Scotty McCreery will try to score his fourth consecutive No. 1 single with the release of “You Time” on Sept. 23. The new track will serve as the lead single to Scotty’s upcoming fifth studio album, which will be announced soon.
Penned by Scotty, Frank Rogers and Aaron Eshuis, “You Time” serves as a love letter to Scotty’s wife, Gabi. The uptempo tune finds Scotty crooning: “I need a little you time, you time / Red wine sippin’ in moonlight / Your touch, your skin / Your lips kissin’ on me all night / I ain’t tryin’ to monopolize / Your 24/7, 365 / But sometimes I need / Just a little bit of me and / You time, you time, you time.”
“I am so excited about releasing new music, especially a song that makes me think of Gabi and puts me in a joyful mood,” says Scotty. “I think we can all use a smile right now.”
Scotty will debut the new song during his concert at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Sept. 4. “You Time” follows three consecutive No. 1 singles—“Five More Minutes,” “This Is It,” and “In Between”—from Scotty’s fourth studio album, Seasons Change, which debuted at No.1 on the Billboard Country Album chart in 2018.
“The Git Up” singer Blanco Brown was involved in a head-on collision near his home in Atlanta on Aug. 31. Blanco suffered “significant injures” from the crash. He has already undergone a 12-hour surgery, and is currently in the ICU. Additional surgeries are expected.
Blanco’s label, BBR Music Group, released a statement on his behalf on Sept. 3.
“BBR Music Group’s beloved Blanco Brown, the artist behind 2019’s worldwide viral smash “The Git Up” and current hit “Just The Way” was involved in a head-on collision Monday night near his home in Atlanta, GA. The accomplished writer, vocalist and Grammy-nominated producer suffered significant injuries and was transported to a local hospital where he underwent a 12-hour surgery to address those traumas. Additional surgeries are expected as he currently rests in the ICU. Blanco, his family and his friends ask for your prayers during this time.”
Blanco’s viral hit, “The Git Up,” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for 12 weeks. He released his debut album, Honeysuckle & Lightning Bugs, in October 2019.
Blanco teamed with Parmalee for his new single, “Just the Way,” which is currently No. 44 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart after 15 weeks.
With the released of “I Should Probably Go to Bed” on July 31, Dan + Shay shared their first new music since “10,000 Hours” dropped in October 2019.
After the COVID-19 pandemic forced the duo to cancel more than 30 dates on their 2020 Arena Tour, Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney decided to use their time at home to “write the best music” possible.
“I Should Probably Go to Bed,” which is currently No. 19 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart after five weeks, was co-penned by Dan, Shay, Sean Douglas and Jason Evigan. The new tune was produced entirely by Dan, who performed and recorded every instrument at his home studio in Nashville.
“We hadn’t put out any new music since ‘10,000 Hours,’ which was October 4 of last year,” says Shay to The Country Daily. “And, we have the luxury of time right now. We have the responsibility to write the best music we possibly can and try to one-up the last thing we did. And so, right now, we have time to do that . . . and we’ve got a lot of stuff in the tank that we’re super proud of that we’ve recorded and written that we’re super stoked on.”
In addition to writing and recording new music, Dan + Shay announced a new 2021 Arena Tour with more than 30 dates. The duo also picked up four nominations at the CMA Awards on Nov. 11, including Vocal Duo of the Year, Single of the Year (“10,000 Hours”), Musical Event of the Year (“10,000 Hours”) and Music Video of the Year (“10,000 Hours”). On Sept. 16, the duo will perform “I Should Probably Go to Bed” at the ACM Awards—Dan is nominated for six awards, while Shay is nominated for five awards.
