KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee senior Ethan Wolf, juniors Micah Abernathy and Shy Tuttle and freshman Trey Smith met with the media on Tuesdayafternoon to talk about the Vols’ final SEC road trip.
UT heads to Columbia, Mo., this Saturday to face Missouri after defeating Southern Miss on Homecoming. The Vols are 2-3 all-time when playing the Tigers, having taken a 19-8 win when the two teams met in Columbia in 2015 and a 63-37 victory at Neyland Stadium last season.
The potential series-tying game will be aired on SEC Network at 7:30 p.m. ET with Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers and Cole Cubelic providing game coverage.
Playing for the Seniors
With three games left in the regular season and a bowl game on the line, the Volunteers are playing for their seniors.
“We are trying to get them to a bowl game,” Abernathy said. “Every year they have been here, they have made it to a bowl game. We are trying to continue that legacy and let them continue on.”
Tennessee has made it to a bowl game each of the last three seasons and became one of just nine programs to win three consecutive postseason games since 2014 with a 38-24 victory over Nebraska in the 2016 Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl.
Limiting Missouri’s Offense
With practice No. 2 of Missouri week in the books, Tennessee continues its preparation to face the Tigers’ explosive, fast-tempo offense. An important factor in the Vols’ success will be takeaways and tackles for loss.
“Coach has been stressing that all year really,” Tuttle said. “With tempo offenses, you have to get them behind the line and behind the sticks to make them slow down and do something they are not comfortable with.”
In 2017, UT’s defense has recorded 51 tackles for a loss of 188 total yards, including 19 sacks for 115 yards. The Vols have also recovered 10 of 14 fumbles so far this season.
“We have our work cut out for us, but we are an extremely confident football team and we are going to go out and give our best effort,” Wolf added.
Additional Quotes
Senior Tight End Ethan Wolf
On redshirt freshman quarterback Jarrett Guarantano’s performance:
“Jarrett is doing really well. He is two games in. He continues to get better with each snap and gains more and more confidence in himself. Seeing the subtle improvements that he’s making each and every snap is reassuring. It builds your confidence as a team, that he is going to come out there and do what he needs to do to win.”
On a bowl game:
“It’s on a lot of our minds, everyone’s I would say, especially the seniors because it’s our last go around and we don’t want to finish not being there. We are taking it one week at a time, but that’s in the back of our minds, knowing that each and every win now counts toward that.”
On Missouri:
“They’ve been a great team since I have played them. I think we lost to them my freshman year, but have been fortunate enough to beat them since then. It has always been a close game, and they always play us hard. Whether they are new to the SEC or not, they are still a good football team. They have a really explosive offense and a solid defense. We have our work cut out for us, but we are an extremely confident football team and we are going to go out and give our best effort.”
Junior Defensive Back Micah Abernathy
On being tested in pass attempts this season:
“We have played some pretty good receivers and quarterbacks this year and whether they decide to throw the ball or not we are going to defend it to our best ability.”
On challenges Missouri brings:
“They have big receivers. They have a wide variety of receivers in both size and speed. They have a lot of things that they do differently than any other team we’ve played this year.”
On the difference in Missouri’s quarterback between this year and last year:
“He is a lot more calm this year. He was pretty calm last year and mature, but I would say this year he is a lot more poised and he gets the ball out to his receivers.”
On motivation for rest of season.:
“Right now, we are all playing for our seniors. We are trying to get them to a bowl game. Every year they have been here, they have made it to a bowl game. We are trying to continue that legacy and let them continue on.”
Freshman Offensive Lineman Trey Smith
On what he thinks he did best at offensive tackle against Southern Miss:
“I liked that just because I made the shift to tackle, my physicality didn’t really drop off. I still felt like I was the same player to a degree. I also liked the way my sets were coming at some points in the game.”
On if he surprised himself with his play at offensive tackle:
“I did surprise myself. When you’re on the edge, it’s a different world. You’re on an island essentially. When I started playing in training camp, I told my coaches and friends that when you’re a tackle, you have to be a man out there. You’re not getting as much help like you would at guard or center. You’re on your own in a lot of things.”
On if he believes his play has had a positive impact on his teammates:
“Anytime you put some violent stuff on film, it’s going to rub off on other people. I think we all influence each other on this team. If we see a good strain, or if we see someone take somebody out or if we see a big hit, everyone else is going to feed off of that energy. If he’s doing this like that, I can do it too.”
Junior Defensive Tackle Shy Tuttle
On if he feels full recovered from his injury:
“I’m getting there. I’m trying to improve every week in practice, but I feel like I’m progressing each week.”
On getting back to the full speed that he was at prior to his injury:
“It is pretty hard to get back to normal. Sometimes I don’t know what to think about it. I watch it on film, and that makes me step gingerly and stuff. It’s been a long process.”
On the importance of slowing down Missouri’s fast paced offense with tackles for loss:
“It’s very important. Coach has been stressing that all year really. With tempo offenses, you have to get them behind the line and behind the sticks to make them slow down and do something they aren’t comfortable with.”
-UT Athletics
