KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — With the offseason in the rear-view and only four days until the season opener kicks off, the Tennessee football Volunteers took Haslam Field Tuesday morning to continue game week preparations for Saturday's home contest against inter-system foe Chattanooga (12:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network).
As the Vols gear up for gameday, a pair of position coaches are set to make their official debuts on the sidelines of Shields-Watkins Field. Linebackers coach William Inge and running backs coach De'Rail Sims will lead their respective groups into the 2024 season after being hired by Josh Heupel this past spring, and both met with media after Tuesday'spractice to provide updates on their position rooms.
A theme of Inge's linebacker room over the course of the offseason has been accountability coupled with a player-led mentality. He has seen those aspects of the room translate to the rest of the team during fall practice.
"It's been really good being able to see the evolution of leadership happening within our room and within our football team as a whole," Inge said. "When you can see the players holding each other accountable, when you can see the players wanting to be held accountable, and you can see the players doing extra things and extra small, little things, that lets you know that the player-led mentality is beginning to kick in and continuing to kick in. So, we've definitely been pleased thus far with a lot of the mentality, the thinking and the actions the players have been coming up with thus far. They've really done a great job of really taking our lead and doing what we're asking them to do."
Transitioning from the grind of fall camp to game week prep, Sims emphasized the importance of upholding the standards of the program while working to face Chattanooga – which enters Saturday's contest ranked eighth in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll.
"The standard is the standard, so we have to make sure that we do a really good job of understanding just because we're transitioning to game week, our attention to detail does not change," Sims explained. "Our focus does not change. The level and the expectations of the way we go out here and practice every day does not change. So, it actually has to go up another level because you understand my reps are my reps, and I have to make each one of those reps count, so we have to do a phenomenal job of maximizing our time on the practice field."
Two of Tennessee's seasoned veterans in the trenches – Kingston native Cooper Mays on the offensive line and Memphis product Omari Thomas on the defensive line – were also available to media after Tuesday's practice. The duo has combined for 88 appearances and 62 starts for the Big Orange since their rookie campaigns in 2020.
When asked about their emotions heading into year five with the Vols, Mays and Thomas each expressed how they maintain a consistent mindset – taking it one game at a time.
"I try to keep everything super consistent," Mays said. "I try not to treat anything differently in my life. I pride myself on being the same guy every day and doing the same stuff. I'm just trying to prepare the right way and the same way I always do."
"I go day-by-day and game-by-game," Thomas added. "I just take everything in, so that way I know I'm being able to get the full experience out of it. It's a big year for everyone on the team; we are trying to do a lot of great things. We just want to continue to grow every weekend and be in those moments, but at the same time, take everything in and experience the Vol Walk and the fans. Those are things you won't get back, so it will be a beautiful moment to be a part of."
Full comments from Inge and Sims and select quotes from Mays, Thomas and freshman linebacker Arion Carter can be viewed below.
Tennessee Football Press Conference | Aug. 27, 2024
Linebackers Coach William Inge
On what he has learned about his group during fall camp…
"Probably the biggest thing that we learned about our group is how resilient of a group we have. But, I would also say the depth that we have, seeing some of the guys put in a lot of work and we can see the intensity through repetition really start to come out and come into play to where they're learning everything systematically, they're applying everything that we want them to be able to do fundamentally and they're putting themselves in position where they're saying, 'coach, I can be trusted, and you can put me in a football game.'"
On how player leadership has grown since his arrival to campus…
"It's been really good being able to see the evolution of leadership happening within our room and within our football team as a whole. When you can see the players holding each other accountable, when you can see the players wanting to be held accountable and you can see the players doing extra things and extra small, little things, that lets you know that the player-led mentality is beginning to kick in and continuing to kick in. So, we've definitely been pleased thus far with a lot of the mentality and the thinking and the actions the players have been coming up with thus far. They've really done a great job of really taking our lead and doing what we're asking them to do."
On what linebacker Keenan Pili can bring to the table on the football field…
"We anticipate someone who's going to be very active, very aggressive, and someone that's going to be running sideline to sideline. Someone who will be making all kinds of plays and everyone will know where No. 11 is on the football field. That's kind of our vision, that we want to create for him, and the one thing that allows us to do that is that what he's shown thus far and he's got the capabilities of being able to do that and it's our responsibility to push him to where he can be one of the best linebackers in the country, and he can be that and do that, for sure."
