in space and try to highlight you. If you don’t have the speed and quickness to play out in space, then you’re going to be a very average to below-average linebacker. Then, the other thing you have to be able to do is you have to have the physical elements to be able to play inside the jungle when the big uglies up front come to block you. You have to have what we call a healthy compromise of all the characters and traits from a linebacker standpoint. You have to be fast enough to play out in space, physical enough to be able to play in the core, and a lot of that is going to be with your mindset.”
On dividing up playing time… “The one thing we try to do—and this is also where recruiting comes into play—we tell guys if you’re prepared and you’re ready, you’re going to play. That’s what I want to be able to do. I want to be able to play five or six guys, because if we can give everyone a role and be fresh at the end of a football game … I just experienced that at my previous place, and that’s why we were in a position to play in the national championship game, because our guys were not worn out at the end of the season. If your goal is like you want it to in your room, you can be fresh at the end of the season if you’re playing enough guys. That’s something we want to look forward to doing on defense, is being able to have a good healthy rotation so our guys won’t get over-repped, but also know that your stars are going to get the money plays.”
On what he knows about the group now that he didn’t know in the spring… “Probably one of the biggest things is that they love to work. Their element of preparation I would say is beyond their years right now. To see the things that they do when no one is watching or when you’re not around. They are what you would call your junkies in the building. Sometimes when you leave the parking lot, you know how you say, ‘Gosh, there’s a car sitting over there. I wonder if his car’s broken.’ So, I’d send a text message saying, ‘Hey, (Arion Carter), are you okay? Is your car good?’ He would say, ‘No coach, I’m just here in the linebacker room watching some film,’ and it’s 10:30 or 11:00 at night. To me, that’s what it’s all about, to see those guys from a preparation standpoint. They know they’re really taking football preparedness to new heights and to a new level. That’s what we want, and that’s how you become elite at this position.”
On how Arion Carter has grown in his weaknesses… “Last year as a freshman, he was very youthful. He was trying to put things together, but sometimes may not have understood the whole concept of something. I think that’s what my mission was coming in, was to show him not just his job, but what the people around him were doing. That’s something that he’s kind of really been intentional about learning. Knowing what the guys around him are doing has really helped him understand his job on those given plays.”
On how Edwin Spillman has learned from older brother Nate Spillman… “It’s great, because the one thing Edwin had coming here was he knew half of the stuff already. He knew half of the people, he understood everyone, he was able to put names to faces. Unfortunately, he knew more about the program than I did, just because we literally got here one week apart. So, there were some things that he was telling me and I was telling myself, ‘How do you know this?’ He was like, ‘Yeah coach, I came down here to visit my brother and I saw him.’ But he has some great perspective when you have someone who’s been here, who’s already been there, done that, and that was his roommate when he first got here. So, it really helped him get his feet planted so he could build a great foundation moving forward.”
On how having to adapt to quick strike offenses in the past helps him at Tennessee… “That’s something you always have to do when it comes to a quick strike. As we were talking about earlier, making sure you have enough depth at your position and enough growth at your position. Now you have the ability to play just as many players, so when you get to the end of the game, you’re not worn out and your player can be a step faster than he was earlier in the game, or the player that’s in can be a step faster than they were earlier in the game. There’s nothing worse than putting your player in a position to be successful, but the fatigue or tiredness really sets in because he’s been out there, he’s worn out and he can’t make the play. There’s nothing more frustrating than that as a coach, so from our standpoint, we have to really put them through what we call the strainer, where you have to strain and you have to go through all the physical things right now during training camp so you can be ready when the bullets begin to fly.”
On what it was like to have a season-ending injury during his freshman season… “Obviously, it was a bummer. Minor setback for a major comeback. I was so grateful for having a great support staff, team and teammates. A great athletic training staff to get me back to where I am now. If not back to where I am, I feel like I am even better than what I was. Big kudos to them, I appreciate them so much. I appreciate my teammates and my family for supporting me not only physically but mentally throughout the entire process.”
