FootballOctober 29, 2024

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — After attacking their second open week of the 2024 campaign with focus and intentionality, the No. 7 Tennessee Volunteers enter the back half of SEC action with another home contest under the lights of Neyland Stadium this Saturday against Kentucky (7:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network).

Tennessee’s defense has been remarkable through the first seven contests of the season, holding each of its opponents under 20 points and ranking top-10 nationally in several major statistical categories – including third in the FBS in both total defense (259.0) and scoring defense (11.6). Rodney Garner‘s defensive line unit has anchored the special group, leaning on the culture and experience of the room to uphold the standard of elite defense on Rocky Top.

“We have spent four years trying to change the culture, trying to instill in these young men how blessed they are to have an opportunity to play somewhere like the University of Tennessee,” Garner said during his Tuesday post-practice media availability. “We’re always playing for something bigger than us individually, be it the T on the side of your helmet or the name on the back of your jersey. Those are the things we represent. I still like to be a little old school with it and instill a brotherhood.

“The older guys in that room that have been there and stuck with us since day one, they have been able to enforce some of those things and let people know that we have standards. This is what is expected, this is what’s going to be tolerated and what is not going to be tolerated.”

Tennessee’s wide receiver corps looks to carry momentum from a successful second half against Alabama into the final stretch of the regular season as the Vols play five games in the month of November. Kelsey Pope‘s crew took advantage of the open week, looking to narrow the gaps on a few close plays and finish the campaign strong.

“Any practice is extra reps to be able to get timing and experience with quarterbacks,” Pope explained. “Guys have been staying after practice all season long but being a lot more intentional in that stuff as of late. To what I alluded to before, guys are hungry because they sense how close we are. I think they’re willing to do whatever it takes to make sure going down this stretch that we finish strong, and we end up making those plays.”

Full comments from Garner and Pope along with select quotes from sophomore defensive back Jermod McCoy, junior defensive lineman Jaxson Moi and redshirt junior defensive back Andre Turrentine can be viewed below.

Tennessee Football Press Conference | Oct. 29, 2024

Defensive Line Coach Rodney Garner

On if it has been a surprise how impressive the defensive line has been this season…
“Obviously, I feel like we’ve done some good things, but there are a lot of things that we need to do a lot better at as far as improving our play. That’s been the challenge week-in and week-out is to try to make sure that we stay focused and keep the main thing the main thing. There’s just so many areas when you sit there and watch the film, critique it and are being truly honest with what’s taking place, that guys see that there is so much room for improvement. Communication, getting people on the same page, being fundamental and using the right techniques and fundamentals where now they can be more productive and even better players. That is our challenge. We spent the off week trying to improve and work on us. Now, we’re back into the scheme and getting ready for Kentucky.”

On the defense keeping their edge for an entire season…
“I do think that the depth of the room and the way we’ve played in the room is healthy competition. It creates guys that know that they have to play hard and physically or they’re going to be out sitting over with me. They have a choice, and every man gets to make that choice. Based on those choices and how they perform, that determines how much they’re going to play. The guys have been very good and responsive. That’s the one thing I do like about the room. I like the camaraderie in the room. I don’t feel like there is any jealousy in the room. I think the guys really enjoy playing for one another. They have fun playing together, and they seem to do a really good job of encouraging, critiquing, coaching and pushing each other where it’s not always 100 percent coach led. That’s where I do think we are making some progress in that area when it’s peer led.”

On how the room got to the point of having no jealousy…
“We spent four years trying to change the culture, trying to instill in these young men how blessed they are to have an opportunity to play somewhere like the University of Tennessee. What an honor it is to have a T on the side of your helmet. We’re always playing for something bigger than us individually, be it the T on the side of your helmet or the name on the back of your jersey. Those are the things we represent. I still like to be a little old school with it and instill a brotherhood, just thinking about when I played, how close I was to my teammates and the accountability piece that we tried to hold each other to. Obviously, as a freshman, we had to learn that too from older guys. The older guys in that room that have been there and stuck with us since day one, they have been able to enforce some of those things and let people know that we have standards. This is what is expected, this is what’s going to be tolerated and what is not going to be tolerated.”

On Jaxson Moi and his Polynesian culture…
“He is the first one that I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to coach. I came up second with (Breiden) Fehoko when he came up, and he ended up going to LSU. Coach O (Ed Orgeron) sold him, he was the defensive line coach. I still maintain a great relationship with the kid and his family, so having a chance to coach Jaxson has been a joy. It’s everything that I dreamt that it would be. What he stands for, his character and his work ethic have been really good for that room. He has fit in great with that room. I’m really excited about continuing to see his growth because I do think that he has true, natural leadership ability. In this generation, that stuff is getting harder and harder to find. When you have it and you find it, you have to cherish it. I’m really excited about where he’s headed and what he can mean to our program in the direction that we want our program to continue to go in.”

