KNOXVILLE — Ty Chandler enters his senior season at Tennessee in 2020.
Chandler has been an important part to Tennessee’s offense and special teams. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound running back has appeared in 36 games since 2017, totaling 1,590 rushing yards, nine rushing touchdowns, 42 receptions, 354 receiving yards, three receiving touchdowns, 780 kick return yards and one kick return touchdown.
Chandler met with media during fall training camp and discussed a variety of topics about his senior season.
On playing a 10-game SEC schedule in 2020
“When you say all SEC schools, everyone knows what that means. It’s a grind week in and week out and I feel like that’s what everyone is looking forward to. It’s a lot of competition and that’s what gets you better. We are looking forward to it. I’m up for the challenge, the team is up for the challenge, so we just feel good.”
On if Eric Gray has made him a better running back
“No doubt. Like they say, iron sharpens iron. I’m just grateful to be able to be in the room with him. He has a great skillset he brings to the game and he’s even taught me things. We talk about stuff all the time and we just feed off each other. I’m grateful to be able to go out there and compete with him. I feel like he gets me better, he gets the whole team better, I love it.”
On Tennessee’s running backs coach and former Vol Jay Graham
“He brings a positive energy to the table. Just a great attitude overall, he’s taught me a lot about angles, taking on defenders and being able to read blocks, stuff of that nature. He’s improved my game a ton and helped me take it to the next level. Overall, a great mentor a great guy to learn from and I’ve enjoyed the time being with him.”
On Tennessee’s offensive line in 2020
“I’m looking forward to working with those guys again. They’re a great group of guys. They come out every day and work hard. I’m grateful to be able to run behind them. They’re a bunch of big guys up front and I feel like we can build off and be even better than where we were last year. We are going to keep building and I’m looking forward to it. Those guys have been working their butts off and I’m excited to run behind them.”
On what he wanted to improve the most during the offseason
“Me personally, I just wanted to be able to finish runs and just seeing different things such as read keys and holes. Just going out and being able to execute, playing consistent. That’s something I really wanted to improve on my game and even catching balls out of the backfield, just being able to take that to the next level is something I wanted to improve on and making people miss and stuff like that.”