Chandavian Bradley raves about early relationship with coaching staff: 'I like being yelled at'

Adjusting to college football isn’t always easy, but having a good relationship with the coaching staff you’re working with always helps makes things a little smoother.

That’s the position Tennessee freshman Chandavian Bradley finds himself in this fall, even if he’s getting yelled at and ripped into on the practice fields.

“Sometimes it looks as if it gets under my skin a little bit, but in reality in my head I’m processing it and I like being taught that way,” Bradley said. “I like being yelled at. It’s weird, but I really do, I enjoy it.”

He’s gotten plenty of that so far. A 6-foot-5, 221-pound defensive end, Bradley has had the pleasure of working with long-time college football assistant coach Rodney Garner.

Garner has been strict with Bradley, from the moment he was officially a signee.

“Since I’ve been here he’s been on it, on me, on me, on me about every little thing and I love it,” Bradley said. “I went up to him after practice today and told him thank you because that’s the type of stuff that I like because it helps me learn.”

Again, the tough love from Garner and the Vols coaching staff was pretty immediate.

“Coach Garner, now I love coach G. Coming into the year, let’s say after signing day he came into my school because we have other people in our school that are being recruited from my high school,” Bradley explained. “I met up with him and the first thing he said is, ‘You’re signed now, it’s over. We’re not treating you like a baby anymore, I’m gonna be on you about every little thing no matter what it is even though you’re still in high school.’

“And he did not lie. I got texts at least once every week just him checking up on me, making sure that I’m doing everything that I need to do.”

Because of his size, Bradley can play multiple spots for Tennessee. That means he’s been working with multiple assistant coaches.

In addition to Garner, Bradley has been working some with outside linebackers coach Mike Ekeler. Both veterans of the coaching staff have helped Bradley feel right at home.

“Coach Ek is one of the funniest people I know,” Bradley said. “Like whether it’s through meetings, he’s very helpful and for me when he teaches me something it clicks just like that because he knows that I learn things through visual but I’m a very mental learner. So once I can see something and hear something I can impact and put that into my game as long as I’ve got a few reps at it first obviously.

“Coach Ek has a very different way of teaching us and I really enjoy being around coach Eck.”