Lil Nas X broke onto the scene taking his horse to the “Old Town Road” with Billy Ray Cyrus…
After making a splash with his own hits, Lil Nas X got the seal of approval for his recent cover of Dolly Parton‘s classic song “Jolene”…by Dolly herself!
When the country music icon heard the young singer’s take on her seminal number-one hit, Dolly shared, “I was so excited when someone told me that Lil Nas X had done my song ‘Jolene’. I had to find it and listen to it immediately…and it’s really good. Of course, I love him anyway. I was surprised and I’m honored and flattered. I hope he does good for both of us. Thank you Lil Nas X”
Check out the performance here…
I was so excited when someone told me that Lil Nas X had done my song #Jolene. I had to find it and listen to it immediately…and it's really good. Of course, I love him anyway. I was surprised and I'm honored and flattered. I hope he does good for both of us. Thank you @LilNasXhttps://t.co/w7vJWGypOp
Tennessee men’s basketball head coach Rick Barnes spoke to the edia to mark the start of preseason practice for the 2021-2022 season.
KNOXVILLE, TN – September 28, 2021 – Guard Zakai Zeigler #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice at Pratt Pavilion in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
On if he can believe that basketball season is almost here:
“It’s hard to believe really, but it’s been fun. It was really fun to get to as normal as we could be. The best part of that has really been the time we got to spend with the players, being able to utilize the time we haven’t prepped together but then go downstairs in the locker room. It’s two of the most important places that we can be together and that part has been really fun. We have a good group of guys, we have half the team who are freshmen. The older guys have done a really good job showing these guys the way, but it’s just been fun to really get back to normal.”
KNOXVILLE, TN – September 28, 2021 – Forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice at Pratt Pavilion in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
On how the new additions are fitting in with the team:
“Like you would expect, they’ve all had good days, they’ve all had some days where they’ve been up and down. The attitude has never wavered. They all want to because they are willing to learn, they’re finding out there’s things with the game of basketball that they’ve never, they might have heard of it, but they didn’t understand the importance of it. They understand how you have to learn how to play when you’re tired, learn how to execute, learn how to respond as opposed to reacting when things aren’t going well. Overall, they’ve been good. Like I’ve said, they’ve all had good days. Some days, right now, yesterday was a different day for them in terms of tempo, the speed of our practices and how we expect to move from one thing to the next. But overall, they’ve handled it really quite well.”
On how the balance of the players that have been playing here for years and the younger, newer players:
“Well, the older guys have helped us because they know what culture we’ve created here. They know what are the pillars of our program, what’s important, and how things are done. Again, I think i’m being frank and honest when I tell you I think we probably had the best leadership with our upperclassmen that we’ve had in a couple years. The guys that you’ve talked about have been through some tough times, but yet they’ve had some good times. They’ve done a really, really fine job of showing these younger guys what it’s about in our program. They know we need the younger guys to grow up quick. Our schedule, I could talk to you about maybe are we over scheduled with this young group. I do believe, and we do as a staff, that the more that we can expose them to hard competition early, we think it will help us grow up quicker. We certainly hope so. We hope we can obviously win some of the games, you can’t win big games if you’re not willing to schedule them playing. But, our older guys have really done a terrific job, and I expect them to continue to do that. I think if you ask the younger guys what the older guys have meant to them, I think they would speak out.”
On if the situation of new faces and chemistry within the team is easier now with little COVID issues:
“Well, I think when you talk about chemistry, I think it starts with if there is a genuine love and likeness for each other. I think that’s where it starts. We all know that we all have individual goals that they want to reach, we have goals as a team. Certainly, when you’re a part of a team, you have to give up some of those. Yet, we want them to be somewhat selfish in the fact that we want them to go after their individual goals; the work ethic, the commitment, the time that goes into this knowing full well that they do that. It’s going to make them a better team. Yet, when you put all five guys together, now, what do they have to do to make their role as important as the next guy’s role? But with this group, again when you talk about chemistry, I do think it starts with a likeness with each other. Off the board, I think it turns the guys to want to hang around and be together, pull for each other, help each other, because they all have good days, and some bad days, some tough days. But, I do know this, this group likes each other. I know they like being together. They would tell you to the man that a year ago was really hard. We’ve done some team type of things whether it’s going to paintball or something like that. They would tell you how good that feels to them and how much they missed doing things as a team in the past year. That part of it has been fun.”
On freshman players like Brandon Huntley-Hatfield and Jonas Aidoo and their development on the team:
“Well, they’ve come a long way. Both of them. Certainly, they go through the transition. I think most of all and every freshman goes through understanding that it’s a different level, it’s a different speed to the game, different pace to the game in total. In terms of detail, attention to details at a higher level than you’ve ever dealt with in your life. Again, both of those guys have made strides, they both have had good days, some of them they’ve struggled at times too. I think where we are right now, they’re competing. They have to compete against John Fulkerson and Olivier (Nkamhoua). Guys who raised those guys. So, that helps them grow up a little bit too. I think the fact that we have the depth that we have, the competition and practices being good, which has helped them. But, are they where we need them to be right now? No, they’re not. But, I think they will maintain the attitude we’ve had up to this point.”
