Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel met with the local media Thursday morning for his final media availability before the Vols face South Carolina Saturday night.
Heupel discussed the status of a number of injured players, South Carolina star receiver Xavier Legette and more. Here’s everything Heupel said.
More From RTI: What Josh Heupel Said About Injured Tennessee Players
On Ramel Keyton and Jaylen Wright’s status for Saturday
“Really all the guys that you didn’t see at the end of last week have had a really good week. As always, (they’re) game time decisions but feel really good about all of them.”
On South Carolina receiver Xavier Legette
“Athletic, playmaker. We have to do a great job and that takes all 11.”
On his confidence in receiver Kaleb Webb if Keyton or Bru McCoy can’t go
“Feel good about Kaleb but feel good about Chas (Nimrod), you know what I mean? The young receivers are going to continue to get better. They’ve played important roles on special teams, have made plays. Kaleb was involved in a fake punt stop and picks up a touchdown a couple plays later (against UTSA) so feel good about all those guys and their continued development.”
On if Dont’e Thornton is settling in
“He is, absolutely. There’s consistency in some of the things that he can continue to grow in. Love his demeanor, effort, energy, focus, preparation, all that stuff.”
On having the 1998 National Championship team back this week
“Really, it’s special to have an opportunity to have all those guys back here. Coach Fulmer and those guys have an opportunity to remember and tell a bunch of stories on Friday night. I think they have a social gathering, and then obviously for everybody that’s in the stadium and those watching from Vol Nation, an opportunity to remember and look back on that special season and those guys, too. They’re a huge part of our history, our tradition. It’s been fun for me over the last two and a half years getting to know all of those guys. It’s a special group, they’re still extremely close. Should be a really fun weekend for those guys here Friday and Saturday.”
On the challenge South Carolina presents on special teams
“I think they’re aggressive on special teams, so you have to anticipate. You have to have your eyes on your keys and be ready to play ball. Those are the things that you work every single week, because you don’t know when it’s going to get called from the other side of it. For us, we need to win special teams. The field position battle will be important, and this changes the way the game is played offensively and defensively. We have to do a really good job.”
On any prior relationships with the 1998 national championship players from before he got to Tennessee
“I probably was not as highly recruited as most of those guys were, so a little bit different. The ’98 group, know of them and knew a couple of them, but for me it has been awesome. Just because as you are playing college football, you know who all of those guys are, so getting an opportunity to know them — Al Wilson’s celebration into the College Football Hall of Fame. A bunch of those guys were all back. I had a chance to spend time in the spring and get a chance to see some of those that I had not met when they came back for his event during the course of the season as well. Those guys are hugely important to our program, in the past and in the present too. Those guys still live in in our footprint and are a part of our recruiting too. It has been fun to get to know those guys.”
On Tyler Baron being more consistent
“Tyler Baron, I just think his continued growth as a person, his consistency, his work habits, and being completely healthy. When we first got here, he was a guy who was coming off of a shoulder surgery. His continued growth fundamentally has allowed him to absolutely be playing his best football that he has in his career. He is doing a great job getting off of the football. He has been violent and disruptive. He is playing with his hands extremely well. His versatility, his ability to play outside and then when we go rabbits (package), be inside and play at a really high level in both of those positions. Him embracing those types of things too has been critical in what he is doing right now.”
On Cooper Mays status
“Practiced really well. Like those others guys that I talked about, we will ensure that through tomorrow and then game day that they are ready to go compete at the level that you need to in this one. South Carolina is big, strong, physical, explosive up front. Hopefully we will have him locked and loaded and ready to roll.”
