Vol Report: Seniors Looking to Finish Strong vs. In-State Rival Vanderbilt

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee players Micah Abernathy, Colton Jumper, Brandon Johnson and Aaron Medley met with the media for one of the final times this season on Tuesday afternoon in the Ray and Lucy Hand Digital Studio.

Vols Extremely Motivated to Finish Strong

A common theme among them was wanting to close out the 2017 season on a high note by defeating in-state rival Vanderbilt after the Commodores spoiled the Vols' regular-season finale last year in Nashville.

"We took a tough loss last year," Johnson said. "Like our coaches have said, we shouldn't need any more motivation than it already is. It's Vanderbilt. We already know what it is. They don't like us, so we just have to go in there and handle our business."

"It's a big game for us," Jumper added. "It's our last game, and it is a rivalry game. It is always in the back of our mind that they had our number last year."

Another motivating factor for Team 121 this Saturday afternoon will be sending the team's 22 seniors out as winners.

"It's a lot of things, but it's mainly about Kendal Vickers, Emmanuel Moseley, Elliot Berry, guys like that that are seniors," Abernathy said in regards to the team's motivation to get a win this weekend. "We're really playing for them. Those are some of my best friends, so I'm trying to send them off right."

One Last Time for the Seniors

For the 22 seniors on Team 121, Saturday will mark their final game at Neyland Stadium, and the last game of their football careers for some. Jumper and Medley were asked during today's media availability if that fact had started to sink in yet.

"I think as we get going in practice throughout the week and going through everything one last time it will hit closer to time," Medley said.

Jumper said he is trying not to think about that and instead wants to focus on enjoying this final week with his teammates.

"It could be the last time I play football, so I am really trying to enjoy this last week, and especially this last game."

Senior Day Festivities

Fans are encouraged to be in their seats early to watch Tennessee's senior run through the T one last time. The on field Senior Day recognition will begin at 3:45 p.m. Saturday's Vol Walk will begin at 1:45 p.m.

2017 Senior Class

Scholarship Seniors
#41 LB Elliott Berry
#29 RS/DB Evan Berry
#93 P Trevor Daniel
#19 WR Jeff George
#44 TE Jakob Johnson
#66 OL Jack Jones
#53 LB Colton Jumper
#63 OL Brett Kendrick
#8 DB Justin Martin
#20 LB Cortez McDowell
#25 PK Aaron Medley
#12 EB Emmanuel Moseley
#75 OL Jashon Robertson
#25 WR Josh Smith
#55 OL Coleman Thomas
#39 DT Kendal Vickers
#6 DB Shaq Wiggins
#82 TE Ethan Wolf

Walk-Ons
#87 WR Logan Fetzner
#37 PK Holden Foster
#31 H Parker Henry
#85 WR Thomas Orradre

University of Tennessee Athletics