KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The second week of the Tennessee football team’s preseason practice is underway. On Tuesday, veteran players Corey Vereen, Micah Abernathy, Kahlil McKenzie and John Kelly spoke to reporters in the Ray and Lucy Hand Digital Studio.
Corey Vereen | DL | Senior | Winter Garden, Fla.
Tennessee senior defensive lineman Corey Vereen spoke with the media about the improvements that defensive coordinator Bob Shoop has made for him and the defensive line.
“Coach Shoop is a real direct guy, and like he says, he isn’t very high on the swag-meter but at the same time he is a very good defense coordinator. With everything he talks about with culture verses scheme he teaches that what we’re going to do is going to be better than what we draw up on paper. How we’re going to play and how we’re going to be as a defense is going to look better than whatever we have drawn up on paper, and that mentality makes a difference for us.”
Micah Abernathy | DB | Sophomore | Atlanta, Ga.
After a standout freshman campaign on special teams, Micah Abernathy looks to make an impact on the Tennessee defense. He is making the conversion from nickelback to safety, but in Defensive Coordinator Bob Shoop’s system you have to know multiple positions.
“I feel like, playing nickel and safety, you have to have the same skill sets, whether it is blitzing or coverage. Just being the same type of player is a good thing. They work interchangeably with our defense so it helps knowing both.”
Kahlil McKenzie | DL | Sophomore | Walnut Creek, Calif.
A trim Kahlil McKenzie spoke to the media on Tuesday to discuss how he achieved his offseason goal of reaching 315 pounds by the start of fall camp. The sophomore, who was listed at 344 at the start of his freshman campaign, admitted to a playing most of last season between 327 and 335 pounds. After committing to a strict diet and strength training regimen throughout the spring and summer, McKenzie is enjoying the benefits of his slimmed stature.
“I’m not dying by the halfway point of practice. Being able to perform at a high level is really where it has helped me for the most part – being able to go full speed the whole practice. I’ve got guys around me who are always going full speed on the defensive line or on the defense or offense. We are at that point now where guys are going all-out on every single rep. So it is good to be able to keep up with them and be in condition for that.”
John Kelly | RB | Sophomore | Detroit, Mich.
One of Tennessee’s strongest units this fall will be its running backs, with Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara leading the rushing attack for the Vols. With all the attention they receive, it is easy to overlook John Kelly in UT’s talented offense. Despite his playing time, the sophomore continues to gain praise from coaches and players on his work ethic and mentality.
“I’ve always had an unselfish mentality in the game,” said Kelly. “It doesn’t matter where I am at on the field. As long as I can help, that is all that really matters.”
Sound Bites
Senior DL Corey Vereen
(On Bob Shoop’s opinion that he is one of the most underrated players in the SEC)
“I take everything with a grain of salt. Obviously, I’ve been doing some good things on the field in terms of staying consistent but I also have to focus on the different aspects of the game and just make sure that I’m putting in the work every day just like everyone else on the team.”
Sophomore DB Micah Abernathy
(On if he feels pressure during practice)
“I wouldn’t say its pressure. It is knowing what you have to do when you walk on the field and having to do that is something in your head that you need to get over. Pressure, that is something you are not prepared for, but I would say that everybody on our team is prepared for the feats that we have in practice.”
Sophomore DL Kahlil McKenzie
(On where he fits, as a defensive tackle, in the grand scheme of the defense)
“As a defensive lineman, you want to be disruptive and dominant. Just controlling my man across the line of scrimmage, doing what we can to free up linebackers, make the job easier on corners. It’s all connected. What we do helps the linebackers, what the linebackers do helps us. What we do helps the DBs and when the DBs are covering we have more time to get after the quarterback. All that factors in.”
Sophomore RB John Kelly
(On the running backs working as a group)
“We all try to push each other. We are all going for the same goal. It doesn’t matter who gets all of the recognition. As long as we push each other, we know that we got our job done.”