Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel met with the media on Monday morning following the Vols’ second scrimmage of spring practice.
The Vols worked at Neyland Stadium for the second spring scrimmage and are less than a week away from the 2025 Orange-and-White game.
Following the scrimmage, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel discussed the receiver room being low on numbers, the development of the young players on the roster and much more. Here’s everything Heupel said.
More From RTI: Former Tennessee Lineman To Serve As Vol Network Color Commentator Starting This Season
Opening Statement
“Good work this morning. Got some situational football in as well, some things to clean up from. Defense, one defense in particular, I thought had a really good day. Started really fast offensively. Some things we got to clean up just on execution and communication, but a lot of good work.”
On if Tennessee made progress in pre-snap areas since the first scrimmage last week
“Yeah, just both sides of the ball, a few more penalties than we had in scrimmage one. We got to play smarter, play cleaner, that was true offensively, but on the defensive side of the ball as well, that continued to grow in the way that we play.”
On Tennessee trying to get in scrimmage work with players missing due to injury, trying to maximize the opportunities
“The game hasn’t changed. You got to be physical, you got to play with alignment and technique. You got to play assignment sound. So we’ve tried to balance that throughout the course of the spring. But at some point you got to get the work that you need to grow as a team too. So on days like today we’ve placed an emphasis on that.”
On the progress of running back Peyton Lewis in spring
“Peyton’s had a great spring. He’s got a lot more comfort and understanding in the scope of what we’re doing. It should be that way in year two. He grew throughout the course of last year, too. But he’s done a really, really good job. That’s with the ball in his hands, but it’s also playing without the ball. All those running backs have done a good job of growing throughout the first, I don’t know, we’re past the halfway point at this point.
But have really grown fundamentally in playing without the football. Nd they’ve all continued to take strides and understanding of what we’re doing in particular with the young guys. A lot of good competition in that room.”
On what he liked about Tennessee’s execution on offense
“No, just defensively, started fast today. I thought they played extremely well early in the scrimmage. Offensively, some execution that we got up. And that’s guys that, our skill players out on the perimeter or with some of our protection stuff too. All in all, there’s some things that we got to do a better level with today.”
On if young players that will have to play next season for Tennessee understand the urgency needed during spring practice
“Well, they get the urgency of the competition. Grade those guys every day. Certainly understand that you don’t put put the Tennessee helmet on and positive things happen for you on game day. This is a game where you got to go make it happen. All those guys are in the growth. And talking about the young guys in particular, there’s not an end destination man. It’s a journey to continue to grow, to be the player that you need. And then to operate, 11 guys operating as one — offense, defense and on special teams too. We’re long ways from kickoff. We got a chance to be a good team, but we gotta, we got to continue to grow.”
On how Boo Carter has handled working on both offense and defense during spring practice
“When you do that, there’s a whole other workload load that that you got to take on. Because you got to understand what’s going on on both sides of football. And he’s done a really good job. Spent a lot of extra time in here learning what we’re doing offensively, being able to handle the structure of the offense. We’re intentional on what positions we’re putting him in during the course of practice, today during the scrimmage and trying to manage that side of it. He’s worked hard. And you can look at him as a punt returner to see the skillset when he has the ball in his hands that he’s got a chance to be a dynamic playmaker.”
On how he’d assess his quarterbacks, particularly their deep ball accuracy
“Couple plays down the field that I really liked. We got us a four minute situation. There’s some things that we can clean up in the operation of that. That’s the first time that they’ve had that season, this spring. And all in all there’s some real positive, but there’s some things that we got clean up and that’s all guys that are in the room”
On the offensive line performance, assessing that rebuilt group
“Yeah, I like where the group’s going. There’s competition. They understand that. Day in and day out what’s going on on the practice field and how they’re getting graded. Today, I thought there were times that we executed well in the run game. I don’t think it was a complete day where we executed at the level that we’re capable of as an entire unit the entire day.”
On the growth of young receivers, their performance during the scrimmage
“Those guys have been really consistent as far as what we’re getting out of them on the practice field, in the meeting room. You see them continuing to take strides. I thought they both performed really well today. Talking about the two new young guys that were in that room.”
On where the young defensive backs progressed the most from scrimmage one to scrimmage two
“Yeah, you know, for me, I think after watching it I’ll have a better understanding of their overall performance throughout the course of the day. Fundamentally and within the scope of their technique and scheme, they’ve continued to take strides and you can see that in our 11-on-11, but you can see it in some of our group work. Where we’re working those fundamental technique as well. It’s a talented group, it’s long, it’s athletic, just got to continue to grow as a player before we get to the fall.”
On Mike Matthews, Chris Brazzell and Braylon Staley
“Braylon wasn’t going today. I thought the other two guys did a good job in the scope of what we were doing offensively. They’ve been consistent in making plays day in, day out on the practice field and for them it’s just constant growth as far as within the scope of what we’re doing. The fundamentals and technique, learning how to attack defenders, reading zone, man and ultimately get on the same page with the quarterback.”
On if he has any concerns about the number of receivers they have
“You want to come try out here? Listen, you know, ultimately it’s always about the guys in the room. You know, a year ago we had some guys that parted through the transfer portal. Hard to keep everybody happy at that position. I love the group that we got. As a staff you always evaluate where you’re at on the back end of spring ball and we’ll certainly do that, but I do really like the guys that we got in there. How they work, how they compete, how they’re trying to grow. That’s on the practice field, it’s outside of it. Like what they’ve done through the course spring ball too.”
On the trend of schools eliminating spring games
“Yeah, for us it’s a third opportunity to play football on a game day-like situation. I think it’s really important for the young guys, they get a chance to go out and perform in front of people and just a part of the growth for them as we get ready for kickoff next fall. So I’m looking forward to seeing a huge crowd. I’m not sure what we’re limited to because of construction, but expect that thing to be packed out, which should be a beautiful today and I look forward to seeing our fans.”
On if the format will be the same as past years
“Yeah, relatively. I mean there might be a few subtle tweaks to it, but yes.”
