Back again after its first scrimmage of spring ball, the Tennessee football team concluded its eighth practice of the spring, Tuesday afternoon at Haslam Field. Following the conclusion of practice, linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary, senior DB Trevon Flowers, senior DB Jaylen McCollough, junior OL Omari Thomas and senior DL/LB Roman Harrison spoke with the media.

Tennessee Linebackers Coach Brian Jean-Mary
April 5, 2022

On how Juwan Mitchell has looked so far in spring practice…

“He is still rehabbing that shoulder. He is in a yellow jersey, it has been all non-contact with him. He gets a little bit of 7-on-7 work, but he has not done any 11-on-11 team reps, but he has been better. I think the number one thing has been his attitude. You can tell he is really buying into the team concept here. It is always a hard thing when you get a kid out of the portal, going into a different program with different expectations and different rules. That was a struggle early, but he has been great. Attending the meetings, you know, he has been a great teammate, as far as helping his teammates out and has been good in the 7-on-7 so far so it is good.”

On if Juwan Mitchell had not been injured where could his season have gone last year…

“It was getting better. Like I said, without the opportunity to go through the spring and the summer, it was a learning curve for him, so it was trial by fire. He got out there and made some plays for us, but obviously, with the whole unit, was not good enough at times. I felt like he was getting better before we decided to shut him down, but our expectation for him is high. We brought him in and he decided to come here because he wanted to play for the Volunteers, but really wanted to have a chance to play at the highest level and our expectations when we saw him was for him to play at a very high level as far as linebacker in the SEC.”

On how different spring practice is this year and it will be better from a development standpoint…

“We were just discussing that in the staff room. Last year, some of you guys could have lined up at linebacker and we probably would have been more successful. We were just short on numbers, and it was really just trying to survive the days. It was not – the idea of getting better or progressing, we really couldn’t get that because we had so many guys either out or injured. Fast forward to now, it is a night and day difference. We have 90% of the guys in the room, outside of William Mohan and Juwan Mitchell, but everybody else has been there. Having Jeremy Banks healthy, having Aaron Beasley back, those are guys that started the majority of the season for us, and our main sub, Solon Page III is back, and, obviously Pakk (Kwauze Garland). We have so many guys that played for us in some capacity, having them here in the spring has been a night and day difference.”

On if any young guys are closer to being able to help the defense…

“Yes, that was one of our goals as a staff, especially in the linebacker room, to try and find a way to develop some young depth. Obviously, we start with the youngest in Elijah Herring. He has been doing a great job for a young man that should be getting ready for his senior prom. For what we have thrown at him, he has done a great job. Starting with him, these next two weeks, these next seven practices, are going to be really big for him as far as if he’s going to be able to help us next year, but he has done a good job. We’ve been excited about Pakk (Kwauze Garland). We really want him to take that next step. He has kind of been teetering on (being) a guy that we can count on, that we can throw in a game, because he has a great skillset, and we really want him to turn the page and become a guy that can become a rotational guy. Obviously, with William Mohan being hurt kind of hurts some of his development, but we still have high expectations for him. We have to talk about one our transfers, Jackson Hannah, who transferred in from Nebraska. He has been doing a really, really good job, obviously having some experience playing in another Power Five league, he has brought that into the room and has been doing a great job. I can’t leave out Aaron Willis. He is another kid that didn’t get a chance to go through spring and he has been a pleasant surprise. He is starting to look like he is more comfortable in the system we have and has been making plays every day.”

On Elijah Herring and how difficult it is for a freshman to come in and learn linebacker…

“It is difficult. Not only do you have to come in and learn a college system, which is always tough for a high school player and he is coming in in the spring, so he didn’t have the benefit of a summer scouting report where he has a chance to get his feet under him. And then, you are going against one of the top offenses in the country that plays with tempo and you have to defend sideline-to-sideline against these guys. It is a challenge, but it is one of those things that, when he can weather it and it starts to slow down for him, his best days are going to be ahead of him. We told him, its going to be rough. You have coaches yelling at you. You’ve got teammates yelling at you when you’re trying to get lined up and they are going at warp speed. It can be overwhelming, but he is a super mature kid, and even when he makes mistakes, he is one of those kids that comes to the sideline and before you can correct him, he tells you what he did wrong. When kids do that, you know that it means something to them and there is a really good chance he is going to catch on sooner than later.”

