VOL REPORT: Tennessee is Ready for its Sixth-Ranked Opponent of 2018

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Vols continued to work hard ahead of Saturday's contest against No. 11 Kentucky as they wrapped up practice on Wednesday night at Haslam Field.

"Our guys have continued to work hard. It's been several weeks in a row that I feel like we've improved at practice," head coach Jeremy Pruitt said. "There's been lots of competition, still good on good, which has given us an opportunity to improve."

For the first time since 1977, the Vols will face a ranked Kentucky team. That year the Wildcats were ranked No. 7 and Tennessee is 3-2 all-time against ranked Kentucky teams.

The Wildcats are the sixth opponent the Vols will face that is currently in the College Football Playoff Top 25 Rankings – the most of any team in the country.

"They're going to be very well coached and hard-nosed," said Pruitt. "He (Mark Stoops) does a fantastic job evaluating talent. They have a lot experience. They start 15 seniors, you can see it on both sides of the ball. They're tough, they're physical, they can run the football offensively. They have a very athletic quarterback. It seems like some of these guys have been playing forever. They have playmakers on the outside."

Wood-Anderson Making Progress
Junior tight-end Dominick Wood-Anderson finished Saturday's game against Charlotte with three key catches for 53 yards and Pruitt is impressed with his progression.

"He's improving as a blocker," said Pruitt. "He's always had really good skills as a wide receiver, but with all that, there's a learning curve. I think that the longer he's here, the more knowledge he'll get, the more confidence he'll get, and he'll probably be able to be more of a weapon for us."

For the season Wood-Anderson has 10 catches for 180 yards and a touchdown. He also sees time at fullback for the Vols.

Salute to Service
This weekend will be Tennessee Athletics "Salute to Service" weekend starting this Friday with the National Gold Memorial through Sunday. The Gold Star Memorial titled, "Remembering Our Fallen," features 31 towers with more than 5,000 photos and will be on display at the UT pedestrian walkway between Hodges Library and Clarence Brown Theater from this evening until Sunday afternoon. The memorial honors our nation's fallen since 9/11. There will be a wreath laying ceremony open to the public on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Seats for Service Members
Fans now can team-up with Tennessee Athletics to help East Tennessee service members, veterans and their families enjoy a game in Neyland Stadium by contributing to the purchase of a ticket for a service member. Just $35 purchases a single ticket, and contributions of any amount will be combined to purchase seats. Tennessee Athletics will match every ticket purchased for the Kentucky game, up to 750 tickets. Tickets to the Tennessee-Kentucky football game on Nov. 10 will be donated directly to 10 local and state military and veterans' organizations that Tennessee Athletics has identified as longstanding partners (the same was done for the UTEP game on Sept. 15). Fans interested in contributing to "Seats for a Service Members" are encouraged to call 1-800-332-VOLS.

Tennessee Athletics does not facilitate individual requests for tickets. Rather, tickets are distributed directly to UTAD partner organizations.

University of Tennessee Athletics

VOL REPORT: Tennessee is Ready for its Sixth-Ranked Opponent of 2018

Players Mentioned

Dominick Wood-Anderson

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