Latest / The Mike Keith Show / The Mike Keith Show | FAIZON BRANDON, JOSH HEUPEL, COOPER RANVIER (9.3.26)

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The Mike Keith Show | FAIZON BRANDON, JOSH HEUPEL, COOPER RANVIER (9.3.26) · The Mike Keith Show

0:00
SPEAKER_19: From the banks of the Mississippi to the peaks of the smokeies, this is the home field of champions.
0:21
SPEAKER_08: Landing on the back and history, scores for Tennessee.
0:26
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0:30
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0:35
SPEAKER_19: Inside Access, behind the scenes.
0:38
SPEAKER_19: From Rocky Top, direct from the coaches, insight from the players, the inside track.
0:45
SPEAKER_19: Mike Keith starts now.
0:50
SPEAKER_17: Glad to have you with us for the Mike Keith show delivered by Uber Eats and to kick us off.
0:56
SPEAKER_17: This is Tennessee's starting quarterback, freshman from Greensboro, North Carolina.
1:01
SPEAKER_17: This is the Beijon brand, number 11.
1:04
SPEAKER_17: How are you?
1:07
SPEAKER_17: I'm great.
1:08
SPEAKER_17: Um, you've been on campus for eight months.
1:14
SPEAKER_17: Now you're the starting quarterback at the University of Tennessee.
1:17
SPEAKER_17: Does any of it sort of feel strange or does it strike you weird when I say that?
1:24
SPEAKER_17: Or what what do you think?
1:26
SPEAKER_06: No, sir.
1:27
SPEAKER_06: Uh just want to thank God for giving me the opportunity and uh just want to thank all my teammates for you know pushing me and helping me every single day.
1:34
SPEAKER_06: So, you know, it just works so hard every day is uh it doesn't feel strange.
1:39
SPEAKER_06: Um you know, just having all the input from my teammates to just help me along the way just uh made me feel good about you know winning the job.
1:47
SPEAKER_06: And you know, I just want to thank the other quarterbacks also for just uh competing, and we're still competing also, just uh making each other better every day, you know.
1:56
SPEAKER_06: I feel like having a good competition just elevates the room um and just makes everybody's game better.
2:02
SPEAKER_06: So I would like to thank my teammates also.
2:05
SPEAKER_17: From the time you got here, you made it clear that this was the goal, that you were competing the minute you walked on to that campus.
2:14
SPEAKER_17: What gave you the confidence to have that sort of belief that you could come to Knoxville and immediately get to work and move toward being the starter?
2:24
SPEAKER_06: You know, from I I committed so early, just being around all the guys here um all the time from the business though, just made me uh I'd say very confident going in.
2:34
SPEAKER_06: You know, I know the guys, so I feel like I can come in here and just play and be myself.
2:38
SPEAKER_06: I know it was a competition, Coach Joey had told us that.
2:41
SPEAKER_06: So he just wanted us to just work hard every day, you know, just try to elevate each other's game and learn from each other and just go out there and uh play our game and not try to think too much.
2:51
SPEAKER_06: So the biggest thing was just Coach Joy telling us to compete.
2:55
SPEAKER_06: So I just went out there and we competed and my teammates helped it helped me along the way.
3:00
SPEAKER_06: So just competing every day is what would help me.
3:04
SPEAKER_17: You came here after your ninth grade year, after your freshman year of high school for camp, and you got an offer.
3:11
SPEAKER_06: Yes, sir.
3:11
SPEAKER_17: And you weren't even the starter yet.
3:14
SPEAKER_17: Um to that moment, to now, and knowing that it was gonna be Tennessee for so long, how much is just sort of the comfort level with this place, with this coaching staff, with this offense, giving you the ability to kind of move from that sophomore year of high school through, commit before your junior year, and now be named the starter before Saturday's opener.
3:40
SPEAKER_06: You know, from taking all those visits from my sophomore year, um, you know, being with Coach Hype and Coach Joey, you know, it just when I got here, it felt like, you know, I already knew the guys, so it was just kind of, you know, I would say just easy fun.
3:55
SPEAKER_06: You know, it wasn't I wasn't still trying to figure them out.
3:58
SPEAKER_06: You know, I had a pretty good telling them, you know, uh how they would be.
4:01
SPEAKER_06: And, you know, they stayed the same through the whole recruiting process.
4:05
SPEAKER_06: Like they didn't change when I got here, they still act the same as whenever they was recruiting me.
4:10
SPEAKER_06: So that's really the biggest thing I like about here is just how wholesome it is, you know, and they're gonna push you, coach you hard, and you know, give you pointers, and every time, you know, something doesn't look too right, but I'll say just I know if it feels like a big family, you know.
4:26
SPEAKER_06: Uh I know everything that they tell me is they mean well.
4:29
SPEAKER_06: So I just say I have a great relationship and it all started with something right here.
4:34
SPEAKER_17: Why has this always been your place?
4:36
SPEAKER_06: I don't know, it's just the I'll say from the first time I came here, like after I saw from my ear when they offered me, or going into my song right here when they are for me, it just I don't know, here it just felt it just felt so good, like from everywhere else, like you know, everywhere else you have a good relationship with about you know the head coach and probably the OC, but here it just you know just felt like everybody just I had a great relationship with everybody and I would look forward to coming here and you know, just building more relationships with the players and the coaches.
5:07
SPEAKER_06: So, you know, it just felt like it's just a big family, and I I really love that about her.
5:11
SPEAKER_17: What do you hope Tennessee fans see from phase on Brandon at quarterback?
5:16
SPEAKER_06: Really just a hard worker.
5:17
SPEAKER_06: Um just gonna play the game right, you know, and not try to do too much.
5:23
SPEAKER_06: Uh just play the game right and be a big competitor.
5:28
SPEAKER_17: What made you fall in love with the game of football to the point that you have to become the student that you obviously are?
5:36
SPEAKER_06: Really just well, since I was young, I started playing when I was five, just going out there just always just been so fun to me.
5:43
SPEAKER_06: Um, you know, when I'm out there when I really think about anything else, it's just football.
5:48
SPEAKER_06: Like when I step on the field, it's you know, just being out there with the guys, having a good time, competing, trying to get better every day, and it's it's been like that ever since I started playing, so that's right why I really loved it.
5:59
SPEAKER_06: Were you always a quarterback?
6:01
SPEAKER_06: No, sir, I was not always a quarterback.
6:02
SPEAKER_06: Alright, so what'd you play?
6:04
SPEAKER_06: Uh when I was younger, I started off playing D-n and tight end and a little bit of running back.
6:10
SPEAKER_06: Uh then I started playing a little bit of raw receiver, and then a quarterback had got hurt when I was younger, and I wasn't even the backup, but I just could throw the ball.
6:19
SPEAKER_06: So they had to put me back there.
6:20
SPEAKER_17: How old were you?
6:21
SPEAKER_17: Do you remember?
6:22
SPEAKER_06: I was about I'd say like eight or nine.
6:25
SPEAKER_06: Okay.
6:26
SPEAKER_06: Yeah.
6:26
SPEAKER_06: Uh around there.
