NASHVILLE, Tenn. – With game day quickly approaching, Tennessee has been focused and locked in as it looks to finish the 2021 season off the right way.
After Monday’s practice at Vanderbilt Stadium, multiple players emphasized that the team is taking Thursday’s contest against Purdue very seriously and that finishing the season with a win would be big heading into the offseason.
“I think it’s a big deal, just so people can get a glimpse of what we can be next year and starting off on the right foot for 2022,” sophomore running back Jabari Small said. “It’s just important, finishing off strong, just finishing what we started.”
Senior offensive lineman Jerome Carvin feels that the Big Orange have a chance to make a statement with a victory over an extremely talented Boilermakers team.
“It’s like a statement game if that makes sense,” Carvin said. “We have to show what we can do, especially with this offense and the team that we’re playing against. We are playing a really good Big 10 team. It’s a statement game.”
Despite the long layoff between games, the Vols aren’t too concerned with the potential for rust on the offensive side of the ball heading into Thursday’s game.
“Not at all,” redshirt junior wideout Cedric Tillman said when asked if there were any concerns about rust heading into Thursday’s game. “We’ve been doing this for so long and we’ve still been practicing, and I think we’ll be fine.”
A big part of UT’s offensive success this season has been the chemistry between Tillman and quarterback Hendon Hooker. The dynamic duo has been deadly down the stretch with Tillman putting up three straight 100-yard games and six consecutive games with a touchdown catch to finish the regular season.
The Las Vegas native enters Thursday’s contest needing just 69 yards to become Tennessee’s first 1,000-yard receiver since Justin Hunter 2012. Tillman acknowledged that reaching the 1,000-yard mark would be a significant accomplishment for him, but that helping the team win the game is the top priority.
“Honestly, it would mean a lot,” Tillman said. “It’s something that I really worked for this year and like I said, I’m going to do everything in my power to go get it, but also help my team win the game. So, if me getting 1,000 yards helps us win the game, I’ll be happy with that, if not and I got to do other stuff, then I’m cool with that too.”
Over the past few weeks, both Hooker and Tillman have announced their intentions to return to play for the Big Orange next season, which has their teammates extremely excited.
“It means a lot. It’s a lot of leadership and experience. They’re veterans. We can only get better,” Small said. “They’ll hold us to a standard, and we will try to follow that. Those guys are extremely talented, have bright futures and could make a lot of money one day, so the fact that they want to come back means a lot.”
Carvin attributes the environment that been cultivated by head coach Josh Heupel and his staff as a big reason for guys wanting to return for one more season on Rocky Top.
“It has to do with this staff, the culture, the locker room, just playing with our brothers again, our teammates,” Carvin said. “I’ve been a part of some rough times since I’ve been here, but we’ve got a bright future ahead of us and there’s a lot of things we can do.”
Kickoff for UT and Purdue is 2 p.m. CT on Dec. 30 in Nissan Stadium. Tickets for the game are on sale through the bowl at musiccitybowl.com. For more information on the bowl, visit UTsports.com/musiccitybowl.
Player Quotes
Hendon Hooker – QB – R-Senior
On getting back into action offensively …
“We are looking good. Everything if flowing smoothly. Everyone is coming in day-in and day-out, trying to work on getting better.”
On why they have had success early in games …
“It’s being locked in from the jump and attacking early. That’s what we push for and keeping it going throughout the game. That’s the ideal thing to do.”
On staying focused during bowl week …
“Everyone has come in with a great mindset and a great work ethic this week, so I am excited for game day.”
On expectations on him this game …
“It’s operate, be calm in the pocket. It’s making sure I am doing my routine plays. Nothing special, just playing my game.”
On how a game like this can create momentum for next season …
“It can definitely springboard us into next year with some rhythm, some confidence as well.”
On Purdue’s defense …
“They are really aggressive upfront. They are real strong, and they play fast on the back end. They have some big guys on the back end who are athletic and can move.”
On the success of his book …
“The process has been great. Going through this process with my family has been a blessing.”
