BALTIMORE, Md. – Becoming just the second finalist in program history for the award, Hendon Hooker was named a Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award finalist Tuesday afternoon.
Hooker joins Peyton Manning as the only finalists for the award from Tennessee and Manning went on to win the award in 1997 with 3,819 yards on 287-of-477 passing (60.2 percent) with 36 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Throughout the 2022 season, the Volunteer signal-caller has been fantastic, throwing for 2,888 yards and 24 touchdowns on 204-of-287 passing (71.1 percent) and only two interceptions. Hooker has also created big plays with his legs, racking up 405 rushing yards on 99 carries thus far, and has punched in five touchdowns.
His excellence has come in the toughest conference in collegiate football as the fifth-ranked Vols have faced five consecutive top-20 defenses in their last five games against FBS opponents. The savvy leader of the Big Orange has been excelled in that stretch, averaging 283.8 yards passing and tossing 13 touchdowns in those games.
Hooker shined when the lights were brightest on Rocky Top and Tennessee welcomed then-No. 3 Alabama to Neyland Stadium for The Third Saturday in October. He was emphatic, going 21-of-30 with five touchdowns and 385 passing yards. Even when the Vols trailed, his confidence never wavered, pushing the Big Orange down the field with poise to tie the game. With 15 seconds left, he moved the ball 45 yards with two passes to set up the game-winning field goal from Chase McGrath.
Off the field, Hooker has been a beacon in the community, embodying what it truly means to be a Tennessee Volunteer. He has brought positivity and energy to the Knoxville community and displays the qualities of perseverance and hard work every day in his practice habits.
Back in 2020, Hooker contracted COVID-19 and had to go to the hospital after a heart check revealed an abnormality, putting his football future in jeopardy. Since then, he has treated every day, every practice, every film session and every rep with the same voracity. His drive to be the best in all facets of life shows up on the tape and has provided a model for how to carry yourself for a generation to come.
“The winner of the Golden Arm Award is recognized not only for his athletic accomplishments, but also for his character, citizenship, scholastic achievement, leadership qualities, and athletic abilities,” says John Unitas, Jr., President of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc.
The Golden Arm Award, presented annually to the top upperclassmen quarterback by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation encapsulates all that is positive in college sports. The award acknowledges performance on the field for sure, but it goes beyond completion percentage and touchdown strikes. The award values character, citizenship, integrity and those who honor the game.
The other finalists for the award are Stetson Bennett IV from Georgia, Max Duggan from TCU, Bo Nix from Oregon and CJ Stroud from Ohio State.
The 2022 award winner will be presented the Golden Arm Award trophy by The Johnny Unitas Educational Foundation President, John Unitas, Jr., at the Golden Arm Award banquet and celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland on Wednesday, Dec. 7.
BALTIMORE, Md. – Becoming just the second finalist in program history for the award, Hendon Hooker was named a Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award finalist Tuesday afternoon.
Hooker joins Peyton Manning as the only finalists for the award from Tennessee and Manning went on to win the award in 1997 with 3,819 yards on 287-of-477 passing (60.2 percent) with 36 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Throughout the 2022 season, the Volunteer signal-caller has been fantastic, throwing for 2,888 yards and 24 touchdowns on 204-of-287 passing (71.1 percent) and only two interceptions. Hooker has also created big plays with his legs, racking up 405 rushing yards on 99 carries thus far, and has punched in five touchdowns.
His excellence has come in the toughest conference in collegiate football as the fifth-ranked Vols have faced five consecutive top-20 defenses in their last five games against FBS opponents. The savvy leader of the Big Orange has been excelled in that stretch, averaging 283.8 yards passing and tossing 13 touchdowns in those games.
Hooker shined when the lights were brightest on Rocky Top and Tennessee welcomed then-No. 3 Alabama to Neyland Stadium for The Third Saturday in October. He was emphatic, going 21-of-30 with five touchdowns and 385 passing yards. Even when the Vols trailed, his confidence never wavered, pushing the Big Orange down the field with poise to tie the game. With 15 seconds left, he moved the ball 45 yards with two passes to set up the game-winning field goal from Chase McGrath.
Off the field, Hooker has been a beacon in the community, embodying what it truly means to be a Tennessee Volunteer. He has brought positivity and energy to the Knoxville community and displays the qualities of perseverance and hard work every day in his practice habits.
Back in 2020, Hooker contracted COVID-19 and had to go to the hospital after a heart check revealed an abnormality, putting his football future in jeopardy. Since then, he has treated every day, every practice, every film session and every rep with the same voracity. His drive to be the best in all facets of life shows up on the tape and has provided a model for how to carry yourself for a generation to come.
“The winner of the Golden Arm Award is recognized not only for his athletic accomplishments, but also for his character, citizenship, scholastic achievement, leadership qualities, and athletic abilities,” says John Unitas, Jr., President of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc.
The Golden Arm Award, presented annually to the top upperclassmen quarterback by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation encapsulates all that is positive in college sports. The award acknowledges performance on the field for sure, but it goes beyond completion percentage and touchdown strikes. The award values character, citizenship, integrity and those who honor the game.
The other finalists for the award are Stetson Bennett IV from Georgia, Max Duggan from TCU, Bo Nix from Oregon and CJ Stroud from Ohio State.
The 2022 award winner will be presented the Golden Arm Award trophy by The Johnny Unitas Educational Foundation President, John Unitas, Jr., at the Golden Arm Award banquet and celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland on Wednesday, Dec. 7.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – After helping lead Tennessee to the nation’s No. 1 scoring and total offense, offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Alex Golesh has been tabbed as a nominee for the Broyles Award, presented annually to college football’s top assistant coach since 1996.
Golesh is in his second season at Tennessee and his third on Josh Heupel‘s staff, dating back to his final year at UCF.
