What Josh Heupel said about No. 19 Tennessee vs. Texas A&M in Thursday's press conference

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel held his final press conference of the week on Thursday morning, talking for the final time before his 19th-ranked Vols (4-1, 1-1 SEC) hosts Texas A&M (4-2, 2-1) on Saturday afternoon (3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, CBS) inside a sold-out Neyland Stadium:

What he’s seen from his Tennessee team in practice coming off the bye week

“Practice has been really good. They’ve been locked in. They’re excited about this one. They understand the type of opponent that we’re playing. So preparation has been really good. For us, just the timing of the bye week, I think came at the right time for us, where we were at. So it’s been good.”

If Texas A&M’s defense has been vulnerable to big plays in the pass game and if Tennessee has seen anything it can take advantage of 

“Not a ton. I mean, Alabama hit some big pass plays. In this football game, line of scrimmage is gonna be critical. And people get caught up in from their defensive perspective, the amount of sacks, and that is true, but they’ve been really good against the run too. And so all those things have played off of each other and they force teams into a bunch of third-and-longs. So line of scrimmage is gonna be critical. Maintaining some form of balance in this one, and then out on the perimeter you gotta go make plays in one-on-one situations. So all those pieces gotta come together.”

Texas A&M defensive lineman Walter Nolan and the challenge Tennessee faces against him

“Their entire defensive lines, big, strong physical has the ability to bend. They’re athletic, they’re violent, disruptive in the run game. And they have the ability to get after the quarterback and they’ve done that with pressures and they’ve done it with their front four as well.”

What comes to mind from his playing days at Oklahoma when the Sooners would play Texas A&M

“First one probably comes to mind would just be as a player. They’ve got a good (home) atmosphere at Kyle Field. Had a lot of battles with them. Typically they show up and they’re ready to play. So in this one, I anticipate it being a great environment here inside of Neyland Stadium. And we need our fans to show up. I hope they enjoyed their bye week, but they better be rested and recovered and ready to roll in this one. They need to be a factor in the football game. So looking forward to seeing them at ‘Checker Neyland’ here on Saturday afternoon.”

His memories of former Tennessee safety Eric Berry

“Memories of the player, whether he was in college or whether he was in the NFL. A dynamic playmaker that changed the way the game was played in the middle of the football field. Played violently, played downhill, just one of the best to ever play the position — I feel that way — in college, but also at the next level. Haven’t had a bunch of opportunities to have a lot of interactions with him. I’m really excited to get a chance to spend some time with him here. Friday, he’ll be with us and certainly on game day too.”

Having the entire Berry family back on campus this weekend

“People that have had a huge impact and are a huge footprint on this program. And left it better than where they found it as they came through here. And our great legacies inside of this program. So for Eric, his whole family, to be here, to have a chance to reconnect with this current program, this current staff I think is huge. And, again, he’s one of the best that’s ever done it. And for us to have an opportunity to celebrate that, it’s huge.”

If Doneiko Slaughter and Dont’e Thornton will be ready for Tennessee on Saturday 

“Yeah. Guys that have been nicked up, we’ve all had good work. We typically wait until Friday or our pre-game warmups to make the final determination from our medical staff and the players ourselves. So I anticipate those guys being ready to roll.”

What he’s seen from Tennessee’s outside receivers who will help replace Bru McCoy

“Yeah … Chas (Nimrod), Kaleb (Webb), Dont’e (Thornton) being back, all of those guys have stepped up and done a really nice job. Anticipate all those guys playing at a really high level. And their football journey to grow, but believe those guys will play really well in this one and down the stretch for us.”

If Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton is healthier after the bye week

“Yeah, for sure. Joe’s been tough and weathered through every nick bump that he’s had throughout the course of the season. The bye week was a good time for him too.”