KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — With a pair of November victories under their belt, the No. 6/4 Tennessee Volunteers prepare for their next challenge with a trip to Athens, Georgia, this weekend to face the No. 11/10 Georgia Bulldogs. Saturday’s kickoff between the hedges of Sanford Stadium is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET, and the matchup will be televised nationally on ABC.

Tennessee has formed an identity of unrelenting toughness on both sides of the ball this season, signaled by the SEC’s top rushing offense (235.1 yards per game) and second-ranked scoring defense (12.6 points allowed per game). Offensively, running back Dylan Sampson has sparked the Vols with a record-setting campaign — his 20 rushing touchdowns are the most in a single season in program history, while his 1,129 rushing yards rank first in the SEC and seventh nationally.

In comments to local media on Tuesday, running backs coach De’Rail Sims discussed Sampson’s leadership and motivational qualities impacting the Vols’ success at large.

“I think it’s huge,” Sims explained. “Everybody sits here and, number one, they look at (Sampson) as the leader. Not only as an offense, but as a team leader, as well. When he gets hot, the whole team rises up. When he makes a big run, the whole entire sideline becomes energized. He’s a spark plug for the whole entire unit for us on offense and I think sometimes you need that little uplifting.”

Recent weeks have seen the emergence of true freshman running back Peyton Lewis, who handled a season-high 14 carries for 44 yards in the Homecoming win over Mississippi State. Sims spoke to the rookie’s preparation and practice habits and how that has been translated into production on Saturdays.

“(Peyton has) done a really good job in his preparation, in terms of going out and attacking practice,” Sims said. “We’ve got competition every day in practice, and he’s done a really good job of maximizing the reps that he’s gotten in practice. In the same situation, when he gets in a game, he’s maximizing his opportunities and the confidence is growing. The more he gets out there, you can see it as he’s playing right now.”

Heading into a primetime matchup in the Southeastern Conference, Tennessee will continue to lean on the strength of its defense. The unit has been historically dominant so far in 2024, limiting each of its nine opponents to less than 20 points while ranking top-5 nationally in total defense (271.6) and scoring defense (12.6).

Fourth-year coordinator Tim Banks described an unwavering commitment to the Tennessee culture from his players, giving their all for each other when they suit up between the white lines.

“I think the kids just get it,” Banks said. “They play hard, they have bought into the culture. We talk about being toughb playing for each other and with great respect for the game. I just think we’ve got a great group, but I’ve thought that since I’ve been here. A lot of these guys are the same guys we’ve had for four years at this point with a couple of new faces. We’ve got good kids, good kids that want to be coached and want to be great. We’re just excited that they understand it’s a one-game season. I’m proud of that, and I just love the way they work.”

Full comments from Sims and Banks can be viewed below, along with select quotes from Sampson and sophomore defensive back Jermod McCoy.

Tennessee Football Press Conference | Nov. 12, 2024

On Peyton Lewis’ performance in the last few games…
“He’s done a really good job in his preparation, in terms of going out and attacking practice. We’ve got competition every day in practice and he’s done a really good job of maximizing the reps that he’s gotten in practice. In the same situation, when he gets in a game, he’s maximizing his opportunities and the confidence is growing. The more he gets out there, you can see it as he’s playing right now.”

On how hard it is to play more than two backs when you have a back as mentally and physically tough as Dylan Sampson…
“Been very impressed with him, number one. The stamina that he has been able to produce, especially in this stretch that we’ve been going on after the bye week. The mental part of it, you see that in the classroom. The physical part of it, that’s why he attacked the weight room the way that he did this summer building his body up. And you see the durability now, in terms of being out there and taking multiple carries in a series and in a game. The thing about it is, once he gets hot, it’s kind of hard to pull him off. At the same time, understanding that he has to take some series off to keep his legs fresh so we aren’t sitting up here wearing him out.”