On Justin Powell being considered a freshman or an upperclassman:
“Both. That’s not trying to avoid the question. Justin, if you think about it, he’s about as true of a freshman as they are because he only played (10) games, he didn’t get a full year at all last year. Justin did come in early and was one of the first guys to get here because he wanted to get himself in shape. He felt like going through what he went through last year in the concussion and all that he had fallen behind. But he’s been here and you know he’s a quick study he pays attention and wants to move around. Passes the ball extremely well. In terms of freshman learning our system, he’s there, he’s made good adjustments. I think he’s had a good person to know. I look where Santiago Vescovi is now, especially defensively, compared to where he was, it’s night and day, from coming in where he was as a freshman. Justin is a guy that knows that’s how he’s going to do it, knowing he has to do his work early, toughness, and once he gets that off his plate he’ll be fine.”
On what he’s seen from Justin Powell so far:
“Again, he’s another player that just fits perfectly. I mean everything we’re about, he’s about – hard worker, very unselfish, he wants to be a part of it, and I’m excited about him because he put the time in and did the things he needs to do. Like I said, he does a lot, so many good things on the offensive end. But I would say this, right now as a team we all need to continue to get better defensively.”
On Justin Powell’s offensive versatility:
“He can pass the ball, moves well without the ball, he knows how to utilize screens on court and he’s gotten even more consistent with his shot. But during the summer while Kennedy was away and Zakai had not gotten here yet, Santi was at the point and you know Santi was away with his national team too, so both Justin and Victor Bailey had to run some of the point for us. I think that helped both of those guys and I think that he has shown that, but he is learning a new system too, he really is. But he’s an excellent passer he sees right through that net.”
On Zakai Zeigler’s impact in his time on campus:
“He’s been as impressive as anyone I’ve ever seen. Santi walked in and had to play (in 2019-20), Zakai, what he’s been able to do in such a short period of time coming in, you would not think that he had missed that much during the summer. He missed I think a week and a half of school, something like that. He’s quick, he’s fast, he’s elusive and he’s still learning the system too. But he has been good. I think he, Kennedy and Santi, they’ve just been good for all three of those guys because they’ve been getting their share at the point. Santi has a little more pace with it but both those guys bring a speed and quickness to us we haven’t had in a couple years.”
On Josiah-Jordan James’ versatility in positions he plays:
“I’ll say the same thing about Josiah. I’ve always said, he is without question the most versatile guy that we have – he can play one through five. He knows the system that well, and he’s pretty much done that since he’s been here. How much he’ll play at the four, three, we haven’t really thought a lot about it yet. Absolutely, he is a mis-match nightmare when he’s at that spot. He’s already proven he can do it when the lights come on, shooting the ball, rebounding the ball, he’s proven that. But how much he plays there will probably be determined really by how quickly and consistent that Olivier (Nkamhoua), Brandon (Huntley-Hatfield), Jonas (Aidoo), and Uros (Plavsic) are. They will probably determine how much and where he plays at that spot.”
On if he looks forward to returning to Texas for the SEC/Big 12 Challenge:
“I have a great respect for the University of Texas and I have so many wonderful friends and people back there. In the past I’ve never really wanted to do it because I just didn’t want to go back and be about me. And 17 great years, I really loved it. ESPN has been asking for that to be quite honest with the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. And now, with them closing the arena—an arena we spent 17 years in and certainly had some great memories there—and talking to some of our former players who’ve asked that we come back and be a part of the last year of the building. I’ve said it before, the fact that my grandkids are back there and my grandson’s birthday right around there is a nice benefit.
“And I know Chris Beard, two of my former assistants are now on his staff and I just felt at this point in time there were a lot of things. I still don’t want it to be about me coming back, I really don’t, but I know there will be something to that. But the fact is where our program is, where their program is and now that they’re coming into the league it makes us look smart enough to get a jump on what it’s going to be like in Austin.
“Will it be a tough game? It will be, because coach Beard and his staff are terrific basketball coaches and they do a great job. Will I expect the arena to be a full house? I do, which again will be great for our guys but we will have gone through some of that prior to that because it comes in the middle of the SEC season. But again, this is the last year of the Frank Erwin Center and then they’ll go into the new building. Chris Del Conte, the athletic director, is already trying to hit me up about coming back and opening the gym up. That’s another talk, they’d have to make it well worth my while.”
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The 2021-22 SEC women’s basketball television schedule was released on Wednesday, allowing the University of Tennessee to reveal most tip times and TV designations for the upcoming season.
The Lady Vols also shared that they have added a home game vs. Georgia State on Dec. 12 and that their game in Knoxville against Kentucky has been moved from Sunday, Jan. 16, to Monday, Jan. 17, to accommodate a television broadcast.
Lady Vols Basketball / Credit: UT Athletics
Additionally, the UT women’s slate will feature a family-friendly nine home weeknight games with tip times at 6:30 p.m. or earlier, and at least four other contests with weekend afternoon starts. Among promotional dates of note: 12K in TBA on Nov. 21 vs. Texas, We Back Pat vs. Kentucky on Jan. 17 and Live Pink, Bleed Orange vs. Vanderbilt on Feb. 13. To learn more about promotions go to the Fan Experience tab on UTSports.com.
Reserved season tickets for the 2021-22 season start at $115 and are available at AllVols.com. Benefits include the same location for all regular-season home games, discounts on additional home game tickets when they go on sale in October and first opportunity to request or purchase postseason tickets.
Also available now to Lady Vol fans is the fan favorite $125 Lady Vol Pass. An alternative to the traditional season ticket that allows fans to secure seats to all 2021-22 regular season home games, the Lady Vol Pass enables fans to select seats from the remaining inventory no later than 48 hours prior to each home game.
Fans interested in being a part of the action at Thompson-Boling Arena this season are encouraged to click HERE for ticket information.
