University of Tennessee Athletics
Vol Report: Focused On Tennessee Tech
November 02, 2016 | Football
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee head coach Butch Jones, sophomore linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. and senior defensive end LaTroy Lewis spoke to reporters at Wednesday's press conference in the Ray and Lucy Hand Digital Studio.
Jones and the players spoke about the team's strong week of practice and this week's game against Tennessee Tech (3-5, 3-3 OVC).
Tennessee (5-3, 2-3 SEC) takes on Tennessee Tech in Saturday's annual homecoming game at Neyland Stadium. The game will feature a 4 p.m. ET broadcast on the SEC Network alternate channel.
Butch Jones
Head Coach
Butch Jones | Head Coach
A win on Saturday would make Tennessee bowl-eligible for the third-consecutive season, marking the first time since the 2002, 2003 and 2004 seasons that the Vols qualified for a postseason game in three-consecutive years. Under Jones, one of the main goals of the Tennessee football program is to establish sustained success.
"I do not really put limitations on we have to be this or this by this year or this year. I think constantly building a football program you are always under construction. It is like a road. The road to success is always under construction. There are things here and things there and it takes a while to build a successful program that can stand the test of time, and is consistent and can sustain success so we have come a long way."
Darrin Kirkland Jr. | #34 | Sophomore | Linebacker
After suffering an injury against Virginia Tech, Kirkland missed the next five games before returning last week against South Carolina. He posted team-high eight tackles against the Gamecocks and on Wednesday he spoke about what it was like watching for the sidelines for much of the first half of the season.
"As a competitor it's always difficult to watch your brothers play. Overall, I knew that we had great people on the field and the best people to make things happen for us. I'm just happy to be back now and I'm focused on the future."
LaTroy Lewis | #4 | RS Senior | Defensive Lineman
Tennessee junior Derek Barnett has 29.0 career sacks and is closing in on Reggie White's hallowed Tennessee record of 32.0. Lewis described what it is like playing on the defensive line with Barnett and what it means for him and his teammates to help Barnett reach White's mark.
"It's crazy playing on the opposite side of this dude. Sometimes you take it for granted, but at the end of the day Derek Barnett will end up one of the greatest defensive linemen to ever play at Tennessee. Or in the SEC or college football period. It's been an honor and a privilege to play on the opposite side of him and the first thing I asked him when I got on the bus, I said 'Hey how many more, how far away?' because I want to do everything I can on the opposite side of him, for him to be successful. He's doing the same thing for myself and Corey Vereen and whoever else is in."
More Sound Bites
Head Coach Butch Jones
(On Evan Berry)
"When you talk about Evan Berry you talk about a fierce competitor. That is where I was really proud of him after the game. He competed and unfortunately he got a cleat above the eye and got hit, which was unusual with his helmet so he had to have stitches so that is why he had to leave the game. He is back now, but he did not want to come out of the game and I thought he competed at a high level. The intensity that energy that we spoke about and the expectations of our program, he brought it all night long. He added another element to us defensively and with the big kick off return so we expect to get him back."
Sophomore Linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr.
(On what he expects from Tennessee Tech)
"They provide a great offensive scheme from what I've seen so far and I really enjoy their quarterback. He's a bigger guy; really strong-armed, and both of their running backs, 23 and 8, really provide great balance on the offense and I'm really excited to get on the field Saturday to see what they actually can do."
(On the effects of his absence on the run defense)
"There were a lot of new guys playing; a lot of guys with less game experience. There's me and Colton, but game reps come with time. I feel like last year there were a lot of things that I learned on the fly. With me on the run defense, I feel like I provide a lot of stability. I feel like my veteran leadership, as far as playing, helps our defense a lot."
RS Senior Defensive Lineman LaTroy Lewis
(When John Kelly first impressed him)
"Not this past fall, but the year before I was out with a knee injury, so I was watching practice so it was like I was watching practice twice. Watch it live and then watch it on film. I was watching this kid, of course I was watching him because he was number four and I wanted to see what he was going to do. He just ran so hard, whether it was a negative play that he was making a two yard gain or he was busting out a 30-yard gain. I was like, this kid runs hard. I trust him on the other side of the ball from me and I'm excited to see him get his chance and that's what he is doing. He is getting his chance and he's getting carries and he's making the most of it. He's doing exactly what I expect and what the team expects from him. That's what he showed, and that's to run hard. John Kelly runs hard."
(On the energy level in practice)
"We had a good two days of practice and we're getting after it. I expect nothing less and I expect the same thing if not more today and moving forward in our preparation. We're preparing as usual, getting after it. Everyone is excited, it's a new week to play ball."