6:28
SPEAKER_06: So that's when I played my front first time, and then I just I didn't really like it the first game, but after that I kept playing it.
6:35
SPEAKER_06: Uh I started to love playing quarterback, you know, just being in control of the offense and being able to throw it to all the guys when I was younger.
6:41
SPEAKER_06: Uh it was just really fun and it continued to I could continue to grow love.
6:45
SPEAKER_06: Well, grow love for playing quarterback.
6:47
SPEAKER_17: As you grew up and you watched football, who were the quarterbacks you like to watch?
6:52
SPEAKER_06: Uh when I was younger it was it was like Cam Newton.
6:55
SPEAKER_06: Um was like the I would say my favorite quarterback when I was younger, just seeing him uh especially since you know the Panthers and North Carolina.
7:03
SPEAKER_06: So that was like my favorite quarterback growing up.
7:06
SPEAKER_17: Let me ask you just a couple things about you.
7:08
SPEAKER_17: You've been here, as we mentioned, for eight plus months, been going to school.
7:13
SPEAKER_17: What are you studying so far and and what are you looking towards degree-wise?
7:16
SPEAKER_06: At first I was studying finance, and now I switched my major over to uh IT, so I'm on IT now.
7:24
SPEAKER_06: Um What interests you in the IT world?
7:26
SPEAKER_06: Uh that's really what I wanted to get into when I first got here, but I kind of had changed my mind to finance, uh, but ended up wanting to go with IT.
7:37
SPEAKER_06: Uh just because, you know, I like to play the game and stuff like that a lot.
7:41
SPEAKER_06: So just learning more about like computers and things like that, it just interests me.
7:46
SPEAKER_17: You um are spotted around here a lot at different times.
7:50
SPEAKER_17: We know you were here all summer, but we'll see you in the building at different times.
7:54
SPEAKER_17: So obviously you're uh you're a guy who works at it.
7:58
SPEAKER_17: What do you like to do when you're away from here?
8:00
SPEAKER_06: When I'm away from here, or if I'm in the facility and not doing anything, I would like to play ping pong.
8:05
SPEAKER_06: Um but if I'm not here, I'll be on the game most likely.
8:09
SPEAKER_06: And be a game if I have um This group of freshmen.
8:13
SPEAKER_17: Who stands out to you among among your fellow freshmen?
8:16
SPEAKER_17: Who should Tennessee fans be watching that Faison Brandon is excited about?
8:20
SPEAKER_06: Outside really like our whole freshman class, um, you know, I'm mainly around the offense.
8:26
SPEAKER_06: Uh I I don't really see too much other defensive guys as much, but you know, TK is TK and Tyreek are winning the guys that really stand out to me.
8:33
SPEAKER_17: TK Keys and Tyreek King.
8:35
SPEAKER_06: Yep, yes, sir.
8:36
SPEAKER_06: They've been doing really good.
8:37
SPEAKER_06: Um, and Tyreek has done really good since he got here a little later than us, like catching up and you know, going out there and playing.
8:45
SPEAKER_06: Uh I'm really excited to see both of them this this whole time of season.
8:49
SPEAKER_17: Have you thought about Saturday and running through the T for the first time?
8:55
SPEAKER_17: 102,000 fans, everybody ready to see the balls play, and you're gonna be the starting quarterback.
9:02
SPEAKER_17: Have you thought about what that may feel like and how you'll manage those emotions?
9:08
SPEAKER_06: I have thought about it.
9:09
SPEAKER_06: Um just very, very like blessed and grateful because everybody doesn't get to, you know, run through the T.
9:15
SPEAKER_06: So um I'm very excited to do it, um, and I'm looking forward to running through the T.
9:21
SPEAKER_17: Has anybody given you any advice about game one in terms of other quarterbacks or or other people in your life that no football or no face on Brandon?
9:31
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, I would just say, you know, Coach Landry, really all the coaches, uh Landry Jones?
9:38
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, Landry Jones is, you know, not trying to do too much out there and just you know, play the game how it's supposed to be played and not try to do too much with it, is do what I do in practice.
9:50
SPEAKER_06: Um just apply all of it to the game and don't try to do anything more than that.
9:54
SPEAKER_17: How do you handle everything just so evenly?
9:57
SPEAKER_17: I that's that's the impression.
9:59
SPEAKER_17: I mean, even sitting here with me, you're just it's all good, we're we're rolling.
10:04
SPEAKER_17: I mean, you're serious about everything, and I've seen how you practice and how you carry yourself in different areas, but there's a there's a calm to you.
10:12
SPEAKER_06: I'll really just say it's kind of just how I am.
10:14
SPEAKER_06: Like, I'll joke around and stuff with the guys whenever it's like, you know, we're just playing around or just hanging out, but um I don't know, I'll try not to just get too high or get too low, just try to stay focused and you know, stay level, because I feel like that's what would keep everybody else calm and even if we're up by light or down or whatever's going on, just try to stay calm to make sure everybody's not too high or too low.
10:40
SPEAKER_17: You did something last year that really shocked me.
10:42
SPEAKER_17: Injured a thumb.
10:44
SPEAKER_17: Season opener, right?
10:45
SPEAKER_06: Yes, sir.
10:45
SPEAKER_17: Had to have surgery on it, right?
10:47
SPEAKER_17: Yeah, okay.
10:48
SPEAKER_17: So you're out the whole regular season.
10:50
SPEAKER_17: You know you're gonna go to Tennessee.
10:52
SPEAKER_17: Tennessee's excited about you, but it's you're done.
10:56
SPEAKER_17: You're gonna show up in Tennessee in January.
10:59
SPEAKER_17: You came back to play in the playoffs.
11:02
SPEAKER_17: And not only did you do that, you won the state championship in 7A in North Carolina.
11:09
SPEAKER_17: Why did you decide to come back and play at that point when from the standpoint about having anything to prove, you certainly didn't, having won the state championship the year before and already having your scholarship in place?
11:23
SPEAKER_06: I would just say, really, just you know, my team, you know, I love my team so much.
11:28
SPEAKER_06: Uh back home, you know, Grimsley, uh Coach Brown, you know, uh I just really wanted to finish playing for him.
11:35
SPEAKER_06: You know, of course I came to Coach Hype and talked to him about the whole situation and see what he thought.
11:40
SPEAKER_06: He told me um if I file if I feel good about it, then I can go out there and play.
11:45
SPEAKER_06: So um I just re-habbed really hard to make sure my thumb felt uh 100% before I went out there.
11:51
SPEAKER_06: And then I went out there, I was able to throw fine.
11:53
SPEAKER_06: Um and you know, we just went out there and finished the season.
11:58
SPEAKER_06: Uh just how we started it.
12:00
SPEAKER_06: And I I really wanted to go back to back, so that was the biggest thing also.
12:04
SPEAKER_06: Um but we did that, and I'm very proud of my team because they did a great job along the way.
12:09
SPEAKER_06: Uh, you know, with without me being out in Brody Load and New quarterback there.
12:14
SPEAKER_06: Um, he did a great job too in the regular season, just keeping the momentum going, um, and uh allowing me to just pick it up in the playoffs.