Additionally, a membership in the Ray Mears Room for the Lady Vol basketball season can be purchased for $900. Please contact the Tennessee Fund at 865-974-1218 to inquire.
The Lady Vols have 15 games confirmed for linear television, including eight contests on SEC Network, three on ESPN2, one on ESPN, one on ACC Network and one that will be carried by either ESPN2 or SEC Network. The UConn game could potentially give UT 16 linear broadcasts, but TV details have not been released.
There will be 11 games streamed live on SECN+ and another on ESPN+. Tennessee’s two contests at the South Point Shootout also are expected to be streams (details to be determined), bringing the total of non-linear broadcasts to 14. The schedule is subject to change.
All games on ESPN networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and SEC Network) are also available through the ESPN App, which is accessible on computers, smartphones, tablets, connected streaming devices or via espn.com/watch.
Institutions can produce for SEC Network+ any conference and non-conference games that are not otherwise televised, which will be available on the ESPN app and SECSports.com.
Tennessee still lists Neyland Stadium’s capacity at 102,455, but there is a good chance it could dip into five figures for next season.
Tennessee is going to eliminate an untold amount of seats when it installs a party deck in the North end zone and club seats in the lower West end.
Tennessee athletic director Danny White said during a Tuesday appearance on SportsTalk, WNML radio, that those two projects will reduce stadium capacity.
One of the things I keep saying in our meetings,’’ White said,I don’t want to be the person that determines how important being over or under 100,000 is. That’s going to be a topic of conversation as we engage in survey work and focus groups with football season-ticket holders.
“I’d like to know what our fans think about that. I need more analysis of what attendance looked like when we were good. We certainly don’t want to reduce too much and wish we had more seats when we get good again because we have every intention of doing that and competing for SEC and national championships.
“But there’s kind of a give and take there for the types of amenities we know fans want. The North end zone party deck and lower West club, there is seat reduction there. How much … is something we’ll be working on in coming months.’’
White said the two projects will start after the season concludes, but he isn’t sure how much capacity will be reduced.
Tennessee athletic director Danny White said he concurred with the decision for the Vols to drop Army from the 2022 football schedule, but he said that agreement was in place well before he was hired.
Under former athletic Dave Hart, UT signed a contract in 2016 to play the Cadets in 2022. Army would get paid $1.4 million. The buyout fee would be $500,000.
Former athletic director Phillip Fulmer and then football coach Jeremy Pruitt began discussing opting out in 2018, White said, because Army runs a triple-option offense, unlike any other SEC team.
“It was all about style of play,’’ White said Tuesday on SportsTalk on 99.1 The Sports Animal during his every-other-week appearance.
“I agree with the thinking. … Nobody (in the SEC) plays that style of play with the option. … It doesn’t make sense for a program that’s trying to rebuild like we are to play that game at that time. Army understands that. I’ve had correspondence with their athletic director. We’ve been transparent with them. They’re in a great place. We’re in a great place.
“Verbally the game had already changed long before I ever stepped foot in Knoxville.
“I rubber stamped it. We executed the contract this past spring. I think it’s the right thing to do for our football program as we continue to rebuild it and get back where we want to be.’’
White said he doesn’t recall if he discussed the issue with head coach Josh Heupel.
Rather than face Army next year, Tennessee will play Akron, which will be paid $1 million. Thus, UT will lose $100,00 in the transaction.
White said not signing the opt-out contract with Army would have made scheduling harder because “all the other games had been arranged.’’
IRVING, Texas — Tennessee’s Matthew Butler was one of 176 semifinalists named for the 2021 William V. Campbell Trophy on Wednesday, as announced by the National Football Foundation.
The Campbell Trophy, considered college football’s premier scholar-athlete award, recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.
Vols DL Matthew Butler / Credit: UT Athletics
Butler, a super senior defensive lineman for the Vols, has embodied everything it means to be a student-athlete during his time on Rocky Top. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science last December and is working towards completing his master’s degree in political science this year.
Butler elected to utilize his free year of eligibility from the 2020 COVID season to return to Tennessee for one more year in 2021. He has been one of UT’s leaders and top defensive players, racking up 116 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble in his four-plus seasons with the Big Orange. Butler was a 2021 Preseason All-SEC third team selection by Athlon and was also named to the 2021 Wuerffel Trophy Watch List.
The Raleigh, North Carolina, native has assembled an impressive résumé off the field during his collegiate career that includes becoming just the seventh Tennessee football player to ever receive an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. Butler’s extensive list of accomplishments and accolades also includes being a 2020 SEC McWhorter Award nominee, a four-time selection to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll, a 2019 CoSIDA Academic All-District 3 First Team selection, a member of the 2019 SEC Community Service Team and a member of the university’s prestigious VOLeaders Academy during the 2018-19 academic year.
The full list of 2021 Campbell Trophy semifinalists can be seen HERE.
The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on Oct. 27, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. One of the finalists will be named the winner of the 32nd Campbell Trophy during the 63rd NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 7 and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
This year marks the 63rd year of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments, which began in 1959, and the 32nd year of the Campbell Trophy, which was added to the program in 1990. Click here for more information on the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards and click here for more on the Campbell Trophy.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — With its second-straight SEC East road trip on deck, the Tennessee football team hit the practice field Tuesday to resume preparations for its matchup at Missouri. The Vols (2-2, 0-1 SEC) and Tigers (2-2, 0-1) square off Saturday at noon ET in Columbia.
Running backs coach Jerry Mack, linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary and select players met with media Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s divisional showdown.
