With 11 workouts under their belt, Tennessee had the linebackers unit meet with the media on Tuesday morning in Knoxville.
The Vols will have two more practices on campus this week before the 2024 Orange & White spring game is played this Saturday afternoon in a limited-capacity Neyland Stadium. Tennessee has had nine practices and two scrimmages from the slate so far.
New linebackers coach William Inge met with the media for the first time during spring camp and was followed by three players from his position room: Jeremiah Telander, Kalib Perry, and returning veteran Keenan “Uncle Grandpa” Pili.
Pili, a transfer from BYU before the 2023 season, suffered a season-ending injury early into his first season with the Vols. While that frustration and pain of missing the season was certainly a dagger, the injury gave him a medical redshirt for one last year in college football. Pili spoke about his recovery from the injury, the joy he has just being out of the field again, his first impressions of Coach Inge, and the origin of the soon-to-be infamous Uncle Grandpa nickname that has come up this spring.
“That probably means Coach Inge came in here at some point,” Pili said when asked about his new nickname. “Yeah, man, I accepted my role. I just laugh about it. Obviously, I’m older and it’s kind of the joke of the room because we also have a heavily younger-sided room. So it’s funny seeing those dynamics.”
Tennessee also had a pair of defensive linemen in Jayson Jenkings and Daevin Hobbs speak with the media on practice on Tuesday.
More from RTI: Tennessee Football Notes And Observations: Spring Practice No. 11
Check out all five interviews below:
Tennessee LB Keenan Pili
Tennessee LB Jeremiah Telander
Tennessee LB Kalib Perry
Tennessee DL Daevin Hobbs
Tennessee DL Jayson Jenkins