On how he is coaching Dylan Sampson through his fumble issues…
“The number one deal is understanding when you’ve drained it enough. You know, a lot of times, you go back through and you look at the tape, a lot of those he’s fighting for those extra yards. He’s still trying to churn and guys are sitting there clubbing it trying to pull the ball out. So, understanding when you drain it out enough, it’s time to go down so that they can’t get those shots on the ball. Then it comes down to our ball mechanics too, like we practice every day. Just make sure when we’re in the pile, armbar the football, do a good job having your pads over it and continue to keep it protected.”

On what he has said to Peyton Lewis about going on the road this week…
“Yeah, you know the number one deal is the focus portion of it. Doing your job, not letting the crowd affect you. Understand that I have to be locked in on what my assignment is on this play. Understanding what the physicality, especially in this league, is going to be like on the road in terms of how I have to go in and attack, how I have to go in there and fit. Those are things he’s done a good job of up to this point. Just understanding, don’t let that become bigger than what it is. Just concentrate on doing your job and then you’ll be okay.”

On how important it is to have such a motivational player like Dylan Sampson…
“I think it’s huge. Everybody sits here and, number one, they look at Samp (Dylan Sampson) as the leader. Not only as an offense, but as a team leader, as well. When he gets hot, the whole team rises up. When he makes a big run, the whole entire sideline becomes energized. He’s a spark plug for the whole entire unit for us on offense and I think sometimes you need that little uplifting. Not just him on the field, in terms of playing, but also on the sideline, too. Being able to go up to teammates when things are in a little rut right now and sometimes teammates are trying to make a play and their pushing a lot, he’s always there to calm them down. So, I think holistically he does a really good job of being that for the team.”

On where Cameron Seldon is in his development…
“I think with him, he’s growing every day. That’s the number one deal. He had his setbacks early in the season, but I think with him his development is good. You see him getting comfortable again and you see him getting into games right now. He’s getting comfortable, he’s maximizing his reps that he’s getting right now. We are going to need everybody in that room as the season continues to progress and kind of rolls along. The number one deal is continuing to keep attacking it one day at a time and seeing how your growth progresses throughout the games.”

On how using crowd noise in practice helps in preparation this week…
“I think number one, it’s the focus portion of it. Making sure that you’re being able to get locked in, attention to detail, making sure I’m focusing on doing my job. You can’t make it bigger than what it is. It’s the same situation where we’re playing at home, our homefield advantage in terms of our crowd is really good, so when you go on the road, you kind of expect that same situation. We sit up here (and) we make sure we’re doing a really good job from a preparation standpoint, but also when it gets into the hay of it, make sure I’m locked in on doing my job and then I can focus on one play at a time.”

On if the fumble issues have been caused by Dylan Sampson’s habit of fighting for more yards…
“I do. I think it’s a habit portion now. We always talk about as a program going pad plus two, and I think he’s doing a really good job of finishing off his runs. So, a lot of times when that’s already engrained in you, it’s kind of hard to understand in this certain situation I’ve drained it out enough, let me go ahead and get down so that I don’t put the ball in jeopardy.”

Defensive Coordinator Tim Banks

On the rush defense giving up more yards over the past two games…
“Well, I’m going to be totally honest with you, I have no idea what our rush defense looks like (from a stats perspective), and that’s the honest-to-God truth. Every game is a new game, a different game and we do what we need to do to try to win the game. I think Kentucky was a good running team and they did a tremendous job. Obviously, Mississippi State did a good job running the ball. We don’t want guys running the ball. We don’t want guys throwing the ball, but the objective is to win the game. We are always going to do what we need to do to try to win and we’ve been very fortunate in the last couple weeks.”

On the defensive run fits…
“Every rep is a different rep. I don’t think collectively we’ve had a bunch of miss fits or things of that nature. Were we perfect? Absolutely not. Some things we want to make sure we continue to clean up and get better (at) week in and week out. I think schematically, being able to take some pressure off the back end. Playing with some lighter boxes, obviously, they are going to lead to some bigger run plays. We try to pick our poison. When I got here, I told you we were going to stop the run at all costs, and we still want to do that. We also need to play to our strengths.”

