Vol Club Confidential: Alec Abeln
Tennessee tight ends coach Alec Abeln has been on a quick path to upper tier college coaching. He joined Vol Club Confidential sponsored by Knoxville Smiles to detail his journey.
“I think just be yourself,” Abeln said about what he has learned. “Like honestly there are going to be things that are new to you and things you learn on the way but at the end of the day you have to be you. You can’t be anybody else. Don’t be afraid change. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Don’t be afraid to do things a little bit different than what has been done before.”
He stepped into a situation with no on the field experience but he has worked with Josh Heupel, Joey Halzle and Glen Elarbee for several years which helped the transition.
“When you need somebody to lean on or there is something would normally be a difficult conversation it’s really not with those guys,” Abeln said. “When you have trust built up over a bunch of years. You work for a guy who is open minded and constantly trying to be the best you can be. When you bring an idea or bring a thought it’s normally met with a lot of deep thought and an open mind. That part is really cool.”
At his core he is an old offensive lineman, who played at Missouri from 2013-2017. But later in his career he did play some jumbo tight end which helped the transition.
“I think the way we operate there is no huddle, the signals at most offenses give the entire signal, a formation and everything like that,” Abeln said. “The way that we operate there is a lot of implied things for the tight ends where you have to have understand the big picture and how you fit into it. Going back to being 22 years old, and seeing signals and lining up in walk thru’s and lining up in games, understanding when the play ends you have to come back and find your eyes and signal. You aren’t being told where to line up and your understanding the play and lining up based off what you have to do. I think that part really helped.”
