Everything Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel said during appearance on 'The Nation'

On Sunday evening, Tennessee Football Head Coach Josh Heupel joined ESPN’s Chris Low and Volquest’s Austin Price on “The Nation” to discuss his team, fall camp and much more. Below is a full transcript from Heupel’s appearance on the one-hour radio show. 

On what he was looking for from his team in the first scrimmage of fall camp

“I think first of all, you are looking for kids who are going to play hard and compete the way you need to compete. For veteran guys, you are hopinh to see that they are close to being in season form. You got really good communication and fundamentals, defensively able to tackle well and disrupt blocks. For young guys, you want to see the reset from play to play and see that they are continuing to grow in their understanding. We had 18 of those guys that were with us in Spring ball, so you want to see those guys make another jump from the last time you got to see them in the stadium in the Spring game. For the most part, really. like what our young guys are doing. The work has been really good. They have been intentional and competed hard every single day. We just have to continue to grow in the details of everything we are doing to get ready for kickoff here in September.”

On how much it means to be able to play more guys this fall

“I think it is important that we are deeper than we have been. On the offensive side of the ball, we were really fortunate to avoid injury. Defensively, we got nicked up in our secondary; that hurt us late in the year. The depth, we are in different spot than we were when we first got here that fall. We have continued to grow with the depth on our roster. We have length and athleticism on the back end and at the offensive skill spots. We are bigger and thicker and stronger and more athletic on the offensive and defensive line. At the end of the day, that depth is important at the start, and it is really important as you get into the meat of the season. Defensively, in particular, we want to be able to play more guys than we have the first couple of years. That is true on the back level, but it is also true of the front seven. It is important guys prove they are going to play at a high level. If they do that, then it is our job to find a role. The other phase of the game that really shows up in is special teams and being able to own that part of the game during the course of the season. Love what we are doing on that side of it. Coach Ek has done a great job. We are in the middle of training camp here, and we have to continue to grow in the back half.”

On having more of the offensive skill players available for the second scrimmage coming up on Wednesday

“Yeah, I think that is important, but I think it is even more important during the course of your practices. All of our guys are back on that side of things. We chose to hold a few guys out of the last scrimmage, so those guys will get some work. We are smart with our veterans on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. You have to sharpen their sword a little bit and make sure they are ready to play, but at the same time, you have got to get their condition set.”

On how different the defensive front looks going into this season

“We have real competition inside of that room. It is on the edges and the interior of the defensive line. That is a coach’s best friend and maybe only friend as he walks in there to get those guys to compete in the meeting room and to compete on the practice field the way that you need to. Guys are fighting for snaps. You talk about our young guys, we have got some guys who just showed up, some guys who were with us in the spring, and some guys who were with us last fall and are competing for playing time right now. Our veteran guys have been really good. They have been intentional in the ways they work, but they can also see those guys behind them, and understand they have to do that out there on the practice field competing and proving they are going to play in an elite way.”

If this Tennessee’s work ethic since last season has reflected that they believe there is still a lot left out there

“Yeah, I mean, ultimately the goal at Tennessee is to win a championship.You can look back at our history and understand that. There were a lot of great moments (last season). Things I will look back on in my career and remember forever. Same for our players, too. At the same time, there was a lot we didn’t accomplish. This group is driven to be their best individually and be our best as a team. They have been unbelievable all off-season. You have to stay the course here in training camp and finish this out right, but at the end of the day, we have high goals. There is not going to be any expectations outside of our building than what is happening here in the building. Our guys have competed and worked that way.”

On momentum on the recruiting trail following last season

“Two years ago, you were trying to say what it was going to look like on the field, and you were telling them what it was going to be in coming years that we could compete with anybody and have a chance to play for championships. You tried to tell them what the culture was like inside of the building. Now, they have tangible evidence. They can feel that energy, and watch those games as our guys get recognized as some of the best players in America. The NFL Draft, the style of play, and how aggressive we are in all three phases of the game. And, when they come here, they can tell the culture is real and genuine, and people have a lot of fun being around each other and competing every day. You put all of that together with what Knoxville is, what the game day environment is, and what this this University is doing right now, it allows us to get into every room and put that in front of people. The traffic we have during the live recruiting times on the calendar right now is unlike anything I have experienced, and I say that in a really positive way. It has been a lot of fun getting a lot of elite players here on campus.”

On Jaylen Wright’s growth this off-season

“Jaylen has done an unbelievable job from the day we got here til today of just growing into a man that knows how to handle his business on and off the field. He has become a pro. Coach Mack has done a great job of continuing to help him grow in every area of his life. Jaylen cares deeply about his performance and him being his best, but he cares about the people around him. He has become really selfless. He has been a pro with the way he approaches everyday in this building. He had an unbelievable off-season. This summer, some of the gains he made, are some of the best on our football team. He is playing extremely well right now. He is explosive. He is violent, but he knows how to be a running back and not just somebody who grabs the ball and tries to run around people. He knows our schemes and how things are being blocked, and he is delivering blockers to the block. He is poised to have a great year for us.”

On what he feels like Tennessee got with the addition of Keenan Pili

“Keenan Pili is somebody who has played a lot of football and been really productive. We thought we were getting a really mature football player who had a lot of experience and a consumate pro inside of our building. What we have got is a really powerful leader in the linebacker room and defensive unit, along with Aaron Beasley. He is probably, well not probably, he is more athletic and more explosive than we anticipated on tape. He has been dynamic here during the first stages of training camp. Really excited about the steps he has made.”

On how much he has felt the level of anticipation for Tennessee’s 2023 season

“The excitment that surrounds Vol Nation is across the country. You can feel that in recruiting, too. That is a part of our recruiting success. In Knoxville, everywhere you go, or everywhere I have been, there has been so much excitment around this football program. I think they truly love the way they compete for each other. They can tell there is a connection and bond there, and the fact they do things the right way.That has parlayed itself into high expectations and a real expectation that we have an opportunity to go win every Saturday and put ourself in a position at the end of the year to do what we want to. Our players feel that way. Our coaches do, too. But it is awesome to have our fans feel the same way. I have said this before, as good as I thought it was here, this fan base is better than I even anticipated. They care 365 days out of the year. They pay attention to everything that is going on in-season and out of season. I am excited to go kick it off in Nashville with them.”

Tennessee will get back to work on Tuesday of this week as they continue to prepare for the season-opener against Virginia on September 2nd in Nashville. Heupel is scheduled to speak again on Wednesday following Tennessee’s second scrimmage of fall camp.