“Always confident,” Banks said. “Comfortable? I don’t know about that. We’ve obviously still got a lot of work to do, but we are definitely excited just with the number of student-athletes we have in the program at this point.
“When we first got here, we were struggling with depth, now we at least feel like we have more scholarship bodies. Obviously, it’s our job to figure out what they can do and put those guys in the best possible position, so I don’t know if I’m comfortable, but we are definitely excited to have those guys here.”
2022 Tennessee football: Tim Banks previews fall training camp
Tennessee will kick off fall training camp Monday at Haslam Field.
Ahead of the Vols’ first fall training practice, second-year defensive coordinator Tim Banks met with media and previewed the 2022 season.
Tennessee went 7-6 in Josh Heupel’s first season as head coach in 2021, appearing in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl against Purdue.
The Vols will kick off its 2022 season Sept. 1 against Ball State at Neyland Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. EDT and SEC Network will televise the season-opening matchup.
How to watch Josh Heupel, Tim Banks and Alex Golesh at Vols’ media day Sunday.
Tennessee will kick off fall training camp Monday at Haslam Field.
Second-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel will take part in the Vols’ football media day Sunday.
He is slated to hold a season preview press conference Sunday at 12:45 p.m. EDT.
Heupel will be followed at media day by defensive coordinator Tim Banks and offensive coordinator Alex Golesh.
Heupel, Banks and Golesh’s press conferences can be watched live on Tennessee’s Twitter and Facebook accounts, as well as Tennessee Athletics’ official YouTube page at YouTube.com/TennesseeAthletics.
Tennessee will kick off its 2022 season Sept. 1 against Ball State at Neyland Stadium (7 p.m. EDT, SEC Network).
All Vol Weekend will consist of a fan-friendly spring weekend featuring multiple UT teams in action and a fan fest tailgate, April 7-10.
Tennessee will have a football scrimmage April 9 at 1 p.m. EDT at Anderson Training Center and will be closed to the general public. There will be no live digital stream of the scrimmage.
Volunteer Village at Humanities Plaza will welcome fans and feature two big screens that will carry the scrimmage. In addition to live interviews with head coach Josh Heupel, VFLs and other guests on the screen, Volunteer Village will showcase food trucks, music and activities for all ages from noon-3 p.m. EDT.
Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire
The Vols practiced for the second time Thursday. Following Thursday’s practice, Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks met with media.
Tim Banks discusses Tennessee’s defense living game by game, quarter by quarter.
Tennessee’s defense is ranked No. 51 (339.2 ypg) following Week 5 of the 2021 season.
The Vols are ranked No. 76 nationally in pass defense (235.2 ypg) and No. 25 against the run (104.0 ypg).
Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks met with media Tuesday and discussed the Vols’ defense through five games.
“We try to live game by game, quarter by quarter,” Banks said. “At the end of the day, we feel like we are trying to play to our players strength, whatever it is. Obviously as we identify the strengths and weaknesses of each opponent, we try to put a defense or a plan together that gives us an advantage.
“Obviously, in this day in age, you have to be able to stop the run, but at the end of the day, to me, it’s just based on that personnel and how we utilize them and give them the best chance to be successful.”
Tim Banks provides assessment of Vols’ defense ahead of first game.
Tennessee will kick off its 2021 season under first-year head Josh Heupel on Sept. 2 against Bowling Green.
Ahead of the Vols’ season-opening contest, first-year defensive coordinator Tim Banks met with media and discussed Tennessee’s defense.
Below is a transcript of Banks’ media availability provided by the University of Tennessee.
On how the linebacker unit has grown through camp
“I think the biggest thing we have depth right now. Obviously, we got here in the spring (and) we had guys who were banged up, trying to learn a new system. Having some transfers in and obviously getting some guys healthy is giving those guys the ability to compete better. There’s a lot more urgency within the room. Still some things we obviously want to do better but overall, I’m pleased with the depth that we’re developing, and I think we’re heading in the right direction.”
On the balance when it comes to game planning for the opponent while playing to your strengths
“I think, particularly with the first game, it’s more of what do we do well? Being able to play to our strengths and making sure our guys understand very clearly what we’re trying to get done. Obviously, your first opponent, particularly if they’re a team that’s returning a lot of starters, you have an idea of what you think you might get, but at the end of the day it’s a new season. I’m sure those guys have worked on some different things, so we want to just make that we understand what we’re trying to get done to give us the best opportunity to succeed.”
