Head Coach Josh Heupel Postgame Press Conference April 24, 2021

Opening Statement

“Today was a great day for Tennessee football, obviously our first spring football game as a new staff with our players. I’m so appreciative of the fans that came out and were a part of our attendance today. With the uncertainty of the weather, they still showed out in great fashion and brought a lot of energy to the stadium. I know our players and staff appreciated that. To the VFLs that came back, there were so many that came back and were a part of this weekend with our current players. The guys having the opportunity to all get together brought a ton of energy to the program. For me, and I spoke about this in my introductory press conference, being able to learn from VFLs and what they’ve learned, but also understanding that this is a Tennessee football program that is together always and forever—former players and also current players as well. It was a great weekend. I want to mention one guy in particular, just a unique opportunity to get to spend time with Al Wilson. It’s a big year for him being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Obviously, he’s one of the greats that has ever played here, so getting the opportunity to get to know him and who he is and what he’s about and what he’s giving back to Tennessee football. It was a great opportunity to get to spend some time with him.

“I’m proud of this team this spring. In the short amount of time that we’ve been here as a coaching staff, the growth they’ve shown, the accountability that we’re learning to have every day, not only to themselves but to each other is really important for where we are and where we have an opportunity to go. It’s a group that’s becoming connected, playing for each other and growing in the right way. I’m proud of what they’ve done here. Obviously, we have a big portion of our offseason here coming up as we get into summer conditioning.”

On the competition today versus the rest of the spring …

“It’s tough to compare them individually today with the rotation of how the game unfolded. To piece that all together I think would be unfair for my recollection of what they actually accomplished during the course of game and in each drive. I think it’s been a total group effort. They’ve come a long way in the last 14 days leading up to today. If you break up spring into thirds, every five practices, you’ve seen exponential growth from all of them. Their command of what we’re doing, their ability to get lined up, get their eyes and feet in the right place, be accurate with the football. I think the last three or four practices have been all of their best practices. I thought they played really efficient today. There were a couple times where they maybe needed to get rid of the football a little quicker if they were in a real, live situation. That’s a little bit tough to judge when you know you’re not live as well. They did a really good job taking care of the football besides the one where Warren Burrell makes a great break on the football and turns it into six points and a momentum changing play right there. I’m proud of what each of them have done this spring and thought they operated really well today. They had great composure out there today.”

On how his first spring has gone and the offensive skill positions …

“I thought we had very little understanding of how it’s actually going to play out when we started spring. Going into our first spring scrimmage, they operated and handled some things really well. There’s still some uneasiness in not knowing what we’re doing. Today I thought the skill position players had probably their best day as far as operation, command and control in what they’re doing. Being in the right spot, quarterback and being in the same spots. As far as what they’re seeing from the and being able to sit in holes, run versus man and being in the right place. I think we’re going to continue to get more efficient in the pass game as we go through the summer and into training camp obviously. We have a long ways to go, but you saw some really positive things. You saw guys on the perimeter make some competitive plays and obviously the game ends with Cedric Tillman making a huge play on the . I think a lot of those guys are starting to gain a lot of confidence in what we’re doing, but how they can operate and grow as players. You’ve seen Tillman get better every single day. You’ve seen Velus Jones Jr. get better every single day. Jalin Hyatt, who was out in the early part of spring, in the last two or three practices has really gained a great grasp of what we’re doing. There’s some playmakers out there and we have to continue to develop them. But that group has gotten better. The running back position is starting to learn how to play with pad level. They’ve done a great job of taking care of the ball all spring long. They’ve gotten better in their pass protections. We’re nowhere near where we need to be with depth at that position, but I think we have a great opportunity to grow and develop it.”

On if he expects movement with coming or going and if there is any new information on suspended players …

“I don’t have anything final on that situation. As soon as we do have something finalized, you guys will be notified of that. I think the quarterback position, just like every position on your roster with the transfer portal and where we are, you have an opportunity to continue to add guys into your program here as you get towards the end of the semester and lead into May when guys are back and you start summer workouts.”

On his takeaways from the offensive and defensive lines …

“I thought there was some back and forth there. I thought offensively, we were able to get some things going in the middle portion of the scrimmage with the run game. The defense did some things changing the today. It’s been back and forth though. I feel like we’re developing some depth on the offensive line. We need some depth on the defensive line at that position. We have to continue to develop the guys we have and potentially add some guys there.”