12:21
SPEAKER_06: Uh I really want to thank him too.
12:24
SPEAKER_17: Team's important.
12:25
SPEAKER_06: Yeah.
12:26
SPEAKER_17: Football's important.
12:27
SPEAKER_17: Winning's important.
12:28
SPEAKER_06: Yes, sir.
12:29
SPEAKER_17: All of it's important.
12:31
SPEAKER_17: You're all about business.
12:33
SPEAKER_06: Oh yeah.
12:33
SPEAKER_17: Faison Brandon.
12:34
SPEAKER_17: Thank you so much for the time.
12:35
SPEAKER_06: Yes, sir.
12:36
SPEAKER_06: Thank you.
12:36
SPEAKER_17: Tennessee's new starting quarterback will be the first vol to start at his first game as a freshman since Brent Schaefer in 2004.
12:46
SPEAKER_17: I was at that game.
12:47
SPEAKER_17: Oh yeah.
12:48
SPEAKER_17: You weren't alive, but I was at that game.
12:50
SPEAKER_17: He was he's quite a player.
12:51
SPEAKER_17: Oh, yeah.
12:52
SPEAKER_17: We've got more of the Mike Keith Show delivered by Uber Eats right after this.
12:55
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12:58
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13:01
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13:05
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13:24
SPEAKER_12: I found your internment, the official instrument of the vault, Tennessee Internant for Tennessee Light.
13:34
SPEAKER_18: Out of here.
13:42
SPEAKER_18: Out of here.
13:43
SPEAKER_18: I should drive out of here.
13:59
SPEAKER_18: Let's get out of here.
14:12
SPEAKER_12: Great companies aren't either.
14:13
SPEAKER_14: Like the balls, coaches and players need to learn to handle the pressure, including the pressure of success.
14:20
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14:22
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14:24
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14:27
SPEAKER_01: Want to change the world?
14:28
SPEAKER_01: Change it one roof at a time.
14:32
SPEAKER_02: When you travel across the great state of Tennessee, one thing you're sure to find is big orange patch.
14:38
SPEAKER_02: You see it throughout every inch of the volunteer state, just like you see first horizon.
14:43
SPEAKER_02: Serving communities big and small, offering big bank products with small bank passion.
14:48
SPEAKER_02: What else do you need?
14:50
SPEAKER_00: Big bank muscle.
14:51
SPEAKER_00: Small bank hustle.
14:53
SPEAKER_02: That's first horizon, the official bank of the volume.
14:56
SPEAKER_02: Probably serving the state for over 160 years.
15:09
SPEAKER_22: Only a five butcher can nobody does like every day.
15:16
SPEAKER_23: Being at the Falls game saved my life.
15:19
SPEAKER_23: It was a normal day going to the game with my son, but this time it felt like a sledgehammer hit my chest.
15:25
SPEAKER_23: The UT medical team knew exactly what they needed to do and just kept me calm throughout the process.
15:32
SPEAKER_23: It was probably the most serious heart attack that you could have.
15:36
SPEAKER_23: The team took care of me, worked quickly, efficiently, and I did catch the end of the game.
15:42
SPEAKER_22: These are the stories of the region's academic health system.
16:04
SPEAKER_20: Everything's color, it's a beautiful state.
16:09
SPEAKER_20: Come on now, let's get away.
16:12
SPEAKER_21: Make every day brighter with the sunny southern goodness of Mayfield Dairy.
16:31
SPEAKER_17: Saturdays are all about the big art.
16:34
SPEAKER_17: From the ruler of Neeland Stadium to the energy of the tailgate, one thing belongs on every anything menu.
16:41
SPEAKER_17: Calhoun.
16:42
SPEAKER_17: Whether you're dining in one of Calhoun's nine-area restaurant locations, taking the feast to your tailgate, or grabbing a bike from one of Calhoun's locations inside Neyland Stadium.
16:52
SPEAKER_17: Calhoun makes it easy so you can focus on curing the balls to victory.
16:57
SPEAKER_17: Calhoun, a taste of Tennessee.
17:04
SPEAKER_17: Time for the heavy lift with Jason Swain, presented by Planet Fitness.
17:08
SPEAKER_17: Jason Swain is, of course, the Vol Network's game day analyst.
17:12
SPEAKER_17: He'll be on the call on Saturday as Tennessee place host DeFurman.
17:17
SPEAKER_17: Welcome.
17:18
SPEAKER_17: Glad to have you here.
17:19
SPEAKER_17: Good to be here.
17:20
SPEAKER_17: All right, I want to start with the heavy lift of Braylon Staley and Mike Matthews and the level of expectations.
17:30
SPEAKER_17: Tennessee has not returned a receiving duo this productive in 30 years.
17:39
SPEAKER_17: So people certainly know who they are.
17:41
SPEAKER_17: What's fair to expect from Braylon Staley and Mike Matthews?
17:45
SPEAKER_25: I think for them, over a thousand yards each.
17:48
SPEAKER_25: Last year they got over 800 yards.
17:52
SPEAKER_25: I think they are smarter.
17:53
SPEAKER_25: I think they're more confident.
17:55
SPEAKER_25: They're bigger, stronger, and faster.
17:57
SPEAKER_25: So yeah, I think it's fair to expect for those guys to go for a thousand yards each this season.
18:02
SPEAKER_17: I've heard some young people refer to the duo as 414, which I get actually, 414.
18:07
SPEAKER_17: What can they be?
18:08
SPEAKER_17: What can that duo be for Tennessee?
18:12
SPEAKER_17: Taking out the part like me, who's just a goofy guy who gets excited about players like that.
18:19
SPEAKER_17: You know, tell us.
18:21
SPEAKER_25: They can be the duo that changes the whole narrative when it comes to Tennessee wide receivers on Josh Hypeel.
18:28
SPEAKER_25: You know, there's been a narrative, right, about this offense and about Tennessee wide receivers, and we've seen the difference in the route tree and the passing game.
18:36
SPEAKER_25: Um these two guys can continue to change the narrative and take their game to the next level and totally flip the narrative on his head.
18:44
SPEAKER_25: That's that's how good these two guys are.
18:46
SPEAKER_25: Mike Matthews is a freak of athlete.
18:50
SPEAKER_25: You know, he was featured as one of the most talented freaks in college football.
18:54
SPEAKER_25: And then Staley is just so polished, came in as a positive wide receiver.
18:58
SPEAKER_25: He's done nothing but improve on that.
19:01
SPEAKER_25: And I think he's ready to take his game to the next level.
19:03
SPEAKER_25: They're motivated, Mike.
19:05
SPEAKER_25: I mean, they they've been disrespected this offseason.
19:07
SPEAKER_25: People have put other receiver duos in front of them.
19:10
SPEAKER_25: They're not talked about a lot.
19:12
SPEAKER_25: So they have a chip on their shoulder.
19:14
SPEAKER_17: Candidates for the third receiver spot.
19:16
SPEAKER_17: Let me run through them.
19:17
SPEAKER_25: Okay.
19:18
SPEAKER_17: And you comment.
19:19
SPEAKER_17: Okay.
