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Watch: Highlights from Tennessee football's Saturday morning practice

On3 imageby:Austin Price•08/05/23•

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Tennessee began practice Saturday morning like they do each practice. Following stretch, it was time to work on the turnover circuit for the defense. Tennessee like any school hopes to increase the number of turnovers they force this fall.

“It was the lead bulletin point for Coach (Tim) Banks,” Tennessee linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary said during his press conference after Friday’s practice. “I think everybody in our individual rooms, we talked about it. For us to take the next step, we have to go and take the ball from people. Our offense does a good job of not giving it to the opponent, we have to match them as far as the rate that we take it from people.

“With Coach (Josh) Heupel, I should mention him too, that was one of the main bullet points that he had in his first team meeting, was we have to do a better job. Whether it be intercepting the ball, caused fumbles, strip sacks on quarterbacks, fourth-down stops, whatever we can do to get the possessions back to our offense. We know how explosive our offense is, and if we get the ball to them at a high rate, our percentage of winning is going to go through the roof.”

Much of that effort starts up front with the defensive line and their ability to get to the quarterback. Tennessee sophomore Elijah Herring feels like the group in front of him is poised for a big season.

“I wouldn’t say that there is one player,” Herring said. “I would say there is one position group though. The defensive line just has a bunch of freaks on there. It’s crazy, they are freaks of nature. You got Caleb (Herring), James (Peace Jr.), Roman (Harrison), (Joshua Josephs), and Chandavian (Bradley) on there.

“They are just specimens out there. The whole defensive line is just so good at their craft, and they each just have their own style of play, so it’s just great to go out there and see them play.”

Tennessee will take Sunday off before returning to practice on Monday for the first day in full pads. Tennessee will have its first scrimmage of fall camp on Thursday.

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