Golesh’s unit leads the nation in total offense (523.7), scoring offense (47.4) and passing efficiency (191.15). The Vols rank second in the FBS in passing offense (348.2), third in completion percentage (71.4) and sixth in redzone offense (94.6). They lead the SEC in six different categories, including scoring offense, total offense, passing offense, completion percentage, passing efficiency and passing yards per completion (15.14).
The impact of Golesh’s up-tempo offense over the last two seasons has been remarkable for a program that ranked 108th in the FBS in scoring (21.5) and 102nd in the FBS in total offense (346.2) a year prior to his and Heupel’s arrivals.
One season after shattering eight team single-season records, the Vols are on the cusp of breaking most if not all of those this fall. Golesh’s offense has amassed 474 total points, just 37 points shy of tying the school record of 511 set last year. UT is also just five touchdowns short of knotting that school record of 67 set last season.
Golesh is in his 19th season at the collegiate level having enjoyed success at every stop of his career. Prior to spending the 2020 season as the co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach at UCF, he served as the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Iowa State from 2016-19 on Matt Campbell’s staff.
Golesh grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and earned a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State in 2006. He got his start in the coaching profession as a student assistant with the Buckeyes.
Semifinalists for the Broyles Award will be announced on Nov. 22 with finalists set a week later on Nov. 29. The recipient of the award will be unveiled on Dec. 6 in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – After helping lead Tennessee to the nation’s No. 1 scoring and total offense, offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Alex Golesh has been tabbed as a nominee for the Broyles Award, presented annually to college football’s top assistant coach since 1996.
Golesh is in his second season at Tennessee and his third on Josh Heupel‘s staff, dating back to his final year at UCF.
Golesh’s unit leads the nation in total offense (523.7), scoring offense (47.4) and passing efficiency (191.15). The Vols rank second in the FBS in passing offense (348.2), third in completion percentage (71.4) and sixth in redzone offense (94.6). They lead the SEC in six different categories, including scoring offense, total offense, passing offense, completion percentage, passing efficiency and passing yards per completion (15.14).
The impact of Golesh’s up-tempo offense over the last two seasons has been remarkable for a program that ranked 108th in the FBS in scoring (21.5) and 102nd in the FBS in total offense (346.2) a year prior to his and Heupel’s arrivals.
One season after shattering eight team single-season records, the Vols are on the cusp of breaking most if not all of those this fall. Golesh’s offense has amassed 474 total points, just 37 points shy of tying the school record of 511 set last year. UT is also just five touchdowns short of knotting that school record of 67 set last season.
Golesh is in his 19th season at the collegiate level having enjoyed success at every stop of his career. Prior to spending the 2020 season as the co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach at UCF, he served as the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Iowa State from 2016-19 on Matt Campbell’s staff.
Golesh grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and earned a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State in 2006. He got his start in the coaching profession as a student assistant with the Buckeyes.
Semifinalists for the Broyles Award will be announced on Nov. 22 with finalists set a week later on Nov. 29. The recipient of the award will be unveiled on Dec. 6 in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas.
NEW YORK — The Foundation for Teamwork announced Tuesday afternoon that Tennessee’s offensive line is one of nine semifinalists for the 2022 Joe Moore Award, presented annually to most outstanding offensive line unit in college football.
The nine semifinalists include (in alphabetical order): Air Force, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon, Tennessee, UCLA, and USC.
Under the direction of second-year offensive line coach Glen Elarbee, the Volunteer O-linemen have been an imposing force in leading UT to a 9-1 record through the first 11 weeks of the 2022 campaign. The prolific Vols average 523.7 yards of total offense per game and score at a clip of 47.4 points per contest, both tops in the FBS through games played Nov. 12.
With the offensive line providing a clean pocket, the high-octane Tennessee Vols boast the nation’s best team passer efficiency rating (191.15) while leading the SEC and ranking second nationally in passing offense (348.2 yards per game). The Tennessee protection unit has also paved the way for 195.5 rushing yards per contest this season, ranking fourth in the SEC and 28th in the FBS.
Tennessee is the only program in the conference with four different players that have been SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week this season. Wright received the honor twice after his performances against No. 3 Alabama and No. 19 Kentucky, while Carvin (10/22 vs. UT Martin), Mays (11/12 vs. Missouri) and Spraggins (9/24 vs. No. 25 Florida) have each been recognized by the league office once this season.
The Big Orange put on an offensive clinic in its most recent outing, racking up a program-record 724 yards of total offense (460 passing, 264 rushing) during Saturday’s 66-24 Senior Day victory over Missouri. The 66 points scored were Tennessee’s most all-time against an SEC opponent, topping the previous standard of 65 set in a shutout at Vanderbilt in 1994.
The Joe Moore Award finalists will be named on Tuesday, December 6th. The eventual winner will be recognized in the ensuing weeks during a surprise, on-campus visit to the winning unit’s school.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Despite a double-double from Jasmine Powell and three 14-plus-point scorers, the No. 11/4 Tennessee Lady Volunteers fell to No. 12/11 Indiana, 79-67, Monday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Powell turned in a strong night in just her second game played on The Summitt, finishing with 16 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. It marks just the second career double-double for the senior transfer from Minnesota. The guard was the Lady Vols’ leading scorer in the first half, sinking 11 points on 3-of-6 on 3-pointers.
Tennessee’s leading scorer was Rickea Jackson, who posted 17 points on 6-of-14 shooting and 2-of-3 marksmanship from downtown. She also made all three free throw attempts in the game and was complimented by solid paint play from Tamari Key, who also finished in double figures in scoring with 14 points. Key was perfect from the floor, converting all four layup tries in the game for the Big Orange (1-2).