On how he evaluates James Pearce Jr. beyond stats…
“I think if you ask James, just like if you ask anybody, I think he would have to be totally honest with you and say there’s room for improvement. It’s not always about stats. It’s making sure that we’re doing everything within the system, within the scheme, making sure that we’re executing at a high level. Like I tell the guys all the time, anytime that we can learn to put aside our personal goals and ambitions and put the team goals and ambitions first, then at the end of the day they’re going to reap the rewards individually because if we do good as a team and we win at a high level, I do believe that we don’t have enough guys for all the accolades that could come. I’m just trying to stress that team concept and us doing things as a team and doing things for Tennessee and not for individuals, but I think he’s progressing and I think he’s making strides and he’s heading in the right direction. So, we hope that he will continue to peak as we’re going through this stretch right here.”

On what has stood out about Dominic Bailey this season…
“The thing about Dom that I admire, he’s a young man that wasn’t given anything, especially probably by me. When I first got here, I had question marks about Dom. He’s a kid who has really bought into what we’re doing and how we want to go about things. He’s changed his attitude, he’s doing those little things. He’s worked himself into being a pretty good football player. I still think there’s even more for him to grow and I think it’s important to him. He shows up to work every day. He has a good attitude and I think he’s made of the right stuff and I think he cares about his teammates and I think he cares about this institution.”

Wide Receivers Coach Kelsey Pope

On how to handle Squirrel White’s playing time amidst his injury…
“Yeah, I think that’s a fine line you have to draw. I think what gives you the best idea of that is how he handles it in practice. I think every play has a lifespan of its own. With guys like that, I think you have to be in tune and be intentional with how they look, how they respond. I think each play you’re assessing exactly where you are, as far as how comfortable those type of guys are out there.”

On how the receivers have been able to get open down the field the last several games…
“I think on the perimeter, we see on film every week how close we are to connecting on those big ones. They won’t always happen, but I think showing guys each week, ‘We’re a depth here away or ball location here away or concentration catch here away.’ I think showing those guys how close we are better emphasizes that we have to continue doing what we are doing, and it’s only a matter of time before you connect on those. I think ultimately when we do, we’ll feel a lot different.”

On how much can be done to work on timing in the passing game during an open week…
“Any practice is extra reps to be able to get timing and be able to get experience with quarterbacks. Guys have been staying after practice all season long but being a lot more intentional in that stuff as of late. To what I alluded to before, guys are hungry because they sense how close we are. I think they’re willing to do whatever it takes to make sure going down this stretch that we finish strong, and we end up making those plays.”

On how Chris Brazzell II’s game-winning catch against Alabama can jumpstart his production down the stretch…
“I think anytime you make plays in a game like that, big time play in that type of atmosphere, naturally you gain confidence. I think when you go back and you look at the film, you see all the things that you did great, but you combine those with, ‘Man, I could’ve cleaned this up here, or I could’ve had another two or three here.’ I think that gives you more fuel to pair with that confidence to continue to work and really check off those boxes. So absolutely, those plays give you confidence, but more importantly, we have to channel that in the right way and detail the things we need to detail to make more plays like that.”

On the different things that can lead to bad timing in the passing game…
“The best athletes, regardless of whose fault, take accountability in every sport. What could I have done better to make that play? I played the position and my response was always, ‘I’m not going to be the one to be responsible for an incompletion.’ And that has been my message to these guys. No matter where the location is, ball is low or not thrown, it doesn’t matter. I have to be available, and I have to be ready to make a play whenever that time comes. That’s ultimately why we play wideout, is you have to be a playmaker. That’s just a part of our job. That’s kind of the message, not to necessarily point the finger of whose fault, but what could I have done to get the job done a little bit better.”

On if the receivers took their confidence from the second half against Alabama into the bye week…
“Yeah, I think first half we didn’t score at all, and then second half you come out and you finally get it started on offense. I absolutely think naturally you gain some confidence. Leaving that game, leaving a couple games this year though, we still haven’t seen our best be put on tape yet. I think what’s unique about this team is most offenses, most players feel that and they tend to pull up or isolate themselves, paralyze themselves. I truly feel like these guys are hungry to go get things fixed every week. You’ve got no idea when that thing is going to get turned over, but you give yourself a chance as long as you continue to work at it and as long as you’re intentional with that work. And that’s what these guys have been doing.”

On the progress of freshman wide receiver Mike Matthews…
“Yeah, Mike’s flashed at times, he’s got a really bright future here. I think a lot of stuff comes with experience. Being a freshman in this league is hard, there’s growing pains in this league. I think as long as he continues to do what he’s doing, he’s staying positive, he’s working his butt off. I think as long as he continues to do those things, it’s only a matter of time before he starts to see the plays being made that he wants. That’s the thing, he wants to make plays. He wants to be on the field in critical situations, and he wants to get better. His attitude as of late has been awesome, and that’s what he’s working towards.”

