Tim Banks – Page 2 – Syndication Server

James Pearce Jr.’s growth ‘has been great’ for Tennessee

Sophomore defensive lineman James Pearce Jr.’s growth has been great for Tennessee.

Sophomore defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. recorded three tackles, two sacks and two tackles for a loss in Tennessee’s season-opening win versus Virginia in Week 1.

Third-year defensive coordinator Tim Banks met with media on Tuesday and discussed Pearce Jr.’s performance.

“Obviously, we’re very confident in James,” Banks said. “His growth has been great for us. We saw it last year, him starting to make some strides and make some even better strides through the spring. We’re not surprised with the display he put on this weekend. Just like I told him, I tell you the same, nobody cares after the first game. You got to continue to put it on tape week in and week out.

“It’s not just him, but everybody on the defense. We’re excited about him, that’s why we recruited him. He’s a great kid who’s only going to get better and I think he’ll be the first one to tell you that.”

The 6-foot-5, 242-pound defensive lineman recorded five tackles, two sacks and two tackles for a loss in 13 games as a freshman in 2022.

PHOTOS: Tennessee football defeats Virginia in Nashville to open 2023 season

Tim Banks discusses facing Virginia quarterback Tony Muskett

Tim Banks discusses facing Virginia quarterback Tony Muskett in Week 1.

Virginia announced Tony Muskett will start at quarterback versus Tennessee in Week 1.

The 6-foot-2, 206-pound Muskett transferred to Virginia from Monmouth ahead of the 2023 season.

Tennessee third-year defensive coordinator Tim Banks met with media ahead of the season opener and discussed facing Muskett.

“Really good player, he played really well for those guys (Monmouth),” Banks said. “Showed some athleticism, really good touch on the deep balls. I can see why those guys went and got him, and I can see why those guys named him the starter.

“We respect everybody that we face, and he has our attention. We know we are going to have to be at our best to be able to have a good game against him.”

Muskett appeared in 23 games from 2020-22 at Monmouth, recording 5,687 passing yards, 51 passing touchdowns, 16 interceptions, 149 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.

Tony Muskett (11) Helen Comer/USA TODAY Network

Vols’ depth at safety starts with Jaylen McCollough

Tennessee’s depth at safety starts with Jaylen McCollough in 2023.

Third-year defensive coordinator Tim Banks met with media ahead of the Vols’ 2023 season-opening contest versus Virginia on Sept. 2 (noon EDT, ABC).

Banks discussed the depth of Tennessee’s safety position ahead of playing Virginia.

“I think it starts with Tank (Jaylen McCollough),” Banks said. “He’s obviously played a lot of football for us around here. Wesley Walker played a ton of snaps last year, as well for us, at some STAR and some safety. Jourdan Thomas was also a special teams guy who did a tremendous job for us last season that we think will be able to help us. Christian Charles is rotating in from corner, to safety, to STAR, so we feel like we have some guys. Andre Turrentine, we feel like he’s got a chance to be able to help the team.

“I think we have really good depth there, obviously we don’t have the guys that have played as many snaps as (Trevon) Flowers played the year before outside of Tank, but we think collectively, we have a good group of guys to work with. We are excited to watch those guys play and perform.”

McCollough enters his fifth season at Tennessee in 2023. He appeared in 47 games for the Vols from 2019-22, recording 183 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, two sacks, three interceptions, 14 pass deflections and one forced fumble.

Depth a strength for Vols’ defense in 2023

Depth is a strength for Tennessee’s defense in 2023.

Third-year defensive coordinator Tim Banks met with media ahead of the Vols’ 2023 season-opening contest versus Virginia on Sept. 2 (noon EDT, ABC).

Banks was asked how he assesses the strengths of Tennessee’s defense going into the season.

“I think the depth,” Banks said. “We have a lot of guys that have played some football around here, and we have a good blend of the younger guys, some of the early enrollees that just got here, some of the guys who were freshmen last year who played a small role, we expect those guys to play a larger role this season.

“We feel really good that we should be able to rotate a lot of guys and give a lot of guys opportunities that they’ve earned through camp. It’s exciting to be quite honest with you. It’s exciting to know that you can roll different guys out there and try to keep those guys as fresh as we can.”

Watch: Tim Banks previews 2023 season

Watch: Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks previews 2023 season

Tennessee will open its 2023 football season in eight days.

The Vols will kick off its 2023 season Sept. 2 versus Virginia at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Kickoff is slated for noon EDT and ABC will televise the contest.

Tennessee’s home schedule has contests against Austin Peay, UTSA, South Carolina, Texas A&M, UConn, Georgia and Vanderbilt.

The Vols’ road schedule features games at Alabama, Florida, Kentucky and Missouri.

2023 Tennessee Vols Football Schedule: Downloadable Smartphone Wallpaper

PHOTOS: 2023 Tennessee football fall training camp

Tim Banks enters his third season as Tennessee’s defensive coordinator.

He met with media on Friday. Banks’ media availability can be watched below.

Tim Banks details luxury of having same coaches for third consecutive year

Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks details luxury of having the same coaches for a third consecutive year.

Tennessee kicked off fall training camp on Wednesday.

Tennessee’s defensive coordinator Tim Banks met with media Tuesday and discussed the luxury of having the same coaches in the program for a third consecutive year.

