KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Coming off its first bye week of the season, the fourth-ranked Vols are preparing for yet another primetime road matchup in Fayetteville, Arkansas, against the Razorbacks.
For the third time this season, Tennessee will play on ABC with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. CT).
“Guys got back in the building today and had a good workout on the grass as we push forward to get ready for Arkansas,” head coach Josh Heupel said. “First of all, know it’s going to be a great environment there. This is a really good football team.”
Heupel praised his team’s focused preparation during the open week, noting their hard work and intentionality in meetings and practices as they gear up for the Razorbacks.
“I felt the guys in the middle of the week worked extremely hard,” Heupel said.” They were intentional in the way that we went into meetings, trying to improve upon some things that we need to in all three phases of the game. Practice was really crisp, and the weekend off got them a chance to physically continue to heal up as we get ready for this week. Mentally, they get a little bit of a break as well. All in all, really good.”
As the Vols prepare for the challenge of facing an Arkansas defense known for its tenacity, Heupel highlighted the Razorbacks’ ability to create turnovers and stifle opponents’ rushing attacks.
“That’s the first part, they’ve created a bunch of turnovers,” Heupel said. “I think they play extremely hard. All three levels of the defense are tied in on the run game. They’ve done a really good job against the rush and on third downs too. They make it difficult to pick up first downs and create explosive plays.”
Videos and quotes from Monday’s availability with Heupel and select players can be seen below.
Tennessee Football Press Conference | Sept. 17, 2024
https://utsports.com/showcase/embed.aspx?Archive=22824&autoplay=false
Head Coach Josh Heupel
Opening statement…
“First, just with the weather that came through this region – I just want to convey our thoughts and prayers going out to everybody as they are dealing with loss of power, loss of loved ones. So much damage was created here, certainly in this footprint, so our thoughts and prayers go out to everybody again. Hopefully, everybody gets back to normal as quickly as possible.
“For us, guys got back in the building today and had a good workout on the grass as we push forward to get ready for Arkansas. First of all, know it’s going to be a great environment there. This is a really good football team. They’re a couple plays away from being undefeated. You look at the way they played this past weekend, they’re playing extremely physical on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Defensively, one of the best teams in the country. Offensively, they’re rushing the football about as good as anybody, and they’ve created plays on special teams. Huge test for us this week to prepare the right way and get ready to go play our best football.”
On his assessment of the open week…
“I felt the guys in the middle of the week worked extremely hard. They were intentional in the way that we went into meetings, trying to improve upon some things that we need to in all three phases of the game. Practice was really crisp, and the weekend off got them a chance to physically continue to heal up as we get ready for this week. Mentally, they get a little bit of a break as well. All in all, really good.”
On what makes Arkansas effective on defense…
“That’s the first part, they’ve created a bunch of turnovers. I think they play extremely hard. All three levels of the defense are tied in on the run game. They’ve done a really good job against the rush, and they’ve done a really good job on third downs too. They make it difficult to go pick up first downs and create explosive plays.”
On how the team’s depth has measured up to his preseason expectations…
“I feel like the guys that have been playing have continued to grow. There are obviously areas that we need to continue to improve on. That’s everybody that’s stepping on the field. I think the rotation has helped us on both sides of the football. We have a lot of young guys that are playing a lot of meaningful snaps on special teams. I think those guys continue to improve. As this season goes on, you never know when your opportunity is going to come and you’re going to get thrusted into the middle of it. Continuing to prepare the right way, which this team has had that right mindset. That depth is important as you go through this conference schedule.”
On Dylan Sampson’s development into an every-down running back…
“First of all, he’s always been an elite competitor. Been able to reset and go play the next play. I do think his offseason this year, continuing to add size and strength to his frame has allowed him to handle that situation a little bit different than his freshman year would have played out. He has great trust in the guys in front of him, and we have great trust in him. On that drive, obviously he was a difference maker during the course of that drive.”
On the ideal mentality for players after a 4-0 start to the season…
“The right place to be is right here right now, being in the present. You can look at the scoreboard from this past weekend, and really every weekend across America. You have to be an elite competitor every single day, and you have to prepare that right way. That is why it is important that you have a routine. You have to practice with great urgency, and you have to finish the week the right way. You have to have the same competitive makeup and the same competitive DNA every single day. You have to show up. When you buckle your chin strap and the ball gets tee’d up, you better have that on game day too. Otherwise, the separation in this game is really tough. They’ve got scholarships and really good coaches too. The separation inside of this league is small margins. You have to win in the margins in this league.”
On the challenges that Arkansas presents offensively…
“He’s (Arkansas QB Taylen Green) a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands. That’s designed quarterback runs, it’s read game which could be first or second level reads for him, it’s when plays break down. He has the ability to escape and outrun people, get outside of the pocket and make plays. Any time you are facing a quarterback that is that dynamic, that’s where the game starts for you defensively. On pass plays, you have to push the pocket, but you can’t let him escape. The quarterback run game, you better have your eyes in the right place and play the play based on what you are seeing the right way, then be in a fundamental position to squeeze and go make a play.”
On how he and his family spent the open weekend…
“The weather didn’t quite cooperate the way I would’ve liked it to, but I got a chance on Saturday to spend a bunch of time with my kids and wife. We played catch and watched a couple of games, and I had a great weekend with them.”
