University of Tennessee Athletics
Three UK Game Week Quotables From Tennessee Players
October 14, 2020 | Football
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee football returns to Neyland Stadium this Saturday as the 17th-ranked Vols (2-1) seek to bounce back against Kentucky (1-2) at noon ET. Here are three takeaways from the Vols' student-athlete media availability held on Tuesday.
1. The emergence of Josh Palmer as a go-to playmakerÂ
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One of the biggest question marks entering the 2020 season was how would Tennessee replace the production of wide receivers Jauan Jennings (San Francisco 49ers) and Marquez Callaway (New Orleans Saints), who went onto NFL careers. That  question has been answered through three games led by the outstanding play of senior Josh Palmer. The 6-foot-2 Palmer leads the Vols in catches (14), receiving yards (227) and receiving touchdowns (3). He ranks fifth in the SEC in TD catches. Palmer had three touchdowns during his first three seasons combined (2017-19).
"It's awesome. He works hard every day. To see him have success out there on the field and see him make plays that he makes in practice all the time, it's great. You can't ask for anything else. It's awesome to watch him do that. I'm really happy for him."
 - R-Sr. WR Brandon JohnsonÂ
2. Offensive line bouncing backÂ
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Despite its struggles against a talented Georgia defensive front last Saturday, Tennessee's offensive line is experienced and powerful and their confidence remains high.Â
"I still believe our offensive line is one of the best offensive lines in the country no matter what. So, I believe we definitely should have some success running the ball. ... It starts with practice, and it starts with going hard and making sure we are on the same page in practice, and make sure we're all going hard so we can see the holes the line creates. We are not going against the ones a lot. We are going against the scout team, so we just got to make sure we are doing everything right and doing everything hard."
- So. RB Eric GrayÂ
3. Preparing for Kentucky's effective run-heavy offenseÂ
Kentucky enters the contest with the SEC's No. 1 rushing offense, averaging 212.3 yards per game, which is 20 yards better than second place. The Wildcats rank in the top 20 nationally in that category. Tennessee has surrendered an average of 136 yards per game on the ground through three contests.Â
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"It's actually a little bit more different than you think just because although they have a good running back who has racked up a lot of yards in his career. They also have a quarterback, just like last year, who can run the ball – who's fast, athletic, can run the ball, pass the ball a little bit as well. I would say in some ways we take the same approach as we did last year, as a defensive line being able to plug those interior gaps, get off blocks, to set edges and have contain, and just be ready to run for sure because if you can bounce it outside the sideline is our friend (to help) make those tackles just like we did a good bit last year and like we want to do every game because it's the SEC. It's a run first league."
- Sr. DE Matthew ButlerÂ
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1. The emergence of Josh Palmer as a go-to playmakerÂ
  Â
One of the biggest question marks entering the 2020 season was how would Tennessee replace the production of wide receivers Jauan Jennings (San Francisco 49ers) and Marquez Callaway (New Orleans Saints), who went onto NFL careers. That  question has been answered through three games led by the outstanding play of senior Josh Palmer. The 6-foot-2 Palmer leads the Vols in catches (14), receiving yards (227) and receiving touchdowns (3). He ranks fifth in the SEC in TD catches. Palmer had three touchdowns during his first three seasons combined (2017-19).
"It's awesome. He works hard every day. To see him have success out there on the field and see him make plays that he makes in practice all the time, it's great. You can't ask for anything else. It's awesome to watch him do that. I'm really happy for him."
 - R-Sr. WR Brandon JohnsonÂ
2. Offensive line bouncing backÂ
   Â
Despite its struggles against a talented Georgia defensive front last Saturday, Tennessee's offensive line is experienced and powerful and their confidence remains high.Â
"I still believe our offensive line is one of the best offensive lines in the country no matter what. So, I believe we definitely should have some success running the ball. ... It starts with practice, and it starts with going hard and making sure we are on the same page in practice, and make sure we're all going hard so we can see the holes the line creates. We are not going against the ones a lot. We are going against the scout team, so we just got to make sure we are doing everything right and doing everything hard."
- So. RB Eric GrayÂ
3. Preparing for Kentucky's effective run-heavy offenseÂ
Kentucky enters the contest with the SEC's No. 1 rushing offense, averaging 212.3 yards per game, which is 20 yards better than second place. The Wildcats rank in the top 20 nationally in that category. Tennessee has surrendered an average of 136 yards per game on the ground through three contests.Â
    Â
"It's actually a little bit more different than you think just because although they have a good running back who has racked up a lot of yards in his career. They also have a quarterback, just like last year, who can run the ball – who's fast, athletic, can run the ball, pass the ball a little bit as well. I would say in some ways we take the same approach as we did last year, as a defensive line being able to plug those interior gaps, get off blocks, to set edges and have contain, and just be ready to run for sure because if you can bounce it outside the sideline is our friend (to help) make those tackles just like we did a good bit last year and like we want to do every game because it's the SEC. It's a run first league."
- Sr. DE Matthew ButlerÂ
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