Everything Josh Heupel said during Tennessee football's media day on Tuesday

What Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said during his press conference Tuesday afternoon as the Vols kicked off the 2023 season with media day in Knoxville, ahead of the start of fall camp on Wednesday:

Opening Statement

“Great to see everybody. It’s the best time of year. Excited to open up training camp tomorrow with our guys. We’ve had a great summer. The players have been fantastic. They’ve really been that way since we got back in January. Each part of our offseason, they’ve handled themselves with great maturity, been extremely competitive. Individually, feel like we’ve made a lot of strides. As you get a chance to see some of these guys here as we open up training camp, really like the position they put themselves in physically to be ready to go compete this training camp.

“Excited about the continuity and what we have coming back as a staff. Over the course of our three years being able to maintain the core group of our guys. And I think that’s allowed us to continue to grow in our culture, continue to grow in our schemes and build on the trust that we’ve built over the first two years within our program — players and coaches alike. Excited to kick it off with these guys here tomorrow and start this training camp. And you know it’s a long month. It’s a process throughout the course of the season. It’s a process during the course of training camp to get ourselves ready to go play here 31 days when we open up in Nashville.”

Where this Tennessee program is now compared to where it was when he took over in January 2021

“We’re close to 85 (scholarship players). We’ve got real depth, real competition really at every position. And that’s true. Our veterans are here. There’s a lot of young guys, 18 of ’em that were with us during the course of the spring ball. I expect them to be a much more mature and complete player. We step on the field tomorrow, but certainly we grow during the course of training camp. There’s just great competition everywhere. Our athleticism, strength, all those things have continued to improve our functional movement. We’re continuing to take strides, but this is the time of year where we’ve gotta go out.”

The benefits of the continuity on the Tennessee coaching staff the last two years

“The people that we’ve been able to promote have been within the building, within those position units. They have connections and relationships with those players. So it’s not like we’re starting over. We promote somebody. I think it’s really important inside of your program. It’s certainly important where we took this program over and trying to build something at every phase, every single year. We’ve never had to completely reset.

“We’ve been able to continue. Coming off of last year’s season, they come back at in late January, it’s about, okay, this is where we work.This is how we grow. As a staff continue to push on our schemes, fine tune who we are and what we wanna do. Our players continue to grow in, in every facet from our strength program to what we’re doing schematically and fundamentally, it has allowed us to continue to grow really quickly. I don’t think you can understate that part of it.

The growth of Tennessee linebacker Aaron Beasley the last two years and what he’s seen from BYU transfer Keenan Pili

“Both of those guys dramatically continue to improve their bodies. I think functionally, the traits that we’re looking for, they continue to improve that. I think you guys will see that as you get a chance to watch some of practice. (Beasley) is a guy that hadn’t played a lot of football, grows into a role on the football field, plays at a really high level on certainly the Orange Bowl last year. And as that has taken place, been able to be very intentional in how he wants to grow as a leader too.

“As part of our leadership council, he’s got great influence inside the linebacker room, but really across our defense and our football team too. He’s contributed continue to grow just in his maturity outside of the game. The middle of that defense, it’s important that you have great leadership and that they’re willing and able to communicate at a really high level that’s off the field. That’s during the course of play as well. 

“Keenan Pili, a guy that’s got great maturity, athletic traits that we were looking for. He’s the guy that in spring ball is just trying to figure out what we’re doing schematically, how he needs to improve every day. This summer took a huge leap. And, you know, having command of the guys around him and the maturity of both of those guys, I think will show itself as we go through training camp as we get into season. 

Example of good seeds and bad seeds from past Tennessee training camps that showed up during the season 

“You want good seeds that are planted. Practice habits and how that affects your health during training camp and during the course of season. The ability to play, just play independent no matter what happens on you. Just play playing harder than your opponent and your team against yourself for the course of training camp. How you take care of the ball. How do you go attack the ball on the defensive side of it? You gotta constantly grow this game and reset in each phase, in every offseason. This is, the last quarter of, I say it’s our offseason, obviously we’re headed in the season.

“It’s important that you develop the habits, you develop the leadership, the try be intentional with that, even during the course of, of training camp, continuing giving those guys ownership. They gotta go be problem solvers when we get out and we’re playing against the opponent this fall. And so you gotta put those guys in position to, to do some those things.”

The competition on Tennessee’s offensive line, what Cooper Mays brings as an established center

“We got multiple guys that we compete for that. So young guys in our program also those that’s been here for a while. And that’s one of the things, just personnel wise that we gotta figure out here as we get to the next couple of weeks. The health of our program, as far as our individuals, were in a pretty good spot. There’s one guy that won’t be with us this fall. Pack Garland, just from the injury last fall, hasn’t gotten himself in a position where he is cleared. It’s not ’cause he hasn’t been put into work, it’s just him in the process that he’s had to go through with that injury. He’ll be a part of our program but won’t play this fall.”