Tennessee’s rushing attack has been sufficient through the first four weeks under head coach Josh Heupel‘s up-tempo, high-octane offense, averaging 201 yards per game on the ground. The Vols head into Columbia with a favorable matchup as Missouri allows 269.2 rush yards per contest, ranked last in the SEC and 129th in FBS.
“I think our tempo helps us extremely,” Mack said Tuesday morning inside the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center. “I think the way we get players in and out of the game, the way we get our cleats set in the ground—you can see it from the defensive lines that we play against—a lot of times those guys won’t be set. You can see it from the defensive secondary, sometimes those guys won’t always be in position and we can steal a couple of explosive plays like that.
“I do think the things we do from formation variation, you’ve seen a lot more of that probably over the last couple of weeks, and I think you will see even more of it as we move on. Just always giving and presenting a different look to the defense is going to be our key.”
Mizzou’s aerial assault will challenge the Tennessee defensive unit as sophomore quarterback Connor Bazelak enters the weekend putting up 300 yards per game through the air—ranking third in the SEC and 13th in the nation. Jean-Mary spoke to the Tigers’ ability to spread out a defense with schemes implemented by second-year head coach Eliah Drinkwitz.
“I think Coach Drinkwitz does a great job,” Jean-Mary said. “He did a great job as a coordinator, and he does a great job as a head coach. You can see they’re going to spread you from sideline to sideline, they’re going to give you a lot of different formations. It’s probably simple for them on offense, but it’s a challenge for defenses because they put guys in different positions and they’re going to give you a lot of different formations, motions and shifts, so it’s going to be a challenge there.”
Full transcript of Coach Mack and Coach Jean-Mary can be viewed below as well as select quotes from Tennessee players.
On what has impressed him most about Tiyon Evans… “So far, it changes week to week. Tiyon has been doing a really good job so far being locked in at practice. The thing that impressed me this last weekend was his pass protection. It’s something that we made an emphasis on. You saw that 75-yard touchdown pass that we threw. He was right there to protect our quarterback, to keep that guy out of his face and out of his lap. This past week, I thought he did a great job of being locked and loaded. We made a couple checks at the line of scrimmage. The long touchdown pass he had on the screen was actually a check that we got in the right situation. Just being focused more and focused to attention of detail is really what I’ve been impressed with so far the last couple weeks.”
On the adjustment of the game for the running backs with players rotating in and out… “Actually, they have probably not been in tune with that because we can take the next man up approach. No matter who’s blocking upfront, it doesn’t really matter to us. We are going to do our best job to put those guys in the best situation. We understand sometimes those guys don’t take certain reps in practice, we’re patient. We encourage them as we come back to the sidelines. We’re always encouraging our offensive line, because without those guys we know we can’t move the ball. Same situation with the tight ends, tight ends are extremely involved in our blocking scheme. Whether it be pass or be the run. We have no clue who’s blocking in front of us, we expect whoever is up there that the coaches put them in that position to do that job and be successful at it.”
On how he handles the running back rotations… “We always start with that thought process of two-to-one or one-to-two, or whatever the situation may be. As the game progresses, that’s where we feel like we have to get a situation where maybe a guy has a hot hand, we get him more touches or more involved in the series. A lot of times you will see those guys within the course of the series actually come out so we can give a guy, a more fresh body, into the game. Especially with the type of tempo that we run, sometimes coach calls three runs in a row and we need to get a new guy in so he can be a fresher body. I think that is what has helped us a ton. Those guys are self-aware to know, ‘hey we can’t carry the ball four or five times in a row,’ so maybe we need to tap out and get a new body in. So, a lot of times it just varies through the course of the game and the flow of the game, but we always start off initially with some type of rotation.”
On what he saw from Jabari Small in his first game back after injury… “He was out a practice all week and I saw consistently every day that he got a little bit stronger and a little bit better after taking that week off against Tennessee Tech. He was able to come back and practiced all last week. I saw strength, the power and strength. I think taking that week off from practice and that game really kind of helped his strength and helped his body a ton. I tell those guys all the time, as the course of the season goes your body’s not going to be 100 percent. That’s just not the situation we live in. You’re going to have some bumps and bruises, it’s really going to be able to be mentally tough, being able to fight through some of that adversity on and off the field, especially with your body, taking care of it off the field. That’s one thing that I saw from him, just getting stronger as the game went along.”
On where Dee Beckwith is with his development… “Continuing to develop, continuing to bring him along, continuing to grow. All guys take a little bit longer, some don’t take as fast to grow and develop in the system. We’ve got two guys right now playing at a really high level, but he’s still with us and he’s still in the rotation at practice at times. He’s really just fighting and working his way up the depth chart to continue to make sure he’s the best version of himself. You just never know in this day and age, we’re an injury away from Dee Beckwith being the starter. So, we always got him ready and prepared to go.”
On Jabari Small’s power ability despite his size… “I really think it’s more of about playing with great pad level. Being a guy that’s got really a natural instinct to running the football, he really does play with great pad level. He has a nice burst between the tackles, which allows him to gain momentum and then play with that pad level. He can generate that power through that way. No, he’s not a 225 pound back that’s just going to (have a) naturally physical presence, but the way that he plays with the lowest pads, he’s able to generate power. I think that’s really the thing that you see.”