Dan + Shay The Arena Tour 2021
Sept. 9 | Greenville, S.C. | Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Sept. 10 | Charlottesville, Va. | John Paul Jones Arena
Sept. 11 | Uncasville, Ct. | Mohegan Sun Arena
Sept. 14 | Philadelphia, Pa. | Wells Fargo Arena
Sept. 16 | New York, N.Y. | Madison Square Garden
Sept. 17 | Pittsburgh, Pa. | PPG Paints Arena
Sept. 18 | Greensboro, N.C. | Greensboro Coliseum
Sept. 23 | Louisville, Ky. | KFC Yum! Center
Sept. 24 | Milwaukee, Wisc. | Fiserv Forum
Sept. 25 | Minneapolis, Minn. | Target Center
Oct. 1 | Indianapolis, Ind. | Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Oct. 2 | Chicago, Ill. | United Center
Oct. 3 | Grand Rapids, Mich. | Van Andel Arena
Oct. 17 | Glendale, Ariz. | Gila River Arena
Oct. 20 | San Francisco, Calif. | Chase Center
Oct. 21 | Sacramento, Calif. | Golden 1 Center
Oct. 23 | Salt Lake City, Utah, Vivint Smart Home Arena
Oct. 24 | Denver, Colo. | Pepsi Center
Oct. 28 | Portland, Ore. | Moda Center
Oct. 29 | Tacoma, Wash. | Tacoma Dome
Nov. 4 | Orlando, Fla. | Amway Center
Nov. 5 | Atlanta, Ga. | State Farm Arena
Nov. 12 | Omaha, Neb. | Chi Health Center
Nov. 13 | Tulsa, Okla. | BOK Center
Nov. 14 | Kansas City, Mo. | T-Mobile Center
Nov. 20 | New Orleans, La. | Smoothie King Center
Nov. 21 | Dallas, Texas | American Airlines Center
Dec. 3 | Detroit, Mich. | Little Caesars Arena
Dec. 4 | Hershey, Pa. | Giant Center
Dec. 5 | Newark, N.J. | Prudential Center
Dec. 7 | Boston, Mass. | TD Garden
After teasing an announcement with a few choice Easter eggs, Kelsea Ballerini revealed she will release a new album, Ballerini, on Sept. 11. The new project is the companion piece to her third studio album, Kelsea, which dropped in March 2020.
Ballerini will feature reimagined versions of the 13 songs featured on Kelsea.
“Different keys, tempos, melodies, lyrics, production,” said Kelsea via Twitter. “Each song has its own set of changes…all super intentional to make the lyrics hit different. I’m so freaking excited.”
Kelsea announced the new album in a video she posted across social media. She also shared the new album’s first release, “Club.” Check out both videos below.
KNOXVILLE, TN – AUGUST 26, 2020 – Wide receiver Jalin Hyatt #11 of the Tennessee Volunteers during 2020 Fall Camp practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Caleb Jones/Tennessee Athletics
Coach Tee Martin, Assistant Head Coach/Passing Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers
On the freshmen receivers and if any of them have stood out…
“First thing I would say is speed. That was something that we wanted to address in last year’s recruiting class. We wanted to replace the size that we lost with Jauan (Jennings) and then Quez (Marquez Callaway) as the starters, but also to upgrade in the speed department. We want to push the ball downfield vertically and we want to create matchup mismatches on offense, and you can’t do it without speed. So, the addition of Velus Jones, a transfer from USC who is someone I’m familiar with, who’s a 4.3 (40-yard dash) waking up in the morning, Jalin Hyatt, having the addition of Jimmy Holiday, Jimmy Calloway – those guys can absolutely run. So, we’re moving guys around. The one thing that I’ve been noticing about them, if you just had to sum it up in a few words, is that they can run.”
On what he’s seen out of Velus Jones Jr. and how he’s been able to adapt to this offense as well as being a threat in the return game…
“Definitely will be a threat in the kick return game, both as a kickoff returner and a punt returner. The one thing that you can’t replace when guys transfer, what you can’t underestimate, is experience. Even though he’s new to our system, he’s played college football at a major level and he’s played in some big moments and been called on in some big moments. He’s new, just like the true freshmen are, but the one thing that he has a leg up is that he’s been in college football for a few years, he’s a veteran, so he’s able to plug and play at different positions without panicking because he’s been there before. I like what he’s doing. Again, he’s playing outside, he’s playing inside, we’re doing things very creative with him, motions and putting him in the backfield. That’s how he was used at SC (Southern California) when I was there as a coordinator, I’m not familiar with what they did with him last year, but we know what kind of talent he is and is certainly a guy that we want to get the ball to.”
On WRs Josh Palmer and Ramel Keyton…
“I’m so excited about how they’re playing. The retention from last year, you know you don’t have a spring and you really have an abbreviated and modified training camp, so there’s a lot of teaching that you would normally have as a receivers coach in training camp that we’re not able to do because they’re in school and you’re on the 20-hour rule, so the time is cut a little bit. So, you’re having to lean on their experience, and ultimately, their intelligence. You just spoke of two of the most intelligent receivers that I’ve ever coached – Ramel and Josh. Both of them are having to be moved around. One thing about operating under COVID is week-to-week you can have a different lineup at any position. If someone is out because of tracing, because they may be positive, and injuries. So, the approach I took as a receiver coach was to teach every receiver every position, because you may line up a week playing a different position because of whatever reason. Ramel has shown the ability to do that. Josh has shown the ability to do that. Both of them are surehanded guys, both of them are great route runners, both of them play above the rim – those so called 50-50 balls that you put in the air. If you noticed last season, Josh made great catches down the stretch for us on those 50-50 catches where he played above the rim, outjumped a guy and pulled the ball in. Ramel, you saw him kind of emerge towards the bowl game, big catch in the red zone, jumping in the air and playing above the rim. Both of those guys can jump, they can run, they’re smart, and you’ll see them being used in a lot of different ways this season.”