What Tennessee got in Oregon transfer wide receiver Dont’e Thornton 

“He spent a lot of time (in the offseason) understanding, trying to grow inside of our offense really quickly. Looking forward to seeing him this fall. You know, there’s great competition. Some flexibility at the wide receiver spot. Looking forward (to seeing that) during the course of training camp.”

Being in charge of this Tennessee program now that it’s on the other side of the NCAA investigation

“The NCAA ruling being something behind us is huge for us as a program, as much as anything in recruiting out of it. Said that probably week go at media days as well. As far as, you know, how I’m different or what’s different about the program, we’ve got two and a half years of built up trust and and chemistry with your staff and your players. But at the end of the day, how you approach and how I approach every single day, it’s not any different, man. This is a highly competitive game.

“You got great players and coaches that we’re gonna be going against all fall along. You gotta reset and go earn it every single day. So we have a real sense of urgency inside of our program that starts with me, sense of competitiveness and drive at the end of the day. There were a lot of great moments last year. None of that stuff comes with us (this year), at the end of the day. Last year, there were a lot of goals that began reach. This group’s been really intentional about pushing forward and, and put ourselves in a position to go check some of those things.”

What a productive camp looks like for Tennessee quarterbacks Joe Milton III and Nico Iamaleava

“They’re different in as far as the stages that they’re at inside the quarterback room, understanding our offense and fundamentals, how we want them to play. Both of ’em I expect to compete and lead at a high level. I think it’s really important that those guys have great energy and urgency and that transcends not just through our offense, but also through our football team. For all of our players, this is a game that’s never gonna be perfect. And being able to reset from one play to the next, I think is one of the most important traits that you have as a competitor and as a player in this game. So for those two guys, being able to do that and then master what we do in offensive group, really important.

Ramel Keyton stepping up when given the opportunity for Tennessee last season

“Yeah, somebody who probably put as much time or more time than anybody inside of our program into the extra work. He come up here, see him on the JUGS. He cares and he prepares the right way. He’s continued to grow in what we’re doing and understanding our schemes, continues to heighten his fundamental technique at the receiver position. It was a huge part of why he took advantage of the opportunity when Ced (Cedric Tillman) went down last year and played at a really high level. Anticipate him continuing to do that, have a great training camp. Really excited about what he’s done in a short time.”

How he feels about Tennessee’s options in the pass rush

“One of the position groups, just to date back to my earlier comments, about real depth, real competition, length, athleticism, some of the traits that we’re looking for off the edge and some of that inside too with some of the guys that we’ve brought in. Looking forward to great competition, looking forward to us continuing to develop and our ability to affect the quarterback. Not doing that with pressures all the top of being able to do it with the four guys up front. You guys know that at the end of spring I felt like we made real strides and that all our guys that were back and a part of our program. We’ve had a couple of new guys that came in here, late May, early June too. Anticipate those guys learning, continuing to learn what we’re doing, but playing with great technique and, and competing for a spot at the end of the day. Right now, this time of year, you gotta show that you can master what we’re doing. You can go take the job. It’s your to prove that you’re gonna play at a championship level. And once that happens, then we gotta find a role for those guys. Anticipate those guys doing that during course of training camp.”

Having more competition with Tennessee’s cornerbacks and in the secondary

“You know, five guys came in January really excited about their athleticism and their physical traits. They were super mature in the way they competed and handled themselves on the field and off the field. I anticipate those guys, after going through an off season, going through spring ball and having time, have an opportunity to kind of digest all that and go back through semester off in the summer. And when we hit the ground running, being a much different player while still understanding that they’re gonna have to continue to grow throughout the course of the training camp. The vets, a year ago were kind of banged up during the training camp. We got banged up during the course of the season. We need those guys to stay healthy. We need ’em to be on the field.

“We need them to compete and get those reps. You can’t be the player that you need to be if you’re not practicing during this time of year. So we need all those guys playing, competing here during the course training camp for them to be their best. It’s one of the positions where there’s great competition. Every position in our program, you gotta go earn it here during the next two and a half, three weeks of training camp. Prove that you’re gonna play at a championship level. I’m really looking forward to competition at that spot.”

How the Tennessee program is different entering his third fall camp versus where it was before his first camp in 2021

“It’s different. You’ve got two years of experiences with the majority of your roster. We’ve got a culture that is built. There’s continuity. There’s also and understanding from your players. They know exactly what they’re getting into (with) each phase of our offseason. They know what training camp is going to look like. Our staff, we’ve been able to maintain that, in tact for the most part. Now you’re able to go out and compete on a daily basis. As much as anything, I think that’s the thing. Don’t have a lot of issues with our guys. They do a phenomenal job on the field, outside of this building, the classroom. It’s truly about us on an individual level, being very pointed that we’re going to come in here and enjoy what we’re doing, but also compete at an elite level.”

