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Vol Club Confidential: Aaron Beasley

On3 imageby:Austin Price•09/08/23•

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Aaron Beasley sat in the stands alone in the spring of 2021 as his teammates went through an open Vol football practice. Suspended due to an off the field issue, Beasley found in that day he needed the game and started the climb back as he discussed this week in Vol Club Confidential.

“It’s a cliche saying that you never know what you have until it’s taken away from you,” Beasley said. “Just having the chance to go out there and realize what I was missing out on and the privilege I have to play this game at the university of Tennessee. Just seeing that I was just soaking it all in. It was a moment for me. I think that’s why I went there to see what I was missing out on.”

He started 11 games that year and finished second on the team in tackles with 84 to go with 7.5 TFLs and two fumble recoveries.

“Coming in from high school to college and new scenery and new people it took me a while to realize my maturity levels,” Beasley said. “I’m forever grateful for my time here and the ups and downs. It made me who I am today and it’s definitely made me more mature. I wouldn’t want it any other way. I think that’s the biggest thing is what we go through the good and the bad that makes us who we are at the end or the day.”

Beasley built on that last year and he was simply one of the most productive linebackers in the conference. He led the Vols defense with 76 tackles and was also the best on the team with 13.5 tackles for a loss, which ranked sixth in the SEC. He was masterful in the Orange Bowl with two sacks against Clemson. His growth can be linked to his connection with linebackers coach Brian Jean Mary.

“He has meant a lot,” Beasley said. “I think the biggest thing a coach can do for a player is believe in them and have that trust in them. If a player feels that from his coach then the ceiling is high for them. Coach BJ does a great job of believing in his players and trusting in them and giving them that confidence to go out and play. I forever have love for coach BJ. He is a father figure for me. Being away from home it makes things easier when you have a coach like BJ.”

Tennessee has incredible self belief as a team. They genuinely believe they can win the SEC eastern division for the first time since 2007.

“The work we have put in, you don’t get that confidence in believing in something without putting work into it,” Beasley said. “I feel like that’s a big part of it. Coach Heupel has also done a great job of ingraining that into our minds. Expect to win and not just believe it. Expect it. You get that also from your work. He talks about hoping and trying and believing and expecting. We expect to and that’s what we are going to do.”

Beasley is a Vol looking to lead

And they expectation starts individually with Beasley himself.

“Just be the best teammate I can be on the field on Saturday’s and during the week,” Beasley said. “Just doing what I can to help this team reach our goals.

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