#VOLREPORT: VOL FRESHMEN EMBRACE STANDARDS

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — With just 16 days remaining until the start of the 2015 season, the Vols continued preseason training on a cloudy Thursday at Haslam Field.

Following practice, three of the youngest members of Team 119 addressed the media for the first time of Fall Training Camp. Freshman quarterback Quinten Dormady, defensive lineman Kyle Phillips and linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. each took time to discuss their fall camp progress and experiences, while Head Coach Butch Jones continued to praise the group’s talent and work ethic.

“I’ve been very, very pleased with this recruiting class,” Jones said. “They’re very close. They have a great work ethic. They have a very strong character about themselves. They have great competitive character and they’re intelligent and they’re pushing each other.”

While the Vols’ freshman group has taken the initiative to adopt Tennessee’s values and expectations as a football program, Jones also credits the team leadership from upperclassmen and the freshmen’s determination to mimic their work ethic.

“They have walked in from Day 1 and have embraced our standards and our expectations within our football program,” Jones said. “I think that’s a tribute to all of our older players. We’re still not there yet in terms of the elite programs in the country, in terms of competitive depth, but I’ve been very proud of this freshman class. They’re doing a very good job.”

 

Kirkland Stays Ahead of the Curve

Freshman linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. is reaping the benefits of being a spring enrollee. With an extra semester of studying the game and reviewing film, Kirkland has received praise from his coaches for being a quick learner and his commitment to mastering the playbook, inside and out. Kirkland says that the spring “mental reps” have been beneficial to his progress.

“[The mental reps] were really big for me,” Kirkland said. “Just to study the defense, to get to be in all the meetings, it really helped me a lot to see how our guys do it and to learn our style of play.”

Kirkland added that his spring semester has made his fall classroom workload easier. In May, the Indianapolis native stayed in Knoxville to rehab from injury and continued to be one of UT’s top students of the game.

“It was really big for me,” he said. “I stayed in the playbook as well and really watched a lot of film and I feel like that got me ahead.”

 

Dormady Settling In On Rocky Top

With his black stripe gone and his name already listed on the Volunteer depth chart at the No. 2 quarterback spot, freshman Quinten Dormadybelieves his arrival on campus last spring as an early enrollee was the catalyst for his rapid development this fall.

“I think [I’m] just more comfortable in the sense of the playbook,” the former 4-star prospect said. “Getting back out there with the guys that I’ve already been with seven or eight months helps and I think that that’s grown as I’ve been here.”

That familiarity has bred confidence for the Boerne, Texas, native. Embracing his role as the backup quarterback, Dormady knows his primary duty is to be fully prepared to perform when called upon.

“I’m here to be ready for whenever I do get my chance,” said Dormady. “That’s how I’m approaching every day and I’m just here to compete. It’s obviously fun to be out there with the guys and that kind of thing as my relationship keeps growing with them.”

 

Malone Dedicated to Staying Healthy

Sophomore receiver Josh Malone battled through injuries in 2014 training camp and played through nagging injuries during his rookie season. The Gallatin, Tenn., native dedicated the last several months to getting his body ready for the rigors of college football.

“After getting hurt last year I knew I had to start taking care of my body better,” Malone said. “It was one of my goals going into the season, to take care of my body some can withstand the marathon of the college season.”

As a former five-star recruit, Malone has high expectations for himself and hopes that his commitment to staying healthy will allow him to shine in 2015.

“I am making sure everything is right in my body so that I can perform like I should,” he said.

 

Big Guys, Little Numbers

For those of you used to seeing defensive linemen chasing the quarterbacks with numbers in the nineties, you will be in for a stark change when the season opens on September 5.

Freshman defensive lineman Kahlil McKenzie (#1), Kyle Phillips (#5) and Shy Tuttle (#2) all will be sporting single digit numbers as they take the field in Nashville. Add in junior lineman LaTroy Lewis (#4) and the Vols could play a defensive line where the highest number is five.

“Growing up we had to wear big numbers. Since we got to college we were able to wear single digits and I think that excited us a lot,” said Phillips. “I just enjoyed the number five. I think just growing up it is kind of cool for the bigger guys to wear single digits.”

The big men have taken to the small numbers, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that will lead to confusion. Tuttle will wear the number two on defense while listed at six feet two inches and 311 pounds. On offense, that jersey belongs to Pig Howard (#2), who checks in at five feet eight inches and 180 pounds. Let’s hope the equipment guys don’t switch up their jerseys.

SOUND BITES

• Sophomore WR Josh Malone(On Quinten Dormady)

  “He’s been really good. He’s really improved a lot from the spring. I’m really impressed with him. He’s a very good athlete. It’s surprising, you wouldn’t think he could do some of the things that he can do. Quinten’s very athletic.”

  (On improving consistency this fall camp)

  “I’d say I’ve been highly consistent a lot better than I was my freshman year. My goal this year was to be more consistent in practice and develop my habits. I’m just trying to keep improving myself the Saturdays coming up. Freshman year was crazy, there was just a lot of things going on. It is just a change in mindset. I knew going into my sophomore year that consistency was something I needed to work, so I just tried to work on that.”

   

• Freshman DL Kyle Phillips(On being first freshman to lose his stripe)

  “I think I’ve worked very hard on the field and off the field, just taking tips from Derek [Barnett] and the older guys. I think they helped me a lot. Just learning from them really helped me.”

  (On learning from Derek Barnett and Curt Maggitt)

  “Those guys are some of the top players, especially on the defensive end side. Just learning from those guys, older guys that have been there done that. It’s really exciting. It wasn’t like I was thrown into anything. I’ve gotten a lot of help from Coach Strip [Steve Stripling] and all the older guys. It’s really helped me a lot.”

   

• Sophomore DE Derek Barnett(On what it takes to play as a true freshman)

  “I would say the most important thing is to play physical, and run hard to the ball. Just give great effort, because if you mess up, effort can make you right.”

  (On the high expectations of the defensive line)

  “We just work hard every day, and then when it’s game time, we’re going to prove it. That’s what we’re doing. We’re just working hard each day, coming out to practice, getting better in the film room, too. When it’s game time, that’s when we’re going to prove it.”

   

• Freshman QB Quinten Dormady(On becoming more vocal now compared to the Spring)

  “I think it’s just being more comfortable. I’m more comfortable around the guys, getting to know them, they’re getting to know me. Just being comfortable and them trusting me. I think that the trust factor is going up each and every day and that’s just how I’m going to go about the season and continue to grow as I can.”

  (On being named the backup quarterback)

  “It feels good. Just getting back out there after having the spring under my belt, it’s been fun to get back out there with the guys and compete. We’re just looking to get better right now and grow until September 5th.”

   

• Freshman LB Darrin Kirkland Jr.(On the role of the MIKE linebacker)

  “You’ve got to take charge. That’s my job as a MIKE. I definitely do take control when I’m out there. I definitely have to set the front and that’s my job, it’s not Jalen [Reeves-Maybin]’s job, it’s not anybody else’s job. I’ve definitely got to be the alpha male on the defense.”

  (On the benefits of being an early enrollee)

  “Really just getting the mental reps. Those were really big for me. Just to study the defense, to get to be in all the meetings, it really helped me a lot to see how our guys do it and to learn our style of play.”