19:19
SPEAKER_17: Travis Smith Jr.
19:21
SPEAKER_25: Big, physical, um, can make catches, uh, man, tough as nails.
19:28
SPEAKER_25: Got a really good shot to be that guy right now.
19:31
SPEAKER_25: Improved.
19:32
SPEAKER_25: Very, very much improved.
19:33
SPEAKER_25: And you know the saying.
19:35
SPEAKER_25: You improve your most from your freshman to your sophomore year.
19:38
SPEAKER_25: You can certainly see that with Travis Smith Jr.
19:40
SPEAKER_17: Where do you see the improvement?
19:41
SPEAKER_25: Well, just the confidence, you know, the understanding of the playbook.
19:44
SPEAKER_25: That's the first thing, right?
19:45
SPEAKER_25: We've we know that receivers, it takes them a year to really understand this offense.
19:51
SPEAKER_25: And in their second year, you see that improvement.
19:54
SPEAKER_25: You see that with Travis Smith Jr.
19:55
SPEAKER_25: so far in fall camp.
19:56
SPEAKER_17: Radarius Jackson.
19:58
SPEAKER_25: Radarius, I I like his willingness to go inside the numbers, go inside the hash marks and catch balls with all the linebackers are.
20:07
SPEAKER_25: Real strong.
20:08
SPEAKER_25: I mean, he battled the injury last year, but he showed me a lot in that Georgia game.
20:13
SPEAKER_25: And I look forward to him building on that.
20:15
SPEAKER_25: Him and Travis Smith Jr., I see a little bit of a rotation between those guys until one takes off.
20:21
SPEAKER_17: Joe Kim Dotson.
20:23
unknown: Oh, man.
20:24
SPEAKER_17: Oh, man.
20:25
SPEAKER_25: Oh, yeah.
20:26
SPEAKER_25: Well, we didn't see much of him last year at all.
20:29
SPEAKER_25: We saw glimpses of Travis Smith Jr.
20:32
SPEAKER_25: over Darius Jackson.
20:33
SPEAKER_25: Didn't see any of Dotson, but this spring, he's been really good on the outside, catching some deep balls, burst on the scene.
20:39
SPEAKER_25: He's making that battle interesting, but I like his camp.
20:43
SPEAKER_17: The kick return in the bowl game, too, was eye-opening to a lot of people.
20:47
SPEAKER_25: Speed.
20:48
SPEAKER_25: Josh Hyper loves speed.
20:50
SPEAKER_25: Dotson has plenty of it.
20:51
SPEAKER_17: TK Keys.
20:53
SPEAKER_25: TK Keys remind me of myself.
20:55
SPEAKER_17: Really?
20:56
SPEAKER_25: Yes, because as a I wasn't a five-star like TK Keys, but it was expected for me to come in and play day one, which I did, but I had a fall camp where I had a strain growing.
21:08
SPEAKER_25: And I was trying to compete and show that I could play at this level, but my body was telling me, not so fast, my friend, just slow up a little bit.
21:17
SPEAKER_25: So I was out for a couple days.
21:19
SPEAKER_25: And because I was out, other guys were getting those reps, and it kind of stunted my development a little bit.
21:26
SPEAKER_25: And I see that's what's going on with TK a little bit.
21:29
SPEAKER_25: He looks better, but it's hard when you're not 100% healthy and you're competing against guys who are healthy.
21:35
SPEAKER_25: So you see the talent, you see his ball skills, you can see how he can catch anything around him.
21:42
SPEAKER_25: His catch radius is very, very wide.
21:44
SPEAKER_25: Uh looks like he's getting more healthy and getting more confident during the summer.
21:48
SPEAKER_25: He got stronger, and everyone seemed to be you know getting faster.
21:52
SPEAKER_25: Uh, but he reminds me a lot of myself.
21:54
SPEAKER_25: Just that injury to start the fall camp.
21:56
SPEAKER_25: Once he gets over that, I think he's gonna be just fine.
21:59
SPEAKER_17: Where does the
22:05
SPEAKER_25: I love that two tight ends personnel grouping that Tennessee can possibly run with him because he's not a normal tight end.
22:13
SPEAKER_25: He's like a third wide receiver.
22:15
SPEAKER_25: And I don't see a linebacker, I don't see a safety that can consistently guard him for four quarters.
22:21
SPEAKER_25: So he he is special.
22:23
SPEAKER_25: He really is.
22:24
SPEAKER_17: Alright, talk to me about the freshman from Noxville Tyreek King.
22:28
SPEAKER_25: Well, he's my favorite.
22:29
SPEAKER_25: He's your favorite?
22:30
SPEAKER_25: Yeah, he's my favorite receiver, this fall count.
22:32
SPEAKER_17: Why?
22:35
SPEAKER_17: He just got it?
22:36
SPEAKER_25: Yeah.
22:37
SPEAKER_25: First day I saw just the just the footwork.
22:40
SPEAKER_25: I saw the footwork, and I followed him during his time at Catholic, but he's always trying to get a rep, gets reps.
22:48
SPEAKER_25: He always is trying to get better.
22:52
SPEAKER_25: He's not scared of anything.
22:53
SPEAKER_25: He'll catch a ball in the middle of the football field.
22:56
SPEAKER_25: Had a nice day in the first scrimmage.
22:59
SPEAKER_25: Nice deep pass, you know, in the middle of the field.
23:02
SPEAKER_25: He's small, but he's fearless.
23:05
SPEAKER_25: And I think as he continues to get more reps, we may see him on offense.
23:09
SPEAKER_25: We'll see.
23:10
SPEAKER_25: I think Kelsey is coaching him hard, which is, I think, a sign that he believes that he can be a contributor as well, too.
23:18
SPEAKER_25: But the punt return position for him is a perfect way for him to get on the field as a young player.
23:23
SPEAKER_25: If he can catch the ball consistently, make guys miss, make some big plays, we may see a freshman back there.
23:28
SPEAKER_25: He's he's a baller.
23:30
SPEAKER_17: His problem with the punt returns is there's real competition.
23:34
SPEAKER_17: There's several, I mean, Dewan Morris can return punts.
23:37
SPEAKER_17: We mentioned Matthews and Staley certainly have that ability.
23:40
SPEAKER_17: Quay Moss was an excellent punt returner in high school and at West Georgia.
23:46
SPEAKER_25: I typically shy away from freshmen returning punts and returning kicks, but if he's special, he's special.
23:53
SPEAKER_25: Special.
23:53
SPEAKER_25: And I think King could be that.
23:55
SPEAKER_17: All right, so for all these receivers, for Staley and Matthews, for whomever is the third, what is the challenge of playing with a young quarterback and part two of that, how do they help the young quarterback?
24:07
SPEAKER_25: Well, you help the young quarterback by just making plays for him.
24:10
SPEAKER_25: I mean, taking short passes, five-yard hitch routes, crossing routes, and turning them into 30-yard, 20-yard gains.
24:17
SPEAKER_25: That's the best way you can help a young uh quarterback.
24:20
SPEAKER_25: The way you hurt a young quarterback is dropping balls, you know, dropping, dropping easy layups, touchdown throws, turning the ball over, not getting lineup properly, um, you know, causing the offense to start possessions first and 15, things like that.