NEXT: Tim Banks provides assessment of Vols’ defense
Tyler Baron discusses the LEO position, Vols’ new vibe under Josh Heupel.
Tyler Baron enters his sophomore season at Tennessee in 2021.
The 6-foot-5, 260-pound linebacker met with media following Tennessee’s third practice during fall training camp.
“I feel pretty good,” Baron said of how he feels during the early stages of fall training camp. “I added a little bit of weight, but with that I got a lot stronger. I went up around 12 pounds and I only gained .25 percent body fat. I am feeling really good and moving well. I’m just excited.”
Baron detailed playing the LEO position under first-year defensive coordinator Tim Banks.
“I love it,” Baron said of the LEO position. “Coach Banks giving us the ability to have personality and put ourselves in a bunch of different situations to show them we can do it.
“Whether that’s dropping in coverage, covering people down the field, rushing off the edge on the side – he just puts us in different situations to show versatility.”
Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire
Baron also discussed first-year head coach Josh Heupel and the mentality and mindset of Tennessee’s program under his guidance.
“It’s a different vibe,” Baron said of Tennessee’s program under Heupel. “It’s a totally different atmosphere. I tell everybody coming in from our season last year to this year, you almost can’t even call it the same program. It’s a totally different mindset. People are taking more advantage of everything and it’s going to be really positive.
“The biggest thing for me is the mindset of the team and the mindset in the building. Everybody is looking for how they can improve more so than just getting through. Everybody is determined. All the new guys are buying into the program. Coach Heupel is leading us in the right direction and we’re just happy to follow him.”
Fall training camp: Tim Banks discusses Tennessee’s defense
Tennessee kicked off fall training camp Wednesday ahead of the 2021 season under first-year head coach Josh Heupel.
The Vols held its media day Tuesday. Defensive coordinator Tim Banks met with media and discussed Tennessee’s defense.
Banks was asked if a base defense has been decided on yet.
“I wouldn’t tell you even if we had,” Banks said. “No, we’re going to be multiple. I mean, I don’t think that’s the secret. You’re going to see two backs and multiple tight ends one week, and then another week, you may see all empty.
“I think you need to be multiple, so that’s the way we’re building the defense. Based on who we’re playing, we may feature one front maybe more than the other, and maybe more defensive backs more than the other, so is this really going to be based on the game.”
Tennessee will kick off the season Sept. 2 against Bowling Green at Neyland Stadium.
Tennessee’s 2021 win total outlook, grading Josh Heupel and Tim Banks as play-callers.
Tennessee is set to kick off fall training camp ahead of Josh Heupel’s first season as the Vols’ head coach.
Tennessee will open its 2021 season on Sept. 2 against Bowling Green at Neyland Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. EDT and SEC Network will televise the matchup.
McClintock has provided a prediction model of analytics based on numbers with no opinion since 2008.
Season predictions are based on roster talent rankings, returning experience, returning production, quality starts and other data. McClintock’s data base dates back to 2008, tracking every call and play from the sideline to grade coaches. Two Southeastern Conference teams use McClintock’s data base for analytics.
On the show, McClintock discussed talent on Tennessee’s roster and provided season win total outlooks, as well as grading Heupel as a head coach and a play-caller. He also discussed defensive coordinator Tim Banks’ grade as play-caller.
Tennessee offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Alex Golesh is not graded since he is not a play-caller. McClintock only grades play-callers in his model.
The entire show with McClintock can be listened to here or below. McClintock’s grades of Heupel and Banks, along with Tennessee’s win total outlook are also listed below.
Tennessee offers 2023 prospect Aycen Stevens from Indiana.
Josh Heupel and Tennessee’s coaching staff continue to recruit future Vols.
The Vols offered a scholarship to 2023 prospect Aycen Stevens.
“I’d like to thank Coach Tim Banks, Coach Josh Heupel and the rest of the staff for an offer as a linebacker to play at the University of Tennessee,” Stevens said on Twitter. “Very excited and thankful for this opportunity!”
