Tennessee, West Virginia To Kick Off 2028 College Football Season in Charlotte

Tennessee will play West Virginia in the Duke's Mayo Classic in Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium to kick off the 2028 college football season, the Charlotte Sports Foundation (CSF) announced Tuesday.  

The game is set for Saturday, Sept. 2, 2028. This is the second regular season matchup in Charlotte between the two squads. The teams played in front of 66,793 fans on Sept. 1, 2018. It was the first and only time the two schools have faced off on the gridiron.

"This should be a fun showcase game for our program in a city and venue our fans enjoy visiting," Tennessee Director of Athletics Danny White said. "Opening our season against a quality opponent like West Virginia will serve as a valuable experience for our team prior to SEC play."

"We are very excited to announce that Tennessee and West Virginia will be returning to Charlotte to kick off the 2028 college football season," said Danny Morrison, Executive Director of the Charlotte Sports Foundation. "In 2018, Charlotte hosted the first ever meeting between the two schools in football. The atmosphere surrounding the game was tremendous, with very active, supportive fan bases. We are proud to bring this marquee matchup back to the Queen City and look forward to hosting the Volunteer and Mountaineer teams and fans again in Charlotte."

"The Charlotte Sports Foundation continues to generate substantial positive events for the community," said Johnny Harris, Board Co-Chairman of the Charlotte Sport Foundation. "The 2018 game between Tennessee and West Virginia was a great time for fans hosted by Charlotte. We look forward to thousands of Volunteers and Mountaineers visiting our great City in 2028."

Explosive Offense Shines As Orange Tops White 42-37

First-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel's fast, up-tempo offense was on full display Saturday as Orange captured an action-filled 42-37 victory over White at the 2021 Chevrolet Orange & White Game in Neyland Stadium.

Offensively, 821 yards and 39 first downs were generated on 99 total plays during the contest. A total of 573 yards came through the air, with 79 points scored between the two squads.

"Today was a great day for Tennessee football," Heupel said. "I'm so appreciative of the fans that came out and were a part of our attendance today. With the uncertainty of the weather, they still showed out in great fashion and brought a lot of energy to the stadium. I know our players and staff appreciated that. To the VFLs that came back, there were so many that came back and were a part of this weekend with our current players. The guys having the opportunity to all get together brought a ton of energy to the program."

 

Sophomore quarterback Harrison Bailey enjoyed a successful day, engineering four touchdown drives and finishing 12-of-16 passing for 260 yards and two touchdowns. He tossed three scoring strikes for the Orange and another for the White.

 

Redshirt sophomore Brian Maurer finished the day 9-of-15 for 171 yards with one touchdown, while graduate transfer Hendon Hooker rushed five times for 13 yards and a touchdown and was 10-of-14 through the air for 111 yards with a touchdown and the game's lone interception.

 

Redshirt freshman wide receiver Jack Jancek led all receivers, racking up 137 yards, including a 73-yard TD strike from Bailey. Redshirt senior wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. snagged three balls for 86 yards and a touchdown, while redshirt junior wide receiver Cedric Tillman had five catches for 67 yards and a score and sophomore receiver Jalin Hyatt grabbed four passes for 58 yards.

 

Redshirt sophomore Fred Orr and sophomore Jabari Small had productive days on the ground, with Orr leading all backs with 83 yards on 10 carries. Small had 48 yards and two scores on 12 attempts.

 

Defensively, Tennessee was led by redshirt freshman linebacker Will Brooks with six stops, and by freshman defensive back Christian Charles and redshirt senior defensive back Kenneth George Jr. with five tackles each. Junior defensive back Warren Burrell came up a pick-six for the defense as well.

 

The White got on the board first with 12:11 to go in the first quarter, with Small (31 yards) and freshman back Jaylen Wright (30 yards) accounting for 61 of the nine-play drive's 70 yards on the ground. Wright burst into the end zone from seven yards out for the capper. Graduate transfer Chase McGrath added the PAT to make it 7-0.

 

The Orange bounced back quickly, with Bailey connecting with Jancek on a third-down deep ball down the right sideline for a 73-yard scoring strike. Redshirt junior Toby Wilson's PAT tied up the score at 7-all with 11:28 remaining in the opening frame.

