University of Tennessee Athletics
Photo by: Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
Coordinators, Captains Preview Citrus Bowl Matchup
December 29, 2023 | Football
ORLANDO – Prior to Friday's practice in Orlando, the Citrus Bowl hosted coordinators and captains for a press conference to preview the Jan. 1 matchup between No. 21 Tennessee and No. 17 Iowa. Senior linebacker Aaron Beasley and senior center Cooper Mays joined defensive coordinator Tim Banks and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle at the Rosen Plaza Hotel to address media members ahead of Monday's postseason contest.
"Super excited to be here," Banks said in his opening remarks. "We want to thank the Citrus Bowl for having us. I can tell you our families and all the players are having a tremendous time here in Florida, in Orlando. We are thankful for this opportunity, and we are definitely looking forward to taking on a really good Iowa team this Monday."
Banks spoke to the opportunities available for several underclassmen in the secondary that will see a jump in playing time at Camping World Stadium. He expressed confidence in the young players and looks forward to watching them perform against the 2023 Big Ten West champions.
"We are super happy for the guys that are here," Banks said. "There are going to be great opportunities, some guys that have played some, some guys that have not played at all. But, at the end of the day, we believe in the standard being the standard regardless of who is out there."
Gearing up for his 56th and final career game for the Big Orange, Beasley showed gratitude for his time donning the Orange and White and showed leadership when asked what he can do to help the young secondary in the bowl game.
"Honestly, I am trying to be in the moment," Beasley said. "I am trying not to think about (it being my last game) too much. I love playing for this university, and I love playing for the T. I am going to enjoy every last minute I have doing it.
"I would just say communicate, communicate well with (the young DBs)," Beasley said. "Making sure we are talking pre-snap before the play happens and making sure we are on the same page."
Halzle fielded numerous questions regarding freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who was announced as the starter for the Citrus Bowl earlier this week. He has been impressed with the rookie during bowl prep as the Vols are set to face one of the top defenses in the country, and has challenged him to go into the game with a level-headed mindset.
"Yeah, it is not a tune-up game for a starter," Halzle said. "This is a kid making his first start against one of the best defenses in all of college football. I do not think you can go into it thinking differently.
"You have to go take what is there, whatever they are presenting to it, you have to go take advantage of it. You are still going to have to push the ball down the field. You are going to have to take check downs when they present. We are going to have to run the football well. Football is still football at the end of the game. We have to block well. We have to tackle well. We have to catch, throw. We have to do all that type of stuff."
Halzle and Mays both praised the rookie's maturity as he takes the reins of Tennessee's offensive unit. One year after participating in Orange Bowl practices last December as an early enrollee, Iamaleava has honed his ability to read defenses and developed chemistry with the starters during Citrus Bowl prep.
"He has been the guy all throughout Bowl prep," Mays said. "He has done well for himself. Like Coach said, he does not really handle himself like a young guy. We have had a few weeks here to gel and come up and give him a chance to get ready for the game. He has done a really good job, and he has done the best he can with it."
Halzle also shared a meaningful statement on departing redshirt senior signal caller Joe Milton III, who announced Wednesday his intentions to declare for the NFL Draft and opt out of the bowl game. Milton traveled to Orlando with the team and has been present throughout bowl practices to help the Vols prepare for the Hawkeyes.
"(Joe) is leaving on his way out, doing everything he can to make sure that Nico is as prepared and as ready as he can, giving him insight," Halzle remarked. "I cannot say enough positive things about that guy, man. He has been a great, what a VFL stands for; that is what I can say about him. He is just a big-time guy. Good character. Great, great ball for us, and I think the Tennessee fan base should be really appreciative of his three years here at the university."
Video of Friday's press conference can be viewed below, while a full transcript can be downloaded HERE. The Vols will practice on Saturday at UCF, and it is open to the public.
"Super excited to be here," Banks said in his opening remarks. "We want to thank the Citrus Bowl for having us. I can tell you our families and all the players are having a tremendous time here in Florida, in Orlando. We are thankful for this opportunity, and we are definitely looking forward to taking on a really good Iowa team this Monday."
Banks spoke to the opportunities available for several underclassmen in the secondary that will see a jump in playing time at Camping World Stadium. He expressed confidence in the young players and looks forward to watching them perform against the 2023 Big Ten West champions.
"We are super happy for the guys that are here," Banks said. "There are going to be great opportunities, some guys that have played some, some guys that have not played at all. But, at the end of the day, we believe in the standard being the standard regardless of who is out there."
Gearing up for his 56th and final career game for the Big Orange, Beasley showed gratitude for his time donning the Orange and White and showed leadership when asked what he can do to help the young secondary in the bowl game.
"Honestly, I am trying to be in the moment," Beasley said. "I am trying not to think about (it being my last game) too much. I love playing for this university, and I love playing for the T. I am going to enjoy every last minute I have doing it.
"I would just say communicate, communicate well with (the young DBs)," Beasley said. "Making sure we are talking pre-snap before the play happens and making sure we are on the same page."
Halzle fielded numerous questions regarding freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who was announced as the starter for the Citrus Bowl earlier this week. He has been impressed with the rookie during bowl prep as the Vols are set to face one of the top defenses in the country, and has challenged him to go into the game with a level-headed mindset.
"Yeah, it is not a tune-up game for a starter," Halzle said. "This is a kid making his first start against one of the best defenses in all of college football. I do not think you can go into it thinking differently.
"You have to go take what is there, whatever they are presenting to it, you have to go take advantage of it. You are still going to have to push the ball down the field. You are going to have to take check downs when they present. We are going to have to run the football well. Football is still football at the end of the game. We have to block well. We have to tackle well. We have to catch, throw. We have to do all that type of stuff."
Halzle and Mays both praised the rookie's maturity as he takes the reins of Tennessee's offensive unit. One year after participating in Orange Bowl practices last December as an early enrollee, Iamaleava has honed his ability to read defenses and developed chemistry with the starters during Citrus Bowl prep.
"He has been the guy all throughout Bowl prep," Mays said. "He has done well for himself. Like Coach said, he does not really handle himself like a young guy. We have had a few weeks here to gel and come up and give him a chance to get ready for the game. He has done a really good job, and he has done the best he can with it."
Halzle also shared a meaningful statement on departing redshirt senior signal caller Joe Milton III, who announced Wednesday his intentions to declare for the NFL Draft and opt out of the bowl game. Milton traveled to Orlando with the team and has been present throughout bowl practices to help the Vols prepare for the Hawkeyes.
"(Joe) is leaving on his way out, doing everything he can to make sure that Nico is as prepared and as ready as he can, giving him insight," Halzle remarked. "I cannot say enough positive things about that guy, man. He has been a great, what a VFL stands for; that is what I can say about him. He is just a big-time guy. Good character. Great, great ball for us, and I think the Tennessee fan base should be really appreciative of his three years here at the university."
Video of Friday's press conference can be viewed below, while a full transcript can be downloaded HERE. The Vols will practice on Saturday at UCF, and it is open to the public.
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