On what he’s seen from freshman Malachi Wideman and where he needs to improve the most…
“He has probably the most upside of everyone because he’s coming in probably the most raw of them all. Jalin Hyatt lined up at wideout his whole career. Jimmy Holiday was a quarterback, so there’s some development there but he was a quarterback so he’s very familiar. But Malachi, for three years the young man played in kind of a Wing-T offense and was a basketball player during the offseason, rarely went through spring practice, wasn’t on a big-time 7-on-7 circuit, and would just show up and play football and just kind of go off natural skills. You see basketball transfer to his football game where he plays above the rim, he’s tough, he’s physical, he knows how to body people up – just like rebounding a basketball, sometimes you take contact and you initiate contact to get separation. Those skills have carried over for Malachi on the football field. He is a bright young man that just needs a lot of reps. He’s one of those young players that the more reps he gets, the more you start seeing him shine more and more every day. He has a want to, he’s that guy that’s young but doesn’t mind making mistakes and he doesn’t lose confidence when he does make mistakes and when you get on him. He wants to be out there. He wants to get better. I really like what he’s bringing to the table and we’re just going to continue to push his skillset out of him as we go along.”
On not overloading the freshmen but still having them ready to plug and play if needed…
“It’s about maximizing every meeting and every practice on very direct and detailed teaching. I’m having to change the way I teach. When you have two hours to meet, you can kind of hit five or six, seven, eight different things. When you have 30 minutes to meet and you have to be on the field in 30 minutes, you have to be very specific about what you’re teaching and very detailed about what you’re teaching, and you can’t bounce around. So, what I find myself doing now in adapting to the new way of having to things is focusing on one thing, maybe two things at the most that day, and let’s get better at this, specifically. Then we’re able to go to film and say we focused on this for practice, did we do this or not? If we did do that and I’m satisfied with that skillset, we’ll move on to the next thing. If not, we stay there because you can’t progress until you perfect, so that’s what we are. I’ve really changed my teaching approach in meetings and on the grass to try to maximize the opportunities that we have during this time.”
On what he’s seen from freshman Dee Beckwith…
“Dee bounces back and forth between the wide receiver room and the tight end room. He’s kind of a hybrid receiver/tight end type of body type. He hasn’t been around for a few days, but when he was there, he was progressing quickly. He’s fast, he’s big, he’s physical, a young man who the nuances of the game and the feel from when he’s outside versus when he’s inside, when he’s in the core, possibly putting his hands down – we haven’t decided yet if we’re going to actually progress him that far at that position yet – but, he has the skillset. He has the want to. He’s a young man that’s always around asking questions, always trying to watch extra film and improve himself. That’s what you want from a young guy. He just needs a lot of reps.”
On what gives him confidence that the passing game will be more consistent this season…
“Well it’s the second year with the same play caller. That hasn’t happened in a long time around here, so I’m excited about that, just being a Vol. And then, to being on the staff, I’m just happy for that for our quarterbacks. When language carries over, when ideas carry over, there is a cohesion there, there is a chemistry there. When Jarrett (Guarantano) can look to the sideline and get a call from Jim (Chaney) and understand what the expectation of that play is. With expectation comes anticipation, comes an opportunity to eliminate problems, and when you do have problems an opportunity to minimize the destruction on the whole offense. You had to kind of feel and see early in the season, and once we kind of said, ‘Okay, this is what we are comfortable with doing, this is what we do very well,’ we kind of stuck to that in the second half of the season. Going into the spring, that was the idea. Now we’re in training camp with new faces, new bodies in there at different positions, but the one position that has been consistent in two places is the quarterback and the coordinator. So, I think just having a second year of being comfortable with the play calls, the expectation of the plays, the familiarity of the plays is going to help us overall from that position and it’s going to trickle down though my room. I know in my room we’re a lot more comfortable with language, with expectation, and why are we doing what we’re doing? Why are we calling this on 3rd-and-3? I know there’s a corner route, but are we really trying to throw that? So, long story short, familiarity, comfort level and understanding what we’re trying to do I think is the benefit in that.”