 

The White team answered promptly and retook the lead, thanks to a 45-yard pass from Maurer to Hyatt and a 16-yard scamper by Maurer. While the unit couldn't punch it into the end zone, McGrath's 28-yard field goal made it 10-7 in favor of the White with 9:17 to go in the opening stanza.

 

The Orange wasted little time moving back in front as Bailey tossed his second scoring strike, this time finding Jones Jr. on a 20-yarder. A 52-yard connection between the two on the second play of the drive significantly expedited the process. Wilson added the PAT to make it 14-10 with 8:39 left in the first.

 

Hooker engineered an 11-play, 75-yard drive to wrestle back the lead for the White, with Orr picking up 38 of it on the ground. It was Hooker's four-yard rush, however, that was th­e final flourish. McGrath's PAT made it 17-14 with 5:01 to go in the period.

 

The Orange used another big play to move back in front with 8:34 to go in the second frame. Jancek hauled in his second long pass of the day, this one from Maurer and good for a 64-yard gain to the three. Tight end Hunter Salmon completed the drive, catching a three-yard toss, and Wilson booted the extra point to make it 21-17, Orange.

 

The Orange defense padded the lead on the White's next series, as Burrell stepped in front of a Hooker pass and returned it 34 yards to pay-dirt. J.T. Carver came on to boot the PAT and make it 28-17 in favor of the Orange squad with 6:38 left before the half.

 

Bailey led the White's response, a seven-play, 75-yard drive that cut the deficit to 28-24. The signal-caller went 3-of-3 for 60 yards on the drive, with a 37-yarder to sophomore wide receiver Jimmy Calloway accounting for a large chunk of it. Small, though, put the ball in the end zone, carrying it in from seven yards out, while McGrath added the PAT to close out the scoring in the first half.

 

The Orange got the ball first in the second half, and Bailey marched his unit 75 yards in 11 plays. The sophomore connected with sophomore wide receiver Andison Coby twice for a total of 31 yards, and he converted a third-down with a nine-yard pass to Hyatt before junior running back Tiyon Evans finished the job with a one-yard plunge. Wilson's PAT made it Orange 35, White 24, with 10:15 to go in the third period.

 

The White bounced right back with Maurer under center. The redshirt sophomore helped his cause with a 27-yard strike to Tillman and a 15-yarder to redshirt senior tight end Princeton Fant. Small put the exclamation point on the drive, crashing in from two yards out. McGrath tacked on the extra point to trim the Orange's lead to 35-31 with 12:52 remaining in the fourth quarter.

 

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Spencer Smith came on to lead the Orange right back down the field and pushed the Orange advantage to 11, 42-31. Redshirt freshman running back Antonio Malone carried it in from a yard out with 5:52 to go in the contest, and Wilson kicked the PAT. Orr rushed four times for 43 of his team's 75 yards on the drive.  

 

The White finished the proceedings with a scoring response of its own to make the final score Orange 42, White 37. With Hooker calling the signals and going five-for-five passing, his unit moved 75 yards in eight plays. Hooker's key actions included tosses of 14, 11 and eight yards to junior wide receiver Ramel Keyton and passes of seven and 29 to Tillman. The 29-yarder was a diving catch in the corner of the end zone for the game's final points, as time expired and no PAT was attempted.

 

Saturday was the 15th and final practice date of the spring for the Volunteers, who now turn their attention to summer workouts. Tennessee opens the 100th year of Neyland Stadium against Bowling Green on Sept. 4. 

Vols Go Through Final Full Practice

Tennessee football went through its final full spring practice on Thursday afternoon as the Volunteers continue to prepare for Saturday's Chevrolet Orange & White Game.

Thursday was Tennessee's 13th spring practice. It's 14th will be devoted to a "Fast Friday" walk through before culminating head coach Josh Heupel's first spring in Knoxville at 4 p.m. ET Saturday. Admission is free with Neyland Stadium gates opening at 2:30 p.m.

Defensive coordinator Tim Banks and offensive coordinator Johnny McDonald met with members of the media to discuss each side of the ball's progress through five weeks, while looking ahead to an important summer.

Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach Johnny McDonald

On how he would describe what he's seen from the quarterbacks this spring …

"We just got done with practice 13. It's been the three guys rotating through. Everybody's mixing in with the ones, twos and threes. I think they have showed a ton of growth. That's the one spot where you start with as you come in as a new staff and put in a new system. All three have shown a bunch of growth in their own ways. As we've gone, we have fine-tuned things to each guy's skill set. As we've got into situational football, we've fine-tuned things to each guys' skill set. But it's been daily growth. They've been up and down a little bit at times. As we install more, all lights are on you at that point and that position. Obviously, it all goes through that position and there have been days we have been really excited. There have been days where we've wanted to see more growth. But individually, all three of those guys have done a really good job of soaking it in, getting better every day not making the same mistake twice – which we've really hit home at every spot, that one specifically in commanding the offense, and commanding that group. So, I've been really proud of those guys with what they have done, where they are at and where they are heading."

On if the staff is pleased with the install of the offense as spring wraps up …

"We are probably right where we thought we would be. As coaches, we have scripted some situations. We just got done with a heavy red zone day and you leave with a bunch of stuff you want to catch up. When you get into a third down day, you leave and you want to get on stuff to touch up. I think we are where we hoped we would be, in terms of normal situation football. I think the situation side we have to continue to grow. I think it's just guys understanding the game better, understanding what we're trying to get done in certain situations. That's the part that if we need to grow in a big way, that would be it. I think it just takes time, not that we had a built-in excuse when we got here, but that's where you always feel behind as the coordinator that you're not getting enough situational work. Coach (Josh Heupel) has done a really good job of presenting those opportunities to us, and now it's time to learn from what we've gotten and capitalize on those opportunities. That's probably one of the areas we have to hammer home as we get into fall camp."

On how he would evaluate the running back group, and what he has seen in tight end Miles Campbell's growth and development this spring…

"With the running back group, we've continued to roll a bunch of guys through there, to see similar to the quarterback situation, what each guy's skill set is, who can continue to be every down back for us. We've seen a bunch of growth from Jabari (Small), a young man that we hadn't seen a lot on film. He's continued to take daily strides both in the backfield and as a receiver. Out of the backfield, he has to continue to grow and become a complete back in terms of pass protection and catching the football and have been really happy with him. Dee (Beckwith) has continued to grow. Tiyon Evans got banged up there early and has been able to come back and was able to scrimmage last week. It was really good to see him. I think his future is incredibly bright. He's going to continue to push for that spot and a variety of different roles within the program. We got to continue to figure out at that position who are one through whatever number that may be. We're going to continue to push that group. I think Jerry Mack has done a really great job of rolling those guys and letting them all go with the one o-line and two o-line. As we leave spring, that's a spot we have to continue to figure out exactly where our depth is and what order and what each of those guys can really do. There are a bunch of guys that haven't played at this level, and we're going to continue to put those guys in situations where we got to figure out who and what order. In terms of depth, there's a bunch of guys that are capable, and it's on us to continue to develop them over the next four months. That room needs to and will continue to grow up. In terms of Miles Campbell, Miles has been a really pleasant surprise. Anytime you come in as a mid-year enrollee all your buddies are back home getting ready for prom, graduation, senioritis and being goof balls. With Miles, it took him a minute to figure it out that he's in college taking 15 credit hours, waking up early, going to bed early. These guys want me in here all day, all these places to be. It took him a month. Since we started football, he's been growing daily. A ton of promise, he's soaked it all in, and I've been really happy with how he's learned. I've been really happy with how hard he plays. He's got a chance to be a really special player here. I'm excited he is here, and I think his future in incredibly bright. It was really big for him to be here mid-year and be able to go through spring and learn what it is to be a college football player because I think he had no clue when he got here that it was going to be all of this really fast all at once. It takes a special young man to come in at mid-year, and it's become common in college football now. It takes a special young guy to adjust and fit in, especially in a place like this where the weather is always beautiful, the campus is pretty and you got to focus in on ball. He's done a really good job the last couple weeks once he's figured out a routine. I'm really proud of where Miles is, and I hope he can help us in a big way, maybe even this fall."

On how eager he is to see the quarterbacks on this stage Saturday, and if there is a concern there may be some overreaction …

"I guess I haven't thought about an overreaction. I've really just thought for us, it's going to be a scrimmage and an opportunity for our guys to go play in front of people. I'm excited to see them go play. I'm excited to see all those guys go be able to roll in there and do what they do. For us offensively, and I'd imagine the same for Coach (Tim) Banks, we just want another, however many plays it is, to go play football, how we want to play and be able to execute at a really high rate. Whoever the quarterback that is in there, we'll try to maximize their ability within those drives.  I'm excited to take it one drive at a time, play with relentless attitude and effort, play with really good tempo, play with a level of violence and play as hard as we can as long as we can. It's awesome that there's going to be people, the TV, the whole deal. How it gets written about and talked about is out my control and their control. All we can control is playing one play at a time. That's not to sound cliché on it. I just haven't thought about the reaction part of it."

