Tennessee will conclude its 2021 season Thursday against Purdue in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl.
The contest will take place at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. EST and ESPN will televise the matchup.
Ahead of the matchup, senior offensive lineman Jerome Carvin and sophomore running back Jabari Small met with media.
Below is a transcript of Carvin and Small’s media availability provided by the University of Tennessee.
Jerome Carvin
On having major contributors returning to Rocky Top next season
“It has to do with this staff, the culture, the locker room, just playing with our brothers again, our teammates. I’ve been a part of some rough times since I’ve been here, but we’ve got a bright future ahead of us and there’s a lot of things we can do.”
On the feeling of the Music City Bowl since he is returning next season
“It’s like a statement game, if that makes sense. We have to show what we can do, especially with this offense and the team that we’re playing against. We are playing a really good Big 10 team. It’s a statement game.”
On having the chance to play in an NFL stadium
“We haven’t really thought about it too much. My first game as a freshman, we played in Carolina, so I don’t really think about it too much. We will play anywhere. If there is a field with lines, we’re good.”
Jabari Small
On picking up where the team left off at the end of the regular season after a month off
“We’ve been preparing for the past three weeks. We’ve been actually doing the same routine that we’ve been doing, so we’ve just got to focus and then reboot. I think it’ll be a fun, fun game.”
On finishing the season off the right way
“I think it’s a big deal, just so people can get a glimpse of what we can be next year and starting off on the right foot for 2022. It’s just important, finishing off strong, just finishing what we started.”
On key Tennessee players returning and how that sets the tone for the future
“It means a lot. It’s a lot of leadership and experience. They’re veterans. We can only get better. They’ll hold us to a standard, and we will try to follow that. Those guys are extremely talented, have bright futures and could make a lot of money one day, so the fact that they want to come back means a lot.”
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