24:35
SPEAKER_25: The more plays you can make for the young quarterback, the better.
24:37
SPEAKER_17: All right, so let me ask you this.
24:39
SPEAKER_17: With the young quarterback, will that change potentially the receivers that play based on their precision in order to be where the quarterback thinks they need to be?
24:50
SPEAKER_25: I think it all works itself out the more they play together.
24:53
SPEAKER_25: Okay.
24:53
SPEAKER_25: Because when we mention a bunch of guys, right?
24:56
SPEAKER_25: And typically we don't see a bunch of receivers in the rotation.
24:59
SPEAKER_25: I know that's something that we may see more of, but typically there's about three or four guys that you that you count on.
25:06
SPEAKER_25: And I'm expecting that until we don't see it.
25:09
SPEAKER_25: But for these quarterbacks, they're gonna roll with people they trust.
25:13
SPEAKER_25: I play with Casey Clausen as a young player.
25:16
SPEAKER_25: He throws the ball to the guys he trusts.
25:18
SPEAKER_25: And normally quarterbacks operate the same way.
25:21
SPEAKER_25: Be where you're supposed to be, don't make me look bad, catch the ball, make plays for me, and I'll keep throwing you the ball.
25:27
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25:32
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25:34
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25:36
SPEAKER_17: We'll see you Saturday in the Vall Network booth.
25:38
SPEAKER_17: Looking forward to it.
25:39
SPEAKER_17: This is Jason Swain with us on the Mike Keith Show, presented by Uber Eats.
25:44
SPEAKER_17: We've got more of the show coming up right after this.
25:47
SPEAKER_19: This is your home for coaches and players.
25:51
SPEAKER_19: One-on-one from Rocky Top.
25:53
SPEAKER_19: This is your Vall Network.
26:04
SPEAKER_17: Coach Josh Heifel joins us, presented by Calhoun's the opener against Furman.
26:10
SPEAKER_17: Furman's already played a game against Anderson University.
26:13
SPEAKER_17: They were victorious 20-3.
26:16
SPEAKER_17: What did you see from the Paladins last Thursday?
26:19
SPEAKER_02: Well, uh for us, week one it gives us a picture of you know where they're playing their personnel uh identification.
26:26
SPEAKER_02: Um, and that's really in all three phases of the of the game.
26:30
SPEAKER_02: Uh, you know you're gonna see more things on tape week two than what you saw week one.
26:34
SPEAKER_02: Uh new coordinator on defense, some of the uh new wrinkles that they may have in um ultimately this week is about us, and it is every week, and uh us continuing to grow and and uh we get out the game today, go play with great fundamentals and technique.
26:47
SPEAKER_17: Uh Clay Hendricks, uh longtime coach at Furman.
26:50
SPEAKER_17: Uh what are some of the characteristics of a Clay Hendricks coach at Furman team?
26:55
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, um they've had really good quarterback play uh consistently in his uh tenure there.
27:01
SPEAKER_02: Uh the ability uh to get the ball out quick, um, use the running back in the pass game uh defensively, um, you know, they're really experienced up front.
27:11
SPEAKER_02: Um have a really good edge player that's you know uh preseason player of the year uh for them and sound on special teams.
27:18
SPEAKER_02: So uh again for us uh week one, uh want to see our guys go play extremely hard and and play uh assignment sounds like that.
27:25
SPEAKER_17: How do you expect Furman to challenge Faison Brandon in his first start?
27:30
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, um defensively, uh new coordinator.
27:33
SPEAKER_02: Uh I think we'll see more wrinkles than what they uh presented week one on tape.
27:37
SPEAKER_02: Uh they were a little bit more multiple in their fronts.
27:40
SPEAKER_02: Uh anticipate uh continuing to see more of that uh in this football game.
27:44
SPEAKER_02: Um and ultimately um you know them trying to apply some pressure to the quarterback.
27:49
SPEAKER_17: Regardless of opponent, do you have specific goals for a season opener?
27:55
SPEAKER_02: Uh yeah, first of all, get a win.
27:57
SPEAKER_02: Uh let's not make it more complicated than it is.
28:00
SPEAKER_02: Uh it's our first opportunity.
28:03
SPEAKER_02: Uh we got 12 of them guaranteed.
28:04
SPEAKER_02: It's our first opportunity to go out there play and compete.
28:07
SPEAKER_02: Uh I want to see our guys play extremely hard.
28:09
SPEAKER_02: I want to see us uh take care of the football offensively and uh go go attack the football uh when we don't have it on the defensive side of the football.
28:18
SPEAKER_02: Um we got three phases of the game.
28:20
SPEAKER_02: You want to play assignment sound, you want to play with fundamentals and technique, uh, you want to see your team play smart uh during the course of 60 minutes, and uh that's in their assignments.
28:30
SPEAKER_02: It's you know playing penalty free and and uh keeping us uh ahead of the chains and not changing the way the game's played.
28:38
SPEAKER_17: Tennessee has outstanding running back depth.
28:40
SPEAKER_17: Do you go into the game on Saturday against Furman with an idea of how you're going to rotate the backs?
28:47
SPEAKER_02: Uh yeah, uh idea of of how we'll rotate, uh, but anticipate all those guys uh you know seeing time and action in the backfield and carrying the football.
28:56
SPEAKER_17: Is there anybody who has the lead entering Saturday's game as the third receiver with Braylon Staley and Mike Matthews?
29:03
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, those guys have all competed at a really high level.
29:05
SPEAKER_02: Um three relatively young guys, uh Rodarius and Travis obviously have a year in it.
29:11
SPEAKER_02: Uh TK uh haven't been here since uh January.
29:15
SPEAKER_02: Um through the course of the week, who ultimately ends up starting.
29:21
SPEAKER_02: We'll see.
29:22
SPEAKER_02: Um but uh anticipate all those guys playing uh football on Saturday.
29:26
SPEAKER_17: Young players in particular that you'd like to see on defense, or you're excited to see.
29:31
SPEAKER_02: There's a bunch of uh young guys that uh looking forward to see uh you know defensive linemen uh that have continued to grow and get better.
29:39
SPEAKER_02: Um, you know, in our secondary, uh we'll have some rotations there and and guys will get uh get some play.
29:44
SPEAKER_02: So uh excited to see all of our football team.
29:47
SPEAKER_02: Uh we got uh you know a bunch of guys, uh close to 50 guys.
29:51
SPEAKER_02: This will be their first opportunity to run through the tee and go play football, and I want to see us handle that in a positive way.
29:57
SPEAKER_17: In 2025, many of your freshmen played special teams, and they're gonna have bigger roles this year.
30:02
SPEAKER_17: So they earn trust on special teams in order to move up.
30:07
SPEAKER_17: Have you seen that from some freshmen already this year that you're interested to see on teams as they kind of build your trust?
30:14
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, absolutely.
30:15
SPEAKER_02: Um, a lot of a lot of times in your your journey as a as a football player, college football pro uh even a pro player, uh it begins on special teams, a lot of transferable skill sets that that transfer over to offense or defensive football uh that you are getting exposed to.
