Heading into the 2021 season for the defensive line, led by coach Rodney Garner, the group of men upfront is looking to make a statement with their actions, not words. It’s not a secret that the position has become a spot of worry for Tennessee fans and even coaches, as they look to get the most out of this group that includes a few transfers.
For Vols senior Matthew Butler, he’s been through the wringer regarding position coaches in Knoxville. He will be playing for his 6th defensive line coach at Tennessee, counting Jeremy Pruitt in 2020. You don’t typically see that kind of movement around one position, especially in Butler’s case. But, as time has moved on and the Vols have themselves a dynamic coach on the line, it will only benefit this group of players moving forward.
“I mean, I’ve played for six guys, so of course, that impacts things. But when it comes down to it, as I’ve said before, it’s x’s and o’s, but now we’re just playing physical, tough football, running through people’s faces. So when it comes down to it, we’re playing football, yes, but now that we have the best coach with us in the country, what else can you really ask for.”
This upcoming season, the growth folks could see out of this front seven will be pivotal for the Vols. There’s no question that they have to be tougher in the trenches. Bringing in a coach like Garner will only help that situation, as he doesn’t shy away from letting players feel his frustration and encouragement, on and off the field.
“When it comes down to it, it’s a lot about discipline, not only on the football field but off. There’s all kinds of stuff that goes into being a college football student-athlete, and then you turn around and actually take the football part of it, and coach Garner is just leaps and bounds ahead of the game, all around the country. We’re able to apply that to our game and work on it together, and then that brings us together closer, and then having several people with the same mindset off the field helps a ton as well.”
Even with the additions of Caleb Tremblay and Da’Jon Terry, this group will have to continue fighting in the trenches to add consistent depth. How Tennessee plays on offense will be a massive part of how the rotation works for the defensive line, as Garner knows there could be quick breaks. But that part doesn’t worry Matthew Butler anymore, as the goal is to take the next step when playing as a unit.
On Tuesday, you could tell Butler was tired of talking about it. He was just ready to prove that the work they’ve put in will pay off this season.
“Yea, I am not going to tell you what we have, we’re just going to go out there, and we’re going to continue to show you. We’ve made leaps and bounds since the Spring, and we’re going to continue to take leaps and bounds. That’s a goal of ours, and we’re dead set on proving that. Forget talking about it.”
As the season gets closer, it will be intriguing to see which player can step up and be the leader this line needs, besides Butler. Because if this team is going to have success this season, it has to start on the line of scrimmage, which is a challenge Matthew Butler will accept.