On the chemistry between the quarterbacks and wide receivers early in camp…
“It’s been about as good as you can expect. Obviously, these young men went their separate ways after spring and were in different cities. We slowly started to get them back, had limited opportunities, and I think that you couldn’t ask for a better chemistry with the situation. I think Jarrett (Guarantano) is very direct about what he likes and what he wants. How he wants routes to be ran. He has Ramel (Keyton) and Josh (Palmer) and Cedric Tillman, guys that he’s played with for a few years and they know him, he knows their body language. There are certain things that you pick up on as a quarterback: how a guy sinks his hips, how a guy gives you what we call indicators of when he’s coming out of a route, things of that nature. He’s feeling that out with the younger guys, but he anticipates a lot better with our veteran receivers because they’ve had more time together. That’s what we’re trying to bridge the gap between the reps that were lost with not having a spring and a very limited offseason and trying to put that all together and go and play a game here in a few weeks. So, it’s a great question and that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re just trying to get them as many reps as they can to build that trust as you will between quarterback and wide receiver.”
On how he coaches the young receivers to get them ready to play all the different spots…
“I put them in the hardest situation first, and that’s playing inside. Playing inside is the hardest receiver position that you can play because there is so much action there. You see people crossing your face on blitzes. You see backers, safeties, nickelbacks, there’s a lot of things that happen inside. So, I placed all of them inside when they first got here, and that adjustment to move outside becomes clearer. It’s a bigger field out there, there’s more grass, you can see and anticipate coverage and disguises and things of that nature. So, that’s what I did, that was my approach, was to make it as hard as possible early and then start to put them in the positions that feel more comfortable to them. And they’ve all responded well. You look at Jalin Hyatt and Jimmy Calloway and those guys, they were natural slot receivers anyway, so when they got the opportunity to move outside, they really liked that. But that’s what I did. My approach was to put them in the toughest position early, let them sink fist then teach them how to swim and get out of it.”
KNOXVILLE, TN – AUGUST 21, 2020 – Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers during 2020 Fall Camp practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
Coach Chris Weinke, Quarterbacks
On what he learned about Jarrett Guarantano from the 2019 season…
“You look back and in any situation you run into, the struggles we had early in the season, you can’t allow those to snowball. It was a constant communication with him, regardless of what happened, if he was pulled or had an opportunity to start or came into a game. There was communication with him every day that he had to stay the course and believe in himself. As we all know, whoever’s played this position, there are times that you’re playing with a whole lot of confidence and there’s other times that you’re not playing with any confidence. I think that was probably the case early on with him when we lost early. But, credit to him, he stayed the course. I feel like he started to gain more confidence and finish the season off right.”
On freshman QB Harrison Bailey…
“He did miss a little bit of time and that always hurts for a guy that was able to come in early and not be able to go through spring ball hurts you a little bit in terms of your growth and development. I think the biggest thing for him is he’s learning a new language. We always say that, ‘Hey, when you’re not sure, you’re going to probably play a little bit slower.’ I think the biggest thing for him is to continue to progress, continue to learn the system. He can make all of the throws. There’s no doubt about it. What you’re trying to create with this young man is 1) an understanding of what we’re asking him to do and then be able to process the information and then do it with a sense of urgency. And that’s hard right now for any young quarterback. What he was able to do on a couple of concepts the other day in practice, when he got back, he was comfortable. He knew them, he felt comfortable, he knew coverage and the ball came out. Now we have to create that consistency with every play in our playbook and I think you’ll see that growth continue as he gets more comfortable and he gets more reps.”
On redshirt sophomore QB J.T. Shrout…
“J.T. is a guy that works his tale off. He studies the game. He spends extra time in here watching film. It’s important to him and that’s evident. You see that every day from this young man. I think the advantage now of going into that second year of this same offense with Coach (Jim) Chaney, I think all of the guys are a little more comfortable, with the exception of Harrison (Bailey) who hasn’t been in this offense. But, J.T. Shrout is very conscious of every move that he makes and sometimes, when you get to be too careful, you start to overthink. I think he needs to continue to trust himself. I tell the guys all the time, one of the biggest things we talk about is eye discipline. Know what you’re looking at and then see what you’re looking at. And they’re kind of going, ‘Well, wait a second Coach.’ But, at the end of the day, J.T. can make all the throws. He throws it as good as a lot of guys I’ve been around. I think his familiarity with the offense is allowing him to operate at a much faster pace right now. We have to eliminate the mistakes and that goes for all of the quarterbacks, but I think if we can eliminate the disastrous plays, whether it’s one a practice or it’s five a practice, when we can eliminate those, you’ll see great progress at that position.”