Indiana (3-0) won the game with a balanced attack, having five different double-digit scorers, led by Sara Scalia and Mackenzie Holmes who both finished with 16. Holmes and Grace Berger both carded IU’s first double-doubles of the season, as they both logged 10 boards. Berger finished with 13 points in her seventh career double-double, while Holmes is the team leader in the category, having 12 career games with multiple categories in double digits.
The night started off slow for the Lady Vols in the shooting department, but Powell supplied the early firepower by sinking a pair of 3-pointers. Tennessee lead 10-9 at the media timeout after back-to-back lay-ins from Jackson, but Indiana found its offensive rhythm, closing the quarter on a 12-4 run and leading 22-14 after 10 minutes of play.
The second stanza featured both sides getting shots and converting at a similar rate with the Hoosiers posting a 6-of-16 (37.5 percent) line, while UT was 6-of-18 (33.3 percent). The difference in the quarter was IU’s ability to put it away from deep, doubling up the Lady Vols’ total on 3-pointers with four makes to Tennessee’s two.
Tennessee made a bid at climbing out of its hole in the middle minutes of the third quarter. The Lady Vols had a 5-for-5 field goal stretch that included a pair of makes from deep by Tess Darby and was jump-started by an and-one from Jackson. While the team would outscore Indiana 20-17 in the quarter, the Lady Vols still faced an eight-point deficit entering the fourth period.
Jackson was a sparkplug in the final period and did all she could to lead the Big Orange to a comeback win. Tennessee cut the deficit to four at the 7:05 mark before the Hoosiers kicked into gear and brought their lead back up to 10. Jackson finished the quarter 2-of-3 from the floor with both buckets coming from beyond the arc. Indiana repelled any UT threats in the final 10 minutes as, going 8-of-13 (61.5 percent) from the floor and sinking all six shots from the free-throw line, closing out the final quarter with a 22-18 margin.
UP NEXT The Lady Vols take to the road for their only regular-season tournament of the season, the Bad Boy Mowers Women’s Battle 4 Atlantis in Paradise Island, Bahamas. Action begins with Rutgers on Saturday, Nov. 19, and tips off at noon ET on FloHoops.com.
TESS FOR THREE: Junior Tess Darby has hit three 3-pointers in three straight games, the longest streak in her Lady Vol career, and is averaging nine points per contest.
POWELL POPS OFF: Senior Jasmine Powell posted 16 points and 10 rebounds, notching the second double-double of her career, her first as a Lady Vol.
TRANSFERS STAND OUT: Transfers Rickea Jackson and Jasmine Powell have shined in the inaugural showdowns of the season. Jackson has accumulated 50 points and 23 rebounds through three games, while Powell has recorded 39 points and 15 rebounds.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee redshirt senior quarterback Hendon Hooker added three awards to his long list of weekly honors for the 2022 campaign, claiming Reese’s Senior Bowl Offensive Player of the Week, Manning Award Star of the Week and Davey O’Brien Award Great 8 List recognition after his performance against Missouri on Saturday.
Also collecting SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors Monday afternoon, the Volunteer signal caller has racked up 19 weekly awards over the course of the fall.
Playing his final game in Neyland Stadium, Hooker accounted for 405 yards of total offense and four touchdowns as the Vols polished off an undefeated home slate with a 66-24 win over the Tigers. Mizzou entered the game with the nation’s No. 13 total defense (304.1), and Tennessee set a school record with 724 yards of total offense, while the 66 points were also the most ever by the Vols in an SEC game, breaking the previous mark of 65 set at Vanderbilt on Nov. 26, 1994.
The Greensboro, North Carolina, native completed 25-of-35 passes for 355 yards and three touchdowns with no picks in the air and added 50 yards rushing, a touchdown on the ground and multiple highlight-reel runs, including a 28-yarder on a third-down play in the third quarter. Hooker became the first UT player with 350 or more pass yards, three or more pass touchdowns and a rush touchdown in the same game since Tyler Bray accomplished the feat against Cincinnati on Sept. 10, 2011.
Hooker moved into fifth place in UT career touchdown passes with 55, and he also rushed for a touchdown and passed for a touchdown in the same game as a Vol for the ninth time. Against Missouri, he fired touchdown passes of 19-yards, 68-yards and 2-yards, while adding a 14-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Additionally, Hooker moved into second place in the FBS in QB passer rating at 181.81.
A midseason first team All-American and semifinalist for the Maxwell Award, Hooker is a two-time Reese’s Senior Bowl Offensive Player of the Week and has been recognized as a Manning Award Star of the Week and Davey O’Brien Great 8 List member four and five times this season, respectively.
Seeking 10 wins in the regular season for the first time since 2003, the Vols (9-1, 5-1 SEC) head to Columbia, South Carolina, this weekend to take on the Gamecocks (6-4, 3-4) inside a sold-out Williams-Brice Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET Saturday on ESPN.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The 22nd-ranked Tennessee men’s basketball returns home Wednesday, hosting Florida Gulf Coast at Thompson-Boling Arena at 7 p.m.
Fans can catch Wednesday’s game on SEC Network+ and online or on any mobile device through WatchESPN. WatchESPN can be accessed through the ESPN App, or online at espn.com/watch. Andy Brock (play-by-play) and VFL Steve Hamer (analyst) will have the call.
Fans can also listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp describing the action.
Tennessee (1-1) has split its opening two games of the regular season, defeating Tennessee Tech in its season opener and falling to Colorado in Nashville.
The Vols and Florida Gulf Coast have never met on the hardwood, but Tennessee is 19-1 all-time against current members of the Atlantic Sun Conference. During the Rick Barnes era, Tennessee is also a perfect 8-0 at home against teams from the state of Florida.
After taking on Florida Gulf Coast, Tennessee heads to the Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis. The Vols are set to play three games in Paradise Island, Bahamas—starting by facing Butler on Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 7:30 p.m. Tennessee then will play one game apiece on Thursday, Nov. 24 and Friday, Nov. 25 before returning home.