What he looks for in Tennessee’s fall camp to earn trust from players on the field

“Emotionally being able to reset from play to play. Master the concepts that we have in all three phases. Play with great fundamentals and technique. Be a consistent competitor each and every play. Show that you’re going to play harder than your opponent for 60 minutes. That’s everyday when we get out on the grass. And be a great teammate too. For the guys that have great leadership roles — that’s not just guys on our leadership council — make sure that those guys are growing in that too. That’s going to show up during the course of the season.”

What his favorite moments have been from Tennessee’s offseason

“Well, for me, I love being on the grass with them. So what we did in spring ball. For me, love having the opportunity to reset and enjoy the time with them outside of the game, too. That can be the guys coming over to my house during the course of the summer, me beating them up on the basketball court, the softball tournament that we had. I love those team-building moments, as well. At the end of the day, like today, get the chance to walk upstairs and talk about what training camp is going to look like. You can feel the excitement, the energy. It’s just the daily interaction. I love being around these guys and they love being around each other too.”

Joey Halzle stepping into the offensive coordinator role and any changes that have come from it, how he’s handled the promotion

“Obviously, he’s going to have to address the offense at times. Chose him because we’ve got great trust in him. Philosophically, very similar. See the game through the same type of lens. It’s been a seamless transition. Our players have great trust in him. Excited about what he’s done up until this point.”

The boost Joe Milton III got from starting Tennessee’s last two games last season

“For all of the guys, Joe included, that had the opportunity to play late in the year — including the Vandy game, we had a few guys nicked up, to the bowl game, and that experience — in some ways it is a springboard to the 2023 season. It gives all those guys great confidence in what they’ve done up until that point to go play that way when given the opportunity. For Joe, nobody was surprised that he played that way inside of the program. We had seen the way he worked and competed and how he had continued to grow as a person but also as a player. Anticipated him playing that way. At this point, what happened in January, December, has nothing to do with where we go. Those guys being focused on growing everyday, that’s really important.”

If he sees a big difference looking back at the 2021 Tennessee team the 2022 team

“In this game you have to go out and take it every Saturday. There is nothing given. So you have to be mature enough to go reset and handle everything that comes at you. That’s play to play, day to day, week to week. The difference in Year 1 and Year 2 is continued growth and understanding in what we’re doing. A lot of the players were back. Our roster continued to improve, we got more depth in Year 2. Continuity with our staff allowed us to continue to push forward in a positive way. I think the continued growth and accountability and trust inside of our walls, love and respect for each other and the program and how we attack every single day, we continue to grow in those areas. It shows up in performance and it shows up on the scoreboard that everybody sees. Everybody, every program around the country, it’s the little things that matter, that make the difference. Those are the things that our coaches and players have to be focused on during the course of training camp. They’ve done that, continued to grow this offseason. Can’t take anything for granted. You have to continue to grow in all those areas.”

The difference in depth with Tennessee linebackers now versus two years ago

“Length, athleticism, accountability every single day, growth inside the meeting room every single day. Understanding scheme, how to run sideline to sideline. Understanding what your job is and what your keys are and being able to play with fundamentals and the right steps. We were really thin in in Year 1. We’ve added length and athleticism. More competition. That showed up on defensive stats. Showed up on special teams a year ago as well. BJ (Brian Jean-Mary) has done a great job of recruiting that room and recruiting what we need.”

The pride he takes in former Tennessee players succeeding in the NFL

“Yeah, I do keep up with them. It’s tough to have a ton of conversations during training camp. Those guys, guys that played for us and guys I’ve gotten to know that played here before I got here, I sent all those guys a good luck text as they were getting ready for training camp. Excited to see their success and their growth. Guys are going into the league for Year 1, I know there’s a lot of anticipation and nervousness because you’re going into something that you haven’t been in yet. But what those guys have done, how they’ve grew and also how they’ve played, really excited to see the success of the guys that just went into it, but also the success of the VFLs and excited to see those guys play on Sundays and make plays.”

What Tennessee tight ends coach Alec Abeln, wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope and other young coaches have bring to the staff

“Great energy. They’re dynamic personalties that do a great job of building relationships in the recruiting realm. They have an understanding of what we’re doing offensively. Great teachers in the (meeting) room. They connect with the players. They’re able to meet the players where they’re at and help them grow to what we need them to be. In every way inside our program they’ve continued to help us push forward. Two great young coaches that we love having on our staff.”