Vols Ready For Challenge At Arkansas
photo by UT Athletics
As No. 4 Tennessee gears up for an interdivisional SEC clash with Arkansas on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC), the Vols expect to play in another loud and challenging road environment in Fayetteville. After Tuesday's practice session on Haslam Field, a pair of UT assistants met with media to recap the opening third of the regular season and preview the contest against the Razorbacks.
Wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope stressed the importance of his room knowing their opponent, honing in on the tendencies and scheme of the Arkansas secondary. The Hogs have had success creating turnovers with six interceptions this season, which ranks third in the SEC and top-20 in the country.
As is standard every week in the Southeastern Conference, Pope looks forward to a raucous crowd and intense level of competition for his receivers when the Vols take the field at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
"They have to know who they are going against," Pope said. "They have to know tendencies and what to expect. That is something at the beginning of the week we really harp on is personnel. I said earlier, in this league, you are going to play against elite personnel every week. That's our main focus initially, but as we get throughout the week, the scheme becomes more of the focus point. Their personnel is really good, we are playing a really good opponent. We are looking forward to going into a tough environment and competing our butts off."
Defensive coordinator Tim Banks has his unit thriving early in the season, as Tennessee leads the SEC and ranks first nationally in total defense (176.0) while leading the conference and ranking second in the FBS in scoring defense (7.0). Complementing an elite defensive line and experienced linebacker corps, UT's young, athletic secondary has held its own through the first four games of the 2024 campaign.
Led by cornerback Jermod McCoy, who was recognized by the Jim Thorpe Award committee as National Defensive Back of the Week after the win at Oklahoma, Banks praised the third level's consistency and talent despite entering the season with a limited amount of playing time.
"Like I told you guys, a lot of youth back there, inexperience," Banks explained. "But I thought we had a talented group. They're playing extremely consistent. They're communicating at a high level. That's what's helping us play so well."