University of Tennessee Athletics
#SECMD21: What They're Saying
July 20, 2021 | Football
HOOVER, Ala. — The 2021 SEC Media Days continued on Tuesday, as first-year head coach Josh Heupel, senior defensive back Alontae Taylor and senior wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. took the stage at the Hyatt Regency Wynfrey Hotel. Tennessee's representatives spent the day visiting with members of the local, regional and national media to preview the upcoming season.
The Heupel era gets underway Thursday night, September 2, when the Vols host Bowling Green at Neyland Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m., and the game will be televised on SEC Network.
it's about 𝕥𝕠 𝕘𝕠 𝕕𝕠𝕨𝕟 🍊#SECMD21 pic.twitter.com/GawGsxxtcF
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) July 20, 2021
Psalm 9:1 🙏🏽 | Ready to talk ball! #SECMD21 #GBO #VFL pic.twitter.com/pQcES6e4D5
— Alontae Taylor (@taeetaylor) July 20, 2021
"No better place to build your brand than in Knoxville, Tennessee."#SECMD21
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) July 20, 2021
📺 @SECNetwork
📲 https://t.co/iG1YisJBL4 pic.twitter.com/l55X1krqx4
⚡️1⃣⚡️#GBO x #SECMD21 pic.twitter.com/C8VCCztVwc
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) July 20, 2021
Truly blessed to represent my beautiful University and football program at SEC Media Day!🙏🏾
— Velus Jones Jr.⚡️ (@VelusJr) July 20, 2021
Humble > Hype @taeetaylor x #SECMD21 pic.twitter.com/e6BdXJ6RWR
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) July 20, 2021
Have you ever wrote down a dream of yours and it came true? Yeah, mine came true by being selected to represent this great University and Football Program! 🍊 #VFL #GBO #SECMD21
— Alontae Taylor (@taeetaylor) July 19, 2021
Clocking in. #SECMD21 pic.twitter.com/OtTTpm6lZM
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) July 20, 2021
Great tradition with a new-age approach.#SECMD21
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) July 20, 2021
📺 @SECNetwork
📲 https://t.co/iG1YisJBL4 pic.twitter.com/3GMUKvP5zG
Inside-out. And expand the footprint.#SECMD21
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) July 20, 2021
📺 @SECNetwork
📲 https://t.co/iG1YisJBL4 pic.twitter.com/Bj3txWdtgJ
Josh Heupel making his #SECMediaDays debut.
— Madison Blevins (@Madison4Blevins) July 20, 2021
"It's been great connecting with the community in Knoxville." #Vols pic.twitter.com/hv9b5L14PF
Coach Heupel: "We want to be innovative, but we want to have fun."
— David Schiele WBIR (@Deacon_Schiele) July 20, 2021
This team played dodgeball and kickball after workouts/practices. They also had a crawfish broil. Sounds like fun to me.
#Vols Velus Jones Jr. says after workouts, players don't leave the locker room until an hour after because they're just hanging out. "At the end of the day, it's about brotherhood."
— Emily Proud (@emily_proud) July 20, 2021
Josh Heupel has emphasized team connection and it sounds like mission accomplished.
Velus Jones Jr. on Heupel:
— Kellyanne Stitts (@KellyanneStitts) July 20, 2021
he has an amazing personality. He's a real open guy I feel comfortable coming to him. He's always around us, whether it's tossing the ball around or coming into the weight room asking about our personal guys. #Vols
Alontae Taylor on meeting Josh Heupel:
— Eric Cain (@_Cainer) July 20, 2021
"He told us that it takes actions and not just words. He's shown us that since he's been here." #Vols #SECMD21
Alontae Taylor speaking with the media now.
— Madison Blevins (@Madison4Blevins) July 20, 2021
"I'm really excited about 102,000 fans back in Neyland Stadium this season." #Vols pic.twitter.com/vskfs8GuGr
Alontae Taylor explains why he never considered leaving Tennessee this offseason:
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) July 20, 2021
"Tennessee is home to me. I wanted to represent my state… this is where I'm supposed to be. Being a leader on this team and at this university was huge to me." pic.twitter.com/eex2xE2nhJ
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel: "We want to be innovative and we want to have fun. I believe in the player experience."
— David Ubben (@davidubben) July 20, 2021
Josh Heupel:
— Eric Cain (@_Cainer) July 20, 2021
"We want to play fast and physical. We want to be fast in how we play. We have got to put the kids in position and let them go play." #Vols #SECMD21
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel: "You look at the last three National Championships offensively, every team averaged over 520 yards on offense." In past 5 years as UCF's coach & Missouri's OC, Heupel's teams have ranked No. 2, 2, 5, 8 & 13 nationally in total offense
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 20, 2021
Josh Heupel on new-age approach:
— Kellyanne Stitts (@KellyanneStitts) July 20, 2021
Creating positive momentum that surrounds our program. We want to create a positive player experience from the moment they step on campus until they're done and have a relationship after. #Vols
Signing off from #SECMD21! pic.twitter.com/vLt5o6N67w
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) July 20, 2021
