Vols' tight end Ethan Davis, a redshirt sophomore, is one of several players bringing versatility to the position.
photo by Tennessee Athletic Communications
With 30 days remaining until Tennessee football's 2024 season opener, position battles are beginning to take shape as the Vols progress through fall training camp. A pair of new transfers and young, budding talent in the tight end room make that competition particularly intriguing as UT's Aug. 31 matchup with Chattanooga draws closer.
Second-year tight ends coach Alec Abeln met with the media after Thursday's practice at Haslam Field and fielded questions on the depth, chemistry and versatility of his group through two practices of preseason camp.
"Their chemistry is great," Abeln said.
"They all obviously want to play. They all obviously want to be the starter. That's still up for grabs, it's open competition this camp. That's the stock coach answer, but that's the reality of it.
"They each have different skill sets, which allows you to do different things with each guy. It gives us flexibility as a staff as far as what we can get into and what we can call for certain guys. The offense is still the offense, but it definitely gives us the ability to use guys really intentionally."
With the departure of veteran tight ends
Jacob Warren and
McCallan Castles to the NFL, Abeln has seen his players improve their leadership skills over the course of the offseason. He acknowledged
Miles Kitselman and
Holden Staes, who both transferred into the program this past spring, and redshirt freshman
Ethan Davis as standouts early in camp.
""Honestly, every guy in our room has a leadership quality that's been really good," Abeln explained. (
Miles Kitselman) comes to work every day and attacks stuff. He's a little bit more vocal, little bit more blue collar if you will. (
Holden Staes) shows up with great energy and great attention to detail every day. He's a positive influence. E (
Ethan Davis), man, when his energy is the right way, there's nobody that's got a better personality, better energy for our group. When he shows up with that type of energy it's contagious for all of us, but really all of those guys have stepped up in a big way."
Full comments from Abeln's Thursday press conference can be viewed below, along with select quotes from freshman running back
Peyton Lewis, freshman wide receiver
Braylon Staley and freshman offensive lineman
Bennett Warren.
Tennessee Football Press Conference | Aug. 1, 2024
Tight Ends Coach Alec Abeln
On having a deeper tight end rotation than past years...
"Absolutely, it's actually really nice to have three guys where even during practice you're not worried about burning guys out and keeping guys fresh. We've got three guys that can play at a really high level right now, and getting to watch them compete for it has been awesome."
On the growth and development of TE Ethan Davis during the offseason...
"I mean physically he is 245 pounds right now, which was the biggest thing for him last year, just getting his body ready to survive in this league. Mentally, it's really cool to see last year to this year and really this spring from last spring, just how far he's come mentally where he's able to just go play free and do the stuff we all know he's capable of doing."
On who has stepped up as the leader of the tight end room...
"Honestly, every guy in our room has a leadership quality that's been really good. (Miles Kitselman) comes to work every day and attacks stuff. He's a little bit more vocal, little bit more blue collar if you will. (Holden Staes) shows up with great energy and great attention to detail every day. He's a positive influence. E (Ethan Davis), man, when his energy is the right way, there's nobody that's got a better personality, better energy for our group. When he shows up with that type of energy it's contagious for all of us, but really all of those guys have stepped up in a big way."
On what questions he needs answered to know his tight ends are game ready...
"I think for them it's just getting comfortable and playing free. It is different than where Cally (McCallan Castles) was at a year ago for both those guys. It doesn't necessarily feel like there's still a year one gap. Both of those guys – I mean there's a little thing here and there, but that's everybody – can't say enough about the work they've invested in getting ready mentally to play. But, as far as who's going to go take it on Saturday, pads come on in two days, and that will tell us a lot more as well."
On what adjustments he made on recruiting from year one to year two...
"I'm not a guy that really gets anxious or stresses about much, but a year ago, especially the first couple months, it was something that obviously you understand the importance of it. Truth be told, I was sitting in church, like early May, and we had a prayer card – 21 days of prayer – and I wrote down recruiting. I had a little note typed up in my phone that just said, 'Hey God, just put the right men in my room. However it looks, however it's supposed to be, I'm trusting you. I'm going to view recruiting from that lens. Just give me the right men in my room.' Two days later a kid commits to Georgia and cancels his OV (official visit). The summer wasn't great and come December things were looking pretty rough. As I look around the room now, man, God answered that prayer for sure. I think for me, just having time with these guys to get to know guys (and) them to build rapport with us, and then also, there have been great kids in this cycle that I really just naturally connect with."