On the next steps for Jeremy Banks…

“I think we all would agree it’s probably just playing under control. He is such an aggressive player, which is what you want, but it has to be controlled aggression. I think he’s been better this spring. He’s still going to play 100 miles an hour. He plays the game the right way, with the right mentality. He’s got to do it within the framework of what our expectations are on defense and obviously what coach Heupel’s expectations are as the head coach. But, more importantly, what the officials’ expectations are in playing clean football. He’s been better there. We have to pull him back sometimes, but you’d rather have to coach that than the ones that you have to keep encouraging every day.”

On if the linebackers are able to cross-train at different positions now…

“That’s a good question. We, from day one when we get into the room, always say we’re talking to one guy – even though we’re playing with a MIKE and a WILL and then we have a big package where we put a SAM linebacker on the field, which has been good for us. So, there are three guys on the field at once. It’s actually been a blessing, because we can mix and match guys. If we say if we’re talking to one guy in the room, we’re talking to everybody. We expect everyone to at least be serviceable at all three positions, and that’s the way it’s taught in the room.”

On the most important thing Elijah Herring needs to develop to earn playing time…

“Number one thing, we just got done with our first scrimmage. That was his first opportunity in as live action as possible. The speed of the game, even though we practice it every day, now it was 11-on-11, no coaches on the field, getting lined up, the officiating, the tempo. That’s the hardest part coming out of high school is learning the speed of the game, the speed at which you have to be able to adjust, tackling bigger guys, getting off of offensive linemen that are going to be more athletic and obviously a lot larger than what he played against in high school. But, like I said, he’s a mature kid, has a mature body. Once it starts to slow down for him, I think he’s going to be fine.”

On if it’s better to throw younger guys into situations, or to bring them along slowly…

“You never want to kill their confidence, but you have to know they’re going to react in adverse situations. I have to be honest, we want to get them reps, but we don’t want it to affect the morale of the whole defense. So, if they mess up, it’s a touchdown and it lets the air out of the balloon because we’re allowing plays that should be stopped to be touchdowns or big plays. But we did get them in there quite a few times. They made freshman mistakes, played hard, obviously cost us in some scenarios, but we didn’t want to just throw them all the way in and it turn into a bad day. You guys know, morale is a big deal, especially for a young kid. He’s already feeling that pressure, you don’t want to just kill it all the way by putting him in situations where he couldn’t be successful. You know how we coach, we’re going to throw him out there and he better know what he’s supposed to do. If he doesn’t, we’ll get it corrected on the sideline. But I thought they did a good job in some instances and really helped us. But, like I said, in true freshman form there were a lot of plays that they left out there, just not ready to go and attack it the way we wanted to.”

On how Jackson Hannah has adjusted this spring…

“Jackson has been a pleasant surprise. Anytime you can bring in a young man that has real college experience, he just has to learn how to play within our system, he has to learn how to play within our rules. I think the speed of the game is not a problem for him. Obviously, where he came from ran a version of the spread, probably not exactly like us, so I don’t think the tempo bothers him as much. Really the thing with him is just cross-training him and being able to be serviceable, like we said, at all three linebacker positions, which he’s gotten reps at.”

On the returning linebackers…

“Our goal, coming into spring, was that we had to improve. We were right there on, what I would say, average for this conference, and that’s what our record said. Based on what we did on defense, the only way we’re going to take the next step is the things we weren’t good at last year. As far as getting off blocks, we can’t play one-for-one and always count on the free hat to make the tackle. Playing under control with Jeremy and some of the other guys and really just being more productive. We blitz a lot, we ask those guys to do a lot of different things in coverage and we have to make more plays on the ball, whether it be as blitzers on the quarterback, whether it be just playing physical and knocking the ball out or getting more tackles for losses. The big thing is, with the way college football is going, we have to make more plays on the ball. Whether it be PBU (pass breakups) that lead to interceptions, or interceptions themselves, we have to do a better job in that. We’re multiple enough that we’re going to have the opportunities, we have to make those plays.”