TICKETS AND PARKING
Tickets and parking passes to all Tennessee Athletics events, including men’s basketball, are now digital and can be accessed through a mobile device to improve security and reduce the risk of ticket fraud as well as make the process more convenient for fans.
Fans will gain admission into Thompson-Boling Arena via a unique QR code which will be scanned directly from a mobile device. For quick and easy entry into Tennessee Athletics venues, fans are encouraged to download the Tennessee Athletics app from the App Store (iPhone) and Google Play (Android).
Your mobile device is the ticket on gameday. All valid digital tickets will display a moving barcode or a hold near reader (tap-and-go) icon. PLEASE NOTE: SCREENSHOTS OF TICKETS WILL NOT SCAN AT THE GATE AND WILL NOT ALLOW ENTRY!
Printed PDF tickets will no longer be issued or accepted for entry at any Tennessee Athletics venue.
The only authorized sources for tickets to Tennessee Athletics events are the Tennessee Athletics Ticket Office, AllVols.com, the venue box office where the athletic event is taking place and Ticketmaster.
Fans are encouraged to download the Tennessee Athletics app, which now houses the Coca-Cola GBO Zone. Search “Tennessee Athletics” in the Apple or Google Play Store or use this link to download: utsports.com/app.
THE SERIES • Tennessee and Florida Gulf Coast have never met on the hardwood. • The Volunteers are 19-1 all-time against current members of the Atlantic Sun Conference. The lone loss came at the hands of Austin Peay in December of 2011. • Rick Barnes is a perfect 10-0 as a head coach vs. A-Sun opposition but also has never faced FGCU. • Florida Gulf Coast will become the 211th Division I program Barnes has faced during his 36-year head coaching career. • During the Barnes era, Tennessee is a perfect 8-0 at home against teams from the state of Florida. • A Tennessee victory Wednesday would extend the Vols’ home win streak to 19 straight games overall and to 16 straight games against non-conference foes (dating to a loss to Wisconsin on Dec. 28, 2019). • After facing Florida Gulf Coast on Wednesday, the Vols depart for the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas on Monday.
SCOUTING REPORT • Following Sunday’s neutral-site loss to Colorado in Nashville, Vols head coach Rick Barnes stated an intent to shake up Tennessee’s starting lineup Wednesday. • Senior starter Uros Plavsic went down with a right ankle injury three minutes into Sunday’s game vs. Colorado and did not return. His status is doubtful for Wednesday. • Florida Gulf Coast averages 84.0 points per game under first-year head coach Pat Chambers and is shooting .384 as a team from long range. • In FGCU’s 105-61 home win over Ave Maria (NAIA), the Eagles drained a school-record 17 3-point shots. • Through the first two games of the season, the Volunteers are shooting just .328 from the field and .296 from 3-point range. • The Volunteers are averaging 14.0 steals per game and are scoring 19.0 points per game off turnovers.
LAYUP LINES • The Vols lead the country with an assist percentage of .810, having assisted on 34 of the team’s 42 made field goals. • 63.3 percent of Tennessee’s shot attempts this season have been 3-pointers—that’s the highest percentage among all DI teams. • UT’s bench is giving the Vols 36.0 points per game. • Graduate transfer Tyreke Key has emerged early as one of the Vols’ most potent scorers, averaging a team-high 16.0 points per game. • Key and Josiah-Jordan James are both shooting a team-best .462 from 3-point range (6-of-13), but they are the only Vols shooting better than .300 from long range. • Senior Santiago Vescovi and sophomore Zakai Zeigler were named to the preseason All-SEC first team by the league’s head coaches. The coaches also selected senior Josiah-Jordan James as a second-team selection. All three Vols also landed on the media’s preseason All-SEC teams. • Vescovi and Zeigler also both made the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s 50-man Naismith Trophy watch list.
ABOUT FLORIDA GULF COAST • Florida Gulf Coast (2-1) is coming off a 105-61 win over NAIA Ave Maria on Sunday. The win comes after a two-game California road trip to open the season, during which the Eagles won at USC, 74-61, and lost at San Diego, 79-73. The Eagles made a program-record 17 3-pointers during Sunday’s win over Ave Maria. • Veteran head coach Pat Chambers is in his first season at the helm of the Florida Gulf Coast program. Chambers previously served as head coach at Boston University (2009-11) and Penn State (2011-20). • Florida Gulf Coast was picked to finish fourth in the ASUN preseason coaches’ poll as well as the preseason media poll. Junior Chase Johnston earned a spot on the preseason all-conference team. • Johnston is in his first season at FGCU after playing the past two years at Stetson. A second-team All-ASUN selection last season, Johnston is the Eagles’ leading scorer through three games at 18.0 ppg. Johnston made a Stetson program-record 99 3-pointers last season. • Florida Gulf Coast added four players via the transfer portal prior to this season—guards Isaiah Thompson (Purdue), Dahmir Bishop (St. Joseph’s) and Johnston (Stetson) as well as big man Sam Onu (Memphis). • Located in Fort Myers, Florida, Florida Gulf Coast’s basketball program burst onto the national stage during the 2013 NCAA Tournament, when the No. 15-seeded Eagles upset No. 2 seed Georgetown and No. 7 seed San Diego State en route to a Sweet Sixteen appearance. FGCU also made the NCAA Tournament in 2016 and 2017.
BACK-TO-BACK LOSSES RARE • Tennessee has not lost consecutive games since the 2021 postseason. And the Vols haven’t suffered consecutive non-conference losses since dropping games vs. Wisconsin (Dec. 28, 2019) and at No. 3 Kansas (Jan. 25, 2020).
