'People can see the momentum we have': Josh Heupel discusses Tennessee's 'really unique environment'

Everything Josh Heupel said this week during an appearance on Josh & Swain — watch the full interview here — talking everything from Tennessee’s success in the NFL Draft to recruiting, defense and quarterbacks as the Vols move into the summer portion of the offseason:

Tennessee players getting picked in the NFL Draft and using that in recruiting

“Absolutely. Huge day for those guys, the amount of work they put in. It’s great for everybody inside of our program. You talk about players that are currently here, being able to see their buddies work, do the right things and how that parlays into success on the field. But then its success on draft day as well. From strength and conditioning to nutrition to medical teams. It takes everybody. They all take great pride and great joy in seeing those guys get their names called. Certainly helps on the recruiting side of it as well. I think (we’re) top eight in the country in draft picks over the last two years. This year, second in the country in guys being (drafted) in the top three rounds. There is a ton of positive momentum and certainly it’s going to help us as we continue to go through this recruiting cycle.”

What it means that so many outsiders are trying to figure out what makes his Tennessee offense so successful 

“That’s the way you want it, for sure, (with) the productivity that we’ve had. The last three years we’ve had five wide receivers, more than anybody in the country as far as a head coach, number of guys that have been drafted. We’ve certainly had a ton of success at the quarterback position. You look at Darnell Wright being the first offensive lineman from the SEC (drafted), having his name called. I think there is a lot that speaks to what we’ve done and also what we’re doing, allowing us to recruit at an elite level. Putting guys in a position to be successful. Certainly what we do is slightly different than other people. Our strategy, how we attack we people, it’s why we’ve been able to light up the scoreboard the way we have. Our guys have had a ton of productivity and looking forward to the continuing success of those guys. A lot of what we’re doing has trickled into what is going on in the NFL, as far as our structure and just talking to different NFL teams. And our guys having an opportunity to showcase those skills in that.”

Why he thinks defensive improvement can be the next step for his Tennessee football program 

“It will be. We took a step in Year 1 to Year 2. You look at how we defended the run, our success creating zero to negative-yard plays, top in the conference. The year before we had made some strides. When I first got here, we were at 67 scholarship players that were counted for the fall. I think we actually had 65 that were with us during the course of that fall. Most teams were at 95 because of COVID seniors that year. We were decimated by the transfer portal before we had a chance to solve that problem. Currently, we’ve added athleticism, we’ve added length. We have a lot more competition inside of our building and certainly on the defensive side of the football. I expect us, and our players expect, to take another massive jump defensively in our productivity. At the end of the day, man, the standard is to win championships. But there have been a lot of great defensive players that have come through here. And the challenge for us is to go play elite defense. And I believe in who we have here in the building, coaches and players alike.”

If he remembers a moment where he felt like the culture within the Tennessee football program was starting to change

“At the end of the day, your staff has to be like-minded and in alignment. The message has to be carried and the standard has to be carried over into every position room and everything that we’re doing from medical to strength and conditioning, all of it. And then your players have to buy into it. Typically you’ve got to have great leadership in there, that helps push everybody over the fence. And start living right and doing right, creating great energy and competition and accountability inside of the building. Some of the success in Year 1, every time I’ve been apart of starting something from scratch a little bit, as a player or as a coach, there is increased buy-in through each cycle as kids get comfortable in hearing the message and understanding what it is going to look like every day. And some success that we have during the course of the fall, once we started playing, helped continue to heighten our players urgency and doing things the right way and preaching our culture inside the building. So we took a massive step last year. This group, since they’ve gotten back in January, has been absolutely awesome. How they approach their workouts, how they approach their daily lives. The competitiveness they have from within. There is increased leadership inside of our building. Guys that are going to make sure their teammates are doing it right. I love what we did during spring ball. Extremely physical, a lot of great competition on the grass as we go into the third quarter of our offseason, in summer workouts. Our urgency has to continue to increase and we’ve got to continue to grow as a football program.”

