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Willie Martinez recaps Boo Carter’s first game at Tennessee

Tennessee secondary coach Willie Martinez recaps freshman Boo Carter’s first game with the Vols.

Freshman defensive back Boo Carter made his collegiate debut for Tennessee in Week 1.

The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Carter recorded two tackles in the Vols’ 69-3 win versus Chattanooga.

Tennessee secondary coach Willie Martinez discussed Carter’s performance entering Week 2.

“I thought he did a great job,” Martinez said. “We had a couple guys that played for the first time, and he was one of them. Made some plays. Moment wasn’t too big for him. Obviously, we love to see what he looks like this game, because, obviously, you’re going to try to make the biggest improvement from game one to game two, but I thought he played well.”

The Vols will face North Carolina State in Week 2 in Charlotte, North Carolina (7:30 p.m. EDT, ABC).

Willie Martinez. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Chris Brazzell II tests Vols’ defensive backs ‘every day’ in fall camp

Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell II is testing the Vols’ defensive backs every day in fall training camp.

Tennessee’s football season is approaching. The Vols have 17 days until holding its first game of the season on Aug. 31 versus Chattanooga at Neyland Stadium (12:45 p.m. EDT, SEC Network).

Tulane transfer and redshirt sophomore wide receiver Chris Brazzell II is taking part in his first fall training camp with the Vols.

Tennessee secondary coach Willie Martinez discussed how Brazzell II tests his defensive backs in practice.

“Every day, his speed and his competitiveness,” Martinez said. “Brazzell is very competitive and plays with a lot of fire and energy. We better do that on our side of the ball. You have to have great energy and stuff like that. He’s very competitive and a high-level player, so that’s only going to make us better.

“We have a great group of wide receivers that, again, are going to be playing on Sunday, so it’s easy for my job to tell the kids, ‘hey man, you want a great resume? Put it on video. Put it on video against these guys that are going to be playing on Sunday.’ Brazzell is one of those guys. He’s a highly competitive and physical player. He’s not very quiet, which is kind of cool. That’s kind of like, we like it, but he’s making us better.”

Chris Brazzell II. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Willie Martinez details Will Brooks’ offseason allowing for more playing time

Tennessee secondary coach Willie Martinez details Will Brooks’ offseason, allowing for more playing time in 2024.

Redshirt senior defensive back Will Brooks enters his fifth season at Tennessee.

The 6-foot-1, 206 pound Brooks appeared in 36 games from 2020-23 for the Vols, recording 23 tackles, one tackle for a loss, one pass deflection and one fumble recovery.

Following Tennessee’s tenth practice during fall camp ahead of the 2024 season, secondary coach Willie Martinez met with media. He discussed what Brooks has done during the offseason to allow him an opportunity for more playing time.

“His preparation, he’s an everyday, consistent player who is very detailed,” Martinez said. “Whether that is in meetings, off the field or whether we are taking a day off, he’s somebody that we are leaning on for leadership because he’s been here for a long time and has done it the right way.

“His teammates respect him tremendously. He’s been very consistent. That’s the best thing I can say about Will. There’s no up-and-down. The players are being led the right way.”

Willie Martinez discusses Tennessee’s competition at star position in fall camp

Tennessee secondary coach Willie Martinez breaks down Tennessee’s competition at the star position in fall camp.

Tennessee practiced for a tenth time during fall training camp on Monday.

Following practice, Tennessee secondary coach Willie Martinez met with media. He discussed the Vols’ competition at the star position ahead of the upcoming season.

“Christian Harrison and Boo Carter are taking the bulk of the reps,” Martinez said. “We know in the back of our minds that we have others who have played the position whether it’s Will Brooks or Andre Turrentine, we have the versatility. The two guys that are competing are Christian and Boo. They’re doing a really good job.”

The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Carter enters his first season with the Vols as a freshman in 2024.

Harrison appeared in 13 games from 2022-23 at Tennessee, recording 11 tackles and 0.5 tackle for a loss.

Boo Carter. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Willie Martinez details transfer Jermod McCoy during spring practices

Tennessee secondary coach Willie Martinez details Oregon State transfer Jermod McCoy during spring practices.

Sophomore defensive back Jermod McCoy committed to Tennessee in Dec. 2023.

The 6-foot, 190-pound cornerback appeared in 11 games for Oregon State during the 2023 regular-season. He recorded 31 tackles, two interceptions, seven pass deflections and one fumble recovery last season with the Beavers.

Tennessee secondary coach Willie Martinez discussed McCoy after the Vols’ seventh spring practice.

“Jermod’s different than the other two transfers or really anybody, he never played defense,” Martinez said. “He was an athletic kid in high school and was recruited to the school that he chose to be a wide receiver. They actually made the flip and asked him to go play defense, and he did a great job. That conference was loaded with great players, quarterbacks and receivers that he went up against. We saw the athleticism. That’s the one thing that we saw, is that he can do a lot of things. To the point that was just said, is that he’s not even close to being there development-wise.

“He’s learning the game from a defensive standpoint, but he has confidence, ball skills and all types of athleticism. He understands leverage, and I think his training as an offensive player helps him understand defense too. He knows how he is going to be attacked. Those are really good qualities to have when you get moved over. He’s going against a position that he lined up against, so it’s a great combination. He is nowhere near. He played a lot of match and a lot of man where he came from. We are very multiple on defense. Getting to learn all of the different types of zone coverages is a challenge for him. He’s doing a good job in the first seven practices. He had a really good scrimmage.”

