#7/6 Vols Geared Up For Homecoming Tilt vs. Mississippi State

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — As No. 7/6 Tennessee readies for its Nov. 9 Homecoming showdown with Mississippi State (7 p.m. on ESPN), both sides of the ball are focused on fine-tuning key areas for the season's final stretch.

In Tuesday's post-practice media session, second-year tight ends coach Alec Abeln discussed the implementation and development of Tennessee's two-tight end sets. The Vols have used '12 personnel' to their advantage in the run game and pass protection to provide extra stability and balance for the Tennessee offense.

"Depending on how we were able to handle (two-tight end sets) through spring and through fall camp would dictate how it grew," Abeln said. "I think it's something where each year you have a different identity, with not only what you're seeing but also what's successful for you and what you're able to do. It's been really good for us. You don't go into the year with anticipation that this will be the lead call. A lot of the times, it unfolds as the year goes."

Defensively, linebackers coach William Inge is pushing his unit to elevate its play, especially in creating game-changing opportunities during a crucial November slate.

"Once you get into November, you are playing the games you want to remember," Inge explained. "Us being able to take the next steps is just us continuing to do everything we can within the constraints of our defense when it comes to driving everyone and making sure all 11 players are on the same page. Making our plays at the point of attack, and we have to continue to find ways to create game-changing plays."

Full comments from Abeln and Inge can be viewed below, along with select quotes from sophomore defensive lineman Daevin Hobbs, senior offensive lineman Cooper Mays and senior defensive lineman Omari Thomas.

Tennessee Football Press Conference | Nov. 5, 2024

Tight Ends Coach Alec Abeln

On what Miles Kitselman has done to find success this season…
"First things first, the kid just loves playing football. Usually when you have that, the rest falls into place. Just an unbelievable work ethic, unbelievable amount of prep he puts in each week. Getting to see him make the most of the opportunity Saturday was cool."

On Kitselman's alertness during his touchdown against Kentucky…
"He was just being a ball player. The tight zone played out totally different than we expected than what's on tape and really three years of going against that defense. Honestly, it was a dead play, but those two guys (Kitselman and Nico Iamaleava) just made it right. It was special. I was up in the box when it happened, and we were losing our minds. Pretty cool."

On how effective the two tight end sets have been…
"I knew there was a chance. Depending on how we were able to handle it through spring and through fall camp would dictate how it grew. I think it's something where each year you have a different identity, with not only what you're seeing but also what's successful for you and what you're able to do. It's been really good for us. You don't go into the year with anticipation that this will be the lead call. A lot of the times, it unfolds as the year goes."

On what it means to have Jeff Saturday praising the clip of Holden Staes blocking down the field…
"The offensive lineman in me kind of resists any national media attention at times. Those guys have bought into playing physical, playing tough and being a difference in the run game from day one. It's an unselfish job, and it's something that guys grow and learn to love. I think this group really has grown to love that part of the game. It is certainly cool. I think we all understand that there's a lot more work to be done, and that there's another level even to what Saturday was."

On the importance of blocking in the tight end role as the position trends more towards receiving now…
"We talk about it all the time. With the mindset of your opponent, you have a chance to affect the way the game is played with your physicality. When you're a dual-threat guy the way our guys are, it just makes you that much more valuable. There's a lot of offensive systems where the tight end is a glorified slot receiver. The reality is, if you want to play at the next level, there are a handful of guys that get away with being that mold of tight end, but the guys that really last and have long careers are the guys who can put their hand in the dirt, can get after you in the run game and can be really solid in protection. I think all of the guys see that and understand that's what the position is at its core. Making plays on top of that is a bonus."

Linebackers Coach William Inge

On how much the younger guys have had to grow up after the recent injuries...
"Well, the one thing that we are doing in our program, it's going to be all about growth and leadership, and seeing them come to the fight and come to the battle. In a sense, moving from the middle, where they were, to now they are in the front. We definitely have been pleased with them, but the one thing they have always asked and talked about is they want to have expanded roles. Seeing them come in with expanded roles and doing the things they are supposed to do when it comes to driving the defense and being the leaders of the defense, making the plays they are supposed to make, we definitely have been pleased with the guys thus far."

On Keenan Pili's ability to be a coach off of the field after the injury...
"That's what you want from a parent and a leader. Even though the leader may not be able to participate, their influence is still felt in the room, and for me, that's exactly what I challenged him with, literally from that very day. Even though you may not be here participating, your mark will still be felt on our football team, on our defense and in our room. He has been able to do that, and I think the guys have really been looking forward to having conversations with him because he will send them notes and messages on things he has been seeing from his preparation watching film as well."

On Jalen Smith's recent play and what he needs to improve this month...
"The one thing we have really liked about Jalen is he has been consistent. He's been someone who has been very eager to learn. He's understood the system and the things that he's had to do, and probably even more from a preparation standpoint. I think that's the biggest thing he's really had to do is turn over the elements of preparation and know exactly what the preparation elements look like. Seeing him do that, and grasp, in a sense, both positions. I think we definitely have been very pleased with him. Things we need him to continue to do is continue to take that on from a leadership standpoint. From my perspective, him being more vocal because he is a very humble and quiet person by nature. Well as a linebacker, you have to know that the show doesn't start until you arrive, and everyone has to know that you are there. From a vocal standpoint, we need him to continue to emerge and be able to speak more."