On how important it is for Jarrett Guarantano to be playing under the same system for consecutive seasons…
“There’s no doubt that you see the confidence in Jarrett. Having the opportunity to spend the whole off season really studying this offense, watching a lot of film. I give credit to him, this whole pandemic, when it started, I talked to him every single day. There wasn’t a day that I talked to him that he wasn’t doing something to help himself get better – working out, throwing. He came in here weighing about 228 pounds – looks great trying to keep all of that weight on right now. You see a different level of confidence in him because he understands exactly what we’re trying to get accomplished on every single play. The second year in a system, there’s no doubt. There’s just so much more familiarity. You just see him be more comfortable and he operates faster. Right now, he’s operating at a high level.”
On the young receivers’ group…
“It’s fun to be out there with those young receivers. There’s a group of talented young receivers that one, just like a new quarterback, they have to learn the system and the nuances of what we’re trying to get accomplished, predicated on coverage and different types of releases. Tell you what, we got a lot of speed on the field now and I know the quarterbacks like that.”
On sophomore QB Brian Maurer…
“I think Brian is another example of a young guy last year that didn’t know every detail of what we were trying to get accomplished but continued to learn. He’s very talented, there’s no doubt. He brings a lot to the table from that standpoint. He’s grown up and he’s matured. I think that’s a big part of becoming a professional. We preach about that every single day – how to be a pro, how to learn, how to study, what’s important. I think you’re seeing that in Brian Maurer. There’s no doubt he’s got as much talent as a lot of guys that I’ve been around – the ability to throw the football from different platforms, the ability to run the football. We just have to create some consistency with him, and that’s with all of them, but especially Brian. At the end of the day everybody’s competing on a daily basis and that’s what makes it so fun for me. The excitement I get to see in those three guys competing against each other is a lot of fun. You get some ebbs and flows throughout the course of practice and some guys making great plays, but they’re encouraging each other. So we’ve got a good room right now. There’s good competition and there’s nothing better than good competition, so I’m excited about that.”
On determining who the back-up quarterback is and when the ranking of the quarterbacks will happen…
“I think those decisions will be made down the road as we continue to evaluate on a daily basis. We track every throw that these guys make and we have charts that quantify what exactly takes place every time they’re touching the ball. We preach every time we walk out on the field, ‘Protect the football.’ It’s the most important thing. How do you protect the football? We get to touch it on every play so you can you can protect it by the decisions that you make, obviously protect where you’re throwing the football. And then when you have the ability to escape and get out of the pocket are we protecting it there. With all that being said, we’re too early on to say where they fall in the pecking order. I love it that we get to go out every day and those guys know that we’re going to try to get equal reps and they’re going to compete every day. The cream is going to rise to the top. It’s a process that’s taking place currently and I can’t put my finger on a date necessarily that we’re going to decide who’s the guy. What we’re looking for is progress each and every day. Those guys are getting better and so it’s fun to watch them compete.”
On watching Jarrett Guarantano bounce back after a difficult start to the season….
“In those situations, fortunately or unfortunately, I’ve been in them. Fortunately, for our guys, they’ve got a guy that’s coaching them that understands it and has been through it. So, I’m not talking about something I don’t understand. It was my job to continue to coach them and teach them exactly what we want them to do, but more importantly, in those times of need and in those tough times, to be able to talk through those things and be able to be there as support and still challenge them to rise above those things. When it’s all said and done, it was refreshing to watch (Jarrett Guarantano) be at his lowest of lows and then rebound. It was continuous talking every single day about what we’re trying to get accomplished and just to take it one day at a time and things would start to come together. And as we saw, they did later in the season.”
On coaching football during a pandemic…
“It’s kind of a new way of living. What was kind of fun for me is, while we were away, we were able to stay in touch with our players and learn new ways through technology to be able to continue to coach and teach these guys and they’ve bought in. They’ve been outstanding. Now, it’s almost become the norm for us. It was interesting early on trying to deal with it with the uncertainty and the unknowns. Nobody likes that. Now that we’ve made that adjustment and we’re kind of used to it, it’s been fun. Having to do Zoom calls, isn’t as good as being in person with the guys, but you’re still able to accomplish a lot of things and we’re able to continue to grow throughout that period. Now we’re in a situation where we do get to spend time with them. It was interesting, but we found a way. I always say this: ‘Don’t complain. Don’t explain. Find solutions.’ We found a solution to continue to develop these guys through uncertain times.”
