Eric Gray, So., RB

On getting acclimated to college football last season and starting faster this season…

“I would say last season, for me it was just getting to learn how to be a college back. It took me a couple games (to learn) how to be a college back, get a feel for the offense, get a feel for playing in the SEC. I feel like I had to get a feel for that at first. Now that I feel like I have that experience, I definitely feel like I’m going to start fast.”

On if it feels surreal that they are actually about to play football given everything that has happened over the past six months…

“It’s definitely surreal being out there. So glad to be out there. Everybody is pumped up for the game. Just can’t wait for Saturday, for sure.”

On at what point he felt the most uncertainty in regard to there being a season this year…

“There were so many unknowns back in March when everyone had to go home and no spring and all of that. There were so many unknowns. We knew nothing about being at home for so long, but by the time we came back, and all the medical experts had all the information, we were pretty prepared and ready to go.”

On some of the things he had to learn to be a successful college running back…

“You just learn that playing in the SEC, those holes close so much quicker than they do in high school. So, you got to hit your track, you got to be aligned right, you got to make sure you’re doing everything right, so when your time comes you can hit it full speed. You got to make sure you know what you’re doing in the offense so you’re not tiptoeing. You can play with confidence and play fast.”

On having himself and Ty Chandler on the field together and what he’s seen out of freshman Dee Beckwith as a running back…

“First, with me and Ty being on the field, that’s just like a dynamic duo out there. You got to account for both of us because we’re two different types of backs and we can really affect the game. About Dee Beckwith, Dee has really shown a lot. You know he’s a taller guy, so him just learning how to use his pads and use his size to become a running back, I think he has a great place back there.”

On what he’s seen from the offensive line and how excited he is to run behind them…

“That group has really shown me a lot throughout camp. They are a great group. They learn fast and we have so much depth in that group. Those guys are really playing hard at practice. You can see at practice everyone is going hard and everyone’s ready, and I’m excited to get to run behind them on Saturday.”

On his reaction to Henry To’o To’o saying that they have the best running backs in the country…

“Definitely feel the same way. We’ve got the best defense in the country and I’m sure they’re going to do everything to get us the ball back.”

On his thoughts going into the season opener…

“I think it’s going to be very interesting. It’s going to be the first game of the season, so you know you have some unknowns there, but I think everything goes well, everyone plays great and it’s going to be a great game.”

On being prepared for the opener…

“When we came back in July, we did a lot of practicing doing player-led activities and all that. I feel like I got to practice a lot and just as much as the other guys. Come Saturday, I think everybody on the team has practiced a lot and is ready to go.”

On the excitement for Saturday’s game…

“With all the unknowns and everything is so different now, it kind of feels normal again. It kind of feels normal that this Saturday is going to be game day and everyone is feeling like football is back. It is kind of normal. You can feel the excitement on the practice field, you can feel the excitement in the locker room, around campus. Everyone is ready to go and play South Carolina.”

On if he feels the team has been able to hit enough in practice and his comfort after getting hit in a game…

“I think Coach (Jeremy) Pruitt has done a great job simulating that game atmosphere trying to get us ready to take hits, take licks early. You see those early games on TV and there have been a lot of turnovers because people haven’t taken hits. They haven’t been hitting. I think we’ve done a great job of simulating that in practice, playing with full pads on in practice. And yeah, I’m definitely that kind of guy. Once you get in the game and take that first hit, I’m like, ‘I’m ready to go, let’s get it, give it to me again.’”

On the hardest hitter on the defense…

“Man, I’m telling you, that whole defense is (full of) hard hitters. When you run that ball and have 11 people coming at your head, all of them feel the same. That whole defense is going to be some hard hitters this season.”

On who gives the best pregame speech aside from Coach Pruitt…

“Just from being in practice, Coach (Jay) Graham is going to give a heck of a pregame speech. Just all the juice that he brings to practice and the juice that he brings just being in the meeting room looking over film. I’m interested to hear his pregame speech on Saturday.”

-UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The shortened 2020 Major League Baseball season is drawing to a close. With only a few games remaining, a handful of teams have already clinched spots in the postseason, which is set to begin on Oct. 5.

The big news this week was the Major League debut of Garrett Crochet. The hard-throwing lefty turned heads in his first professional appearance, pitching a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts on Sept. 18 against the Cincinnati Reds.

The Ocean Springs, Mississippi, native was the first player from the 2020 MLB Draft to make his MLB debut and became the first pitcher to go straight to the big leagues in his draft year since 1978.

Scroll down to find out more about Crochet’s first few games and how other former Vols in the MLB are faring this season.

Check UTSports.com for updates throughout the season.

Garrett Crochet — LHP, Chicago White Sox
Season: 2 App, 0 GS, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0.50 WHIP

As stated above, Crochet had a memorable debut last Friday, retiring the side in order in his one inning of relief. Crochet struck out the first two batters of the inning with 100 and 101 mph fastballs, respectively. He made his second appearance of the year in Sunday’s loss to the Reds, allowing just one hit in a scoreless inning of relief.

The White Sox have already secured a playoff spot and would be the No. 2 seed in the American League if the season ended today.

Zack Godley — RHP, Boston Red Sox
Season: 8 App, 7 GS, 0-4, 8.16 ERA, 28.2 IP, 42 H, 26 R, 26 ER, 14 BB, 28 K, 1.95 WHIP

Despite a decent start to the year, Godley has had a challenging season for a struggling Red Sox team that has one of the worst records in baseball. In his most recent outing, Godley have up four runs on five hits in three innings of work in a loss to the Toronto Blue Jays (Sept. 4). He was placed on the 60-day injured list on Sept. 19.

Yan Gomes — C, Washington Nationals
Season: 25 G, 92 AB, 11 R, 24 H, 40 TB, 5 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 5 BB, 19 K, 1 SB, .261 AVG, .300 OBP, .435 SLG

Gomes has put together a solid season for the struggling Nationals. The veteran backstop was one of the team’s top hitters in August, when he slashed .314/.364/.549, scored eight runs, had seven extra-base hits and drove in seven runs. Gomes has cooled off a bit in September, but still has recorded eight hits, homered once and driven in four runs this month.

Nick Senzel — OF, Cincinnati Reds
Season: 19 G, 59 AB, 7 R, 12 H, 24 TB, 6 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 6 BB, 12 K, 2 SB, .203 AVG, .273 OBP, .407 SLG

Senzel returned to the Reds’ lineup on Sept. 14 after spending a month on the injured list. The second-year outfielder has played in five games since returning, collecting just one hit in that time. Senzel and Crochet faced off on Sunday, with Crochet retiring Senzel on a long flyout to left field.

Cincinnati is currently in line for a playoff spot, entering today’s game against Milwaukee as the No. 7 seed in the National League.

Drew Steckenrider — RHP, Miami Marlins
Season: N/A

On July 23, Steckenrider was placed on the 60-day injured list with right triceps tendonitis and has not seen action this season.

The Marlins currently hold the No. 5 seed in the National League.

Christian Stewart — OF, Detroit Tigers
Season: 33 G, 82 AB, 6 R, 14 H, 26 TB, 3 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 5 BB, 27 K, .171 AVG, .233 OBP, .317 SLG

After struggling in August, Stewart had a strong start to the month of September with hits in three straight games, including his third homer of the year in Detroit’s 12-1 win over Milwaukee on Sept. 1. However, Stewart did not record a hit in his next five games before being optioned to the Tigers Alternate Training Site on Sept. 9.

Detroit is 22-30 this season and will not advance to the postseason.

-UT Athletics

Tennessee Volunteers sophomore linebacker Henry To’o To’o spoke to the media via UT Athletics Zoom call on Tuesday to preview the season opener at South Carolina.

Tennessee Volunteers sixth-year senior center Brandon Kennedy spoke to the media via UT Athletics Zoom call on Tuesday to preview the season opener at South Carolina.