KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee head coach Butch Jones and redshirt juniors Trevor Daniel and Josh Smith spoke to reporters after the first of two practices on Wednesday at Haslam Field.
After the morning practice, freshman defensive back Baylen Buchanan became the first newcomer of 2016 preseason camp to have the black stripe on his helmet removed. The removal of the black stripe is decided by position groups.
Butch Jones | Head Coach | Fourth Season
Head coach Butch Jones discussed some of the drills and situations that Team 120 have focused on in practice. The Vols took the field at 9 a.m. on Wednesday for their first morning practice of preseason camp.
“I thought it was a productive day. We were not out here too long, but it’s almost like class on grass–a lot of end of the game situations, one minute-type drills, some last-second field goals and a lot of special teams emphasis. I like the way our players came out. I thought they had good energy for our first morning practice. I thought that was really good moving forward. As we go throughout the course of training camp now, this is where your team really starts to be born from toughness and from leadership – when it starts to become a grind a little bit. The thing that we have to do a much better job on is just overall execution in all three phases. I’ve liked our tempo and I’ve liked our effort, but the small details and what it takes to play winning football are not there yet. They’re not game ready, but again, that’s why you practice.”
Trevor Daniel | P | RS Junior | Dickson, Tenn.
Following practice on Wednesdaymorning, Vols redshirt junior and punter Trevor Daniel spoke to the media regarding his plan to build on his experience from last season.
“I felt comfortable, I felt confident. I just wanted to be the best I could for the team and put them in the best situation that I could.”
Josh Smith | WR | RS Junior | Knoxville, Tenn.
In his fourth fall camp at Tennessee, redshirt junior wide receiver Josh Smith is one of the most experienced receivers on the Volunteers’ roster. With that experience comes the responsibility of stepping up and being a leader on Team 120, something Smith has embraced.
“It’s huge because I can’t just look at the receivers, I have to look at the whole offense. Josh Dobbs can’t do it all. He has so much on his plate, so we have to take a lot of that off him. It does start with my position group. I have to start there and then work my way to the offensive line and running backs. Each day, we are just trying to improve.”
Sound Bites
Head Coach Butch Jones
(On the maturity and toughness of the team)
“When you get practice 10, 11, 12 and 13 in there, you find out where your team is and kind of draw the line in the sand and say ‘This is where we’re at, this is where we’re going to be when it really gets tough.’ It’s easy to want to play football and have great energy and all that when you’re fresh, but now all of a sudden your legs become a little bit weary, you’re a little bit tired and you’re responsible for taking care of your body. That’s really when you find out about your leadership and the maturity and the mental toughness of your football team.”
RS Junior P Trevor Daniel
(On what he has focused on in camp)
“Honestly, [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”][I want to] just go out there and put the team in the best situation that I can. Make each snap count, and like I’ve said, work on my hang time and pin them deep. I’m pushing myself. I don’t want to get complacent. I don’t want to think I’m something that I’m not. I want to keep working hard and doing the best that I can. ”
RS Junior WR Josh Smith
(On what kind of growth he has seen from Joshua Dobbs)
“Monumental. It started in the offseason with workouts, throwing and just getting chemistry with all the receivers.”[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]