Assistant coach Alec Abeln talks Tennessee football tight ends

Tennessee tight ends coach Alec Abeln broke down his position group during his press conference on Thursday, following the Vols’ second practice of fall camp:

What it’s been like seeing Tennessee tight ends Jacob Warren and McCallan Castles work together so much during the offseason

“Yeah it, one, speaks to Jacob and the type of leader he is, that he knows it’s gonna take a whole bunch of guys to go win and know that we’re gonna be counting on Cali to make a bunch of plays this fall. It speaks to really both of them, just ultimate pro mindset, tackling it every day, trying to get better. I mean, it’s a brand new offense for Cali and I think a lot of time in the spring you’re kind of learning on the run in the summer it’s about getting the details down. It’s about chemistry with the guys you’re playing with. I mean it’s awesome when the guys in your room are close like that.” 

Having two veterans like Jacob Warren and McCallan Castles along with two Tennessee freshmen in Ethan Davis and Emmanuel Okoye

“Yeah, it’s awesome. During the summer, the way that lift groups are split up, you’re able to meet a lot one-on-one, able to kind of cater the meetings to who’s in the room. Fall camp is definitely interesting because you got old guys that you want to talk about some really detailed stuff or some really nuanced stuff. And then you’ve got other guys that are literally learning the game of football too. Ethan, who’s come a long way from the spring in terms of what he knows but is still a young guy. Just learning how to play definitely makes it a challenge and credit the old guys for being patient and a lot of times they’re coaching the young guys before I even have to, which makes it really pretty cool.”

Working with a player like Tennessee freshman Emmanuel Okoye, who is new to the game, while also preparing for the season 

“A lot of it is one-on-one time where you understand that there’s a big picture mission that we’re trying to accomplish here. Just a couple weeks, that takes precedence over everything. At the same time, for him to get the most out of this fall camp, he’s gotta be at a certain level of understanding. So a lot of it’s one-on-one where you’re able to focus on him when it’s not the whole group. And in the same breath, we understand what’s coming down the pipe and that’s for sure the priority.”

The kind of instruction they have to give Emmanuel Okoye as he continues to learn the game

“Yeah, you know, when you first got on campus, you’re drawing 22 bodies on board. You’re talking about alignments and you’re talking about big-picture coverage with just … very base level. Down to labeling the guys to the point now, okay, we’re starting to learn how to operate. We’re starting to learn not just what the route is, but how coverage dictates what I’m doing on it. Not just understanding what my assignment on the run is, but how my technique will change. The technique piece is probably the biggest thing just because everything’s brand new and when you’re out there thinking about what I’m supposed to do, the how to do it gets really tough.” 

What excites him about Emmanuel Okoye’s potential

“He’s got chance to be the most athletic guy to have ever played the position. I truly believe that he is as physically gifted as anybody I’ve ever been around. He’s got continued to make steps every day, but just from a raw athletic standpoint, the ceiling is unlimited.” 

What Jacob Warren meant when he said it takes a special player to play tight end

“You get asked to wear a bunch of different hats. You play in the core as a fullback, you play it in the slot as a receiver, you play outside as a receiver, you’ve gotta play in line, you’ve got to pass block, you’ve got to run block, you’ve got to perimeter block, you’ve gotta run a variety of different routes, vertical choice. You’ve got a lot of different stuff on your plate. And it’s happening really fast. And as far as information goes, how we get our guys’ information, they probably get (the most) amount of information. So a lot of it’s figuring out how you fit into the picture and have to have an intelligent guy that really knows what’s going on to be able to go do that at a high level.”

Saying Ethan Davis made a jump during Tennessee’s offseason and how he was able to do it

“Just an attention to detail. I think a lot of times you can kind of get in the right area and kind of do the right thing, but when your feet are perfect and your technique is perfect, like the detail of things has come a long way. And I think some of that he’s gotta continue to take steps. It’s nowhere near where it will be, but when you really know what your assignment is, it allows you to focus on that stuff when you’re swimming, just trying to figure out where to line up and what to do. Your technique’s got no shot. He’s gotten to the point this summer where with everything that’s in currently, he’s knows what he’s supposed to do, where he’s supposed to be, how it’s supposed to look. Now he gets focused on just doing it the way we want.” 

How much productive wide receivers on the field can help free up Tennessee’s tight ends

“Yeah, changes everything. I think our wide outs get a lot of attention and rightfully so. As a tight end, you want to play in the system where you’re gonna have the ability to win one-on-one down the field. I think we’ve got guys that can do that in our room, makes it really tough on a defense if we’re able to do that consistently.” 

How much changed for him when Jacob Warren announced that he would be returning to Tennessee

“I started sleeping a lot better. No, I mean, it changed everything in terms of you knew that you had at least one guy that you could count on to go to war with. And at that point, just trying to find the pieces of who else was gonna be there with him. But man, it really made it easier for us 

How Jacob Warren has continued to progress 

“I think he’s gotten better, just body control in the route. I think he’s gonna surprise a lot of people in space this year and I think he’s gotten a lot better at that stuff just from a fundamental level. He’s gotta continue to get stronger, continue work on every aspect of this game. And the biggest thing to me is just playing with more confidence .”

What he has seen from McCallan Castles

“I mean from the Cal Davis tape you see a playmaker. He is really athletic, so a guy that’s not afraid to stick his face in it. He’s played in a bunch of different systems and knows football at a base level pretty well. This spring, kind of the same thing with Ethan (Davis). He’s trying to figure it out. He’s obviously older, he’s played a lot more so it came a little bit cleaner for him, but now that he knows what he’s doing, being able to really focus on the detailed things and play fast.”

How recruiting has changed for him as Tennessee’s tight ends coach

“Yeah, I mean it’s no secret it takes good players to win big games. And I think people want to be a part of it. I think the first year you’re selling a vision of what this place can be and now there’s been a little bit of proof. And understand that there’s still another step that we’re ready to take and guys that will go do that. At the same time, for sure you’ve got a chance to recruit the best parts in the country or here at Tennessee. 

How his playing background as an offensive lineman, fullback and tight end is now being used during his coaching career.

“I sympathize with them when they’re tired. Run game fundamentals, super similar. There’s a little bit of difference in terms of aiming points, but I think it’s easy when you’ve run through the hole and put your face in it. You can ask those guys to do that and they understand what it takes. There’s a little bit of a selfless mindset from O-line that we’ve gotta embrace as well.” 

How they track all the possibilities in the transfer portal in terms of players that could play at Tennessee

“I’m glad I don’t have to worry about that until they hit the portal. And then you just start watching guys and trying to figure out what’s real and who you think can help you win. But we’ve got a bunch of people in this program that do a great job as far as getting that stuff figured out for us so we don’t have to worry about it until they are (in the portal).”

What he’s looking for out of the tight end room during fall camp

“Just compete. Go play hard every snap.”