Joshua Dobbs, Kendal Vickers and Kahlil McKenzie spoke to reporters about UT’s meeting with No. 19 Florida
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs and defensive linemen Kendal Vickers and Kahlil McKenzie met with members of the media on Tuesday as the 14th-ranked Vols continue preparations for Saturday‘ SEC-opener against No. 19 Florida.
The Vols (3-0, 0-0 SEC) and Gators (3-0, 1-0 SEC) meet for the 46th time on Saturday, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. ET at Neyland Stadium. The game will air on CBS with Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson and Allie LaForce calling the action. ESPN College GameDay will also be on hand that morning, broadcasting live from Rocky Top from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET. It is the second time that GameDay has covered a UT game this season and the first time the pregame show has visited Knoxville since 2012.
Tennessee and Florida are meeting as ranked, undefeated teams for the first time since 2012. It is also the first time since 2006 that both the Vols and Gators are ranked inside the top 20 upon their annual meeting.
UT is 3-0 for the first time since 2004 after defeating Ohio on Saturday to claim its third non-conference victory. Joshua Dobbs threw for a 203 yards and a pair of scores to Josh Malone, while also rushing for 59 yards and a touchdown. Malone, a junior wideout, now has four touchdown catches this season — the most in the SEC through three weeks.
Florida heads into Saturday’s game boasting one of the stingiest defenses in the country. Fresh off a 32-0 shutout of North Texas on Saturday, UF allows a measly 4.7 points per contest. Florida’s 42.3 rush yards allowed and 87.3 pass yards allowed per game each rank first in the SEC and second in the nation.
On Tuesday, Dobbs, Vickers and McKenzie previewed Saturday’s matchup with Florida, highlighting the Vols’ approach to the rivalry week.
Joshua Dobbs | Quarterback | Senior | Alpharetta, Ga.
The 46th meeting between Tennessee and Florida is one that many Vol fans have had their eye on since UT’s heartbreaking loss in Gainesville last season. Florida pulled out a 28-27 victory, using that victory as a stepping stool towards a berth in Atlanta as the SEC East champion. But with all the hype surrounding the matchup, quarterback Joshua Dobbs states that these types of games were his sole focus as he battled through spring and summer workouts.
“It’s really what you train for and your mindset over the summer and winter when you’re tired and don’t want to do an extra rep. You do it because you know that’s what’s going to set you apart when the season comes around. It’s the habit that you train throughout the offseason that gets you to where you are in the season. When you’re on the big stage you’re not worried if you’re going to play well, you expect yourself to play well because you’re going to fall back on those habits that you’ve created. I train at a high level and hold myself to high expectations and I expect myself to go out each time I step on the field to play at a high level.”
Kendal Vickers | Defensive Lineman | RS Junior | Havelock, N.C.
Reminded again of Florida’s 11 consecutive wins over the Volunteers, defensive lineman Kendal Vickers admitted that the streak is something Team 120 is more than aware of. He also noted that those previous 11 games have little bearing on the one coming up on Saturday. To that end, Tennessee’s continues to focus on the things it can control towards achieving success on Saturday: constant, daily improvement and a productive week of practice.
“I’d be lying to you if I said we didn’t think about it. Every day we’re just trying to be a better team and when we come into this week we know it’s Florida, we know we’re rivals and we know we pretty much don’t like each other. But that makes it fun when you get on the field where we can compete and try to end that streak.”
Kahlil McKenzie | Defensive Lineman | Sophomore | Walnut Creek, Calif.
Florida’s offense has utilized a three-headed rushing attack thus far, as tailbacks Jordan Scarlett, Mark Thompson, and Lamical Perine have each recorded between 29 and 33 carries and 53 and 58 yards per game this season. All told, the Gators average just over 200 yards rushing per game and have notched six touchdowns on the ground. Last season, Tennessee was able to limit UF to just 102 yards on the ground and is seeking a similar performance on Saturday as it looks to keep the Gator offense in check.
“Rotating four different guys at running back is like having four different animals. Being able to attack — it all starts with us up front — if we are beating the guys in front of us then it doesn’t matter who’s back there running the ball. That’s what we’re preaching; that’s what we’re getting ready for, to stop that run game.”
More Sound Bites
Quarterback Joshua Dobbs
(On UT’s emphasis on execution heading into the weekend)
“We always have confidence going into each and every game. At the end of the day, you have to go out and execute. Whatever happened last year has no effect on this year. We have to come out ready to play and they’ll come out ready to play. We have to be 11 though 11 throughout the game where all 11 guys are executing at a consistent level and a high level throughout the game. If we do that, we’ll be successful.”
Defensive lineman Kendal Vickers
(On his increased playmaking ability in 2016)
“I’m just making sure I’m doing film study and doing on the field what I know I’m capable of. I’m preparing myself in practice and when it comes to the game it makes it so much easier.”
Defensive lineman Kahlil McKenzie
(On the challenges that await the Vols during SEC play)
“Everybody knows the improvements we have to make; it’s pretty apparent. We have to be better to beat teams we have to play this season. It’s good that we are 3-0 right now, everybody’s happy about that but we have to work to be 1-0 this week. We have a completely different opponent this week that can do a lot of things, offensively and defensively. After last week we are 0-0, SEC play is starting now and that’s why all those young guys came her and be a part of the SEC. They now get to play some SEC football.