On what specifically Jarrett Guarantano is doing to operate at a high level…
“He focused on his body, to make sure he’s big, strong and fast. He focused on those physical sides of him. More importantly, when I say operate at a high level, that’s becoming a functional thinker – taking the information, being able to process it and then executing the play. You just see him so much faster with his feet, with his decisions. His anticipation, in my opinion, has probably been the brightest spot that I’ve seen from a year ago. Now that he understands the big picture, he can see it and anticipate things much better now because he’s more comfortable. It’s collectively knowing and understanding and then physically being able to put it together. He’s operating as goods as I’ve seen him, since I’ve been here.”
KNOXVILLE, TN – AUGUST 19, 2020 – Outside Linebackers Coach Shelton Felton of the Tennessee Volunteers during 2020 Fall Camp practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Caleb Jones/Tennessee Athletics
Coach Shelton Felton Press, Outside Linebackers
On what he told himself when he was a high school coach and if he saw being an SEC coach in his future …
“During that time coaching high school ball, I’ve always been that person that keeps your feet, your mind, your heart where you’re located at. I just want to do a good job everywhere I’ve been. I just worked hard and I was blessed with great players that just need guidance and coaching and all of that. Through recruiting, you meet a lot of guys that always gave complements of the way my guys played at the next level and when it came to my practice just how well I’ve done. I was just blessed. I didn’t see this but I am grateful for it. I’m going to make the best of the opportunity and do the best I can here at Tennessee to make my landmark as the outside linebackers coach under Coach (Jeremy) Pruitt.”
On what makes him an effective recruiter and developing relationships with his guys under COVID circumstances…
“One, I think recruiting is just about relationships. Touching the guys, touching who touches them. Showing the guys that being consistent, always talking to them and reaching out to them. Building a relationship with them so that they can trust you and open up to you. Like I tell anybody, as a high school coach you recruit your own players every day in the hallway or the cafeteria. I was kind of gifted with recruiting a little bit. Building a relationship is no different. These guys see you in a different picture but the guys knew that when I was a quality control guy that they can come to me, I got things done, I didn’t do nothing out of the realm that Coach (Chris) Rumph wanted or Coach (Jeremy) Pruitt. I was direct and straight forward. When I became the lead guy, I built a relationship with them one at a time and let them know. Guys want to know what you know and how you can make them better. Once you can be detailed and show them how you can make them better, that you care about them, they all buy into it. I’m lucky the guys are buying into it and buying into me and taking my coaching right now.”
On the outside linebackers…
“We lost a great player in Darrell Taylor. We are playing a lot of guys, we haven’t really dialed in on a No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 guy, we are just playing rotational. Deandre Johnson is doing a great job, Kivon Bennett is also doing a great job. Roman Harris is a force to be reckoned with. We are getting a lot of work out of John Mincey. Moving J.J. Peterson over there to get some reps over there at times. The young guys: Tyler Baron and Morven Joseph are some guys. Right now, we are doing everything by committee and focusing on the details and doing everything right. As Coach Pruitt said, we are going to play the best man and the best person. As of right now, we are a committee. We don’t have a Darrell Taylor; we are trying to hunt a Darrell Taylor.”
On junior John Mincey…
“I think Coach Pruitt and Coach Ansley also thought about numbers going into the spring because we are low in numbers and didn’t have a lot of guys. But John Mincey is a very athletic big guy who can play the JACK into the boundary and do a lot of things for us. He flashes the ability to play on the edge as a pass rusher. The key for him is that he can set the point of attack against the run. I think coach Ansley and coach Pruitt saw something in him before I got here and he’s flashing those signs now during camp.”
On redshirt junior LB Kivon Bennett…
“The biggest thing that I’ve noticed since I’ve been here is his maturity and his attention to details. He’s more locked in and focused. He’s a natural pass rusher; he can be one of the best pass rushers in the conference once he locks himself in and focuses on the consistent day in and day out. He’s starting to develop into a leader now, grown leader on this team. I think the sky is the limit with him and we need him with this 10-game SEC schedule, we need him to perform every day, day in and day out.”
On freshmen Morven Joseph and Tyler Baron…
“Any freshman is going to be tough in this defense Coach Pruitt and Coach (Derrick) Ansley are running. There’s a lot of things going through their young mind and they are kind of split everywhere. Once they hone in on their skills, you can see the flashes of the things of why we recruited them and why they were so highly recruited out of high school. Morven Joseph, his first step is electrifying; he gets off the ball. Tyler Baron is a powerful guy, very smart, but is playing the system and learning the system. Right now, it is a little difficult at times but you can see the flashes of the guys getting it and with more reps, the better they are going to get. They are two bright young men who are going to be bright for our future here.”