VOLS PREPARING FOR THIRD TRIP TO ATLANTIS • Tennessee departs Monday for its third appearance at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament at Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, Bahamas. • The Vols posted a fifth-place finish at the eight-team event in 2013 and then finished in third place under head coach Rick Barnes in 2017. • This year’s field includes Butler, BYU, Dayton, Kansas, NC State, Southern Cal and Wisconsin. The Vols open against Butler on Wednesday, Nov. 23, at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). • Tennessee and NC State are on opposite sides of this year’s bracket. Tennessee associate head coach Justin Gainey starred at point guard for the Wolfpack from 1997-2000.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Returning to Anderson Training Center after a 66-24 Senior Day victory over Missouri that saw the fifth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers record the most single-game yards in program history, the Vols turned the page to the next game and a primetime showdown at South Carolina.
After tackling two hostile environments early in the season, first at Pitt, then throttling a current top-10 team and SEC West champ LSU, the Vols faltered against Georgia. With a game under their belts to snap back to focus, Tennessee is preparing for another rowdy environment in a sold-out Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday night.
“Honestly, I feel like everyone on the offensive side of the ball is excited to go into this atmosphere,” redshirt-senior quarterback Hendon Hooker said at the podium Monday afternoon. “We’ve seen what it was like at Georgia and moving forward, we know what to expect. Anytime going into an environment like this, you want to prepare and do different things to get ready for that environment, so crowd noise at practice is a thing. But really just going out and locking in and communicating at a high level is what we need to do.”
One of the biggest factors this season has been the play from the offensive line. The front five kicked into gear on Saturday, paving the way in both the run and pass games for the big night. Center Cooper Mays was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week earlier in the afternoon, becoming the fourth Vol to do so this season, joining Darnell Wright, Jerome Carvin and Javontez Spraggins. The crew has had an honoree in 5-of-11 weeks this season and has seen massive growth under coach Glen Elarbee.
“They’re stronger and playing with better technique,” head coach Josh Heupel said about the unit’s development this season. “I do think their understanding of what we’re doing in year two, the fundamentals come along with that: their football knowledge, their IQ of what we’re doing, but then also defensively what they’re seeing. For us, we’ve had the ability for four out of the five guys to play consistently. The left tackle position has been nicked up a little bit here and there, but it’s been pretty much a two-man rotation. You combine it being year two, their knowledge and the consistency that we’ve had. Those guys have been able to play at a really high level.”
“He is in complete command of what we are doing,” Heupel said of Hooker’s play this year. “You look at the efficiency of how he is playing, the ability to take care of the football, the dynamic plays that he has made with his arm and with his feet. We don’t look like we do offensively without him.”
Tennessee returns to Haslam Field tomorrow morning to continue preparations for the Gamecocks. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN in Columbia, South Carolina.
A full transcript of head coach Josh Heupel and select quotes from quarterback Hendon Hooker can be found below.
Tennessee Football Press Conference | Nov. 14, 2022 Head Coach Josh Heupel
Opening statement… “Just to start off, with the awful tragedy at the University of Virginia, we just extend our thoughts, and our prayers are with them and their program here as they go through this. Really tough and unfortunate situation. For us this week, obviously a huge road test here and a good football team. They do a great job in all three phases. They do a really good job on the special teams side of it. They have changed the way the game is played in their return units, and in their cover units. Very aggressive in what they do from blocked kicks to what they have done in the return game. It will be a huge test for us on that side of it and the same for us offensively and defensively. They have created a bunch of big plays in the pass game. We have to do a great job in matching them out and handling protection. The line of scrimmage is going to be important like it is every week. For us offensively, obviously the line of scrimmage will be important too. They are doing a really good job as far as pass defense.”
On Dylan Sampson’s performance last week compared to his production earlier in the season… “I don’t know that it is necessarily what he hasn’t been doing earlier. The game, and just the way it played out, (we had) an opportunity to use him. Had planned on doing that a couple weeks earlier too, probably more frequently than he has at the beginning of the season. From the very beginning of the season, he is more comfortable in what we are doing, trust him in the protection side of it and feel like he can handle our entire package. During the course of the game, he played extremely well. Was solid in the pass protection side of it, but with the ball in his hands, I thought he had great vision, great pace , and then obviously had the ability to burst when he was at the line of scrimmage and go create some things on his own too, make people miss when he got to the second and third levels.”
On Brandon Turnage’s recent success… “Part of it for him is just coming back and getting completely healthy. Through the course of the summer, was limited in some of what he was able to do. Training camp, we kind of had a pitch count on him every single day. Just getting more comfortable and confident. He’s a guy that I pointed out to the team actually this morning, just whether he was starting, getting a ton of plays or not, his investment inside of the meeting room and inside our program has been so consistent. You continue to do that when your opportunity comes, you take advantage of it. He’s played at a really high level. He is extremely bright and smart. He understands the game. He does a great job of helping some of the younger guys inside of that room. Because he is playing well fundamentally and his eyes are in the right spot, he’s been able to break on some balls, make a pick, almost had another one the other day. Everybody inside of our program loves who he is and what he’s about.”
On Hendon Hooker contending for the Heisman Trophy and what areas he excels in compared to other quarterbacks across the country… “I haven’t gotten a chance to watch every quarterback across this country and watch every rep. He is playing at as high a level as I have ever had anybody, and I’ve had Heisman guys. He is in complete command of what we are doing. You look at the efficiency of how he is playing, the ability to take care of the football, the dynamic plays that he has made with his arm and with his feet. We don’t look like we do offensively without him. He certainly is deserving of being in that conversation. Have to go play the right way here the last couple of weeks and hope he has that opportunity. I believe he should.”
On Cedric Tillman’s availability for the South Carolina game… “Obviously, it’s just Monday for us but as the week unfolds, we believe he’ll have the ability to play in this one. We’ll always evaluate it on the back half of the week.”
