KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – First-year Tennessee linebackers coach William Inge inherited a talented unit, and the former Washington co-defensive coordinator has liked what he has seen three weeks into his first UT spring practice.
Inge and defensive players Keenan Pili, Jeremiah Telander, Kalib Perry, Daevin Hobbs and Jayson Jenkins spoke with local media members following the conclusion of the Vols’ 11th spring practice on Tuesday. The Vols worked out in shoulder pads as the squad was contained indoors due to weather conditions.
“As we come out of the spring, we feel very good about our depth, and you know you will probably get some more guys coming back that didn’t have a chance to participate in the spring,” Inge remarked. “Now, when it comes to what you have to be able to do, the beauty of what we are doing now, and we tell the guys: you have no idea how much more learning you are going to experience from the end of the spring to the beginning of your game week. Everything that we have done, they are going to go through it again two more times, whether we go through our installs from a scheme standpoint or whether they go and actually get the rep in from a repetition standpoint, they are going to be able to do everything a couple more times.”
Pili, a seventh-year veteran linebacker and former BYU transfer, has been a terrific mentor figure for the young group. Following an 11-game injury layoff during the regular season, the 6-foot-3, 240-pound talented native of Las Vegas, Nevada, is eager to get back on the field.
“I’m super comfortable,” Pili said. “I think, kind of like some of the guys in our room, once you have that year under your belt, that’s your biggest leap—especially for incoming freshmen or people like me who maybe transferred from a different school. Once you have that first year under your belt, you feel way more comfortable in the scheme, way more comfortable in the new city and new place, for sure.”
Telander, a second-year savvy linebacker, prepares to embark on a much bigger role within the defensive core. Last season, he saw action in all 13 games and registered 35 total tackles. The Gainesville, Georgia, native tallied one pass breakup and 2.5 tackles for loss.
“I feel very comfortable,” Telander said. “Of course, there are obviously going to be some mistakes, and that’s why we learn every day and come to meetings every day. We try not to make the same mistake twice, but I feel very…
Inge and defensive players Keenan Pili, Jeremiah Telander, Kalib Perry, Daevin Hobbs and Jayson Jenkins spoke with local media members following the conclusion of the Vols’ 11th spring practice on Tuesday. The Vols worked out in shoulder pads as the squad was contained indoors due to weather conditions.
“As we come out of the spring, we feel very good about our depth, and you know you will probably get some more guys coming back that didn’t have a chance to participate in the spring,” Inge remarked. “Now, when it comes to what you have to be able to do, the beauty of what we are doing now, and we tell the guys: you have no idea how much more learning you are going to experience from the end of the spring to the beginning of your game week. Everything that we have done, they are going to go through it again two more times, whether we go through our installs from a scheme standpoint or whether they go and actually get the rep in from a repetition standpoint, they are going to be able to do everything a couple more times.”
Pili, a seventh-year veteran linebacker and former BYU transfer, has been a terrific mentor figure for the young group. Following an 11-game injury layoff during the regular season, the 6-foot-3, 240-pound talented native of Las Vegas, Nevada, is eager to get back on the field.
“I’m super comfortable,” Pili said. “I think, kind of like some of the guys in our room, once you have that year under your belt, that’s your biggest leap—especially for incoming freshmen or people like me who maybe transferred from a different school. Once you have that first year under your belt, you feel way more comfortable in the scheme, way more comfortable in the new city and new place, for sure.”
Telander, a second-year savvy linebacker, prepares to embark on a much bigger role within the defensive core. Last season, he saw action in all 13 games and registered 35 total tackles. The Gainesville, Georgia, native tallied one pass breakup and 2.5 tackles for loss.
“I feel very comfortable,” Telander said. “Of course, there are obviously going to be some mistakes, and that’s why we learn every day and come to meetings every day. We try not to make the same mistake twice, but I feel very…
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