On how he approaches the game …
“In a sense, I just feel like when I come out and I am relaxed, I just take care of business. I take care of my simple reads. It helps the offense move smoothly and move the ball a little bit better and operate a little bit better so it slows down my thinking.”
On getting back into action offensively …
“We are looking good. Everything if flowing smoothly. Everyone is coming in day-in and day-out, trying to work on getting better.”
On why they have had success early in games …
“It’s being locked in from the jump and attacking early. That’s what we push for and keeping it going throughout the game. That’s the ideal thing to do.”
On staying focused during bowl week …
“Everyone has come in with a great mindset and a great work ethic this week, so I am excited for game day.”
On expectations on him this game …
“It’s operate, be calm in the pocket. It’s making sure I am doing my routine plays. Nothing special, just playing my game.”
On how a game like this can create momentum for next season …
“It can definitely springboard us into next year with some rhythm, some confidence as well.”
On Purdue’s defense …
“They are really aggressive upfront. They are real strong, and they play fast on the back end. They have some big guys on the back end who are athletic and can move.”
On the success of his book …
“The process has been great. Going through this process with my family has been a blessing.”
On how he approaches the game …
“In a sense, I just feel like when I come out and I am relaxed, I just take care of business. I take care of my simple reads. It helps the offense move smoothly and move the ball a little bit better and operate a little bit better so it slows down my thinking.”
Cedric Tillman – WR – R-Junior
On his decision to return to Tennessee next season…
“I’m excited to have it (the decision) in the past. One of the things that I really look forward to is not only improving as a football player – coming back and being part of this team, I felt like not only finishing strong the next couple days with the game – but next year we have a chance to be really good, so that’s some of the things that played a part in it.”
On what areas he is focused on improving in his game…
“Really just everything. Like I say, I like to be a master of my craft, so just everything, trying to get better at that – routes, releases, just trying to be the best receiver I can.”
On the importance of finishing this season off the right way in the bowl game…
“Yeah, I think it’s significant. We’re taking this game very seriously and I think it will be very important to kind of end the year off (right).”
On what it would mean for him to get to 1,000 yards receiving this season…
“Honestly, it would mean a lot. It’s something that I really worked for this year and like I said, I’m going to do everything in my power to go get it, but also help my team win the game. So, if me getting 1,000 yards helps us win the game, I’ll be happy with that, if not and I got to do other stuff, then I’m cool with that too.”
Jerome Carvin – OL – Senior
On having major contributors returning to Rocky Top next season…
“It has to do with this staff, the culture, the locker room, just playing with our brothers again, our teammates. I’ve been a part of some rough times since I’ve been here, but we’ve got a bright future ahead of us and there’s a lot of things we can do.”
On the feeling of the Music City Bowl since he is returning next season…
“It’s like a statement game, if that makes sense. We have to show what we can do, especially with this offense and the team that we’re playing against. We are playing a really good Big 10 team. It’s a statement game.”
On having the chance to play in an NFL stadium…
“We haven’t really thought about it too much. My first game as a freshman, we played in Carolina, so I don’t really think about it too much. We will play anywhere. If there is a field with lines, we’re good.”
Jabari Small – RB – Sophomore
On picking up where the team left off at the end of the regular season after a month off…
“We’ve been preparing for the past three weeks. We’ve been actually doing the same routine that we’ve been doing, so we’ve just got to focus and then reboot. I think it’ll be a fun, fun game.”
On finishing the season off the right way…
“I think it’s a big deal, just so people can get a glimpse of what we can be next year and starting off on the right foot for 2022. It’s just important, finishing off strong, just finishing what we started.”
On key Tennessee players returning and how that sets the tone for the future…
“It means a lot. It’s a lot of leadership and experience. They’re veterans. We can only get better. They’ll hold us to a standard, and we will try to follow that. Those guys are extremely talented, have bright futures and could make a lot of money one day, so the fact that they want to come back means a lot.”
-UT Athletics
