Everything Josh Heupel said after No. 22 Tennessee's 72-17 win over ETSU

Everything head coach Josh Heupel said after No. 22 Tennessee beat ETSU 72-17 Saturday afternoon in the home opener at Neyland Stadium:

Opening Statement

“I like the way our guys played to start the game. There’s some things in the first half offensively that I felt like we needed to clean up, that in some ways we got away with. But all three phases, punt returns, field position early, big part of the game. And then in the second half, defensively, wanted to start fast. Gave up the third-down conversion, gave up the field goal, I think. But second half, for the most part, I thought our young guys went out there and competed in a really positive way, through all three phases of the game. So a lot of positives there. Enjoy it tonight and then get ready for conference play and get better here as we come back into the building on Monday.” 

Tennessee starting fast in a game like that, if it’s a sign of good leadership on the team 

“Start fast, we did that. The young guys in the second half, coming out and playing and competing in a positive way, really positive too. There’s some things that will definitely show up on tape where we got to get better. But starting fast, and defensively in particular, early in the football game, I thought they executed, got off the field really well early in that football game. That was a big part of the field position. Offensively, got some drives going, kicked a few more field goals than we want to too, though.”

How much different running back Star Thomas is than when he arrived at Tennessee 

“I think even from the end of spring ball, and there was a lot of growth for Star in January, February, beginning of spring ball, but from spring ball to the start of training camp, I’m not sure anybody changed more than he did. Man, just did an elite job with his body, understanding growth in the offense. And that was noticeable Day 1 when we got out on the practice field in the early part of training camp. Just done an elite job.”

The impact Boo Carter can make as Tennessee’s punt returner

“Boo certainly has an ability to impact the game. I think Boo would tell you this, too, it starts with the guys up front. The guy got the ball in his hands like a running back, man. Starts up front. I thought we did a really good job holding that line scrimmage and creating some opportunities for vertical seams. Boo did a really good job making some plays. Cuts one back, bounces it and was electric with the ball in his hands. Special teams has got to be an area that we win on each Saturday. And the return game is a big part of that, Boo is certainly a massive part of it today.”

Updating the injury status of freshman right tackle David Sanders Jr.

“Dave, anticipated him being ready. Ultimately, medical decided for him, for us, it probably wasn’t the best move to play him today.”

The importance of playing backup quarterbacks and younger players in that kind of game

“Talking about our starters, and I think it’s important your two (backup) quarterback gets an opportunity to function and operate. You don’t know when he’s going to be called upon, right? And he’s one play away, so he’s got to be able to operate and get some flow of what playing is like. At the same time, I thought when we were off schedule, whatever might have happened, and we tried to drain the clock with those guys too. And then George goes in, I thought our (second-team offensive line) handled things really well. George did a really good job. Decisive, made some plays and scrambled outside of the pocket. I thought he handled himself, executed at a really high level.”

Mike Matthews performance, getting a lot of targets

“I don’t know how many he got. Early in the football game, the coverage dictated the ball actually going in an opposite direction. Then we were able to get him going in the second quarter and Mike, from January coming back, dramatically different person, player, maturity, focus, all of it. And that’s not to slight him in any way previously, either. He just became a true vet and played really well last week. Obviously made some big plays, going over the top of everybody on the touchdown catch was a great individual play by him. We got some young wideouts and we expect them to play at a championship level. They’ve played really well the last two weeks. And the positive thing is there’s still a lot of football growth for all of them. And the guys behind Mike in that starting unit, I thought they went out and played really well too. So a lot of positives in that way.”

The long touchdown to Mike Matthews, the decision from Joey Aguilar on the throw

“Well, if it’s a touchdown, it’s positive.”

Joey Aguilar’s overall performance

“Yeah, he handled the game with low decision making for the most part really well. Some things that he’ll learn from just being able to control the game with some checks that he can be better in. But all in all, really strong performance from him again.”

Tennessee’s defensive performance even with a lack of depth

“I don’t feel like we have a ton of lack of depth. You’ve got some young guys that don’t have an opportunity to be young. They’ve got to be ready to go play. And we’re going to need that throughout the course of the season. I thought the line of scrimmage, the destruction box, going making tackles, and then applying pressure to the quarterback on third down. You combine all of that they affected the game in a really positive way up front. And I thought our secondary played well early. I think they got us a little bit out of position on one play, but other than that we were able to get off the field.”

What he saw from Tennessee’s backup quarterbacks

“Strength of one room can never be one guy. Those guys fought hard and competed in a positive way throughout the course of training camp. Got an opportunity to go play. Did a good job. They were decisive, accurate with the football. George and Jake, when they got in the football game, they had big scrambles, pocket movement that extended drives and created plays out on the perimeter. So all in all, really good performance by them. Mason’s (Phillips) a young guy inside of our program. Got to us in the summer and thought he went out and handled himself as a really mature individual.”

How he wants Tennessee to view the SEC opener against Georgia

“Conference play starts on next Saturday. We’re going to try to be the best football team on the field that Saturday. We need to be at our best. I certainly know who they are as a program and what they are as a football team. And we look at us being at our best and we’re going to need our fans to be at their best too next Saturday.”

Tennessee’s Carson Gentle playing in the second quarter

“Smart, tough, competitive, developing into a really good leader. Versatile. We’ve seen lots of special teams off the edge. He’s a guy that you know exactly what you’re getting from every single day. And he continues to grow and develop and get better every single day. It’s the makeup that he has.”