Senior DB Trevon Flowers

On working at different positions this spring…

“I’ve been working a little bit at nickel and both sides at the safety position, but I mean, it’s good to be versatile. It allows everyone in the back-end to learn what to do in different spots to make more plays and play faster.”

On taking a bigger leadership role in the secondary…

“It’s huge, especially with some of the young guys coming in. Just me having the experience that I got, being able to talk and bring guys along with me to do the right thing, being able to lead on and off the field is huge. When it comes to the sixth and seventh game of the season where we are all tired and banged up, that’s going to mean a lot.”

On what the key is for the secondary to improve from last year…

“The key to the secondary improving … I would say, just creating more turnovers, not just interceptions, punching at the ball, stripping at the ball. Being more physical on our tackles and communicating is definitely a big piece. We all need to be on the same page every snap of the game. Working with our linebackers and in our zone coverages, that will be huge.”

Senior DB Jaylen McCollough

On how the defense played last year and what improvements he wants to see…

“Just some of the things for us to improve on as a secondary is creating more turnovers, being more physical, playing tighter coverage, and just all-around being playmakers. There’s a lot of experience on the backend. We have a lot of guys who can play, a lot of playmakers. So, we just have to relax and play.”

On the relationship between him and Trevon Flowers…

“Mentioning Theo Jackson and Alontae Taylor, those guys played a big role in our secondary last year and just listening to what they were preaching and telling us, it helped me and Tre out a lot. I would like to believe that I’m more vocal and Tre is more action-led. I feel like our dynamic complements each other very well. We’ve taken on the leadership role and managing the backend, and we will take great pride in that.”

On his personal goals this spring…

“My personal goals (during) spring ball are to improve my open-field tackling, taking better angles in the post and in the box. Being more detail orientated and being intentional with the stuff that I do. I feel like I’ve done a pretty good job so far.”

Junior DL Omari Thomas

On Jeremy Banks’ growth as a leader …

“I have seen Jeremy always pushing everybody on the team every day, whether it is defense, offense, linebackers, or wide receivers.  He is always just motivating everyone on the team and he wants the best for everyone. That is how I have seen him grow. “

On learning the football-life balance from Matthew Butler…

“Oh yeah, Matt and I had a real good connection, just outside of football. We hung out outside of the facility all the time. We talk all the time while he has been going through this process. I have been keeping him uplifted and he has kept me uplifted with spring ball. We have a real good connection; it has been really good to get to know Matt and now we just continue to build our brotherhood.”

On how he can take his on-field performance to another level…

“For me, what I have been working at this offseason is being able to keep my pad level low, coming out using my hands and just continuing to play physical and be fast off the ball. I feel like that is what the team needs as a defensive line. That is what I am trying to put out there or produce as a defensive line from me. The players beside me, as well, are trying to do the same thing. We want to be the best defensive line in the country.”

Senior DL/LB Roman Harrison

On the next step he wants to take this spring…

“This spring I am really just trying to focus on the fundamentals of my game. Making sure that every time I get a chance to be on the field or make a play, I just want to make sure everything I do is to the best of my ability.”

On Jeremy Banks making adjustments to his emotions this spring…

“I feel like he has matured more this spring. You can see him more as a leader now. Before, we knew him to make plays and do what he needs to do. But he has been really good at keeping high-energy yet keeping it clean.”

On going into his senior year and fourth year in the program…

“Yes, it is (hard to believe). It went by so fast. I still remember my first day walking up to campus and going into Stokely. I have played, what, 36 games here now and it definitely is crazy to me.”

On reflecting on his career going into the season…
“There are always going to be ups and downs in football. It was a lot to overcome, I had a surgery and that really set me back. I am just trying to look forward. That is my goal, that is what I always want to do, to look forward. Making sure I can do everything I can to increase my body weight and make sure my technical skills are up to par with the league that we are in. Just playing the best I can. The experiences they come and go. Like coach says, next play mentality.”

-UT Athletics