On what is at the top of his to‐do list as the team begins preparing for fall camp …

“I think it’s still the growth and accountability – the ability to do what you’re supposed to, when you’re supposed to and how you’re supposed to all the time, not some of it. We’ve come a long way in that and we still have a long way to go. There’s accountability to yourself. There’s accountability to your teammates. We’re learning how to have the locker room be accountable to each other. There’s starting to be a sense of ownership from some of our guys inside the locker room. They understand the standard of what it’s going to mean to be a Tennessee football player. We’ve got to continue to connect. We’re early in our development there. When I say that, I’m talking player‐to‐player, but I’m also talking about coach‐to‐player as well. We build the foundation of who Tennessee football is going to be. When we finish the semester and we get back, we’ve got to continue to develop ourselves personally, as far as the strength and conditioning side of it with football team. We’ve got to get stronger. We’ve got to develop our speed. We’ve got to continue to learn how to play with better pad level. All of that comes from what we do inside of strength and conditioning. We’ve got to continue to develop there. In June and July, our offseason, will be absolutely critical to put ourselves in the right position heading into fall camp.”

On how much of his offensive scheme he inserted into the spring …

“We’ve got a lot of football left to put in. We’re nowhere near a complete playbook on either side of it. I thought we did some really good things in fundamentals and technique on the special teams side. There’s a lot of our scheme that still has to be implemented, as well.”

On how important his approach of using positivity when coaching is to the team …

“I think it’s important to set a clear standard with your players so they know what to expect inside of our building every single day. We’ve got to be really clear that you’re going to hold that standard true. There are consequences when you don’t do things right. At the same time, your interaction with your players has to be consistent and the message has to be positive as we all come together. That doesn’t mean that you’re not real with your team. I think it’s the exact opposite of that. Because of those relationships, you get a chance to be really true and really real in what you see and where you need to go. Because of the connections you have with those players, they’re going to accept that and know that you have their best interest at heart. That’s on the field and off of it as well.”

On how much today’s spring game exemplifies the team’s spring practice as a whole …

“There are times when the back half of your spring ball isn’t your best half, where your players aren’t as focused, they’re trying to remain healthy and their competitive spirit changes. I’m really proud of this group because it’s been the exact opposite for us. We got better every single day. Our competitive spirit became more and more consistent in how we approached every day and every rep. We got better in the last third of spring ball. Today, there was great effort out there. There were a lot of things that we’ll learn from as well, but our kids are excited about what we’re doing on and off the field. I think they believe in each other and believe in this coaching staff. We’ll continue to grow as we go through this summer.”

On if the quarterback situation is wide‐open heading into the summer …

“It’s wide‐open. I’ve been through enough quarterback battles as a player and as a coach to know that there’s so much time as you leave spring ball. We’ve had 15 practices and we’re going to have a lot more than that when we get to fall camp. They get a chance to sit back , re‐digest everything that’s gone on this spring. They get a chance to go through some installs this summer. They get a chance to coach it, own it a little bit on their own. They get a chance to learn from their mistakes and they have an opportunity to come back as much better and different football players by the time that we get to fall camp. We’ve got to allow our players to grow through this offseason. I think that’s important at the quarterback position, but it’s true everywhere. You’ve got to judge players for who they are today and not where they were yesterday. You’ve got to give kids and opportunity to make that movement in June and July.”

On what he thought of the team’s pace of play on Saturday …

“I thought our kids played efficiently with ball mechanics and getting their eyes back and being able to get lined up. We come a long way in 15 practices and we’ve got a long way to go. There’s a lot of things to like. Our kids are accepting in hearing the details of what we want to do and how we want to do it.”

On the secondary’s performance in Saturday’s spring game …

“I think they made some plays today. I thought they tackled pretty well in space. Without going back and watching the tape, I thought there were a lot of positives from individuals and collectively as a group. Defensively, they’ve grown the ability to communicate. With the tempo that we play at, when we do see tempo, our guys will be ready to handle that. I think there’s a lot of positives for the defense, forcing them to reset their mind, get to the next play immediately and know how to operate. They’ve continued to grow in that way.”

On the play of the defensive line on Saturday …

“I thought early they did some really good things getting pressure. Late, I felt like the line of scrimmage maybe tilted in the advantage of the other side at times. We’re thin at that position, so those guys got more plays on the defensive line that anybody on the football team. During, the course of a spring scrimmage, the quarterback is not live. It’s hard to tell. Sometimes they have the opportunity to make plays and are forced to pull off. I thought collectively, as a group, they played hard.”

Tennessee Player Quotes April 24, 2021

Jaylen McCollough, Junior DB

On the secondary’s performance during the game and last couple weeks of practice …

“The secondary’s performance, I feel like we’ve molded and we’ve grown up a lot. Our biggest focus was just competing and just making plays, and I feel like we’ve done that throughout spring pretty well. As you can see, we had a pick-six today by Warren Burrell. The secondary – we’ve grown tremendously, and we still have strides to take, but where we’re at right now is pretty good.”

