What De'Rail Sims said about Tennessee's running backs on Wednesday

What Tennessee running backs coach De’Rail Sims said about his position group during his press conference after Wednesday’s spring practice:

Tennessee’s evaluation of transfer running back Star Thomas, what he has added to the Vols

“You saw a guy that was highly productive at his previous stops that he’s been at. An older guy that’s played a lot of football, a guy that brings some maturity into the whole room. So it was a piece for us that we were definitely going out looking for an older guy because we are still fairly young in that room. So he brought a ton of maturity, a ton of leadership categories. And then a guy that was the leading rusher at an ACC program last year. So that was huge for us to be able to go get a guy like that.”

If Star Thomas has to prove to Tennessee’s coaches that he can compete with DeSean Bishop or Peyton Lewis

“Yeah, I think that goes for everybody. You know what I’m saying? Like there’s always room to improve in the game. With Star, it’s just, the number one deal in terms of coming in, being a product of the system in terms of learning the system completely. Because it comes out, just like me as a coach, last year I got here, I had been in several different systems. You kind of confuse a lot of them together because everybody runs the same stuff. He’s just getting the verbiage down pat. So him mastering the system, that’s the piece of it that we continue to work towards.”

What he likes about DeSean Bishop and Peyton Lewis, where those two running backs need to continue to step up

“I feel good with them in terms of the leadership that they’re showing to the room. Both of those guys have stepped up and kind of taken charge and led the room by example. I think the biggest deal with them is the consistency, to take the next step. Last year you had Samp (Dylan Sampson) in the room to where, holistically as an offense, when you needed a spark, that was the guy to kind of leaned towards. Now with those guys understanding, man, I got to be on my A-game every single day. And they’ve done a really good job of that. But also in terms of bringing those younger guys along. The thing that I really like about both of those guys, both of them, is that the younger guys that are in the room, if they make a mistake, they go get them before I get them. Which is really, really good. And they correct the mistakes, so they’re coaching each other up in their room. And then the other deal is like you always want to see them take the next step in terms of pass protection, being clean and concise in that as we continue to go through our spring practice.”

What the focus is for Peyton Lewis moving forward 

“Him missing spring practice last year, and then having the opportunities that he did in the game last year, the speed of the game, he understands how the tempo the game flows. You saw him get comfortable in the games he played, particularly in Ohio State game in the second half. You saw him starting to get in his zone, to feel really good. I think the biggest deal with him this offseason has been running behind his past. But also holistically as a group, being able to win on the free hat. And then the pass protection piece of it, because he didn’t get very many opportunities at that last year. He’s taken a tremendous step in that this spring, in terms of getting better.”

The luxury of having leaders in the running back room with DeSean Bishop and Peyton Lewis

“It’s good because I think I always tell them the main deal is your greatest teacher is the guy that sitting next to you. So they understood that they were in those seats before as well, so they can get on those guys and be like, hey, here’s the mistakes that I made. Don’t make no same mistakes. Or don’t listen to how coaches coming at you, listen to the message. And if they make a mistake they go get them and understand like, here’s why you made that mistake. Here’s the things that I would do differently in order that I don’t make the same mistake twice.” 

DeSean Bishop’s confidence building off of his redshirt freshman season

“I think that’s the deal. You see the confidence, which he’s always been confident, but he’s more mature in terms of he’s a year older in the system. So he has kind of have seen it all. That’s the really good part about everybody in that room that has been here. When you see him look at Peyton you look at DeSean and you look at Hunter Barnes, they’ve been in that system for multiple years. So they understand, OK, I’m not going to make this mistake. So if we’re going over a schematic issue, it’s like, well coach, what about this? What if this situation comes up? I think DeSean has grown tremendously in terms of the mental aspects schematically. He understands the system inside and out and understands if this situation comes up, here’s the adjustment off of that.”

What he has seen from freshman running back Daune Morris this spring

“You see the explosiveness that he showed throughout high school. He’s a football player no matter where he lines up on the field. I think he does a really good job, like high school, they play him in the slot, played him in the backfield. The next step for him is understanding the speed of the game. Especially in practice. He’s been coached a couple times to be able to get out and and pop a few, show that speed. And then it’s always the physicality and the pass protection piece of it. Understanding where to place my eyes, in terms of the correct read in the run game and also in the pass protection game. Make sure I’m looking at the correct defender and then how am I attacking him to make sure that I’m giving the quarterback a clean pocket.” 

Tennessee’s pitch to Star Thomas as a transfer prospect looking at the Vols

“Told him to come in and compete. Everybody’s got a clear opportunity to go compete. You’re not going to be given anything, you got to go earn it. That’s what Coach Heup’s main deal is. Number one, come in and learn it, come in and earn it and go in and take it. And that’s all, he’s given an opportunity. And he didn’t back down from the competition whatsoever. Like him coming in here has been a blessing because he’s fit in with that room tremendously. Like it’s no ego whatsoever in that room. And everybody wants to see everybody do good now. It’s highly competitive and everybody’s pushing everybody, but there’s no ego. you know what I’m saying? So he’s feeling tremendously in the room.”

What has made DeSean Bishop produce as an SEC running back

“I think the biggest deal when you look at DeSean is his heart, number one. He’s rooted in his faith. He’s understand where the struggle comes from. Number two, like the production that he had in high school. You don’t just have that production if you’re not a really good player, and he’s a football player. So I think the number one deal is he always has that chip on his shoulder. He always has a point to prove every single day that he walks in the building. But he carries himself in a way that is not arrogant, that he has that confidence about him, but he’s still humble. And I think the number one deal is when other guys come into the room, he’s there to help him. He’s taken Justin Baker under his wing and done a really good job in terms of being able to lead him. Same situation with Daune Morris.”