On if there was any consideration to taking a knee late in Saturday’s win over Missouri… “For us at the end of the day, our two’s were in the football game when the ball went down to the 1-yard line or whatever it was. It absolutely went through my mind. I don’t know what the right thing to do is in that moment at the end of the day, but our guys continued to play football.”
On Cooper Mays becoming the fourth Vol to win SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors this season… “He’s smart, tough and competitive. He takes great ownership inside of the room. It all starts with him, for us. For him, having a true offseason compared to a year ago and really throughout his career (was important). This was the first true offseason that he’s had. He’s stronger and bigger than he was and is playing at a super high level. Love what he brings to the table every day.”
On what South Carolina’s offense can do to present challenges for Tennessee’s defense… “First of all, I said it in the very beginning. They’ve created a bunch of big plays. I think they’re second in the league in pass plays over 40 yards. Some of that comes off of play action and some from drop-backs. He’s (Spencer Rattler) able to extend and make some plays outside of the pocket with his feet, too. For us, we have to do a great job of controlling first and second down and then play with discipline. You can’t let their tight ends or their wideouts run free. We have to match things out extremely well.”
On being aware of fake punts by South Carolina… “Last year they got us in punt safe, and we didn’t do a good job of playing the technique that we’re supposed to out on the outside. When our special teams units go out on the field, you have to be aware that they’re going to be aggressive after the punt. They’re really good in the return game too off of that, on punt return and certainly kickoff return, too. You have to do a great job of covering, too. They’re good in the return game. They place an emphasis on it. They’re aggressive in what they do. Our guys have to go out and play the right way. There are no re-dos. You get one opportunity when you’re on special teams unit. You have to go match it out, so eye discipline, recognition of your alignment and assignment based on the formations will be critical in this one.”
On if Tennessee prepares for the noise ahead of a road game or if it handles it in the moment… “It’s a combination. We’ll continue to do some of the things that we’ve done here at home. In the moment, we’ve got to be able to reset and play. On dead balls in particular, you have to be able to handle it. We’ve done that in different road environments. This will be a great one. Having been there before, it’s going to be loud and you have to handle that part of it. We talked about it this morning. It has to be a point of emphasis to do the ordinary things at a really high level in this game.”
On how much Tennessee’s offensive line has improved under Glen Elarbee since last season… “Physically, all of them continue to change their bodies. They’re stronger and playing with better technique. I do think their understanding of what we’re doing in year two, the fundamentals come along with that: their football knowledge, their IQ of what we’re doing, but then also defensively what they’re seeing. For us, we’ve had the ability for four out of the five guys to play consistently. The left tackle position has been nicked up a little bit here and there, but it’s been pretty much a two-man rotation. You combine it being year two, their knowledge and the consistency that we’ve had. Those guys have been able to play at a really high level.”
On Jourdan Thomas emerging on special teams and what other players stand out in that regard… “He has made a lot of plays. He has defeated blocks, gone and made tackles; he is good in space. As far as our recognition, he has been on those units from the beginning of the season just because of what he did during training camp. He cares, he pays attention, it matters to him, he competes every single day. He has grown fundamentally. All of those reasons gave him the ability, combined with his athleticism, that we thought he would play at a really high level, and he has. Kalib Perry continues to grow. Elijah Herring continues to grow and do a lot of really good things on those special teams units.”
On scheming receivers open… “I think you’re always balancing what your kids are good at, what they’re comfortable with, what they’re seeing on the other side of the football schematically. You have to put your kids in a position to win, and then certainly for our staff, we have been together for a while. You can draw back on things we have done in the past that maybe haven’t appeared here recently and try to incorporate those when you think you have an opportunity to create a mismatch.”
On Jimmy Holiday’s performance as the gunner on punt coverage… “He has done a great job. He is playing a ton of snaps on special teams and is a difference maker for us there. His athleticism, his speed down the football field. You’re talking about on punt, being the gunner, he does a great job. One, causing fair catches. He has downed the ball inside the ball inside the 10-yard line a couple of times. He has done a good job of going down and making plays too. I think some of those unique positions, all of those skills translate over to offense or defense, but you are put in unique positions. His opportunity to play throughout the course of the season consistently at all of those spots has allowed him to continue to develop. He has a great future ahead of him.”
On the defensive success during the Missouri game and maintaining it the rest of the season… “When it is going good, all 11 are operating as one, you are playing gap sound, you are tackling well, but that happened because you are in good body positions because your eyes take you to the football. When it’s not going good, it’s not like a wholesale change typically is what is needed. It’s guys settling into the football. Ten guys can be doing it right, one guy is not, and all of the sudden you give up a big play. Doing the ordinary things at a really high level, our preparation, our practice habits have to be right. This is a big football game for us. It’s the only one we have this week. Really good opponent, great environment. We have to be ready to go compete for 60 minutes and be dialed in to the details of our jobs.”
On what the process was like getting on the ladder to direct Rocky Top after the win over Missouri… “I was walking over to sing with my teammates after the win and the band director grabbed me and asked me if I wanted to direct Rocky Top? And I was like, ‘oh yeah, for sure’. I was kind of scared though getting on the ladder with my cleats on. I was like. ‘I hope I don’t fall’. So, I was being very careful, you know, walking up the ladder and standing there as well.”
On what the team is going to work on this week to handle the loud atmosphere in Columbia… “Honestly, I feel like everyone on the offensive side of the ball is excited to go into this atmosphere. We’ve seen what it was like at Georgia and moving forward, we know what to expect. Anytime going into an environment like this, you want to prepare and do different things to get ready for that environment, so crowd noise at practice is a thing. But really just going out and locking in and communicating at a high level is what we need to do.”
On Cooper Mays being named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week and what he means to the offense… “He’s being a great communicator, from me in the backfield and then just the rest of the security up front. Just being that force up front is huge for us and then being on the same page, that’s a huge deal. If everyone isn’t on the same page, then the play is dead. It starts with them (offensive line). So, just him bringing that energy every day and positive vibes. Whenever we’re at practice he’s always cracking a couple jokes, keeping us uplifted through the hard days of practice or camp. He’s a great guy to work with.”