30:31
SPEAKER_02: Um we have a lot of young guys that uh I'm excited to see go play uh on special teams or our four core units.
30:39
SPEAKER_02: Uh want to see them uh play with great fundamentals and technique, uh play extremely hard and um go handle the game the right way.
30:46
SPEAKER_17: Games at 3 30 is supposed to be uh extreme heat.
30:49
SPEAKER_17: Do you game plan around the heat?
30:52
SPEAKER_02: Um you know, a at certain times you will.
30:54
SPEAKER_02: Uh we won't game plan around this one, but sometimes uh earlier kickoffs um early in the year, you'll you'll rotate a little bit uh earlier or more frequent than uh than you would if it's a night game.
31:06
SPEAKER_17: What do season openers mean to Josh Heipel just as a football guy?
31:11
SPEAKER_02: Uh football time's finally here, all the work that you've put into it since uh the beginning of January.
31:17
SPEAKER_02: Um looking forward to seeing 102,000 plus uh as we get off the bus and and do the ball walk and uh run through that tee.
31:24
SPEAKER_02: Um it's uh it's the best time of year.
31:26
SPEAKER_17: It is the best time of year.
31:27
SPEAKER_17: Josh Heipel, thank you.
31:28
SPEAKER_02: I appreciate it.
31:29
SPEAKER_17: Joining us, getting us ready for this one coming up.
31:32
SPEAKER_17: Tennessee against Furman on Saturday from Neeland Stadium.
31:35
SPEAKER_17: Kickoff set for 3 30 Eastern time.
31:38
SPEAKER_17: Coach Heifel's appearance on the Mike Keith show brought to you by Calhoun's A Taste of Tennessee.
31:43
SPEAKER_17: More of the show right after this.
31:45
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31:52
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32:03
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32:06
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32:08
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32:14
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33:12
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33:14
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33:17
SPEAKER_17: Not funny, guys.
33:22
SPEAKER_06: Sometimes it's not just protecting the quarterback.
33:24
SPEAKER_06: Sometimes it's holding the line.
33:26
SPEAKER_06: Sometimes it's making sure no one is good.
33:30
SPEAKER_26: We protect each other.
33:31
SPEAKER_26: We prepare.
33:32
SPEAKER_26: We stay ready.
33:33
SPEAKER_26: Protection looks different depending on where you stay.
33:36
SPEAKER_26: Whether it's protecting the quarterback or protecting what matters at home, the responsibility is to study the best five methods designed to inspire, made to protect, driven, disturbed.
33:49
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33:52
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34:02
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34:09
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34:16
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34:26
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34:49
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34:53
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35:04
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35:19
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35:24
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35:39
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35:41
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35:43
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37:23
SPEAKER_09: Because if something was untied in there, all I had to do was say something to Alvin and he could get him right.
37:31
SPEAKER_04: Nobody's, you know, surprised by the success he's had.
37:34
SPEAKER_04: What an incredible athlete and person.
37:37
SPEAKER_04: He always comes back and always comes to the equipment room, says hello.
37:41
SPEAKER_04: Um, he'll text and check in and see how things are going.
37:44
SPEAKER_04: Uh, you can tell and feel his love for Tennessee and the football program.
37:49
SPEAKER_04: Uh, it's exciting to see those guys that come back and see that what Tennessee means to them.
37:54
SPEAKER_04: And Alvin's, you know, not been quiet about how he feels about Tennessee, but obviously his gift and just, you know, how he always comes back and wants to be around the program.
38:04
SPEAKER_24: Being a student athlete at the University of Tennessee is impactful, it's amazing, it's it's it's all-encompassing.
38:12
SPEAKER_24: I mean, you know, when you when you're here, you you got a chance to wear that power tee.
38:16
SPEAKER_24: I mean, it's something that um, you know, I don't think God's take lightly is an honor.
38:22
SPEAKER_07: We had some pretty deep conversations talking about life, talking about legacy, and it just the question came up, and I said, Hey K, what do you want your legacy to be, you know, beyond football?
38:32
SPEAKER_07: His response was just, I want to be known as more than just a football player.
38:37
SPEAKER_24: The gate 19 lobby, it'll be the Alvin Kamara family lobby uh in Neil Stadium.
38:43
SPEAKER_24: Man, uh I think just that that opportunity to have that area, you know, dedicated to not only my time here, but my story.
38:53
SPEAKER_11: I think that's such a powerful message for all of our fans to see.
38:57
SPEAKER_11: And uh, we're just incredibly grateful, not just for the gift, uh, but for the leadership he's showing in and making this statement.
39:05
SPEAKER_09: It's awesome for him to do what he has done for us, and but it's definitely not unexpected because it's just the type of character again that he has.
39:17
SPEAKER_02: Can't uh say thank you enough, obviously for uh the generous gift, uh, but also how much you mean uh to our program and to this team.
39:26
SPEAKER_02: Thank you.
39:28
SPEAKER_24: With this gift, I hope that you know it it kind of sets a standard on what a student athlete at the University of Tennessee can accomplish with that power to you being a VFL, that you have a um it's a responsibility to to inspire and to to like I said set a standard for those coming up under you.
39:47
SPEAKER_24: I don't take it lightly and I'm I'm just looking forward to kind of making an impact and seeing what we can do.
39:53
SPEAKER_24: You know, it's all about evolution, so being able to help the university evolve in any way.
40:00
SPEAKER_13: We mourn the passing of Kippy Brown, one of the greatest wide receiver coaches in Tennessee history.
40:07
SPEAKER_13: Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, and former players.
40:14
SPEAKER_17: Time for the Built Ford Tough Report on the Mike Keith Show, brought to you by Ford in the F-150 truck.
40:20
SPEAKER_17: Here's Brent Hubbs, FallQuest.com and the Ball Radio Network.
40:25
SPEAKER_17: Built Ford Tough Report, Furman, an opponent that Tennessee gets in week one, and Tennessee has been preparing to get ready for the Paladins, but they're also preparing to just get ready for the season overall.
40:41
SPEAKER_17: And for an opener, regardless of the opposition, what are the most important things that are challenging?
40:49
SPEAKER_17: Let's start with offense.
40:50
SPEAKER_03: Well, I think it's the it's just the cleanness of the game.
40:54
SPEAKER_03: Do you avoid the self-inflicted wounds, the penalties?
40:57
SPEAKER_03: Um you got a young quarterback, do you get him comfortable?
41:00
SPEAKER_03: How much does the game start to slow down for him?
41:03
SPEAKER_03: You're wanting to see where his pocket awareness is, how patient is he, how patient is he not.
41:09
SPEAKER_03: Um but I think you have a checklist of things that you're looking to do, and it's a long list.
41:14
SPEAKER_03: But I think it starts with just simple execution of your offense.
41:18
SPEAKER_03: Um and then I think you have to figure out what you're gonna do on the right side of the offensive line.
41:21
SPEAKER_03: Um no offense to the Paladins, but you can tinker with some combinations probably in this game, but you need to know where you're gonna be Sunday and get ready for George Attack.