On if he is starting to see some separation from the receiver room and players standing out …

"The biggest thing I've tried to sit back and figure out and Coach (Kodi) Burns has done a great job of taking those guys from when we got here to where they are right now, in terms of them developing as route runners, blockers, fundamentally understanding how to line up, where to line up, how I fit. It is so drastically different than what those guys have been used to. There's not a ton of experience there, not a bunch of guys that have played. The biggest thing for us on offense we've tried to do is figure out who is good at what and continue to develop them all as complete players. It's been awesome to see some of those young guys step up and grow. Those young guys -- Jalin Hyatt, Cedric Tillman -- in terms of playing has been a young guy. Jimmy Calloway, Walker Merrill has been an incredibly big surprise in terms of we just had no idea coming in. He's mature beyond his years both as a player and the way he handles how he approaches the game. Velus (Jones Jr.) has played a bunch. We've put a lot on him and tried to get him to continue to take the next step. Ramel Keyton has shown. (Andison) Coby in a lot of ways that he's fighting like crazy. As a group, those guys are competing. In terms of roles defining themselves. I think if you've seen us play, we're going to need them all. We're going to play a bunch of them and play really fast, and they're all going to have to play. It's on us as coaches, as we continue to develop game plans, to figure out who, where and how to get them the football and capitalize on what guys are really good at. Use the next four months to hone in on the guys that are going to play. The stuff they are not good at, continue to develop. I truly believe that Kodi Burns is good as anybody I've ever been around at developing that position. He played that position. He's coached in this conference. He knows what it takes, and there's a fiery approach to how those guys are getting coached. I think there are going to continue to grow and take steps. Their roles will continue to get defined as we get into fall camp and start to hone in on week one. That's when those guys will figure out who's playing where, who their backups are and who will play what roll. They are starting to get there right now."

Defensive Coordinator Tim Banks

On going into the spring game and where the defense is at …

"We made considerable strides since the first practice to obviously whatever practice number we are on right now. The kids are starting to grasp what we're trying to get done. It's not all about schematics but what the expectations are. How we practice, our whole intent, our body language, everything, how we take the field. From the first practice to where we are now, we made considerable strides."

 

On how much do you think your players fit into your system …

"It was a learning curve for those guys and understanding them. I've taken over a few programs of different defenses and it's always the same. It's a learning curve. At the end of the day, if you have a positive attitude and you're ready to work, which these guys have had, you start to see the return in your investment. The guys are picking it up every day and every practice. They have gotten a lot more comfortable with it. This summer will be extremely valuable. Those fall camp reps that you'll get. We'll be ready by the time that we get to kick this thing off."

On the growth of the players …  

"We obviously have been thin at some of those spots. I think our coaches have worked extremely hard. You really can see the growth in our first practice to where we are now. To the kids' credit, those guys have worked at it. The inside linebackers are ultra-thin at this point. The guys that we have in there have been pushing. I told Coach (Brian Jean-Mary) a day ago I literally can see the improvements. We're not where we want to be yet. We know it's a long road to go but ultimately, we just want to see some daily improvements. We want guys to invest and get a return in that investment. If they continue to work the way that they're working, they will like the results in the end. That can be said for the outside linebackers as well."

On the motivation for this game …

"They're all important. That's not coach cliché. When you're a new team or a new staff, we understand how valuable every single rep is, how valuable every practice is. Our kids understand that. They understand that there's a lot of work that still needs to be done for us to go where we want to go. That's the motivation that they have. These guys are hungry. They want to get better. They want to get coached. I'll be extremely disappointed if they didn't come out excited for an opportunity to get in Neyland and tee this thing up."

On the physicality of his unit …

"From a physicality perspective, we've gotten better. We're more physical than we were on day one. As a coach, that's what we're looking for. Have we made strides? So, we have. Are we as physical as we want to be? Not at all. The kids understand that, and we're working our tails off to get there. For the priority in the summer, it's just those daily deposits. We want to make sure that we're constantly going throughout the summer. There are no days off in terms of our mental aspect and approach. We'll have cutups at this point. These guys will be able to evaluate themselves. Not just what we say schematically but what they see on video. Getting in the playbooks, studying on their own, so by the time that we hit the fall, we can install extremely fast. We can continue to put even more of the playbook in at a faster pace."