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Returning to Anderson Training Center after a 66-24 Senior Day victory over Missouri that saw the fifth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers record the most single-game yards in program history, the Vols turned the page to the next game and a primetime showdown at South Carolina.
After tackling two hostile environments early in the season, first at Pitt, then throttling a current top-10 team and SEC West champ LSU, the Vols faltered against Georgia. With a game under their belts to snap back to focus, Tennessee is preparing for another rowdy environment in a sold-out Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday night.
“Honestly, I feel like everyone on the offensive side of the ball is excited to go into this atmosphere,” redshirt-senior quarterback Hendon Hooker said at the podium Monday afternoon. “We’ve seen what it was like at Georgia and moving forward, we know what to expect. Anytime going into an environment like this, you want to prepare and do different things to get ready for that environment, so crowd noise at practice is a thing. But really just going out and locking in and communicating at a high level is what we need to do.”
One of the biggest factors this season has been the play from the offensive line. The front five kicked into gear on Saturday, paving the way in both the run and pass games for the big night. Center Cooper Mays was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week earlier in the afternoon, becoming the fourth Vol to do so this season, joining Darnell Wright, Jerome Carvin and Javontez Spraggins. The crew has had an honoree in 5-of-11 weeks this season and has seen massive growth under coach Glen Elarbee.
“They’re stronger and playing with better technique,” head coach Josh Heupel said about the unit’s development this season. “I do think their understanding of what we’re doing in year two, the fundamentals come along with that: their football knowledge, their IQ of what we’re doing, but then also defensively what they’re seeing. For us, we’ve had the ability for four out of the five guys to play consistently. The left tackle position has been nicked up a little bit here and there, but it’s been pretty much a two-man rotation. You combine it being year two, their knowledge and the consistency that we’ve had. Those guys have been able to play at a really high level.”
“He is in complete command of what we are doing,” Heupel said of Hooker’s play this year. “You look at the efficiency of how he is playing, the ability to take care of the football, the dynamic plays that he has made with his arm and with his feet. We don’t look like we do offensively without him.”
Tennessee returns to Haslam Field tomorrow morning to continue preparations for the Gamecocks. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN in Columbia, South Carolina.
A full transcript of head coach Josh Heupel and select quotes from quarterback Hendon Hooker can be found below.
Tennessee Football Press Conference | Nov. 14, 2022 Head Coach Josh Heupel
Opening statement… “Just to start off, with the awful tragedy at the University of Virginia, we just extend our thoughts, and our prayers are with them and their program here as they go through this. Really tough and unfortunate situation. For us this week, obviously a huge road test here and a good football team. They do a great job in all three phases. They do a really good job on the special teams side of it. They have changed the way the game is played in their return units, and in their cover units. Very aggressive in what they do from blocked kicks to what they have done in the return game. It will be a huge test for us on that side of it and the same for us offensively and defensively. They have created a bunch of big plays in the pass game. We have to do a great job in matching them out and handling protection. The line of scrimmage is going to be important like it is every week. For us offensively, obviously the line of scrimmage will be important too. They are doing a really good job as far as pass defense.”
On Dylan Sampson’s performance last week compared to his production earlier in the season… “I don’t know that it is necessarily what he hasn’t been doing earlier. The game, and just the way it played out, (we had) an opportunity to use him. Had planned on doing that a couple weeks earlier too, probably more frequently than he has at the beginning of the season. From the very beginning of the season, he is more comfortable in what we are doing, trust him in the protection side of it and feel like he can handle our entire package. During the course of the game, he played extremely well. Was solid in the pass protection side of it, but with the ball in his hands, I thought he had great vision, great pace , and then obviously had the ability to burst when he was at the line of scrimmage and go create some things on his own too, make people miss when he got to the second and third levels.”
On Brandon Turnage’s recent success… “Part of it for him is just coming back and getting completely healthy. Through the course of the summer, was limited in some of what he was able to do. Training camp, we kind of had a pitch count on him every single day. Just getting more comfortable and confident. He’s a guy that I pointed out to the team actually this morning, just whether he was starting, getting a ton of plays or not, his investment inside of the meeting room and inside our program has been so consistent. You continue to do that when your opportunity comes, you take advantage of it. He’s played at a really high level. He is extremely bright and smart. He understands the game. He does a great job of helping some of the younger guys inside of that room. Because he is playing well fundamentally and his eyes are in the right spot, he’s been able to break on some balls, make a pick, almost had another one the other day. Everybody inside of our program loves who he is and what he’s about.”
On Hendon Hooker contending for the Heisman Trophy and what areas he excels in compared to other quarterbacks across the country… “I haven’t gotten a chance to watch every quarterback across this country and watch every rep. He is playing at as high a level as I have ever had anybody, and I’ve had Heisman guys. He is in complete command of what we are doing. You look at the efficiency of how he is playing, the ability to take care of the football, the dynamic plays that he has made with his arm and with his feet. We don’t look like we do offensively without him. He certainly is deserving of being in that conversation. Have to go play the right way here the last couple of weeks and hope he has that opportunity. I believe he should.”
On Cedric Tillman’s availability for the South Carolina game… “Obviously, it’s just Monday for us but as the week unfolds, we believe he’ll have the ability to play in this one. We’ll always evaluate it on the back half of the week.”
On if there was any consideration to taking a knee late in Saturday’s win over Missouri… “For us at the end of the day, our two’s were in the football game when the ball went down to the 1-yard line or whatever it was. It absolutely went through my mind. I don’t know what the right thing to do is in that moment at the end of the day, but our guys continued to play football.”