On how he knows the group has had enough work to be a good tackling team heading into the season…
"That's one question you really never know. You don't know that until you're actually in the battlefield doing it. The one thing we do is we do practice our tackling often and all the time, but sometimes that's the one question where, as a coach you're sitting back in a corner like, 'oh my gosh, please let's make sure this never shows its face.' From a teaching standpoint, you want to make sure that you always teach tackling to where whenever we're in some kind of padded day, there is going to be some tackling all the time to make sure you can get your players in position where their footwork and body position is where it needs to be so we can make those plays. But you really don't know until you're in the battlefield and it's there."
On if he thought they tackled well in the team's preseason scrimmages…
"Yeah, from a scrimmage standpoint, yes. One thing that we try to do is make sure that we always, as well, take care of our football team. That's where we've really seen, I think, a lot of growth and maturity happen on our football team. Everybody is taking care of each other and when you have a chance to make your tackles, it's literally a one shot, one kill mentality, to where you're making your tackle, you're doing what you're supposed to do and you're making a play you're supposed to make when you're at the point of attack."
On how much game film weighs into evaluations compared to reps from fall camp…
"It's a little bit of both, and some of it is, when you think about everyone in our room there is not a lot of individuals who are returning that have a lot of game footage. So, I have to go off what I've seen and the ability to put them under some adverse conditions in practice and see how they thrive in those moments. That literally gives us a lot of trust in them. Also, I want to let them know, 'hey, I trust you and you're going to go into the battlefield and you're going to do well.' It's our job as coaches, also, to be able to breathe confidence into them, to where there is no uncertainties from their standpoint when they hit the field."
On the position versatility in the linebacker room…
"Yes, and that's something that we want. Now, when you think about the body types, there are some different things that (Jeremiah Telander) can do versus Kalib Perry when you just look at the two body types, but we think they can both go in and apply the job and do the things that they're supposed to do. One thing that we always want to do is let our players know, even from a recruiting standpoint, you're going to be recruited to be a dual player. We never want to back you into a corner and say you only can do one thing because if you want to make this your occupation, the more things you can do, the more value you're going to have to your football team."
On the jump Arion Carter has made from last season…
"I think the biggest jump that I've seen overall from Arion Carter is just his level of preparation. You'll see he's someone where he will be the first person in the building, and during camp, he stayed here every day. When we left, he was in the film room sending text messages about things that we're going on during that particular day or things that could've been going on or happening for the next day. To see his level of preparation and to see the things that he's doing for the group and for the team and for the unit on defense, that's what you want to see from a coach, so seeing his growth is probably one of the better things that I've been able to see. When you see him run, it shows up immediately that he is someone who can run fast and hit hard, and that's what we love to see."
On the size and depth of the linebacker rotation…
"We feel pretty good about our depth overall and, for us, if you understand the system, you make the plays you're supposed to make at the point of attack and you know how to drive our defense, you will have an opportunity to play. What I would love to be able to do is to make sure we can play five, six players, and that's historically what I've been able to do is to make sure from a preparation standpoint, that number of guys have been prepared and that number of guys have played and they all have a specific role. Maybe someone comes in when its third down and long, someone comes in when its third down and short, someone comes in goal line short yardage. Being able to give those guys, what you would say, hope, because if you know that you're going to be going to the football game, how much more are you going to be ready when it comes to your level of preparation? So, when you do that for them, they're going to give it back to you in return, so I would love to be able to make sure, from a group standpoint, if you have a uniform on and you're ready to play, you're going to have a chance to play."
On the progression of Edwin Spillman throughout camp…
"Edwin is definitely progressing very well. He is someone, when you talk about being able to stuff and stop the run, his body type fits exactly just that. He does not get moved when he is in there fitting. As a player who is learning and growing, it's great to see the things that he does on special teams. He is someone who has a great role in our room, and it's awesome to see him learning every day. It is actually special to see him coming on with his smile and he's learning and when you have Keenan Pili and Arion Carter putting you up under their wing, you can only go up. So, it is great seeing him continue to excel."
On Keenan Pili's drive and readiness to see game action in his return from injury…
"For him, he is kind of matured beyond his age or time, but we all know he's a little more mature than everyone else, so it's kind of an oxymoron in the room. To see his mindset, he knows he's just ready to go play. The good thing about this is he's had the opportunity and the exposure to be around a lot of good people, a lot of good coaches, a lot of good players, so he knows how to have himself ready and prepared to do his job on gameday. I just can't wait to see him be able to go and apply it. That's our responsibility as coaches is to see him go do that, so he's ready, his mindset is right, and he knows he's doing everything he can to help the rest of the guys around him to be even better"
On the strategy behind releasing a depth chart with so many co-starters…
"Well, a lot of it is, when you have competition at those respected positions, that's kind of how you may feel as a coach. For example, in the linebacker room, you can pick any two players and they're going to be able to go apply their job and do what they're supposed to do as starters, and that is kind of how we feel as a staff, so I guess when you see someone who may be an 'or' scenario, we feel pretty good about the next person being able to come in and being able to compete at a high level and help us compete for a championship."
