Josh Heupel impressed with veteran Jaylen Wright and transfer Keenan Pili
Wednesday head coach Josh Heupel and Tennessee will hold their second major scrimmage of fall camp. Heupel said Sunday night on ‘The Nation‘ radio show with Austin Price and Chris Low that they will continue to push the growth and development of his team. He also noted that the will be mindful in how they managed their veterans.
One veteran who has had a really good fall camp is running back Jaylen Wright. Wright led Tennessee in rushing last year amassing 875 yards on 146 carries. Last fall camp, Wright was limited due to injury. This August he’s healthy and Heupel said the junior has been impressive on and off the field.
“Jaylen has done an unbelievable job from the day that we got here to today of just growing into a man that knows how to handle his business on the field and off the field,” Heupel said. “He has become a pro. Coach (Jerry) Mack has done a great job of continuing to help him grow in every area of his life. Jaylen cares deeply about his performance, him being his best but he cares about the people around him. He has become really selfless in who he is and has been a pro in the way he approaches every day in the building.
“He had an unbelievable off-season. This summer some of the gains that he made are some of the best on our football team and was recognized that way. He’s playing extremely well right now. He’s explosive. He’s violent, but he’s learned how to be a running back. He’s not just someone who grabs the ball and tries to run around people. He understands our schemes, how things are being blocked and he’s poised to have a great year for us.”
While Wright is growing into his role as he continues to mature, BYU transfer Keenan Pili is mature. The veteran Pili is the Vols old man. Pili signed with BYU out of high school in 2016. Seven years later, Pili finds himself in the SEC and happy to be a Vol. Tennessee feels the same way after a healthy Pili work through the first two weeks of fall camp. Pili was limited in spring and didn’t scrimmage. He’s not been limited this month and the Utah native has been better than Tennessee thought according to the head coach.
“Keenan Pili is someone who has played a lot of football. He’s been really productive,” Heupel said. “He led the team in tackles at his previous stop. We thought we were getting a really mature football player that had experience that would be a consummate pro inside of our building. What we have gotten is someone that in a really short amount of time has translated into a really powerful leader in the linebacker room along with Aaron Beasley and is a leader for our entire defensive unit as well.
“He is more athletic and more explosive than we even anticipated on tape. He’s been dynamic here during the first half of training camp. I’m really excited about the steps that he has made.”