41:31
SPEAKER_03: What are you gonna be on the offensive front?
41:33
SPEAKER_03: What's your best look there?
41:34
SPEAKER_03: Uh so that's where I would start offense, is just the cleanliness of it.
41:37
SPEAKER_17: Isn't Glenn Ellerby, the offensive line coach's prerogative to play seven, eight offensive linemen anyway?
41:45
SPEAKER_03: That's what he would like to do.
41:46
SPEAKER_03: I think that's great in theory.
41:48
SPEAKER_03: I think sometimes that's hard to do.
41:50
SPEAKER_03: If you're in a groove and you're going, are you just gonna go and hey, let's swap out our guards here just because it's the fourth series of the game and you know we're we want to keep people fresh?
42:00
SPEAKER_03: Or do you look up and say, you know what, we're running it down their throat right now.
42:04
SPEAKER_03: This group's in a rhythm and we're just gonna keep playing.
42:07
SPEAKER_03: They've always talked about playing a rotation, rotating guards, rotating a tackle.
42:12
SPEAKER_03: I I think when you get into competition, that's a little harder to do because of the continuity that that group has to have in terms of making calls, making adjustments, and checks when there's stunts and blitzes and all those things.
42:26
SPEAKER_03: So on paper it sounds good.
42:28
SPEAKER_03: Sometimes it's a little harder to do that than maybe you think.
42:32
SPEAKER_03: I think in this game, you know, you play you certainly play a lot of different combinations and you want to see what some things look like.
42:38
SPEAKER_17: Defensively, the points of emphasis that Tennessee wants to have in the opener that they want to come out of the game, and obviously you want to come out of the game having one, but the things that they want to have done defensively to say, okay, we took the practice field, we took the film room, we took everything else, and we moved it to a game effectively.
42:58
SPEAKER_03: For me, it's two things.
43:00
SPEAKER_03: Now there'll be a bunch of things, but for me it's two big things.
43:03
SPEAKER_03: One, missed assignments.
43:04
SPEAKER_03: No bust.
43:05
SPEAKER_03: Don't get don't give up a 70-yard touchdown and have two defensive backs looking at each other with their hands hold up.
43:11
SPEAKER_03: Eliminate that.
43:12
SPEAKER_03: Be sound that way in terms of managing your scheme.
43:16
SPEAKER_03: So eliminate the bust and don't have those, which were a problem a year ago.
43:20
SPEAKER_03: And then two, I think tackling.
43:22
SPEAKER_03: You tackled probably more this preseason than you have in some other preseasons, but you have to translate that.
43:28
SPEAKER_03: You have to build build on that, and you have to tackle well.
43:32
SPEAKER_03: Are your angles good?
43:33
SPEAKER_03: Is it a lot of arm tackling and reach tackling?
43:36
SPEAKER_03: Are you in the fundamental positions that you've been coached to be all sea all preseason long and tackle and be a sound tackling football team?
43:46
SPEAKER_03: Lots of other things, but for me, those are the two biggest areas on defense.
43:49
SPEAKER_17: Give me a defensive player or two that you are most interested to see on Saturday afternoon.
43:56
SPEAKER_03: I want to see Xavier Gillum.
43:58
SPEAKER_03: Defensive line.
43:58
SPEAKER_03: I want to see what the trend.
44:00
SPEAKER_03: From Penn State does because he's been talked about so much.
44:03
SPEAKER_03: He should have a chance to be, you know, have a good day successfully.
44:07
SPEAKER_03: I think it starts there.
44:08
SPEAKER_03: I think the other one for me is DeJon Lane.
44:11
SPEAKER_03: How big of a step does he continue to take?
44:14
SPEAKER_03: He was better in scrimmage two than he was in scrimmage one.
44:17
SPEAKER_03: Remember, he was put in a little bit of an odd spot in scrimmage one because Idris Farouk was lost for the year just hours before that scrimmage, 24 hours before they went.
44:26
SPEAKER_03: So he went from being in a rotation to now you're beside TJ Metcalf and you're with the starters, and there's an expectation for you to play at a high level.
44:34
SPEAKER_03: It was okay in scrimmage one.
44:36
SPEAKER_03: I think he was better.
44:36
SPEAKER_03: I think he played faster in scrimmage two because I think he was more confident in what he was doing.
44:42
SPEAKER_03: I want to see how he builds from scrimmage two to this game because the safety position is so vital to this defense, and they need to be good at safety when they roll into that George Tank game in week two.
44:52
SPEAKER_17: Faison Brandon is the freshman everybody's going to be watching because he's the starting quarterback.
44:57
SPEAKER_17: Give me another freshman or two that Vall fans need to have on their radar for the game coming up on Saturday afternoon.
45:04
SPEAKER_03: Oh, of true or first-year player, freshman.
45:08
SPEAKER_03: Um, what what does TK Keys do in the search for a third wide receiver?
45:14
SPEAKER_03: I think that search will be ongoing throughout the season.
45:17
SPEAKER_03: I don't think anybody runs with it in this game, but what does he show?
45:21
SPEAKER_03: Does he show in in some way there?
45:24
SPEAKER_03: I think he would be certainly one that that I would look at as a freshman and say, um, you know, and and I think you're gonna play both quarterbacks if the game goes well.
45:35
SPEAKER_03: I'm curious to see how George plays.
45:37
SPEAKER_03: It's been a tough week for a tough week for George McIntyre, right?
45:40
SPEAKER_03: You're you're competing for the job, you don't get the job, you know this was your biggest window to win the job.
45:46
SPEAKER_03: You've been challenged by the head coach to stay locked in, stay engaged, stay ready to play.
45:51
SPEAKER_03: Do you play that way when you get your opportunity?
45:54
SPEAKER_03: I think that is an interesting side story while all the focus is on phason and should be.
46:00
SPEAKER_03: But how does George mentally handle what's just happened to him?
46:05
SPEAKER_03: And is he ready to play at the level and execute at the level that you need him to be and that he needs to execute at?
46:12
SPEAKER_17: Brent Hubbs, thanks so much.
46:13
SPEAKER_17: Thanks, Mike.
46:15
SPEAKER_17: Got more coming up on the Mike Keith Show right after this.
46:19
SPEAKER_19: Getting you ready for the game.
46:20
SPEAKER_19: The Mike Keith Show, delivered by Operate.
46:37
SPEAKER_17: Cooper Ranvier knows Tennessee.
46:39
SPEAKER_17: He has a history with Tennessee.
46:41
SPEAKER_17: The Lexington, Kentucky product wanted to be at Tennessee, but it took him an extra two years to make it to Knoxville.
46:49
SPEAKER_17: Ranvier has made it to town, and he has an opportunity in hand.
46:54
SPEAKER_17: The junior kicker is never planning to look back.
46:59
SPEAKER_17: First thing I have to comment on is the hat.
47:03
SPEAKER_17: Is that a no rivals hat?
47:04
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, it's no rivals.
47:06
SPEAKER_05: That's always what I wear when I golf.
47:07
SPEAKER_05: That's sweet.
47:08
SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
47:10
SPEAKER_17: Man, I like that one a lot.