On Jaylen Wright’s progression… “Really with Jaylen, it’s just a continued battle as a true freshman. Every week, the game plan is a little bit different. Every week, we’re trying to figure out different ways to get our best 11 on the football field. Last week was a situation where we had two guys playing really good, and he wasn’t involved as much in the rotation. Who knows what it looks like this week, he may be involved, but who knows what it looks like next week. So, it’s just a matter with him as a true freshman, every week he has a certain skill set that we can use this year and will be used. When that’s going to happen or how consistently that happens, you just never know. I think one of the games, he ended up finishing the game out the entire second half so that was just his role for that week. Every week his role should and probably will vary.
On the difficulty in preparing for Tennessee’s offense… “I think our tempo helps us extremely. I think the way we get players in and out of the game, the way we get our cleats set in the ground, you can see it from the defensive lines that we play against, a lot of times those guys won’t be set. You can see it from the defensive secondary, sometimes those guys won’t always be in position and we can steal a couple of explosive plays like that. At the end of the day, we have to make sure that fundamentally when that ball is dead after an incomplete pass or after a clock stoppage, we are ready to rock and roll. So, I do think the things we do from formation variation, you’ve seen a lot more of that probably over the last couple of weeks, and I think you will see even more of it as we move on. Just always giving and presenting a different look to the defense is going to be our key.”
On Tiyon Evans… “The biggest thing I told Tiyon is that you can see the level (of play) and the strength levels in the SEC are a little bit different in some of the opponents we were playing against. There are probably several NFL prospects on that field that are going to make a lot of money playing this game one day. The way he ran the ball, always making sure that he plays with a low pad level, and always making sure that he is locked and loaded and in tune to what is going on. I think the thing we take away from the game is, don’t ever play to the level of your competition no matter how good or how bad. I want to see the same Tiyon Evans every single week. I was a little disappointed coming away from Tennessee Tech. I thought maybe he didn’t play as hard, or run with great pad level at times. You saw this game a different Tiyon, so this is a great learning tool to showcase what you need to be doing for the rest of the season.”
On the connection to Memphis and recruiting the area… “Being from Memphis, there definitely is a sense of pride, and I want to see every kid on our roster be successful, but those kids from Memphis remind me of myself when I grew up. I take a little bit of added interest sometimes and just checking on those guys and making sure they are okay. I understand where they come from, I understand the schools, I grew up with and know a lot of their high school coaches, and that is really, really important to me. That’s one of the reasons I chose and accepted the opportunity to come to the University of Tennessee. It’s my way of potentially giving back to my community.
“I think adding a second back (to the recruiting class) is extremely important. You can see with the transfer portal and how guys are coming in and out of programs, you can see how important it is. You just never know with that depth and what that roster looks like. I am always interested, we are always checking the portal just to see what those guys look like. There is always skill involved in evaluating high school students, to see exactly who we can potentially add to the roster. We’re going to take the best 25-plus players we can take and whatever that looks like, I am sure coach Heupel is going to be all in to do that.”
On his conversations with Jeremy Banks on reigning in his energy… “The first conversation is we have to do what’s best for the team. The personal fouls—we never want them—but if they’re costing us in game situations, we can’t allow that. He does play extremely hard, as hard as any player I’ve been around, but we have to do it within the framework of first, the way Coach (Josh) Heupel wants things to be done as far as the team structure, and then defensively, we can’t keep putting ourselves in pre-snap penalties and the post-snap penalties that he’s had. We’ve had a lot of discussions about that and that’s something that has to be addressed. We make a big point of emphasis on trying to play clean as a team and as a defense. That’s something that we can’t tolerate and obviously if it persists, we’re going to have to put someone else in. He knows about it. It’s been addressed and we’re going to try to play a lot cleaner as the season goes on.”
On what he has seen from Juwan Mitchell and what he would like to see from him the rest of the season… “Juwan has been good. He’s battling through a couple of injuries. Whenever you have multiple things going on with your body, it’s hard to practice, it’s obviously hard to get into a game situation, feel comfortable and accomplish what we call on defense. It’s been a struggle for him these last couple of weeks, but he’s toughed it out. We’ve tried to get him in there and rest him with some of the things that he’s going on. He’s toughed it out, but it’s been a little bit of a struggle because he wants to be healthy. He wants to be able to go out there and help us as a defense, but it’s been a little tough these last couple of weeks.”
On how he would evaluate the linebackers in terms of instincts and eyes… “At this point, you would hope they would be pretty greased up in terms of their eyes being in the right spot and the instincts all come from film and pregame preparation as far as knowing your opponent, recognizing formations and tendencies. We’ve been OK. I’m not going to say we’ve been great. We feel like we do a great job of prepping them for what they’re going to see and what offenses like to do as far as attacking defenses. For the most part, I think their eyes have been in the right place, but it only takes one time. If they lose their focus and lose their eyes on the play, it could be a big play or a touchdown. Nobody sees the 99% that you did right if it doesn’t affect the game. We’re always striving for perfection.”
On how he would evaluate the linebackers’ performance against the run and against the pass… “Up until last week, run-wise, I felt like we were in the right spots. Last week brought a different type of challenge because of the quarterback being, probably, the best runner on the field. We felt like we had a good plan with him. A lot of it was tackling technique. We had guys in position to tackle him and we didn’t get him on the ground. We didn’t do a great job of using our pre-snap tendencies and our pre-snap rules to keep contain on the football with the quarterback. It’s one of those things where, versus the run, I thought we were building. Obviously, it’s a little bit of a different animal this week—not the same type of running quarterback. Regarding the pass, we’ve been in a lot of the right spots and sometimes it appears—because it’s underneath coverage or the running back is catching the ball—that it’s on the linebackers. We do play a lot of zone defense. That might not be apparent to the naked eye, so it’s not always on the linebackers when it’s a running back or tight end (catching the ball). We’ve had our fair share of not being in the right spot in those instances also.”