Vols Enter Final Week of Spring Practice

The final week of spring football practice for first-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel and his Volunteers began with a two-plus hour workout on Tuesday afternoon as Haslam Field.

Tennessee will practice again Thursday as it prepares for Saturday's Chevrolet Orange & White Game. Kickoff is 4 p.m. ET, and the contest will be broadcast on SEC Network+ and the Vol Network. Admission is free with gates opening at 2:30 p.m.

Linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary discussed his unit's progress this spring following practice. Jean-Mary brings an extensive resume to Knoxville that includes stints as linebackers coach at Georgia Tech, Texas, Louisville and Michigan.

"I commend that unit because they have never complained even when our numbers are low," he said. "They go out and play. It's about opportunity and being prepared when you have that opportunity. We have a lot of guys that probably thought they didn't see themselves playing this early in their careers, and they're getting the opportunity to impress coach (Josh) Heupel and coach (Tim) Banks. They're making the most of it."

Vols Scrimmage, Heupel Expresses Excitement For Orange & White Game

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel put his Volunteers through their second scrimmage of the spring on Saturday in Neyland Stadium, setting the stage for next week's Chevrolet Orange & White Game.

Tennessee continues to improve in its up-tempo offensive execution, a hallmark of Heupel's teams. All three experienced quarterbacks – Hendon Hooker, Harrison Bailey and Brian Maurer – took snaps with the first team throughout the day.

"I think a lot of our mechanics, for being this early in the process, I love where we're at," he said. "These scrimmages are critical because it is truly a game. I thought today, really, there were very few things that were noticeable during the course of play that I had an issue with. I think that speaks to those kids' buy-in and their ability to be coached and learn not just be corrected themselves but learn from a teammate as well."

Kickoff for next Saturday's Chevrolet Orange & White Game is 4 p.m. ET. Admission is free. Gates open at 2:30 p.m.

Heupel expressed his excitement in seeing his team compete in live action in front of the Neyland faithful.

"It's an opportunity for them in a real, live situation to go earn trust from their teammates and their coaching staff as well to go prove that they are able to compete at a championship level. I'm excited that we get to have the state of Tennessee and Vol Nation here inside of this stadium. It's going to be a great day, and I look forward to seeing everyone there."   

Ekeler Talks Spring Ball, Vols Prepare For Saturday Scrimmage

Tennessee football wrapped up its 10th practice of the spring on Thursday evening as the Volunteers prepare to hold their second scrimmage on Saturday in Neyland Stadium.

This Saturday's scrimmage is closed to the public. First-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel leads his squad into the Chevrolet Orange & White Game at 4 p.m. ET on April 24 in Neyland Stadium. Admission is free.

Ekeler, who returns to the SEC this season, discussed his outside linebackers and special teams units with members of the media following Thursday's practice. The Vols return senior punter and kickoff specialist Paxton Brooks, who averaged 43.6 yards per punt last fall.

"From our placekickers, we have a really good battle going right now," Ekeler said. "Then you have Paxton (Brooks) from a punting perspective the other day he was just banging them out there. I think on six punts, he was averaging about 55 yards, and he's putting them right exactly where we want them. I'm pleased with it every day those guys are coming to work and working on their craft."

Junior college outside linebacker Byron Young continues to impress in practice alongside sophomore Bryson Eason.

"(Byron Young) has really made a ton of improvement," Ekeler said. "He's got some speed off the edge that you're looking for. Bryson Eason has more power, and he's done a great job. Those guys pack their lunch pail every single day. They have got an unbelievable attitude and the bottom line is they love ball. Every single day, they raise their game."

Vols Gaining Confidence As Spring Ball Enters Week 4

The fourth week of Tennessee football spring practice is underway as confidence continues to grow on the lines of scrimmage in the squad's ninth workout on Tuesday afternoon at Haslam Field.

Following practice, defensive line coach Rodney Garner and offensive line coach Glen Elarbee met with members of the media. Garner called Tuesday's practice the best he has seen from his unit this spring.