Jermod McCoy (23) Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images

Oregon State transfer Jermod McCoy thanks Willie Martinez for Vols’ offer

Oregon State cornerback transfer Jermod McCoy thanks Willie Martinez for Tennessee offer.

Oregon State freshman cornerback Jermod McCoy entered the NCAA transfer portal on Dec. 5.

The 6-foot, 180-pound McCoy appeared in 11 games for the Beavers during the 2023 regular-season. He recorded 31 tackles, two interceptions, seven pass deflections and one fumble recovery in 2023 at Oregon State.

Tennessee and secondary coach Willie Martinez offered a scholarship to McCoy on Wednesday.

“Thank you coach Nez (Willie Martinez) and Vol football for the offer,” McCoy announced.

McCoy is from Whitehouse High School in Whitehouse, Texas.

Student-athletes can enter the NCAA transfer portal from Dec. 2 until Jan. 2, 2024. Players can also enter the NCAA transfer portal from April 15-30, 2024.

READ: Updated Tennessee football NCAA transfer portal tracker

Tennessee secondary coach Willie Martinez. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Willie Martinez previews Tennessee-Alabama game week

Vols’ secondary coach Willie Martinez previews Tennessee-Alabama game week.

No. 15 Tennessee (5-1, 2-1 SEC) ranks 29th nationally in passing defense after Week 7.

The Vols are allowing 197.8 passing yards per contest through six games.

Tennessee will play at No. 8 Alabama (6-1, 4-0 SEC) on Saturday in Week 8. The Crimson Tide are ranked No. 82 nationally in passing offense (219.4 yards per game).

Kickoff between the Vols and Crimson Tide is slated for 3:30 p.m. EDT. CBS will televise the Southeastern Conference matchup.

Vols’ running backs coach Jerry Mack previews Tennessee-Alabama game week

Tennessee secondary coach Willie Martinez met with media on Tuesday and previewed Saturday’s contest at Alabama.

Everything Martinez said during his media availability is listed below.

Willie Martinez discusses Kamal Hadden’s growth ahead of 2023 season

Tennessee defensive backs coach Willie Martinez discusses Kamal Hadden’s growth ahead of the 2023 season.

Tennessee practiced for the eleventh time during fall training camp on Tuesday at Haslam Field.

Defensive backs coach Willie Martinez met with media following practice and discussed redshirt senior defensive back Kamal Hadden’s growth.

“Consistency, he’s been very consistent since January, every day,” Martinez said. “It’s the small details that matter. He has always been good off the field, but he has really made a point this last spring and summer. He’s just graduated, that’s something really big to accomplish, but he did it with a 3.2 GPA. He’s one of those 75 to 90 guys that were over the 3.0 average, so that’s given him confidence.

“The small details of being healthy enough to get through a spring, it’s his first spring he ever made, last year, since he’s been here. That gave him a chance to develop with his teammates and see where he would be at on a consistent basis, and he showed that through the summer and then now in camp. The consistency, attention to small details, being a good teammate, that’s something that he has grown.”

The 6-foot-1, 197-pound Hadden recorded 68 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss, three interceptions, seven pass deflections and two forced fumbles from 2021-22 at Tennessee.

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Willie Martinez discusses Doneiko Slaughter’s growth at cornerback

Tennessee defensive backs coach Willie Martinez discusses Doneiko Slaughter’s growth at cornerback.

Tennessee practiced for the eleventh time during fall training camp on Tuesday at Haslam Field.

Defensive backs coach Willie Martinez met with media following practice and discussed senior Doneiko Slaughter’s growth at cornerback.

“We’ve been very intentional of just leaving him at corner,” Martinez said. “He can play all of the other positions, but like a lot of guys, it’s really good to let him learn a position. It’s not easy playing out there on the corner, on the edge. Not only do you have to have the skillset, which he does, you have to have the amount of experience of being out there by yourself, the confidence that you need.

“You have to put days together, you have to put periods together into practice where you see some consistency. You can’t get down on yourself, and they’re priceless, the reps that he’s had this whole time in camp. He’s built a lot of confidence, you can see it in his playmaking. You see a lot more consistent playmaking, you’re seeing less mistakes, and it’s very beneficial.”

The 6-foot, 190-pound Slaughter has recorded 55 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks, one interception, seven pass deflections and one fumble recovery from 2020-22 at Tennessee.

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Willie Martinez discusses Tennessee’s depth ahead of 2023 season

Defensive backs coach Willie Martinez discusses Tennessee’s depth ahead of the 2023 season.

Tennessee practiced for the eleventh time during fall training camp on Tuesday at Haslam Field.

Defensive backs coach Willie Martinez met with media following practice and discussed the importance of having in-game experience.

“Having depth at the backend is very important because I don’t think you can go through a whole season with just five guys playing,” Martinez said. “It happens (injuries), this league is way too good, so the more players that have experience and have proven it on the field gives you a chance to be more consistent as a secondary. That would be the first thing.

“Seeing the small things in practice, doing the things that matter, the fundamentals, the technique, the footwork that needs to happen on a third down or a fourth down. If you can show it consistently in the practice, then it will show up on game day. That is where the experience comes in, that I was speaking earlier about.”

Tennessee kicks off its 2023 season on Sept. 2 versus Virginia at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee (noon EDT, ABC).

Tennessee football leads SEC in 2023 for returning lettermen