Everything Josh Heupel said ahead of Vanderbilt showdown

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel met with members of the media on Monday to kickoff Vanderbilt week for the regular-season finale on Saturday. Here’ everything the coach had to say on Monday afternoon.

“Since I won’t see you guys before Thursday, I wish you, your families, and all of our fans and their families a Happy Thanksgiving. I got an opportunity to come back home, finish regular season out here in front of our fans, honoring a bunch of seniors that have been a huge part of what we’ve done for some of them over the last five years. A great group that love being around. So we’ll have a chance to honor them. Opportunity to play a really good football team and get ready to go play.”

Pavia’s effectiveness this year compared to last….

“Certainly has the ability to use his feet and make plays. He’s thrown it extremely well. He’s continued to get better throughout the course of the season. And being efficient with the football has created a bunch of big plays. But his ability to be a part of the run game as well is a huge part of what they do offensively. 

Coach, you’ve been using De’Saahn Brame a lot on the slot the last few weeks.  What have you seen that he’s been able to give you both in practice and even on Saturday night with that catch? 

De’Saahn’s going to be a great player and I love the growth that he’s had. I think I said last week he got missed a bunch of time early just with an injury coming out of high school, but got great hands, great feel, good route runner, has good speed, so he has the ability to be extremely versatile in what we’re doing offensively, playing this slot, use him in the past game, he’s good for a perimeter block or two, and certainly using him in the core.” 

You mentioned those seniors who have been here for a while. Joey’s one that hasn’t, but has already left a long-lasting impact. For you coaching staff players, you see him in and out every day, but for the fans who maybe just see him on game day or in events, just why do you think he’s resonated so well with this fan base and has become a favorite so quick? 

“I think because of who he is, that’s where it starts. He’s humble, cares about the people around him. Appreciative of this opportunity to be with his teammates. That’s why his teammates gravitated to him really quickly. And then he plays extremely hard. So you combine all those factors. I think he represents what Tennessee football, but what this fan base is all about, too.”

When you look at Vanderbilt defensively, are they different than they were a year ago when you look at them, when you watch them on tape, what stands out about their defense? 

“They’re playing extremely hard, physical. In their front seven, you know, defensively, a lot of different structures. In the last two years that we’ve played them, structure-wise, it’s been dramatically different, you know, when we got to kick off. And so we have to prepare for the structures that we’ve seen in the past and also what they’ve done this year.” 

What kind of challenge will your secondary. have going up against what is kind of a pass-heavy offense with Diego Pavia?

“They got good skill on the perimeter that’s catching the football. They play strong to the catch. 

We got to match everything out, a lot of shift, trade, motion. You got to communicate and play assignment sound, but a part of that is also applying pressure and not letting them sit back there and pat the football all day long too. While you’re doing that, he’s got the ability to escape and make plays. We got to do a great job not letting him outside of the pocket too. 

And keeping on the defensive movement there, the team only gave up two touchdowns in the last two games against Mexico State and Florida combined. What did you see in your defense that really has impressed you over the last two years? 

“Just continued growth, getting some guys back healthy has helped as well, but our young guys have continued to mature throughout the course of the year. And it takes all 11 doing their job. One guy out of the gap creates a big play in the run game. We got the assignment sound in this football game too.” 

After New Mexico State, you said that there’s a day of prep that maybe you didn’t like. After Florida, you commanded the practice. Was there anything that you changed throughout the week or was the execution just better?

“Focus and competitive spirit as you walk into the building. I thought defensively the last two weeks they practiced the right way every day. New Mexico State, we, there were a couple days offensively where I didn’t like our focus.” 

On Ty Redmond playing his best football right now…

“Yeah, excited about the growth that he’s had, but also what’s coming in his future. I don’t think there was one light bulb moment where it just clicked and triggered. I just think it’s been constant growth from him throughout the course of the year.

He got thrust into the middle of the action really quickly. First quarter, first fall game, where he’s going to have to take the load the rest of the way. He’s responded and continued to grow and fight and compete and continue to get better every day and every week. So, really proud of what he’s done.”

On sixth year seniors Bryson Eason and Dom Bailey and what they’ve meant to the defense, defensive line…

“Man, a huge part of our defensive line culture, competitiveness, physicality, how they approach every day. Those two guys, the growth of who they were as an individual and as a player from day one when I got here to who they are now – how they affect their teammates, their consistency every day – couldn’t be more proud of the steps that they’ve taken.

They both got great futures inside of this game and they’ll have a great life afterwards, too. I’m really proud of what they’ve continued to do and grow into.”

On the challenge of acing Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers…

“I think they have great trust with each other. He’s got the ability to play in space and recognize and work off of leverage extremely well. Plays really strong to the catch.”

On his must-have on the Thanksgiving plate…

“Mom’s stuffing. Mom’s not around anymore, but sister is going to try to replicate it. It won’t be as good, but it’ll look pretty good.”

On the challenges of resetting after Senior Day activities…

“Nothing was a challenge for me as a player (laughs). No, it’s unique because there’s no other game that’s like that one. It’s your last one inside that stadium, but two, it’s unique. After our warm-ups, you usually go in and you’ve got your routine. Your routine is stalled for a little bit. You’re introduced, you see your family. That part is definitely unique. The mental side of it – it’s different. When you walk away from it, you walk back into the locker room and you got to flip the switch and get back into your routine, your mindset – to go play and compete. It’s not difficult to do, but it is a unique day.”

On Joshua Josephs and Tyre West…

“For those guys, they signed up when there hadn’t been a ton of proof yet on the field. We had certainly taken a step, but their trust in our staff, our culture, what we were going to become and compete to be, can’t say enough how much I appreciate them. That group has played at a really high level. There’s been some Saturdays we’ve been disappointed. Our fans have been disappointed. But the consistency and the growth of this program is a direct reflection to those guys that came in in that ‘22 class.”