The Southeastern Conference media days took place July 18-21 at the College Football Hall of Fame and The Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
Second-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel took part in media days July 21.
Heupel discussed redshirt senior wide receiver Cedric Tillman entering year two in his offense.
“Last year this time, a good grasp for having only had 15 days on the practice field,” Heupel said of Tillman. “He’s a great example for everybody inside of our program that if you go about your business the right way every day and you compete, you’re going to grow. A year ago I talked about him, the first third of spring ball, second third of spring ball, last third of spring ball, how dramatically different of a player he was. Great work habits during the summer.
“For him in year two, compared to some of the great guys I’ve had, maybe a Gabe Davis that’s had a huge impact in the NFL with Buffalo, his ability to really sit back, watch cut-ups, digest what we’re doing offensively, but get into the intricacies of what he’s doing. I think it’s going to allow him to play faster, to be more decisive and create more opportunities and bigger windows for himself. Ultimately that should lead to us being successful offensively, but he’s done a great job all off-season. You talk about January, February before we got spring ball, he was in there watching film every single day on his own. He’s got great command of what we’re doing. That allows him to play within himself at a higher level.”
Tillman totaled 64 receptions, 1,081 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns last season in Heupel’s offense.
[vertical-gallery id=66641]