On his evaluation of rotating linebackers… “I feel like it’s been good. I feel like there is not a lot of great separation with the linebackers. Our whole goal is to be fresh in the fourth quarter, and our whole goal in rotating is whoever’s playing the best is going to be the guys that finish the game. If there’s not great separation during practice, there’s not great separation during the games, we want our guys to be able to play 100 miles an hour—under control … We want them to be able to play as hard and as fast as they can. We feel like we can do that because we have a rotation that allows those guys to play with intensity and with the ferocity that we want them to play.”
On the traits of an ideal inside linebacker… “Just watch a lot the football from (the NFL) on Sunday. We want some of those guys. You can just go down the line from the Bobby Wagners to the Fred Warners, those are guys that are big and athletic. But it’s turned into a space game, like you said. You have to be able to make plays in space. You have to make one-on-one tackles. It’s turned into basketball on grass. You now have to be able to get guys on the ground in space. But in the same light, you have to be able to find guys that can take on blocks of offensive linemen and tight ends, and can get off those blocks and make tackles. It takes a dynamic guy, so you’re always looking for guys in that 220 to 230 (pound) range, that are going to develop to that size, and guys that are athletic enough that they’re not going to be a liability in coverage or in space but can still get decent athletes on the ground.”
On what he sees from Missouri’s offense… “I think Coach (Eliah) Drinkwitz does a great job. He did a great job as a coordinator, and he does a great job as a head coach. You can see they’re going to spread you from sideline to sideline, they’re going to give you a lot of different formations. It’s probably simple for them on offense but it’s a challenge for defenses because they put guys in different positions and they’re going to give you a lot of different formations and motions and shifts, so it’s going to be a challenge there. Their running back (Tyler) Badie is a really, really good player. He’s probably one of the top running backs in the league, obviously he leads them in rushing and receiving yards, so it’s going to be a challenge there. Like I said, it’s a different animal compared to the quarterbacks. Obviously, (Connor) Bazelak is more of a pocket passer, he can run the ball and get out of the pocket, but the big thig with him (is) he can beat you with his arm, so we’re going to have to do a great job of being in our right zones in zone coverage and making sure we’re on our man in man coverage.”
On what LB Aaron Beasley has been doing well… “Aaron is one of our veterans. A veteran in our room is a guy that’s kind of just been older. We don’t have a lot of guys that have played a lot of football at Tennessee. Juwan (Mitchell) played a lot of football but at a different program, so he’s (Beasley) a guy we lean on to be able to come out there and kind of give us a veteran presence. He’s been consistent as far as being able to play all three linebacker spots, and the big thing with Aaron is you kind of know what you’re going to get every day. He doesn’t have the highs and lows that some of the other players have. He’s one of our better players as far as tackling and getting off of blocks, and he’s one of the guys that we can really lean on for teams that give you a lot of different formations and are going to try and change the offensive strengths of the formations with motions and shifts. He’s one of the guys that can really help us get lined up and put us in the right positions to be successful on that defensive snap.”
On staying consistent… “Really, it’s just a battle with myself. I have standards I’m trying to hold myself at. You know what I’m saying? Just approaching it with the same mindset every day and the getting the outcome that I got. That’s what we need from backs. We need explosive runs, hard runs downfield.”
On being a role model for his son… “Most definitely. Me, I didn’t grow up around all this. It was a rough road the early years of my life. I feel like I could have used some guidance and this is what I’m trying to do with my son. I’m starting early, I’m getting him aware of all this early, so when it’s time for him to make his own decisions, he’ll have some type of knowledge.”
On friendly competition with Jabari Small… “Our relationship brings out what we do on the field. We’re so competitive in practice and when we do things, we feed off each other so me and (Jabari) have that mindset already. There is no type of confusion so when we lock up and pad up, it’s go time for us.”
On how Tiyon Evans makes him a batter back… “In the film room, we just critique each other. Same way in practice, just push each other, keep each other going. It’s kind of like we compete but we also have each other’s backs. It’s great having him in the room.”
On communicating with the quarterbacks… “Yeah, we have to be vocal, especially in hostile environments like Florida. That’s a big part of the game. We are getting better, each week, at it. Last week was our first road game so we’ll continue to get better, I’m just happy we can learn from it.”
On cleaning up pre-snap penalties… “It can be cleaned up, that’s the little things. Little things, they lead to big things, so that’s just something we have to clean up during the week. We’ll get better at that. I feel like that Florida game, I’m happy we had that early so we can learn from that”
On young guys contributing… “I feel like that they’re doing a great job. Their confidence is high and with Christian Charles being so young, he’s really listened to us more because we’ve been playing for a while. So, he’s just listening and taking everything in but he can also play and play very well, too. So, he just knows his assignment and is just going out there and playing.”
On cleaning up mental mistakes… “Oh, very few mental mistakes. Now everybody can just fly around with minimal calls, so it’s really just us executing the easy calls and going out there and playing fast.”
On translating an easier offense to the younger guys… “Since I was in one of the hardest defenses, and this is so much simpler, I can break it down to them a little bit better. Then they can understand it easier than when I had to learn it. So, it really makes it easier for everyone.”
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Despite a disappointing loss to Florida last Saturday, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel praised his team’s positive attitude and great energy on Monday morning as the Vols turned their focus to a talented Missouri team this week.
