Omari Thomas answers if Tennessee defense is being slept on

Tennessee‘s offense is used to the spotlight but perhaps the Volunteers’ defense is the secret star of the show. In an interview with On3’s Andy Staples, Tennessee defensive lineman Omari Thomas revealed whether he believes the Volunteers’ defense is being overlooked.

“There’s just pride we take in it, no matter what,” Thomas said. “Since Coach [Josh] Heupel and them have been here, everyone knows what it is. It’s offense, offense. Everyone knows that but we don’t care that people don’t talk about us.

“We just like going out there and competing every week and coming in knowing that we feel like we have one of the best defenses in the country. We just got to come in every day and really prove that to ourselves.”

Fans certainly associate offense-oriented teams with Heupel. Before taking over at Tennessee, Heupel spent time as an offensive coordinator at Missouri, Utah State and Oklahoma.

In 2022, Tennessee boasted the No. 1 offense in the nation, averaging 525.5 yards per game. For his efforts, Heupel was named the 2022 SEC Coach of the Year. While Tennessee’s offense garnered attention again last season, many viewers failed to realize how impressive the Volunteers’ defense was.

In the 2023 campaign, Tennessee’s defense only allowed 335.2 yards per game, ranking No. 32 in the country. With standouts such as James Pearce Jr. returning for the upcoming season, it’s easy to understand Thomas’ optimism.

Nonetheless, Thomas knows Tennessee’s defense won’t find success without hard work. Later in the interview, he explained the mindset he and his fellow Volunteers have adopted to ensure growth.

“We’re competing against each other,” Thomas said. “We gotta know that if I push you the hardest and you push me the hardest, we gonna be good. And, that’s just what we’ve really bought into.

“Just everyone buying into the culture and knowing that we gotta be together. We can’t let any outside noise — whether good outside noise or bad — dictate or determine who we are.”

There will be many unfamiliar faces on Tennessee’s defense in the 2024 season. The Volunteers lost 10 defensive backs this offseason, including seven to the transfer portal and three to the NFL Draft.

In turn, Tennessee added cornerbacks Andre Stewart, Jermod McCoy and Jalen McMurray via the NCAA Transfer Portal, along with safety Jakobe Thomas.

Tennessee won’t have to wait much longer to show off its revamped defense. On Aug. 31, the Volunteers will kick off the 2024 season with a showdown against Chattanooga at 12:45 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.