On Nico Iamaleava’s improvement and future aspirations…
“Continued growth and taking care of the football. It’s presented itself in different ways and at the end of the day, he has to make it right. At times, that means not turning a negative play into one that kicks us in the butt. It’s OK in some of those situations to go punt the football. He has really good command and understanding of what we are doing, seeing different structures than what we have seen during the course of the week on film and being able to adjust during the course of the game. Love a lot of what we have seen. The great thing about him at this point is his great competitive composure. He goes and plays the next play independently and free. He’s handled himself well on the road. He and the offense have some areas that we can continue to grow, and that will be another big challenge with this football game — heading to Fayetteville and understanding the type of environment we are going to get ready to go play in.”
On the importance of the linebackers continuing to produce…
“All three levels of the defense have to be tied in together. Your first and second level in particular have to do a great job of bottling them up in the run game. When he drops back in pass (coverage), rush integrity — that can be off of your pressures, off your twist game, it can be a base four-man rush, but you have to push the pocket and make them uncomfortable and at the same time keep them bottled up.”
On Larry Johnson III’s next steps following Oklahoma…
“There are some things he did at a very high level, but just like any young player, you take those experiences, the snaps that you get, how can I be better. That can be in the pass game or run game. Continued growth from those guys, some of the successes and some of the things that he didn’t do at a really high level on certain plays. Again, it’s all 11 guys operating as one. It can be communication, bumping off twists. Whatever it is, all 11 have to operate as one.”
On why Arkansas’ run game is so effective…
“Their offensive line is playing at a high level, but he (Taylen Green) has got the ability to make the numbers right for them. Anytime the quarterback run game is part of it, you get a chance to make the numbers right. So, you have to play with gap integrity and assignment sound, but then you have also have to disrupt blocks, get off and go make a play. His speed and how dynamic of a player he is makes that a difficult thing to do because he has the ability at times to outrun the defender.”
RS-Senior LB Keenan Pili
https://utsports.com/showcase/embed.aspx?Archive=22820&autoplay=false
On the defense being disciplined when facing a mobile quarterback…
“Yeah, you really have to play your 11 — especially with a quarterback like (Taylen Green). That’s kind of what you want in a quarterback. He’s got good size and a good arm, but like you said, I feel like on the ground he makes a lot of plays for them. So, we have to keep an eye out for him and make sure we’re all doing our role at the end of the day, playing 11 hats on the ball.
On eye discipline against Arkansas QB Taylen Green…
“You have to be very disciplined with your eyes. Someone who has that scrambling ability can also throw the ball downfield. You have to be good in coverage, players that are on man, stay on man, players that are trying to get to the QB, you have to do a good job corralling him.”
On playing against Arkansas in 2022 with BYU…
“Super excited. Obviously the last time I played them left a bad taste. They had a good game, a good game plan, and you could tell they were a very well coached and disciplined team. I think at the end of the day, they have coaches that put the players in the right positions to be successful and I look forward to that and the matchup. I’m excited for what we can prepare for and be able to put up on Saturday.”
Junior RB Dylan Sampson
https://utsports.com/showcase/embed.aspx?Archive=22821&autoplay=false
On excitement or exhaustion when getting the ball on every play of a scoring drive…
“Everything. Everything you just said. Obviously, we train for that. We play tempo, so you obviously get tired. You get in that mode and you’re in the zone, so you just want to keep going. So, a little bit of everything.”
On growth from freshman year into a reliable, every-down running back..
“I think any back coming out of high school is used to hitting all the big runs. Just getting used to taking it for a dirty three, dirty four, that keeps the chains moving. I think that’s where I’ve gotten better, in between the tackles. Just knowing not everything is going to be a home run.”
On what makes a practice ‘crisp’ for Heupel…
“It’s like, hitting on the details. You can obviously tell the type of energy we will have from the moment we step out there. It is never about how you start practice, it is about how you finish. You never want to get behind the eight ball. So just taking it from the meeting room, minimizing MAs. The less whistles you hear, the less stuff we have to repeat, then practice is going crisp.”
Junior DL Tyre West
https://utsports.com/showcase/embed.aspx?Archive=22822&autoplay=false
On the frustrations of facing a mobile quarterback…
“It’s kind of frustrating, but at the same time, if you do your job, it isn’t as frustrating.”
On preparing the different looks presented by Arkansas QB Taylen Green…
“It really is (difficult) sometimes, because you never know if he is going to stay there, if he’s going to run or if he’s just going to throw a little screen. You just never know.”
On what it is like being a part of this defensive line …
“It is special for real. Every aspect, we have just unbelievable guys. Just me contributing to the line, it just means a lot.”
Junior WR Squirrel White
https://utsports.com/showcase/embed.aspx?Archive=22823&autoplay=false
On his comfort level in the punt return role and coaching points…
“I feel like I am really comfortable in the return, just as far as catching the ball. As far as coaching points, they tell me to be aggressive and go make the play.”
On the rhythm of the passing game and working on it during the bye week…
“The rhythm of the passing game is fine. Nothing has changed during this break. We just continue to practice on our passing game and stuff like that.”
On Arkansas’ secondary…
“They have guys out there that make plays. They fly to the ball and make plays on the ball.”