Going across the state with the Big Orange Caravan stops

“I don’t know, I think the reception we got in the mid-state, and just the amount of people that were there inside the stadium there, was absolutely phenomenal. That was our first week out. We finished it in the Tri-Cities, and the reception we got there, the amount of people, the passion, I think that’s one of the great things about being here. And I felt like it would be that way. It’s probably even greater. There is more urgency from our fanbase than maybe I anticipated. Certainly they have been a huge part of creating the momentum inside of our football program. Our guys have gone out and worked and competed, (fans) see the connection and love they have for one another and how hard they play on Saturdays. But the energy our fanbase has brought has helped us on the field. It creates urgency for our current players 365 days out of the year. But it’s a massive help in recruiting too. I can’t thank them enough for how they show up and show out each and every time they have an opportunity.”

Meeting the fan that had Heupel’s face tattooed on his thigh 

“Well, my wife hasn’t done that yet. And I’m kind of questioning her commitment at this point. It was cool to get a chance to see him. He was actually here for our coaches clinic and I got to spend some time with him. Love that he’s passionate about Tennessee and where we’re headed.”

What he saw from Tennessee quarterbacks during the spring and what he needs to see next

“For Joe Milton, a guy that was a leader inside of our program a year ago. Supported Hendon (Hooker) in a great way. Everybody saw the impact that Hendon had. But Joe had impact inside of our building, stepping into that role. He’s continued to grow as a man and as a leader. Continued to refine himself on the football field. I thought he was extremely efficient and effective inside of the pocket. Had great bounce. Eye discipline was really solid. Extremely accurate with the football during the course of our spring practice. Nico (Iamaleava) has come in and just tried to prove it and work for it every single day. That’s during (Orange) Bowl preparation. He was on the scout team during bowl prep. Everybody on the defensive side, coaches and players, got a chance to see what he looked like. He was extremely impressive during that. He’s handled himself in a very mature way. It’s really hard to be 18 years old and on a college campus with the type of fanfare he has. He’s handled it in a really good way. His teammates absolutely love him. He’s continued to grow throughout the course of spring ball in his understanding of what we’re doing. Day 1, the game was moving really fast for him. It continues to slow down every single day. He’s been resilient. And after a bad play, or maybe not his best practice, responding the right way and coming back the next play or the next day. I love his energy and his effort in trying to really be a man that really masters his craft at the quarterback position. And (he’s) someone that’s going to have to grow into leadership roles as we go into this summer and the fall for sure, as he becomes more entrenched and understanding in what we’re doing. Gaston Moore, (the spring was) the most work he’s gotten in his time with our staff, at the previous stop or here at Tennessee. Opportunity for him to grow. I thought he handled it, continued to get better every single day. Performed really well in the Orange & White Game, his first real opportunity to get a bunch of snaps in a situation like that. That room competes with each other, but they do it in a positive way. I love what that group is doing right now.”

What can take The Vol Club and Tennessee’s NIL dealings to the next level, separating from the competition in college football

“At the end of the day, it’s my job, it’s our job as a program, to provide the best player experience. And that happens with what we’re doing in all the departments here on campus. Our fanbase is a huge part of that — what game day looks like, the energy, the passion. And now Name, Image and Likeness is a part of the experience. It has forced guys to be more mature when they first get to campus. I think it has changed some of their habits. They’re very intentional in what they’re doing. But it also provides great opportunities for our players to be engaged throughout our community. To be actively in our community and to make a different in it. This is the next evolution of collegiate sports. For our fanbase to continue to help us provide the best player experience in college football, it’s vitally important to the success of this program for our current players and a huge part of today’s landscape, obviously. I can’t think our fans enough. Spare has done a great job working with our administration and making sure we’re doing things the right way. But that we are providing the best player experience we can and (being) like-minded in what we’re doing and where we’re going. Need continued support from our fans.”

The changes he’s seen in recruiting after Tennessee’s 11-win season, being able to point to infield success

“Our first recruiting cycle here, we get here really the beginning of February. I got named (head coach) at the very end of January. You’re talking about what the culture was and you’re saying this is what it’s going to look like. Now they’ve had a chance to experience it, see it when they’re here on campus, watch it on TV, watch it live and in person and understand we’re going to play the most exciting brand of football in college athletics. Extremely aggressive in all three phases of the game. We’re going to let our guys pin their ears back and go play with an aggressive nature. So, the conversations, it’s like two worlds that are completely separated and so far apart from each other, as far as where we’re at now and where we started. People can see the momentum that we have. They understand that we’ll continue to improve. And when we get people here on Rocky Top, they get a chance to see the university, see the city of Knoxville, feel the energy of our fanbase. Man, this is a really unique environment right now and we’re able to recruit at an elite level.”