“After an opportunity to review the film with the guys today, obviously the things we just pointed out are controllable by us, coaches and players alike, that need to and can be better,” Heupel said during his Monday press conference. “There’s an opportunity for us to continue to grow from it. The guys had a great attitude, great energy inside the building.
“We have another road test here inside the league against a quality opponent and (we’re) looking forward to that opportunity to go down to Missouri and play football.”
The Big Orange will look to rebound from Saturday’s loss in Gainesville when they travel to Columbia this weekend to take on the Tigers. UT has won the past two meetings against Mizzou, including a 35-12 victory in Knoxville last season.
Heupel has a proven track record of getting his teams to bounce back after losses, posting a 6-1 record following a loss in that same season.
Tennessee’s players have remained steadfast in the notion that the mindset of this year’s team is different from those in previous years, and they are confident in the squad’s ability to respond to adversity.
“We are all together – offense, defense, special teams. Everybody believes in each other,” redshirt junior tight end Jacob Warren said. “We all know that a lot of the issues we are having are self-inflicted and we can change them, so it’s just a matter of rallying around each other and getting better.”
The full transcript from Heupel’s Monday press conference as well as select player quotes can be seen below.
Vols DE Tyler Baron / Credit: UT Athletics
Heupel Full Transcript
Opening statement… “After an opportunity to review the film with the guys today, obviously we just pointed out the things that are controllable by us, coaches and players alike, that need to and can be better. There’s an opportunity for us to continue to grow from it. The guys had a great attitude and energy inside the building, anticipate that (going forward). We have another road test here inside the league against a really quality opponent, and looking forward to that opportunity to go down to Missouri and play football.
“There were multiple guys that had injuries or got nicked up during the course of the ball game the other night. Don’t know where those guys are at. Hendon (Hooker) at quarterback, not sure if he’ll be available or not, so we’ll see how that transpires here during the course of the week and go from there.”
On how healthy the roster is and where they’re at numbers wise… “I said at the beginning of the year, we’re probably as thin as anybody in the country based off of pure numbers, guys on scholarship. Depth for us certainly is something we’re thinking about and trying to continue to develop. Young guys have got to continue to grow and be ready to play when given the opportunity, and play at a really high level. The constant development of your roster is something that you’re always thinking about, always working on. Obviously, recruiting in this cycle will be big for us too.”
On the status of Joe Milton III… “Joe was in a situation where he could play, (but) wasn’t at full 100 percent. During the week, we got him some work, but not at the same type of numbers that he would’ve gotten if he was 100 percent. Anticipate just through him playing the other night, he didn’t re-injure or aggravate anything. Continue to think that he’ll get healthier as this week goes on.”
On what he thinks led to the receiver drops and making sure that doesn’t happen again… “At the end of the day, you have to go execute on the field. Handle the environment, handle the competitive situation, throw and catch it; things that we’ve seen those individuals do at a high level. At the end of the day, we have to go perform on Saturday and finish the play.”
On what he has seen on tape from Missouri RB Tyler Badie… “For them offensively, everything kind of goes through that running back (Badie). Whether it’s the run game or him being heavily involved in the pass game. A guy that’s been dynamic, near the top in the country in total yards and productivity. Really good football player, does a great job once the ball is in his hands, being electric and making guys miss.”
On Cooper Mays… “(He’s) tough, competitive, cares. Cares about playing at a really high level, cares about the Power T, cares about his teammates, wants to be in there. He’s a warrior. As the game went on, and you watch the film, you can tell that things started to bother him more as the game wore on. He didn’t want to come out. He competed extremely hard.”
On the next step for Jerome Carvin as a center… “I think the toughest thing for him is when he’s starting at one spot, giving him enough reps at the next spot is difficult to manage and get what you need at both, during the course of the week and at practice. At the end of the day, some of the snaps have to be better, and that’s true with Cooper (Mays) in there as well. There are times where there are plays down the football field that we’re not able to connect on. Simple execution, center-quarterback snap, and some of that’s the quarterback catching it too. All of those pieces have to play in together. Once he’s at the center position, he’s doing a great job at communicating. He’s done that for the most part during the first four ball games that he’s played some center, but needs to do it at a higher level.”
On his thoughts on the linebacker group and how that compares to his expectations at the end of fall camp… “I think the group as a whole, through four ball games, has done some really positive things. They played extremely hard, made plays, and have been pretty efficient tacklers. The other night, I thought we misfit a couple things on the second level. We have to continue to play smarter in that group, during the course of play and it’s after the whistle too. It’s a group that is deeper than where we started at the beginning of spring ball (and) certainly at the beginning of training camp. I’ve seen those guys continue to grow at that second level.”
On opportunities to pick up chunk plays from Missouri… “There have been some explosives in the run and the pass game against them. I think they have gotten better as time has gone on the first four weeks. Understanding their scheme, fitting things better, they are a group that has continued to improve.”
On avoiding a double numbers situation on special teams… “With Theo (Jackson), he has been our punt safe guy, which has allowed (Trevon Flowers) to be on the football field. (It was) a unique situation, not being able to see. We need him to be smart in how we communicate that, be able to transition not just the returner, but then (Trevon) needs to get out of the ball game too. It is one of those things we talked about, coaches and players together, being better to handle that situation the right way.”
On whom would start at quarterback if Hendon Hooker was not available… “I am not going to speak to situations that are not real at this point. We will see where we are at during the course of the week and go from there.”