On how Arion Carter's understanding of game film has grown…
"That's where he and I have gotten closer. From my perspective, being able to help show him what he's looking at while he's looking at film or while he's watching film. So that's where he's really had the chance to really sharpen his laser. Just the conversations that he and I have when we're working in the film room. That's literally where he's taken a lot of the big jumps, just because now he's understanding how to look at the film, what he's looking at, what he's looking for, what's the situation that's going on and presenting itself on the field, so that's where he's really kind of matured himself here over the last seven months."
On things that stand out about Chattanooga's offense…
"I think some of the things we talked about earlier, when you come into week one, the biggest thing you have to do is make sure you keep a lot of the focus on your football team because from a fundamental standpoint, that's where the blocking and tackling always kind of shows up. So, we've kind of really put a lot of the emphasis on us being able to make our plays at the point of attack. The one thing that we see that is fairly similar, is you look at our offensive structure and scheme here at Tennessee and their offensive structure scheme, it's all very, very similar, so we've been able to get a multitude of kind of the practicing when we're going against our offense. So, that's been something that's been able to help us. We know they have a very good, mature quarterback who's going to lead them. We know they have some new players at some of the big skill positions, like at the tight end, he's a returning guy. Running backs are going to be fairly new, so you don't know what you're going to get there. From a receiver standpoint, we know there's some guys that the quarterbacks love to throw to, so we have to make sure that we're on our game and we apply all of our fundamentals. Coming into game one, the thing we're really focusing on is make sure we don't lose sight of us."
Running Backs Coach De'Rail Sims
On how Cameron Seldon has been recovering from injury…
"He's been doing good. He's been doing a really good job of sitting up there and attacking the practices. We'll turn him loose on Saturday and see what he can do."
On the health of the running back room overall heading into the first game…
"We sit in a good spot right now heading into the opener. Feeling good about where we are at right now. Ready to see these guys perform on Saturday."
On if they implement other ways to simulate contact for Cameron Seldon through his injury recovery process…
"We kind of do that. Especially in our ball security circuit in our indy period, giving them the chance to be able to feel getting hit and what it would feel like once he gets in the game on Saturday."
On how he organizes the workload with the amount of depth they have in the running back room…
"I think we plan it out by the way they go attack the week in practice. Seeing from the standpoint of the competition in the room, who understands their assignments. Then, kind of going based off the flow of the game as well. We'll put a plan together in terms of how we'll rotate guys. It's also the feel of it. Me being able to play running back in my previous life, you get a feel for it as a running back as you get into the groove and kind of see who has the hot hand."
On how diverse the skill set of the running back room is…
"I think that's the best part about the room right now is that we all have compliments in each other, but we're all similar too from a skillset standpoint. It's not like when one guy comes they can key on this particular skill set that's coming. I think that's the best part about the room right now. At the same time, they also have different off-speed pitches that they bring to the table so that part is good."
On what he thinks Chattanooga's mindset is coming into the game…
"Previously when I was at FCS schools, you always wanted to prove a point. A lot of those guys that are sitting on the opposite sideline are from surrounding areas; they're in-state guys who want to prove that they deserve to be here and that they deserve to be on this stage. You're going to get their best shot every single snap. Previously at some places that I've been to, anytime that you have a chance to play up in weight class you go in there and give everything that you have for four quarters and then you let the chips stack where they may fall. Our guys understand that as well. They understand that they're going to get their (Chattanooga's) best shot this weekend and we have to be ready to play."
On the development of Peyton Lewis…
"I think Peyton (Lewis) has done a really good job in taking the next step. I think he's more confident right now in himself. I think he's done a really good job of being comfortable in the whole entire offense, so when he gets in there, you see him in practice do a lot of really good things. You see him understand the protection aspect of it. You see him anticipate where the runs are supposed to hit at, so I think he's at a point right now where he is getting more comfortable. I think he's going to get comfortable continuously as he gets practice throughout this season, too, and then he gets some game experience, so I think that's the number one deal with him is his confidence is continuing to grow."
On what he has seen from Chattanooga's defense…
"I think the number one deal, you look at the defensive front and how they attack and get off the ball. I think they do a really good job in terms of penetration, in terms of being able to play aggressive, and they want to try and move the line of scrimmage to play on the opposing offense's line of scrimmage. I think their linebackers are downhill players. They do a really good job of being able to go gang tackle and wrap up. I think those are the things that you see, they're very similar, when I was at Western Carolina and was in the same conference with them, very similar structure wise to what they've done in the past when they were really good. This is a defense that's going to play hard and that's going to get after your tail, they want to be attacking on all phases."
