Third-year Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks discussed Pili’s performance on Tuesday.
“Just everything that he brought to practice since he’s been here, just great leadership, communication,” Banks said. “Just having the ability to command the defense. Just making sure the front is where it needs to be, communicating with (Aaron) Beasley, making sure that everybody is where they need to be at all times is the number one thing. Just his overall physicality with the size that he has.
“You want big guys, but obviously in this day and age, they have to be able to function in space and he’s able to do those things for us. We’re very pleased with what he brought, just his overall toughness, and smarts, and communication skills. We’re excited for him.”
PHOTOS: Tennessee football defeats Virginia in Nashville to open 2023 season