On how coach William Inge has prepared the linebacker group to be very mature… “I think it starts with him (William Inge) holding us accountable. He is a great coach. He wants to see us be the best every single day, day in and day out. I took that to heart as far as being accountable, holding other guys accountable and then holding us accountable as a team and as a group. You know we have to drive the bus on defense and the team in general. I feel like just us doing (that), our IQ has skyrocketed from last year to this year. I feel like we are just taking different steps along the way. The only way from here is up.”
On what it was like to have Al Wilson at practice today… “It was great. I could not wait to talk to him. He actually came up to us and I was kind of starstruck. I see this guy during the ’98 season who is a dog, countless and fearless. He is just somebody you want to emulate and be better than. You aspire to be better than or be just at that standard that he brought to Tennessee. It was just great being able to pick his brain and really just be around greatness like that.”
On how he would describe this linebacker room… “Something special. Everybody puts in so much time and extra work outside of just what is required as a program. It’s awesome to see just how unified we have become. From the three years I have been here, how much we have grown close together and gelled so well. Just awesome to see us go out, work and show what we can do. Like all of our abilities, everyone is pushing each other, finding our weaknesses and coaching up each other. It’s not leave one man out for himself. We are all doing it together trying to see who we can turn around and bring along with us. It’s been awesome.”
On what has led to a high amount of dedication and preparation in the linebacker room… ” I mean think of the greats. We saw Al Wilson today. Film study, you want to learn about your opponents and it helps you become prepared. Like yes, you can rise to the occasion, but at the end of the day, when stress hits us we have to fall back on our habits. When we fall back on our film study and that preparation we take outside of just our regular positioning and what not, it has led to us being able to make plays and be able to show our athleticism and our abilities. Just being able to have film study has been contagious. You see other guys sit in and do it, and it’s just like, well, we’re going to do it too. It’s just been something we have been able to build on. It has helped us progress and learn a lot more about the game.”
On what the next step for him is… “Next step for me is just playing confident and having confidence while I’m playing. Just trust in my ability. I know what I’m doing. I take the time outside of football to watch film. Just trust my ability to go make a play regardless if I mess up. Being in every play and being across the field. Just be an athlete and show my athleticism. At the end of the day, it’s going to work out for you whether you just want to push yourself and give that 110 (percent) on the field.”
On how it has been to have William Inge as the new linebacker coach.. “It has been really cool. He is more of a laid back guy. I feel like everybody is more confident in what their abilities are. He is straightforward. He loves on you but there is also tough love. At the same time he builds everybody up the same way.”
On being interchangeable with MIKE and WILL… “Right now, coach (William Inge) expects everybody to be dual. That’s something he has challenged us to be and be able to do this season. Make sure we are able to be dual and learn both positions.”
On what having a year under his belt in this program has done for him… “I feel more comfortable with my role playing MIKE and WILL. Just learning day in and day out. Coach Inge is also helping me a lot with that. Just making sure I’m in my playbook and living up to the standards of our LB room.”
On the difference between where he was in the spring to now… “From the spring, all the way to right now in fall camp, I feel like I have got way more in depth with the playbook and knowing what everyone else is doing around me and what the MIKE and WILL are both doing. I feel like my knowledge of the game has become a whole lot better just from being in the linebacker room with coach (William Inge) and all of the older guys from about three months or so.”
On which positions he’s been asked to work at… “We have a couple of dual guys that play both MIKE and WILL. I’m one of those guys that are playing both, but in our linebacker room we don’t really like to put a specific name on anybody. We just make sure anybody can be interchangeable.”
On whether he got to catch his breath after coming on campus in the spring… “Yes sir, I would say it pretty much did for me when we did summer workouts, summer walkthroughs, OTAs and all of that. That was probably a great time for me to just chill and learn the playbook and then just pick up on the little things the older guys were reviewing. Just get ahead of the game that way, so this summer time was definitely a helpful time for me. It helped me a lot.
