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ETSU Will Healy explains what stands out the most about while scouting No. 22 Tennessee

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey09/05/25GrantRamey
Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images | Tennessee running back Justin Baker (20) during the Aflac Kickoff Game between the Volunteers and Syracuse held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., on August 30, 2025.
Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images | Tennessee running back Justin Baker (20) during the Aflac Kickoff Game between the Volunteers and Syracuse held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., on August 30, 2025.

It’s not just the talent across the roster or even the scheme he’ll see from Tennessee on Saturday. What got the attention of ETSU head coach Will Healy the most is how the Vols play. 

Or how Josh Heupel has them playing.

“I think the thing that stands out to me more than anything, they’re talented, they play hard,” Healy said on Monday. “When I say run to the football and have an edge about how they play, they do.”

Home Opener: No. 22 Tennessee vs. ETSU, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET

Healy and ETSU (1-0) will get a closer look at it when the Bucs face Tennessee (1-0) on Saturday (3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+/SEC Network+) as the Vols open their home schedule at Neyland Stadium. 

Tennessee started the season with a 45-26 win over Syracuse last week in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. ETSU opened with a 42-17 win over Murray State in Johnson City. 

“They know their personnel,” Healy said of the Vols. “ … I just think schematically they’re very sound and they play really hard. 

“He’s got four- and five-star talent playing really hard and playing together.”

ETSU and Tennessee have met just once, with the Vols winning 59-3 in 2018.

Tennessee beat Chattanooga 69-3 to open the season a year ago but isn’t without a recent test from an FCS opponent. Austin Peay came to Neyland Stadium in 2023 and the Govs found themselves trailing just 13-6 at halftime, before Tennessee went on to win 30-13.

‘These dudes, I feel like I need to say yes, sir, to them’

Healy was asked Monday if coaches and players in that kind of scenario have a “shock the world” mindset entering such a game. 

“I think our guys understand the fact that we’re going to go play one of the best football teams in the country in their place,” Healy said. “And we’ve got to do everything the right way. Create turnovers and win the special teams battle and all those type of things to give ourselves a shot.”

That shot was hard for Healy to find, at least early in the week.

“It’s kind of one of those things on Sunday night when you’re in there at 10 o’clock,” Healy said on Monday, “you’re like, oh my gosh, like these dudes, I feel like I need to say yes, sir, to them. 

“And then hopefully you get to the end of the week on Wednesday and Thursday and you can calm down a little bit and say, we got to go snap the ball and we got a chance to have some success.”

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