"Actually today, I thought we took a step forward," Garner said. "I look forward to going up there and watching the film and seeing if that's true. I really thought today was probably the best practice we had all spring. If that's the case, then we can come out here again on Thursday and be a little bit better and then again build on that and be better on Saturday. I definitely think we will be trending in the right direction."

Elarbee's offensive line is led by returning senior Cade Mays, who has illustrated throughout his career his versatility by playing multiple positions.

"He's such a talented guy, and he has played so many different positions, and he knows how to use his body, how to move it," Elarbee said. "Really at the end of the day, he's probably going to slide in there where it makes us best."

Tennessee will practice again Thursday before holding a closed scrimmage on Saturday.

The spring culminates with the Chevrolet Orange & White Game at 4 p.m. ET on April 24 in Neyland Stadium.

Heupel Puts Vols Through "Full Throttle" First Spring Scrimmage

Tennessee football made its first appearance in Neyland Stadium this spring under new head coach Josh Heupel as the Volunteers went through a 100-play live scrimmage and capped Thursday working goal line situations.

Sophomore Harrison Bailey, senior Hendon Hooker and sophomore Brian Maurer all took snaps under center.

"The guys had a ton of energy and made a bunch of plays on both sides of the football," Heupel said. "I thought we did a great job of getting into a rhythm, creating some big plays and operating really efficiently with our tempo and our ball mechanics. I thought the quarterbacks did a good job of handling all those things really well throughout the day. We played error-free for the most part.

"Today was a full throttle tackle for 85 percent of the scrimmage. There were some situations with the third group where we played thud at the end of it just based on the play count and trying to keep guys healthy at the very end of it."

Tennessee returns to the practice field at 10 a.m. Saturday with a free open practice to the public. All fans should enter through Gate 21, and the game day clear bag policy will be in effect. Gate 21 will open beginning at 9:15 a.m. Saturday. Ongoing COVID-19 protocols will be in effect, including face coverings upon entry and movement through the stadium upon entry. Physical distancing in the lower bowl of Neyland Stadium will be enforced.

Should inclement weather move the practice indoors, Saturday's practice would be closed to the public.

"It gives us an opportunity to go showcase in front of our fans and in front of this state who and what we are at this point," Heupel said.

Vols Turn Attention To First Scrimmage Thursday

Tennessee football returned to the practice field for its sixth workout of the spring Tuesday evening, and the Volunteers now turn their attention to their first scrimmage under head coach Josh Heupel set for Thursday afternoon in Neyland Stadium.

Thursday's scrimmage is closed to the public.

Tuesday's practice was full pads and featured multiple team periods, including a two-minute drill to cap the day. Running backs coach Jerry Mack and secondary coach Willie Martinez addressed the media following practice.

Mack's unit features junior Tiyon Evans and sophomore Jabari Small. Evans, who is in his first spring in Knoxville, was the No. 1-rated junior college running back in the nation prior to enrolling. Small came on strong toward the end of his true freshman season last fall.

"You can just tell Jabari is one of those guys that really was born to play running back," Mack said. "He has a really natural feel. He has great instincts at the position. You can tell he has been really well coached. Every day we come out there, he is disciplined. He is focused."

Vols Forging "Winning Habits" In Energized Second Week of Spring Practice

Back-to-back outdoor padded practice days filled with energy, physicality and attentiveness closed the second week of Tennessee spring football with positive momentum under new head coach Josh Heupel.

The Volunteers held their first full pads practice on Tuesday, while wearing shoulder pads Thursday and finishing off the week in full pads on Friday. The squad reviewed the practices in position meetings and ended Friday's workout – the fifth of the spring – with a live goal line team period featuring first team offense against first team defense.  

"At practice today, they competed really hard," Heupel said. "We went into a third-and-short situation down on the three-yard line, two plays to get the ball into the end zone. Just compete and nothing matters about what happened during the first 22 or 23 periods of practice. It's all about how you finish at this point. We're learning how to have a winning mentality. That's effort, that's attitude, that's learning how to be a tough football team."

Two months at the helm in Knoxville, Heupel also discussed his program philosophy that continues to be forged daily in the building.

"In what we do, it is going to be fast, it's going to be fun, and most importantly, there are going to be real relationships that are formed. We're going to be real in who we are, and as recruits see that, they'll find out that this is a pretty special place to come play football, grow as a football player and grow as a man, more importantly."

The Vols will take the Easter weekend off before kicking off the first of three week three practices on Tuesday afternoon.