On if working with McCallan Castles taught him how to ease transfer tight ends into the system…
"A little bit. Cally did a great job. I think, one, I was juggling a lot, wearing a lot of hats at the time when he first got in here. I can't give enough credit to Cayden Cochran and the work that he's done when I'm on the road with these guys and daily work. Cole Harrison got here in freaking June and he's executing at a higher level than most of our guys that got here in January. It's been awesome and a lot of that is credit to Cayden."
On if better opportunities came along or if he got better in recruiting…
"Probably both. I think with anything, the more you do it… I'm going to work hard at whatever I do and I don't think effort was anything to do with last year, I really don't. But, as far as the guys that got in my room in December and January, looking around even in the spring it was like, 'holy cow.' You look at guys that we have coming on deck, we have a chance to be really special."
On the depth of the tight end room and fighting for playing time…
"Their chemistry is great. They all obviously want to play. They all obviously want to be the starter. That's still up for grabs, it's open competition this camp. That's the stock coach answer, but that's the reality of it. They each have different skill sets, which allows you to do different things with each guy. It gives us flexibility as a staff as far as what we can get into and what we can call for certain guys. The offense is still the offense, but it definitely gives us the ability to use guys really intentionally."
On the athleticism of Ethan Davis…
"As a pass catcher, he's pretty unique. He's really a big slot when he lines up like that. Getting him to where he can do the rest of the job, that's been the challenge for a year now, and he's answered the bell in a big way. There's still a long way to go, but he's unique."
On how Coach Heupel and Coach Halzle helped calm some of his anxiousness…
"They're the same guys every day. I think if they understand your working and you're trying, they're going to help you with things here and there. They've both been a huge part of every guy that's in the room now. Not only helping keep me confident in everything, but also helping recruit these guys as well."
On freshman TE Cole Harrison and initial impressions on his game…
"He's a guy we watched after his first few games and thought, 'how the hell does this guy not have an offer? How does this guy not have big-time stuff going on?' You see the length, he's a really fluid mover, he's got natural hips. He does more in the core than your average high school guy. I went out and watched him play early in the fall. Body type, he's what you want. I don't know why he ended up falling into our lap, but I'm glad he did. He's super loose, really twitchy. He cares and works at a really high level as well. He's done an awesome job getting ready to play this fall camp."
On how he is health wise after not being able to practice in the spring…
"I'm feeling great. Came here and had some minor setbacks. Got back to it, came out for the fall camp feeling great. You know taking coaching from players, coaches, and anywhere I can really take any type of information. Other than that, I'm feeling pretty good now."
On his process for fall camp in terms of trying to catch up physically from missing spring practices…
"I would say it's day-by-day. Everything takes a process. Mistakes happen in order for you to learn (so) I think that's been a big part of me, especially being a young guy, but I'm also trying my best not to be a young guy. I feel like during the spring is really the time – like a mental block for me – I can take everything mental in and not do everything as physical and now that I'm here in fall camp, I've got a lot of the mental stuff down and I'm able to do a lot of physical stuff. I guess it's putting everything together (and) everything is moving smoothly."
On what is the toughest part about pass blocking…
"It's more mentally knowing where I need to be because people say this all the time, you put talent on the field. You know they can do great things as long as you let them know what to do. I would say it is more mental for sure because physically anyone can go out there and do it. But as far as knowing where you need to be, knowing where I need to be in this time – getting everything down mentally – I think that's more important than going out there physically and trying to put your body in front of somebody."
On his progress from spring to fall…
"I'd say I'm learning the offense way better than I was in the spring. I feel like it just weighed on me a bunch in the spring, just coming in straight from high school as an early enrollee. So, I feel like now I'm just, the play is coming really easy, and I'm just getting the hang of this offense."
On the competition level at Tennessee compared to high school…
"It's a big difference from high school. Just competing in the receiver room is just a way bigger (difference) than high school. And then, just the defense. We have a talented defense. I'm just amazed to be going against these guys. We're going against them, and I'm doing my best."
On the hardest defensive players to practice against…
"I like competition. I like going against Boo Carter. He and I have been going at it since the spring. That's my boy though, so we go out there a lot. He has love for the game. He was a talented player coming out of high school as well. He came here in the spring and ever since then, we've just been going."
On what his first two college practices have been like…
"I would say I am hanging in there. It's definitely a learning experience and learning curve from where I played at in high school to come to the SEC, the best football in America, but I think I'm doing well."
On what has been the most eye-opening part so far…
"The speed of the game is much different. I played tempo in high school, but it is obviously a lot faster when you come to this league."
On how his tempo play in high school is going to help him at Tennessee…
"I would say it has helped with my cardio over time. So, I would say just being there for four years (and) doing a lot of running and moving around. It definitely wasn't such a toll on my body in the transition."