On sophomore Roman Harrison…
“Roman has all the tools; he’s athletic, he’s powerful, he’s quick, he’s learning to play the position. By trait, Roman is a d-lineman but he’s learning to play on the edge and I think he’s going to be rushing the passer for us on third down and also playing on first and second down. He’s one of the most powerful and strongest guys on the team. Biggest thing with Roman is processing and learning the game, which I think he’s doing a good job for us. He’s getting better and better with repetition and he’s getting better and better. He’s one of the guys we are going to lean on and again, we are going to play by committee until that one guy stands out.”
Tennessee senior forward Yves Pons met with the media over Zoom on Wednesday morning to discuss his process with the NBA this summer and where he’s looking to improve for the 2020-21 season.
On NBA interviews
“Instead of the workouts we did interviews with the NBA guys. I got to have 15 interviews and they mainly asked me about my life and my background. We talked a bit about basketball, but that was pretty much it. I’m just waiting on some feed-back from the NBA guys.”
On waiting until the deadline to decide about the draft
“Yes, on the morning of the deadline I did not know what I was going to do because we were still getting some feedback from my agent and the NBA. It was hard to make a decision ahead of that so that’s why we waited until the deadline and that’s when I made the decision.”
On deciding between UT and the draft and the feedback received from the NBA
“Yeah, the process was really hard on top of making a decision. There were some days where I wanted to come back and some days where felt like it was time for me to go. There was a lot of ups and downs in terms of deciding.”
“As far as the feedback from the NBA, they didn’t even know which draft pick they were going to get or if there was going to be a combine. They told me they could not guarantee that they were going to draft me. They couldn’t give us a clear answer.”
On the pros and cons of going to the draft
“I had a lot of different options to consider. It was not only about me and we had a lot of pros and cons. The first thing was, are we going to be able to have workouts or not? And with the feedback we already had, what if I go overseas? What if we do not have a season? We had to consider the NBA G-league and if they are going to have a season or not. What is it going to look like? Also, the financial point was really important for me too and I had to sacrifice some stuff on my part to come back here. There was a lot of different options I had to consider.”
On making the decision in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic
“It was really hard. COVID-19 has made it really hard because I had to make a decision that I wasn’t expecting to make. Then I expected to go workout with the teams and I felt like that was another part of the job I had to get done. Without the workouts it makes it extremely hard for me and guys like me in my position for the second round. It was really hard because it brought a lot of uncertainty. We did not have all the information we needed to make a clear decision. It was really hard because we did not know what it was going to happen or what could happen.
On reaching out to former teammates Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield
“Yes absolutely. I tried to talk to as many people as I could. I took information from anywhere, so of course I called Grant Williams and we had a good conversation. I talked to Jordan Bone too and tried to talk to Kyle (Alexander) too. They really gave me some feedback because they have different contracts with the NBA. They had different perspectives on the NBA, so they really helped me out with this process and I’m thankful for that.”
On the current team newcomers, Jaden Springer, and Keon Johnson
“I think we have a young talented team. I think, from my standpoint, we can have one of the best defensive teams in the country that ever played. That is all the confidence I have in those guys. I think we have a confident team; we have depth. I think we can be really good this year.”
On the best athlete on the team with the addition of Keon Johnson
“He (Keon Johnson) is a freak athlete. I think he has some stuff that I do not have defensively. He has quick hands, but I still believe I’m bouncier than him.”
On how is trying to improve his game:
“I think I can improve my whole game to another level. I have to push all my game to another level. Either defensively or offensively, I think I have a lot of stuff to show. That’s why I’m here. I came back for that. I can show people I can do more. I can put my game to another level.”
On how having COVID-19 affected his NBA exploration over the summer:
“My decision was based on that. It kind of messed up everything, so we had to make the best decision for me and for my family. That’s why it was really hard. COVID really changed everything.”
On EJ Anosike:
“First of all, EJ is a great kid. We talk a lot every day on the court. On the court, he brings a lot. He brings a lot of energy. He can rebound. He’s not afraid of anything once he makes up his mind to get the rebound—he’s going to get it. I think he will be really good offensively and defensively. He’s a good athlete. He can run. He can play the three (and) he can play the four. I think that’s a real complement for us.”