On how Jeremiah Telander has done with taking over Keenan Pili's responsibilities...
"He represents exactly what you want in the Power T, which is exactly his nickname. Seeing him emerge and come in and drive everyone and applying all of his skills and duties that he needs to have at the MIKE linebacker position. It's been great seeing him emerge and do that. Now the one thing that you need him to continue to do is just more from a vocal standpoint. Continue to be a vocal leader and continue to develop the vocal leadership skills. The one thing that time has always shown us, the best teacher is experience, so seeing him get the experience from the last two games, he's come light years ahead of where he was two weeks ago. So, we know we just have to continue to stay on the learning curve progression. He's going to continue to get better week in and week out, day in and day out."

On getting ready for an up-tempo offense and how practicing against your own guys helps...
"That's the new wave of college football, and I would say for us probably the one advantage of being in the SEC, when you're in probably the best and the most premier conference in the country, where you are going to see a lot of different elements of football. It's great we get to work against tempo and against our offense, but also there are things you have to be able to do from a day-to-day basis just being able to play in the SEC. That's kind of one of things we always talk about on our end. There are things we have to do daily, weekly and monthly because you know you are going to be able to see them in the SEC. Us being able to go against a, quote-unquote, mirror image of our offense is something that definitely prepares you, but the one thing that we know is the one greatest preparation is when you have the opportunity to go there and get the experience. We have goals and things that we want to make sure we do when it comes to tempo. The biggest thing we have to do is kind of speed up our cycle of the snap progression, to make sure we can have our cleats in the ground, our eyes on the keys and you are ready when the ball is snapped."

On Jeremiah Telander's nickname being "Power T"...
"Well it came from the room. He has had a couple of different nicknames. I can't tell you all of them, but just know we landed on Power T. It was Iced Tea because we're down here in the South."

On Jeremiah Telander's fumble recovery vs. Kentucky and how it feels as a coach when his players make plays...
"Those are things you have to do just, quote-unquote, in football. Someone has to always be ready. There are three things that we have to be able to do. Number one is to provide the winning edge, number two is to create game-changing plays and number three is be at your best when it counts the most. If you could just manage and maximize those three things and be consistent at them, success will find you. All (Jeremiah Telander) was doing was going to attack and going to do his job. Doing his job, the ball appeared right there. Success will definitely find you often."

On where he would like to see his unit take a next step during the last stretch...
"Once you get into November, you are playing the games you want to remember, so us being able to take the next steps is just us continuing to do everything we can within the constraints of our defense when it comes to driving everyone and making sure all 11 players are on the same page. Making our plays at the point of attack, and we have to continue to find ways to create game-changing plays. Giving our offense the ball back or us scoring on defense because we took the ball away."

On where freshman linebacker Edwin Spillman has grown...
"It's the same scenario from a preparation standpoint, not just the physical things he has been able to do with coach (Kurt Schmidt) and them. Seeing him out there at practice. Seeing him understand everything. When we're in the meeting room, he's understanding it even more, so even though he hasn't played, he's gotten so much equity by him being able to be around and practice and doing those things to where when he comes back, I want to make sure we can put the shoe on and he is hitting this thing running."

Sophomore DL Daevin Hobbs

On why he feels he's been able to find success in the defensive line…
"Everything Coach G (Rodney Garner), Coach Chop (Levorn Harbin) and Coach (Robert) Ayers, all of the coaches, I'm just really listening and taking in what they are saying. Now I'm understanding everything they are saying and using all of their tricks to help me out."

On if there was a point where everything clicked for him…
"I would say going into Oklahoma week. That week at practice locked me in and every since then its been up from there."

On how big of an adjustment it's been being an inside lineman…
"I play it every game, I practice both here and there. I still get my end reps every now and then but I'm ready for it wherever needs to play in the game. My biggest thing is I want to be able to do everything. Wherever he needs me, I'll go and do it."

Senior OL Cooper Mays

On how he's seen the leadership style change now that he is in his final year…
"I think finding your role in every situation with every different person. You have to have a relationship with all of your guys if you want to hold them accountable and talk about stuff you want to hold them up to. So really just trying to be a guy that spreads love to everyone around him and picks people up when they're down. When it's time to get after them I can do that as well. It's a lot of me getting older and being more comfortable in that role."

On his role of pushing Dylan Sampson in to get a record-breaking touchdown and what that meant…
"I thought it was a great situation. The way the result happened with getting him the record. That play was truly the effort of all eleven people getting involved. It was super cool, super tiring during the play. I didn't really want to run another play, so we made sure we got him in the zone on that play."

On watching Nico Iamaleava get involved on Sampson's record play and showing how he is…
"I think it just shows who he is as a person and how he was raised. What you fall back on is what you've been doing your whole life. If you care about others more than yourself, it will show. I think that was a great clip on how he feels about his teammates and how we feel about him and what he's put into this."

Senior DL Omari Thomas

On adjusting to a new quarterback during games…
"In-game, you have to be able to adjust quickly. We have to be able to listen to our coach. You see multiple quarterbacks on film from previous teams; they've played multiple quarterbacks. We know that, and we practice it. That way, when we do get in the game, it's easy for us to already know our job that we have to do for dual quarterbacks."

On improving each week…
"The mindset that we come in with every day is just trying to get better every day. We want to go 1-0 today and win every day. Every day is how you win the game on Saturday. From Monday where it's in the meeting room, to Tuesday where we get out on the practice field. Every day is the day we have to win, so that we can win on Saturday."

On Dylan Sampson's performance this season…
"It's amazing to see D -Samp (Dylan Sampson) continue to grow since he's gotten here and be able to go out there and lead and be a leader for this team. He plays hard every game, you know what Sampson is going to give you. He's going to give you everything that he can. It's amazing to have someone like Sampson who is just happy to be here enjoys his life, and has fun. It's amazing to be a part of and I'm very happy for Sampson, very proud of him."

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