On how he treats younger receivers with so many freshman receivers playing large roles across the country…
“Yeah, I think older guys are critical in those types of situations. This age we live in now, everything is visible. You can see everything all across the country right in the blink of an eye. That absolutely has an effect on it. What these guys have to learn at a young age is, I have to run my own race. My race is different from this guy playing here or this guy playing here. You ultimately don’t know where you or them will end up, but what happens is if I’m looking at someone else’s plate and I’m not looking at my own food, my food gets cold and I’m not able to take advantage of my own opportunity. What (Mike Matthews) has done, he’s done an incredible job of not paying attention to outside factors. He could be, but at least around me, around this building, he’s dialed in, he’s got a great attitude, he’s hungry. That doesn’t mean he’s not frustrated. He’s hungry and that’s all I can ask for. Like I said, he’s got a really bright future here because he’s got that attitude, and it’s only a matter of time before he starts to make those plays.”

On what the receivers can do to play better in the first half of future games…
“I think don’t press. These guys understand we have to make more plays as an offense, not just the receiver room. I think once you start to press, that creates anxiety, and then I’m not being natural and playing football. I think all these guys have to focus on is, how do I do my job to the best of my ability. It’s that simple. If we do that, every position, every play, man we’ll continue to roll, and you’ll start to see explosive plays. You’ll start to see more of the high-power that these guys are wanting to see.”

On the most encouraging thing he has seen from Dont’e Thornton Jr. …
“His positivity. I spoke to it this offseason. He’s had every reason to go the opposite way. He’s dealt with injuries. He’s had tough spurts at times in his play between this year and last year. What that kid has done, he responds to adversity, he responds to success the same way. He goes and works hard, he’s positive and that’s why good things continue to happen to him. He comes in the building with a great attitude every day and that’s all you can ask for. For him, the refreshing thing as coaches, you see a guy that’s continuing to respond no matter what happens, and as a coach that’s all I can ask for.”

Sophomore DB Jermod McCoy

On what allowed him to transition well into Tennessee…
“Preparation. I’ve done a lot of studying and extra work to try and find a way to stay on top of everything.”

On what aspect of his game he is most proud of…
“I like the way I’m more locked in on details. I was young at my old school and was out there playing. I didn’t do a lot of studying. I would just go out there on the field. Now I’m doing a lot more studying and the stuff I have to do to be prepared for the games.”

On why his play style fits the Tennessee defense…
“I think because we play a lot of zone and man. I think the versatility between that helps me from getting different looks.”

Junior DL Jaxson Moi

On keeping egos positive in the locker room…
“First I’d say it starts off with culture, and Coach Garner really builds that from day one when you get here. He lets us know we are going to compete, but at the end of the day, we are a family. A lot of people think you wanna be the only guy, but when you have others who are just as talented and capable as you, it opens up how many plays you can make yourself. They can’t just team up or game plan for one player when you have a whole D-line of great athletes.”

On Polynesian teammates Keenan Pili and Nico Iamaleava…
“First of all, Keenan, that hurt me deeply because he’s like a big brother to me. Seeing him down and him being the leader of our defense hurt us emotionally, and not having that big piece there. I think the defense all came together and me personally and some others as well dedicated the rest of my season to him. He’s done so much for not only this program but for a lot of people here. We are trying to honor him in the way that we play and carry ourselves on and off the field. With Nico, he’s a baller. He’s a young guy, but he’s just so calm, he doesn’t let anything phase him. He’s a great leader, very soft-spoken, and very humble. The sky is the limit for that guy and I can’t wait to see all the great things he does.”

On the culture of the defensive line…
“It’s made me appreciate it more and just being able to play next to those guys in big-time games. It’s cool to see how we all play off of each other and how we play complimentary football off of each other. One of the big reasons why I came here was because of the culture in the D-line room. I feel like a lot of the guys in the transfer portal, they can go anywhere and start day one, but I liked how I knew that in order to get playing time here, I was going to have to compete and earn my reps and earn the plays I get to make. When you get to the next level, that is what is required. I feel like coming here is helping my game improve so much and I’m thankful for the older guys that brought me in. Coach Garner, Coach Harbin, Coach Ayers it’s a group effort. I’m just thankful for all of them.”

RS-Junior DB Andre Turrentine

On challenges defending Kentucky’s offense…
“Their ability to stretch the field with, like you said, their ability to run two quarterbacks. They have some fast guys on the edge so their ability to try to spread the field. We have the same mindset we did last week taking into this week. How we are going to prepare for the QB run and how we are going to prepare for the guys on the edges.”

On differences from last year’s to this year’s defense…
“Our preparation has not changed. I think it is a subtle difference in how we care about each other. How we are there day in and day out for each other on small things so we have each other’s back on Saturday. Whether some guy falls down, some guy is outside of his gap or somebody is getting beat, someone helps him over top. Just the ability to know that your brother is right there Monday through Friday as well as on Sunday and Saturday. Just that small detail has allowed us to play better as a whole.”

On what makes him believe that Jermod McCoy and Rickey Gibson III could be the best cornerback duo in the SEC…
“Their ability to make plays on the ball. Their athleticism stands out of course. Their ability to make plays on the ball and confidence to make plays on the ball. Understanding where they are in zone coverages and where they are in relation to their man-to-man coverages. Understanding when to get their eyes around, when to go for a PBU or a pick. Understanding all the way to preparation and what we are trying to do in the defense has allowed them to play the way they are playing.”