“It’s always great,” Banks said. “There is a lot of turnover every year in the collegiate game, and obviously in the pros as well. I think from a football perspective, it’s awesome. To be quite honest, I think it’s awesome just as far as recruiting goes. You get a chance to recruit these kids, see them start to develop and grow not just as players, but as men. I don’t know if there’s anything more gratifying than that. To watch someone develop under your watch, academically, socially and obviously on the field is special.

“We’ve been able to have some continuity in where we call home. Knoxville has been very good to me and my wife. It’s truly a blessing and I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity.”

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Tim Banks discusses Vols’ spring practices

Defensive coordinator Tim Banks discusses Tennessee’s spring football practices.

Tennessee practiced for the second time during spring Tuesday at Haslam Field.

Spring practices will conclude April 15 with the Vols’ annual Orange & White Game at Neyland Stadium.

The 2023 season will be Tennessee’s third under head coach Josh Heupel.

Heupel has compiled an 18-8 (10-6 SEC) record, including one bowl win, in two seasons as the Vols’ head coach.

The Vols will kick off its 2023 season Sept. 2 versus Virginia at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

PHOTOS: Tennessee football practices for second time during spring

Following Tuesday’s practice, Tennessee’s third-year defensive coordinator Tim Banks met with media. Banks’ media availability can be watched below.

Christian Charles’ positional reps detailed at start of fall camp

Defensive back Christian Charles’ positional reps detailed at the start of fall training camp.

Tennessee kicked off fall training camp Monday at Haslam Field.

Ahead of the Vols’ first practice, second-year Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks discussed sophomore defensive back Christian Charles’ positional reps at the beginning of camp.

“I think he will start off at corner with the understanding that he has the ability to move back inside,” Banks said of Charles. “He is the poster child for what we are looking for, guys that are very interchangeable. Having the corner skills, but the mentality and the physicality to be able to play inside.

“He will get an opportunity to win one of those jobs at corner, but he will also get a chance to win one of the jobs at safety. It just depends. Right now, based on how we left spring is how we will start it and we will go from there.”

The 6-foot-1, 186-pound Charles appeared in eight games as a freshman in 2021, totaling eight tackles, one tackle for a loss, one pass deflection and one block.

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Tim Banks discusses linebacker Juwan Mitchell during fall camp

Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks discusses linebacker Juwan Mitchell during fall training camp.

Tennessee kicked off fall training camp Monday at Haslam Field.

Ahead of the Vols’ first fall training camp practice, second-year defensive coordinator Tim Banks discussed expectations for redshirt senior linebacker Juwan Mitchell ahead of the season.

“Juwan was a guy who had some really significant reps for us last fall before he got injured,” Banks said. “He started to work his way back a little bit in the spring. The health issue is obviously the first thing, we’ve got to make sure he is feeling healthy, which I think we’ve turned the corner there. Then, we’ve got to see what he does as he competes for the job.

“You’ve got Jeremy Banks and Aaron Beasley coming back, we brought in Elijah Herring and you feel really good about Solon Page III, Pakk (Kwauze Garland) – we feel like we have pretty good depth that we are starting to build at that position. We felt really good about Juwan Mitchell, so it’s really up to him as we continue to see what kind of development he has made over the summer and see if that leads to him being able to contribute again, which we would hope it does.”

Mitchell appeared in three games for the Vols last season, totaling eight tackles and one pass deflection.

The 6-foot-1, 235-pound Mitchell suffered a shoulder injury and underwent surgery in 2021.

Juwan Mitchell. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Mitchell transferred to Tennessee from Texas, appearing in 21 games from 2019-20. He totaled 101 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, three sacks, five pass deflections and recovered one fumble for the Longhorns.

Mitchell transferred to Texas from Butler Community College where he played in 12 games as a freshman, totaling 55 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks, one interception and one pass breakup.

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Fall camp: Tim Banks discusses transfers Andre Turrentine, Wesley Walker

Fall camp: Tim Banks discusses transfers Andre Turrentine and Wesley Walker

Tennessee kicked off fall training camp Monday at Haslam Field.

Ahead of the Vols’ first fall training camp practice, second-year defensive coordinator Tim Banks discussed defensive back transfers Andre Turrentine (Ohio State) and Wesley Walker (Georgia Tech).

“I couldn’t tell you that we know exactly what we’ve got,” Banks said. “Obviously, I remember both young men coming out of high school and Wesley had a body of work at the other place, but until you actually get them in your system and have an opportunity to coach them the way you want them to be coached, you’re not quite sure, but I will tell you they have been nothing but spectacular in terms of their approach, work ethic, desire to be great.

“They’ve been great in our room. I know their teammates have really adjusted to them well and are excited to have them in our family. We are just excited to see what they can do in these practices that we’ve got coming up. I’m hoping they’re as good as advertised because we need them, along with the other guys, to help us take that next step.”

Walker played at Georgia Tech from 2019-21, appearing in 23 games. He played nickel back for the Yellow Jackets.

The 6-foot-1, 204-pound redshirt junior totaled 96 tackles, 56 solo tackles, 40 assists, two tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles and six pass deflections at Georgia Tech.

The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Turrentine signed with Ohio State in the 2021 recruiting class. Turrentine enrolled at Ohio State in June 2021 and played in four games last season.

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