On Cooper Mays becoming the fourth Vol to win SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors this season… “He’s smart, tough and competitive. He takes great ownership inside of the room. It all starts with him, for us. For him, having a true offseason compared to a year ago and really throughout his career (was important). This was the first true offseason that he’s had. He’s stronger and bigger than he was and is playing at a super high level. Love what he brings to the table every day.”
On what South Carolina’s offense can do to present challenges for Tennessee’s defense… “First of all, I said it in the very beginning. They’ve created a bunch of big plays. I think they’re second in the league in pass plays over 40 yards. Some of that comes off of play action and some from drop-backs. He’s (Spencer Rattler) able to extend and make some plays outside of the pocket with his feet, too. For us, we have to do a great job of controlling first and second down and then play with discipline. You can’t let their tight ends or their wideouts run free. We have to match things out extremely well.”
On being aware of fake punts by South Carolina… “Last year they got us in punt safe, and we didn’t do a good job of playing the technique that we’re supposed to out on the outside. When our special teams units go out on the field, you have to be aware that they’re going to be aggressive after the punt. They’re really good in the return game too off of that, on punt return and certainly kickoff return, too. You have to do a great job of covering, too. They’re good in the return game. They place an emphasis on it. They’re aggressive in what they do. Our guys have to go out and play the right way. There are no re-dos. You get one opportunity when you’re on special teams unit. You have to go match it out, so eye discipline, recognition of your alignment and assignment based on the formations will be critical in this one.”
On if Tennessee prepares for the noise ahead of a road game or if it handles it in the moment… “It’s a combination. We’ll continue to do some of the things that we’ve done here at home. In the moment, we’ve got to be able to reset and play. On dead balls in particular, you have to be able to handle it. We’ve done that in different road environments. This will be a great one. Having been there before, it’s going to be loud and you have to handle that part of it. We talked about it this morning. It has to be a point of emphasis to do the ordinary things at a really high level in this game.”
On how much Tennessee’s offensive line has improved under Glen Elarbee since last season… “Physically, all of them continue to change their bodies. They’re stronger and playing with better technique. I do think their understanding of what we’re doing in year two, the fundamentals come along with that: their football knowledge, their IQ of what we’re doing, but then also defensively what they’re seeing. For us, we’ve had the ability for four out of the five guys to play consistently. The left tackle position has been nicked up a little bit here and there, but it’s been pretty much a two-man rotation. You combine it being year two, their knowledge and the consistency that we’ve had. Those guys have been able to play at a really high level.”
On Jourdan Thomas emerging on special teams and what other players stand out in that regard… “He has made a lot of plays. He has defeated blocks, gone and made tackles; he is good in space. As far as our recognition, he has been on those units from the beginning of the season just because of what he did during training camp. He cares, he pays attention, it matters to him, he competes every single day. He has grown fundamentally. All of those reasons gave him the ability, combined with his athleticism, that we thought he would play at a really high level, and he has. Kalib Perry continues to grow. Elijah Herring continues to grow and do a lot of really good things on those special teams units.”
On scheming receivers open… “I think you’re always balancing what your kids are good at, what they’re comfortable with, what they’re seeing on the other side of the football schematically. You have to put your kids in a position to win, and then certainly for our staff, we have been together for a while. You can draw back on things we have done in the past that maybe haven’t appeared here recently and try to incorporate those when you think you have an opportunity to create a mismatch.”
On Jimmy Holiday’s performance as the gunner on punt coverage… “He has done a great job. He is playing a ton of snaps on special teams and is a difference maker for us there. His athleticism, his speed down the football field. You’re talking about on punt, being the gunner, he does a great job. One, causing fair catches. He has downed the ball inside the ball inside the 10-yard line a couple of times. He has done a good job of going down and making plays too. I think some of those unique positions, all of those skills translate over to offense or defense, but you are put in unique positions. His opportunity to play throughout the course of the season consistently at all of those spots has allowed him to continue to develop. He has a great future ahead of him.”
On the defensive success during the Missouri game and maintaining it the rest of the season… “When it is going good, all 11 are operating as one, you are playing gap sound, you are tackling well, but that happened because you are in good body positions because your eyes take you to the football. When it’s not going good, it’s not like a wholesale change typically is what is needed. It’s guys settling into the football. Ten guys can be doing it right, one guy is not, and all of the sudden you give up a big play. Doing the ordinary things at a really high level, our preparation, our practice habits have to be right. This is a big football game for us. It’s the only one we have this week. Really good opponent, great environment. We have to be ready to go compete for 60 minutes and be dialed in to the details of our jobs.”
On what the process was like getting on the ladder to direct Rocky Top after the win over Missouri… “I was walking over to sing with my teammates after the win and the band director grabbed me and asked me if I wanted to direct Rocky Top? And I was like, ‘oh yeah, for sure’. I was kind of scared though getting on the ladder with my cleats on. I was like. ‘I hope I don’t fall’. So, I was being very careful, you know, walking up the ladder and standing there as well.”
On what the team is going to work on this week to handle the loud atmosphere in Columbia… “Honestly, I feel like everyone on the offensive side of the ball is excited to go into this atmosphere. We’ve seen what it was like at Georgia and moving forward, we know what to expect. Anytime going into an environment like this, you want to prepare and do different things to get ready for that environment, so crowd noise at practice is a thing. But really just going out and locking in and communicating at a high level is what we need to do.”
On Cooper Mays being named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week and what he means to the offense… “He’s being a great communicator, from me in the backfield and then just the rest of the security up front. Just being that force up front is huge for us and then being on the same page, that’s a huge deal. If everyone isn’t on the same page, then the play is dead. It starts with them (offensive line). So, just him bringing that energy every day and positive vibes. Whenever we’re at practice he’s always cracking a couple jokes, keeping us uplifted through the hard days of practice or camp. He’s a great guy to work with.”
