KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The steady refrain from the Tennessee camp with each game of 2015 has been the focus on a “one-game season” — referring to a narrow mentality that does not look behind or beyond the next opponent.
That mantra will finally ring true in the literal sense this week as the Vols prepare to host in-state rival Vanderbilt in the season finale on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET on the SEC Network. Riding a four-game winning streak and faced with the opportunity to achieve the program’s most wins in a single season since 2007, the Vols know they’ve got a lot riding on Saturday’s result against the Commodores.
“Great challenge this week with Vanderbilt — as good of a defensive football team that we’ve faced,” said head coach Butch Jones during his Monday press conference. “A good football team, and it’s going to be a great challenge again [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][with] a lot on the line.”
Another driving motivation for Tennessee will be the Senior Night festivities set to take place at Neyland Stadium before the game. The Vols will honor 19 seniors prior to kickoff.
“Big day Saturday, for a number of reasons,” Jones said. “First of all, we get to recognize 19 seniors in our football family. Some have been here longer than others, but they’ve meant so much to our program. They’ve been through a lot together, so it’s very fitting that we would honor them as we continue to move the football program forward.”
Tennessee’s 19 seniors to be recognized include:
No. Pos/Name
5 RB/Ralph David Abernathy IV
46 DB/Max Arnold
10 H/Patrick Ashford
97 PK/George Bullock
57 OL/Mack Crowder
48 TE/Alex Ellis
59 LS/Matt Giampapa
75 OL/Marcus Jackson
81 WR/Johnathon Johnson
77 OL/Kyler Kerbyson
56 LB/DL/Curt Maggitt
33 DB/LaDarrell McNeil
9 WR/Von Pearson
28 DB/David Priddy
37 DB/Brian Randolph
31 P/Nate Renfro
96 DL/Trevarris Saulsberry
42 DL/Chris Weatherd
58 DL/Owen Williams
Randolph Reflects
Brian Randolph has been on the record that he is not a sentimental guy. Never has been, never will be.
However, Randolph does take great pride playing a part in Tennessee’s turnaround over the last few seasons.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had four-game win streak here,” Randolph said. “To be able to do that makes me feel great and knowing that we are leaving Tennessee in a better place.”
Randolph is a fifth-year senior who played on a 2012 defense that gave up 35.7 points per game. This year the Vols are holding opponents to just 20.5 points per game and have played their best defense in the last two weeks with a 24-0 shutout win over North Texas and a 19-8 road win at Missouri.
“It has been like night and day, especially since my second year,” he said. “That was a rough year for us. Nobody was proud of that. After that year, we went into the offseason talking about our average points given up per game. We are all very prideful on defense. We like to give our best performance. When we don’t, it makes us work that much harder.”
Vital Vickers
Redshirt sophomore Kendall Vickers has stepped into a starting role in his third year in the Tennessee program.
Vickers came into the program at 230 pounds but after a year working with strength and conditioning coach Dave Lawson, Vickers has blossomed.
“I went from 230 as a redshirt to 260 by the end of the year,” Vickers said. “My mom and dad, they were shocked. They saw me as a little twig; they see me as a man now. It’s kind of cool, they hadn’t seen me in about a year, and I came back 25-30 pounds heavier.”
“I’ve always thought I’ve had the physical capabilities of being a three-technique,” Vickers continued. “It was just a matter of me gaining the weight. I feel like I’ve done that well.”
Vickers has been a constant on the defensive line this year. He has started all 11 games at defensive tackle and recorded 17 tackles and a sack after only playing in five games in 2014.
“I just try to do my job,” Vickers said. “I don’t get caught up in the stats. I know if I do my job, I’m going to be put in a good spot to succeed.”
Vickers is still learning the position; he played outside linebacker at Havelock High School in North Carolina and then played defensive end for a while before converting to his current position at defensive tackle. That conversion has been spurred by some extraordinary feats in the weight room.
Vickers was awarded the John Stucky Award for Power at the 2015 Orange and White Game in the spring game. Over the summer, Vickers squatted 700 pounds the highest of anybody on the team this year.
“I just want to help the team win. Moving to d-tackle that brought a lot of questions whether I would be able to do it or not. I feel like I’ve been able to do it well.”
SOUND BITES
- Junior QB Joshua Dobbs(On the different injuries with receivers and adapting to it)
“Football is a humbling game. It is a testament to that group and they are definitely very mentally strong. I think that guys had to step up and they were able to step up throughout the season and make plays. It comes down to off season preparation, and meeting with all of the receivers to find chemistry there because you never know who will need to step in and make a play.”
- RS Senior Brian Randolph(On leaving UT better than where it was when he got here)
“When I got here, we were just hoping to win. Now, I feel like we expect to win every single game. In the beginning of the year, when we didn’t win, it was a big surprise to us. I think our mentality has changed since I got here.”
(On best memory in Neyland Stadium)
“I’d say it was the South Carolina game (in 2013). That was the first time for myself beating a ranked team, an SEC team, at home. I feel like it was the was turning point of my career when we got that first crucial win. After Palardy made that kick, that is probably the best time I can remember at Neyland Stadium.”
- RS Sophomore DL Kendal Vickers(On how he has grown as a player)
“Playing the three-technique is the toughest job on the team in my opinion. I just try to make sure I’m out there grinding everyday with the boys on the field. They got my respect out there. They know I am going to do what I am supposed to be doing.”
(On squatting 700 pounds)
“It was a big, huge adrenaline rush with all the guys around the rack screaming and yelling. I got under the bar and I was like I’ve got to do this now, either come up or go down. So I decided to go up.”
- Freshman LB Darrin Kirkland Jr.(On blitzing with Jalen Reeves-Maybin)
“I really enjoy that element of the game. I like that Coach Jancek has confidence in me to do certain things on the field. It sets guys up and myself to make big plays on the field so I really enjoy the blitz element. I feel like Jalen and I provide a great challenge for offenses with our quickness, our closing ability, and we are also very smart with our blitzes. So it provides a different challenge for them.”
(On the confidence level of the defense)
“Our confidence has grown a lot in the past couple of weeks. We have really been sticking together as a unit. We are really close in this group so we are just excited for any challenge that we get. We want to show people that we are a good defense in this conference.”
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