On how expectations change from fall camp going into a game week…
"It doesn't change. The standard is the standard. So, we make sure that we do a really good job of understanding just because we're transitioning to game week, our attention to detail does not change. Our focus does not change. The level and the expectations of the way we go out here and practice every day does not change. So, it actually has to go up another level because you understand my reps are my reps, and I have to make each one of those reps count, so we have to do a phenomenal job of maximizing our time on the practice field."
On the development of the offensive line during fall camp…
"They've done a really good job. That's the number one deal right now is that us and the offensive lineman are on the same page, so we fit hand in hand together, and I think that they have done a phenomenal job of being able to come off the football, in terms of when we're running the football, moving the line of scrimmage, and also the communication piece from a pass rush standpoint, we're on the same page, which is phenomenal."
On how he was able to evaluate Cam Seldon with his lack of practice reps…
"You know, watch the tape from high school and then watch the tape from the bowl game and how he played along last season. And then being able to watch him as he's gotten a chance to practice, you know what I'm saying? Kind of get a feel for what style of running back he is. Always looking at things that we can work on from that standpoint, trying to enhance his strength as well, as we're trying to sit up here and work on the things and continue to tweak him and make him be the most complete running back that he can be."
On Cam Seldon's strength's…
"I think you sit here and look at it, he's smooth, he has really good vision, he's able to anticipate where the holes are going to be at the second level. I think, just like with all taller backs, just being able to work on that pad level. Instead of running upright like Eddie George, make sure we do a really good job running behind our pads and being able to finish off runs."
Freshman Linebacker Arion Carter
On growing his vocal leadership and getting guys energized…
"I feel like that is just me as a person who I am. I try to lead by example but also be vocal. Especially coming in from my freshman season to now. That was a big aspect that I wanted to grow upon. So I feel like carrying that momentum in that season our team will just get better from me being more vocal. Especially me being out there on defense."
On capitalizing on time spent in the film room…
"It has been really encouraging. Taking things from the classroom to the field, being able to execute and see yourself making the play, and going out to do it gives you natural confidence as it is. One thousand hours of doing it over and over again has gotten me to this point. I feel like there are a lot of things we need to work on, but we are a lot better than what we were, including myself."
On his excitement level to get back on the field…
"Yeah, super exciting. It has been years for me it feels like, being off the field. Going out there executing at a high level, playing as hard as I can and going out there competing is just going to be so great. Playing with my brothers and running through that T is going to be an amazing feeling. I can only imagine. I can't wait.
Senior Offensive Lineman Cooper Mays
On how his body feels going into the season…
"I feel really good. I've gotten a lot stronger I feel a little bit more athletic over the course of this offseason and being healthy obviously helps a ton too. I feel really good and should be a really strong start to the season for everybody."
On preparing for his final season…
"I try to keep everything super consistent. I try not to treat anything differently in my life. I pride myself on being the same guy every day and doing the same stuff. I'm just trying to prepare the right way and the same way I always do."
On remembering his first game at Tennessee…
"I just remember the whole time trying to take it in as much as possible. A big part of that was playing with my brother (Cade Mays), that was super special. The first time running out of the T here, I was right by my brother and we did the stretch lines. I wasn't able to play much that first game, but just being able to experience it and do it with the people that I love was super special."
Senior Defensive Lineman Omari Thomas
On what kind of camp the defensive line had and who stood out…
"I think our group has had a pretty great camp. I feel like we came in every day just trying to grow. Not getting replaced within those dog days of fall camp, still coming out regardless whether the tempo went down or not. We still continued to get those reps in and grow. Guys in the room that have done a great job are Elijah Simmons, Bryson Eason, Omarr Norman-Lott and Dominic Bailey. All of those guys have come into camp every day, pushing each other and pushing me like I'm pushing them. We are all just trying to grow together and be a dominant D-line."
On how he handles all the emotions going into another big year…
"I go day by day and game by game. I just take everything in, so that way I know I'm being able to get the full experience out of it. It's a big year for everyone on the team; we are trying to do a lot of great things. We just want to continue to grow every weekend and be in those moments, but at the same time, take everything in and experience the Vol Walk and the fans. Those are things you won't get back, so it will be a beautiful moment to be a part of."
On if he can tell a difference in how Coach Garner coaches vets…
"I feel like Coach G is going to be Coach G. He has been the same guy since we got here. With us getting older, we learn to be more knowledgeable about the game and take our game to the next level. That could be learning how to play off each other rather than being out there alone, different things go into it to help elevate your game. That's how Coach G has been teaching us."