47:12
SPEAKER_17: You always wear no rivals hats.
47:14
SPEAKER_17: The only hat I wear.
47:14
SPEAKER_17: Okay.
47:15
SPEAKER_05: This is like the espresso one or something.
47:17
SPEAKER_05: Nice.
47:17
SPEAKER_17: Espresso, well played.
47:19
SPEAKER_17: Transfer from Louisville.
47:20
SPEAKER_17: Yes, sir.
47:21
SPEAKER_17: Originally from Lexington, Kentucky.
47:23
SPEAKER_17: But you do have Tennessee ties.
47:26
SPEAKER_17: Let's start with the one that maybe people don't know as well.
47:30
SPEAKER_17: James Wilhoit.
47:31
SPEAKER_17: Yeah.
47:32
SPEAKER_17: Former vol kicker.
47:33
SPEAKER_17: Of course.
47:34
SPEAKER_17: Outstanding vol kicker.
47:35
SPEAKER_17: Teaches kicking.
47:37
SPEAKER_05: Taught you.
47:38
SPEAKER_05: He's taught me completely how to kick.
47:40
SPEAKER_05: I did a camp at Brentwood Academy in eighth grade during COVID.
47:45
SPEAKER_05: And he obviously coaches there now.
47:48
SPEAKER_05: So he kind of put me two and two together and found me.
47:52
SPEAKER_05: And then I've been working with him since.
47:54
SPEAKER_05: And he's pretty much taught me how to kick.
47:56
SPEAKER_17: Then the other part, the people know this story a little bit more.
47:59
SPEAKER_17: When you left Louisville, entered the transfer portal, and ended up at Tennessee.
48:04
SPEAKER_17: You had been at Tennessee before and had had a very good experience.
48:08
SPEAKER_17: Tell us about that.
48:09
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, so I visited junior year in the spring, and I knew there wasn't a massive spot open, but I also I really loved the campus, and James obviously put in good words for me.
48:20
SPEAKER_05: Then I came back in May of that same year and kicked in front of Coach Eckler and Coach Crabtree and Coach Blocker.
48:27
SPEAKER_05: And obviously I really loved it, but opportunities come and go, and I'm just glad I'm full circled all the way back here.
48:34
SPEAKER_17: And when you made the decision to enter the transfer portal, was there much question about what you were going to do?
48:41
SPEAKER_05: No, I I pretty much joined the portal specifically to go to Tennessee.
48:45
SPEAKER_17: To go to Tennessee.
48:45
SPEAKER_17: Yeah.
48:46
SPEAKER_17: In terms of watching you, and you can tell me I'm completely out to lunch on this.
48:52
SPEAKER_17: You don't seem to waste a lot of time, energy, I won't say thought, but you just go in there and kick it.
49:01
SPEAKER_17: I mean, there's not a lot of it doesn't look like you're shooting free throws where you have to take six dribbles and walk off nine steps to get to the spot and you know, do so do have your lucky charm with you.
49:14
SPEAKER_17: I mean, Cooper Aravenier just goes in and kicks it.
49:16
SPEAKER_05: I say a saying I can't really say on the uh this interview, but it's kick the freaking ball.
49:22
SPEAKER_05: Okay, and that's just what I say in my head, and then I just go for it.
49:26
SPEAKER_17: Does that come from the the fact that you were an excellent soccer player and as an athlete, not just a specialist, but as an athlete, you're you're playing the game even if your role is that of a specialist?
49:39
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, I I played receiver in high school too, and I always noticed that like when I first started kicking in high school, I always felt more pressure kicking than I did playing receiver, and I was like, Well, why?
49:49
SPEAKER_05: It's the same thing.
49:50
SPEAKER_05: So I just kind of use that same mindset as I'm just out here playing football still.
49:54
SPEAKER_17: Bennett Brady's the snapper, Jackson Ross is the holder.
49:58
SPEAKER_17: How long did it take the three of you to get in sync?
50:02
SPEAKER_05: I mean, pretty much instantly.
50:04
SPEAKER_05: They're I mean, they're as good as it gets at the end of the day.
50:07
SPEAKER_05: So I just came in, just worked on the timing a little bit, and by February we were perfect op.
50:13
SPEAKER_17: It's great to meet you.
50:14
SPEAKER_17: Yes, sir.
50:14
SPEAKER_17: And looking forward to watching you kick all season for the balls and digging the no-rivals hand.
50:19
SPEAKER_17: Yeah, thank you.
50:20
SPEAKER_17: Where do I get one of those?
50:21
SPEAKER_17: Can I get one?
50:22
SPEAKER_05: No rivals.com.
50:24
SPEAKER_17: As Tennessee prepares to open the season against Burman, we have all of Saturday's important details for you as we share Sarah Detweiler's This Week in Big Orange Country, presented by Visit Knoxville.
50:39
SPEAKER_01: Hey Vall Nation, I'm Sarah Detweiler, and it's time now for this week in Big Orange Country, presented by Visit Knoxville.
50:47
SPEAKER_01: Tennessee football kicks off the 2026 season Saturday at Neeland Stadium against Furman.
50:53
SPEAKER_01: Kickoff is scheduled for 3.30 Eastern, 2.30 Central Time.
50:57
SPEAKER_01: Fans can experience the first Vall Village of the season pregame at 12 noon in the Humanities Plaza.
51:03
SPEAKER_01: Gates open at 1 p.m., but be sure to stop by the Vall Walk at 1.10 down Peyton Manning Pass and the band march at 1.50 on Pedestrian Bridge.
51:13
SPEAKER_01: We can't wait to see Vall Nation back in Nealan Stadium this Saturday.
51:17
SPEAKER_01: On Sunday, Tennessee Soccer returns to Regal Soccer Stadium for a major non-conference matchup against Northwestern.
51:25
SPEAKER_01: It's the final non-conference test for your top 10 Lady Vols before hitting the road to start SEC conference play.
51:33
SPEAKER_01: First touch on Sunday is at 2 Eastern, 1 Central.
51:36
SPEAKER_01: For all the mid-state fans, Tennessee volleyball will be playing in downtown Nashville at Bridgetone Arena this Sunday for the Broadway block party.
51:45
SPEAKER_01: Don't miss your chance to cheer on the Lady Vols as they play Indiana Sunday at 3 Eastern 2 local time.
51:52
SPEAKER_01: That was a look at this week in Big Orange Country presented by Visit Knox.
51:56
SPEAKER_01: Plan your trip at VisitNokks.com.
52:00
SPEAKER_17: Thanks, Sarah.
52:01
SPEAKER_17: That'll do it for this edition of the Mike Beats Show.
52:03
SPEAKER_17: Please join us Saturday afternoon on the Vall Network for Tennessee Furman from Nealand Stadium.
52:09
SPEAKER_17: Our coverage starts at 1 Eastern Noon Central.
52:12
SPEAKER_17: Until then, thanks for joining us, and we'll see you next time.
52:17
SPEAKER_19: All week long to the latest from the Tennessee campus, Mike Beats Show online, delivered by Uber East.com.
52:26
SPEAKER_19: We are the Fall Network.