Josh Heupel and the Vols wrapping up South Carolina preparations
Tennessee wraps up their preparations tomorrow before heading to Columbia, South Carolina to take on the Gamecoks as they look for win #10 on the season.
The Vols remained 5th in this year’s College football playoff rankings and Tennessee is looking to help their playoff opportunity with an impressive showing against Shane Beamer’s team who is coming off a 38-6 loss at Florida.
Josh Heupel’s team continues to roll up points. The Vols scored 66 points last week in their win over Missouri and they have scored 40+ points in 7 games this season.
Thursday Josh Heupel met with the media to discuss his team’s preparations for this week, the latest on the injury front and the challenges a road trip to South Carolina can present.
Tennessee at South Carolina, 7 p.m. ET, Saturday, ESPN
No. 5 Tennessee (9-1, 5-1 SEC), continuing its push for a spot in the College Football Playoff, plays at South Carolina (6-4, 3-4) on Saturday (7 p.m. Eastern Time; TV: ESPN) before closing the regular-season schedule at Vanderbilt on November 26.
Hooker, who took over for an injured Joe Milton III against Pittsburgh last season, has passed for 5,833 yards and 55 touchdowns, with just five interceptions, during his 23-game career with the Vols so far. He’s rushed for another 1,021 yards and 10 more touchdowns.
Special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler told the Knoxville Quarterback Club on Monday that Tennessee’s success starts, in large part, with Hendon Hooker.
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The person matches up to the player, too.
“I mean, Hook is probably one of my favorite players I’ve ever been around in my entire career,” Ekeler said. “This guy, not only is he a tremendous football player, but he’s one of the best young men you’ll ever meet in your life. Best leader. First one in the building, last one out. He’s absolutely everything you want in a Tennessee Vol. The man is an absolute stud.”
And winning the Heisman Trophy — no Tennessee player has ever won the award — would make sense, considering who he plays for.
“You look at what (Heupel has) done as a coach,” Ekeler said. “Everywhere he’s ever been, what’s he done? He’s produced first-round, Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks. It’s what the man does.
“You can be in Pee Wee football. You can be in the NFL, college football. If you don’t have one of them … you can’t win. You’re not going to win at a high level. And we got one. We got a couple of them. We’re always going to have one. And it’s a beautiful thing.”
