Tennessee seniors discuss final home game and UTEP prep
Tennessee plays their final game in Neyland Stadium Saturday afternoon as they host UTEP. For Vols senior defensive tackle Omari Thomas it will be a final trip through the T and a final game at home.
For Thomas it’s a journey of personnel growth and a journey of program growth that makes him proud ahead of his final home game.
“It’s amazing to be a part of something like that because you get a chance to be a part of the change,” Thomas said. “When I picked a school I wanted to be a part of something that was going to change and go in the right direction becoming an elite program. We are just continuing to grow.”
Beyond the senior playing his last game, Thomas and the Vol defense is looking to get back to the form they played with earlier in the season after not recording a sack, a quarterback hit and only two tackles for loss at Georgia.
Tennessee defensive back Jalen McMurray said Tennessee just needs to turn the page with the focus on UTEP and what’s ahead for the Vols.
“Obviously we had the loss, but it’s about bouncing back and controlling the things we can control which is preparing for UTEP this week,” McMurray said. “They are a good team and they are going to be on their A-game and we have to come out and play our butts off.”
Top 10
- 1Hot
Skipping SEC title game
Lane Kiffin says coaches prefer sitting out
- 2Trending
Biff Poggi
Fired Charlotte coach shows up to practice
- 3
Predicting new CFP Top 12
BCS formula predicts 12-team bracket
- 4New
Kiffin calls out Saban
'He's now the rat poisoner'
- 5
Dabo rips refs
Swinney headed to 'Targeting Anonymous'
Offensively, the Vols are looking for more explosion after having only one play of over 20 yards last week which was Dylan Sampson’s touchdown run. Senior Bru McCoy, who is also making his final run through the T Saturday night said, the offense as a group just needs to go make plays.
“It’s a total team effort thing,” McCoy said. “We have guys that create explosives. We have receivers that can get open and win their one on one’s. It just comes down to everyone doing it all at the same time. When that happens that’s when the explosives happen at a high rate.”
In the run game, Dylan Sampson is chasing the all-time single season rushing record. How much he gets to pursue that this weekend will be interesting to see. Over the last two weeks, Sampson has been spelled by freshman Peyton Lewis. Lewis seems to be getting better each week and admits he’s getting more comfortable with the offense as he gets more and more reps.
“When I first got here everything was moving fast. I was still trying to find out all the stuff I needed to focus on. As I have gotten more reps the game has slowed down a lot for me. It’s helping me see things I didn’t see before. I have definitely gotten more comfortable,” Lewis said.