On running offense with Jaden Springer, Santiago Vescovi, Josiah-Jordan James and VIcrot Bailey Jr:
“I think those guys really pick it up quick. We already had a couple of practices together, and I think we are getting better every day, day in and day out. I think it’s just a matter of time before they really get the offense like Jordan Bone and Lamonte Turner. I think we are going to be good on this one.”
On senior leadership:
“I’m not doing anything different Obviously, John and me, we are the older guys with the most experience on this team, so all I go for is to show the way and lead the young guys. It’s my job. I have to get out of my comfort zone and push all of us and use my voice. I used to lead by example, but this is going to be more like trying to talk to the guys (and) trying to bring my voice to the table.”
On how the coaches supported him through the NBA process and how they continue to support:
“I’m thankful for my coaches, and they really supported me throughout the process. They tried to give me the most information. To me coming back, there are a lot of things I can work on to get better and put my game on another level. The one thing I got back from the NBA teams was my shots and three-point range—to make them more consistently and to make open threes, to really work on my balance–especially my turnaround jump shot. For my legs, I need to work on jumping straight. That was really it. Show them I care and that I can handle the ball.”
On if he’s been compared to any NBA players:
“Yeah, P.J. Tucker. That’s the guy I relate to, and that’s something people told me.”
On what he tells freshmen on how to handle Barnes:
“Coach Barnes is a hard coach, but he knows what he’s doing. We have to trust him, and that’s why Fulky and me and the other guys that have been here need to tell them that it’s nothing personal.
On why coming back to Tennessee for his senior year was the best choice for him:
“In my situation, and many other guys in the draft, it was hard to know if there was going to be an NBA G-League or not, because they did not mention the G-League at all. For guys like me, who would spend some of my rookie year in the G-League, it was hard to know where I would develop my game. They told me that I would spend a lot of time with the team practicing and stuff, but at the end of the day, we need to play basketball. We did not get any guarantee that they were going to draft me, or anything like that. So, for me that was the only way. Besides workouts, there was no way I could increase my stock. Even if I did, it was my interviews. It did not give me any guarantee that I would be drafted where I wanted.”
On if he gave any serious thought into playing this year in Europe and then returning to play in the NBA in a year:
“Yes, that was a serious second option. Obviously with the COVID-19 here—in the other countries, they have it under control with less cases. Overseas, they know they’re going to play basketball at some point and they’re going to have a season because they have the cases under control. That was a serious case to consider. Financially, it was a good thing to go play over there.”
On if he has set personal expectations for himself this season, as reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year:
“Yes, last year I got SEC Defensive Player of the Year. This year, I’m trying to go even higher – National Defensive Player of the Year. This is only personal though. The only goal is the national championship. That’s what I see right now.”
On what it is about Tennessee’s coaching staff that allows them to help players reach their potential:
“I think we have one of the best staffs in the country. I think everybody knows what they can bring to the players. That’s why we switch coaches every week. We train with different coaches, because it can bring you a specific approach to your game. We have coaches that have experience in the NBA, that played over there, that coached over there, they all have their own experience that they can bring to the table. They’re trying to give us everything they have, everything they know, for us to get better.”
On if the abrupt conclusion to last season due to COVID-19 was one of the reasons to return to Tennessee and finish what the team started:
“Yes, there is still stuff we can get done. There’s unfinished business. Coming back will allow me and allow us to keep it going. Even if the team will be different, I think we have the team this year to go far. That’s the only goal.”
On what about Tennessee made him want to come back to spend the next several months of his basketball career here:
“The different part was really on the top of my head. Even if I couldn’t make it this year, I know how to develop my game. I could have done it in the NBA here, but knowing there is a lot of uncertainty about this season, going pro. I knew coming back here, we’re going to have a season. We’re going to have some coaches to be here. Our facilities will be open to develop my game, anyways. For me, that was the best option.”
On his experience of having COVID-19:
“I had to quarantine for 14 days. It didn’t really affect me. It was just like a normal flu. I had to quarantine myself with my wife in my apartment. That was it. We stayed home. We took care of our business. I feel really safe here because our staff did a good job of handling it and we got through it.”
Season 19 of The Voice will return to NBC on Oct. 19.
Blake Shelton—who has served as a coach on every season—will be joined by girlfriend Gwen Stefani, Kelly Clarkson and John Legend in the red chairs when the show returns this fall.
Gwen served as a coach during Seasons 7, 9, 12 and 17. Kelly has been a coach on Seasons 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18. John coached on Seasons 16, 17 and 18.
Tune in to NBC on Oct. 19 to catch all of the action.
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