On what it’s been like learning to defend the team’s up-tempo …

“It’s just really made us just grow up. You know, learn how to communicate with each other, learn how to focus on our responsibilities and just know what to do as an overall unit. Going against offenses that fast, you don’t have room for errors, so everybody has to be on their Ps and Qs and know what to do at all times. I feel like we’ve taken a major step in that, and looking forward into fall camp, we will continue to work on that and continue to communicate and just get better in every aspect we can.”

On current defensive scheme allowing the secondary to play better than the previous year …

“Well, football is football at the end of the day. You know, players have to make plays. The coach can only give us so many calls, but it’s really on the players. But regarding the scheme, I feel like this scheme allows us to just play fast and just trust our abilities and our technique.”

On what the atmosphere was like playing in front of fans again …

“There’s nothing like Neyland, and you know, you just put the best fan base in the world in there, and it’s always electric when you step in there. In between the checkerboards, it gives us juice. We love it, so I’m really excited to see 102,000 people, if that’s what it comes down to, in Neyland in the fall.”

Velus Jones Jr., Senior WR

On the overall offensive execution …

“Man, it was exciting. I know y’all were excited to watch it. It’s unbelievable. My teammates and I are so blessed to have this coaching staff and be able to bring that energy in this high scoring- power offense. It’s a dream come true. It feels unreal, to be honest. We’re just out there having fun and flying around.”

On how to keep that momentum and positive feeling …

“It starts by staying locked in. This summer we’re going to put in the work we need to put in going into fall camp for the upcoming fall season. Everybody stay together and stay in contact through this summer break. Everybody just stick together. When we get back together after this short break, it’s about team bonding. It’s a big factor. Kicking it with the guys outside of football and just staying connected. I think that plays a big part of it.”

On what he has seen from Cedric Tillman this spring …

“Cedric, he really stepped it up. He’s a totally different animal, especially coming into this spring. I’m so excited to see what my brother can bring to the table. He’s a real big-bodied guy. He uses his body like no other. With his big hands and the way that he hops on the ball, it’s unbelievable. He’s going to put up some crazy numbers. He’s going to be pretty exciting to watch. Tell them to remember the name for sure.”

On if success is because of the scheme or the comradery among the players …

“It’s the bond between the players and the coaching staff. If you have a coaching staff that doesn't have much juice and is not exciting, it probably won’t be too fun. With this coaching staff, it comes with smiles and a face. They’re always telling us that if we make mistakes or drop a ball, in the next play, we’re going to keep playing ball. That’s why I really love this coaching staff. They’re always picking us up and being positive. They’re going to let us know what we’re doing good and what we’re doing bad. And at the end of the day, we’re going to move on from it. It’s this coaching staff and the energy; it’s amazing. (We’re) so blessed to have these guys.”

Jabari Small, Sophomore RB

On the competition in the running back room this spring …

“It’s very healthy. We all push each other. We all support each other too. I feel like it’s a healthy competition, you know what I mean? We all have fun. We go out there and compete and hold each other to a standard, and that’s just going to make the whole room better.”

On getting to meet and talk to Alvin Kamara this spring game & the advice and pointers Kamara gave …

“Man, it was special. I’m pretty sure every young running back wants to model their game after him. He’s so versatile. He’s a very humble guy, very down to earth. So, I try to model my game after him, and I watch film on him. I had a film session over him with my coach the other day, so it’s just great to catch up with a great running back like that. It’s cool to see him come back and support the Vols. He was saying to stay the course, but as far as my game, just making sure that I take the protection and get out and be a receiver also. That separates me from other backs, so just being versatile and becoming a Swiss Army Knife.”

On the jump he has made from last season to this spring …

“Stepping up to the plate, really, as far as just being a leader trying to set the standard in the running back room. (I’m) just taking the practices day by day, just crafting and competing with the defense. They get us better every day, so we try to get them better every day, and I feel like it’s the mindset I try to implement in my game and even with other teammates. I learn from them and they learn from me, so I just try to bring that positive energy every day.”

On what excites him about this offense, besides the up-tempo speed …

“We have a lot of creative plays that we didn’t show today, obviously, because it’s on television, but they’re just creative, like just as far as getting in space. That’s another thing. We’re going to be out in space. The running backs, the wide receivers, they get better shots downfield as you saw today. As far as putting the running backs that can play the slot, we have an opportunity to go play in the slot and show our whole skill set. I think that is going to be the greatest offense, and that will benefit the whole team.”