On trying to contain quarterbacks… “Once they are out, the numbers advantage is in their favor. As a secondary player, you are caught in a dilemma of continuing to match and cover guys—which you need to do, otherwise you’re going to give explosive plays. Once he crosses the line of scrimmage, you’ve got to do a great job coming off and making a play. It all starts by not letting them escape the pocket, that way. It could be an edge guy, it could be a pressure where we’re not setting the edge, it could be interiorly not having gap control, and being able to come off and play the quarterback.”
On going for fourth downs early in games to set tone and be aggressive… “I don’t know if it’s tone-setting. I think each play is the play that makes a difference in a football game. You have to approach it that way. From a philosophical standpoint, I do believe in being aggressive. I believe that you want to put the ball in your players hands and allow them to make plays. Being smart with that, we use analytics at times. It’s not strictly by analytics—there is a feel and a flow of the football game as well.”
On what players have consistently graded out at a high level… “There’s been a bunch of guys that have graded out at a high position throughout the course of the season. We recognize guys that we call “6:40 club members,” guys that competed and played the way we want to from snap to whistle. We reward guys with game balls, as far as guys that have exceptional grade-out scenarios during the course of the week. End of the year, we give them a game ball too.”
On what leads to quarterbacks and receivers having miscues in the game… “You’re in a live situation, right? It’s a competitive environment. Could be pressure inside that forces you to maybe not be as accurate. At the end of the day, you have to be able to throw, catch and manage all of those situations.”
On the play of the safeties and how close the younger guys are getting into the mix… “You saw Christian (Charles) in there early in the football game. Those guys are continuing to develop. They’ve grown on special teams, earning more reps on the defensive side of it. I thought early in the football game, defensively we did a lot of really, really positive things, tackling in space being one of them. As the game wore on, I didn’t think that we tackled as well in those situations.”
On defending a double-pass trick play… “It depends on what coverage you’re in, but an aggressive defense is going to fly to the football, it’s a way for offenses to try to counter. End of the day, our third-level players have to see that, recognize it, and pull off.”
On what he has seen from the tight ends and running backs in the run block and pass block game… “I thought our running backs ran their hardest and performed their best during the course of the season the other night. Great pad level, did a better job of pressing the line of scrimmage. Still bounced a couple of things that I’d like to hit more vertical, but I thought they ran like a running back should run. Tight ends did a really good job for the most part in our run game; that’s insertion plays on linebackers, it’s split zones. I thought they managed the night pretty well.”
On what players have received game balls so far… “I don’t have the list in front of me. I’ll bring that with me on Thursday and give you guys some idea on that.”
On JaVonta Payton’s play and connecting on the deep ball… “I said it a week ago. He’s continuing to grow an understanding of what we’re doing and how we’re playing. He has the one play where he’s not set during the course of the play, that he can operate and function in a better, cleaner way from whistle to the next snap. He has created some big plays down the football field; two weeks ago with the touchdown, last week wide open (down the sideline). He’s continuing to grow and competing at a high level. Athletically, he fits what we’re trying to do and I think as we continue down the season, we’ll make more and more plays.
“One positive from the other night, right? We got somebody behind somebody and actually connected on it. That was a positive, huge play in the early part of the football game.”
On if going for it on fourth down is decided before third down play… “Absolutely, you’re a play ahead and really more than that. Based on some of the analytics, you have an idea where your ‘go’ would be. That doesn’t say that you’re definitely going to go in that situation, but then you also are able to sequence your plays based on that. That absolutely has happened, the other night and previously.”
On his conversations with Jimmy Calloway since the Florida game… “Tough moments for multiple guys (in that game), right? Don’t let a moment define you. As you move forward, you get to define those moments. Your practice habits and how you approach everything you do ends up showing up. That’s a young guy that did a lot of really positive things early in training camp. You guys heard me talk about him. Missed some time, has come back, has missed some practices. At the end of the day, when you’re on the field you have to play a little bit cleaner. Did some really positive things the other night, too. The things that weren’t so positive, everybody can see. Continue to come back and be a great competitor and have great practice habits, that will lead to a successful moment when that moment arises.”
On preparing for away games… “Out here in practice we’re playing their fight songs and making sure that there is pumped in crowd noise. All that stuff so that you’re used to that environment and you can focus while you’re playing and going through it when it actually means something in a game.”
On coming back from a tough loss… “I back him 100 percent on that because that’s how this team is right now. We are all together – offense, defense, special teams. Everybody believes in each other. We all know that, once again, like I said earlier, a lot of the issues we are having are self-inflicted and we can change them. So, it’s just a matter of rallying around each other and getting better.”
On culture after a loss… “Your true colors show when adversity hits, right? So, I think that they have done a good job of handling the situations that they’ve been put in. Like I said, staying together, not turning on each other, not pointing fingers, not blaming anybody. Just accepting the fact that whatever happened, happened. All we can do is just move on from it.”
On maintaining a positive outlook while not getting complacent… “No. I’ll never settle for not finishing the job, that’s never going to be the case. But we definitely try to take the positives from that so we can build on to it and make the negative things a positive.”
On growing as a team… “I’ve been impressed with us in some ways just looking back between this year and my freshman year. Like you said, you can quote (Alontae Taylor) on it, you can quote me on it as well. We’re going to make improvements.”
On what separates this year’s team from last year’s team… “I definitely think we’re playing with a lot more effort than we did last year. Another thing, we’re not dwelling on mistakes as much, even though we did make a ton of them. I felt like we were able to snap it clear and move on to the next play well. Yeah, effort is the biggest thing for me, playing a lot harder for each other.”