On if the increase in run production from opponents has more to do with the defensive line or other levels of the defense…
“This is the SEC, there are some really good programs here and it’s always going to be a challenge to stop the run week in and week out. Obviously, there are things we want to continue to do better and continue to grow. We are excited about our young linebackers, from Jeremiah Telander to Arion Carter. I think those guys have done a remarkable job helping us win. Every week, we are trying to get better to stop the run. We would love Keenan Pili to still be with us, but at this point, we have who we have, and we are proud of those guys and the way they are working right now.”

On how different this team is from the 2022 team that played in Athens…
“We think we are a more experienced team. We think we are talented. Athens is obviously a tough place to play just like all the SEC schools. We know we are going to have our work cut out. We know are going to have to come down there and give it our best shot to be able to come out with a victory. Like I said earlier, the guys are excited about it. They love playing football and having a chance to play Georgia, it’s a bonus. We just enjoy playing, and obviously getting a chance to go on the road, we know what we have to do to be successful is going to be to play hard, play tough and be physical.”

On generating numerous turnovers over the last stretch of games…
“I think it’s a credit to the kids and how hard they’re playing, how physical they’re playing. If we could bottle it up, we would do it every year, every time we get a chance. I think it’s just because the guys are playing with such confidence and how hard they are playing is leading to some really good takeaways.”

On James Pearce Jr.’s success during SEC play… 
“James Pearce Jr. has been playing hard and playing well all year. He’s played on the edges. I think he’s gotten a lot of pressures. Obviously, I guess he’s getting some sacks. I think it’s just him continuing to stay the course and continuing to work hard, not worrying about the stats. It’s just been fortune these last couple of games that he’s been able to get some sacks.”

On what he needs to do to ensure Boo Carter builds off a breakout game last week…
“It’s a one-game season, every rep we talk about being 1-0. No tackles, no plays were made last season that carry over to the next game. That’s the message to him, that’s the message to our defense. We’ve got to snap and clear. We flush the victory and move on. I’m proud of Boo and how hard he’s playing. He’s getting better week in and week out. I can say that about a lot of our guys, but Boo gets it, he understands he has to continue to put it on tape every week. So far, he’s been up to that challenge.” 

On what Ole Miss did so well to have success against Georgia…
“I think Ole Miss played extremely hard, they made their plays that they needed to make. Ole Miss is a good team, I would assume by looking at their defense. So, I think it’s challenging to play on the road anywhere in the country. Obviously, Georgia went to Ole Miss and Ole Miss played with their hair on fire for what we can seen on defense. For us, we obviously worry about how hard we can play. Putting ourselves in the best position to be able to make some plays and get some of those opportunities as well.”

On how turnovers will be key in this weekend’s game at Georgia…
“That’s always big. We’re always trying to get our ball back for the offense to do what they do. I don’t know if it’s any bigger than any game we play. The team that gets the ball the most is usually the team that wins, so we’re going to do the best we can.”

On why his group has been so consistent…
“I think the kids just get it. They play hard, they have bought into the culture. We talk about being tough and playing for each other and with great respect for the game. I just think we’ve got a great group, but I’ve thought that since I’ve been here. A lot of these guys are the same guys we’ve had for four years at this point with a couple of new faces. We’ve got good kids, good kids that want to be coached and want to be great. We’re just excited that they understand it’s a one-game season. I’m proud of that and I just love the way they work.”

Junior RB Dylan Sampson

On what he’s seen from Peyton Lewis in practice recently…
“I think his attention to detail, he’s willing to learn, still trying to figure it all out. The one, two is there. He shows the effort in practice and in the meeting room, so he’ll continue to grow and get better.”

On what he is seeing from the offensive line in front of him, particularly in the second half against the stacked boxes of Mississippi State…
“That brings confidence when you see people rolling their safeties down and I’m still trusting my O-Linemen, whoever is in the game still trusting the O-Line to go and handle their blocks. We have the passing game going, too, so you have to respect both sides to it. We’re aggressive, we’re an aggressive team and I know the nature of that, so that’s what we’re going to do.”

On what he’s seen from this Georgia defense…
“Their box, specifically their D-Line, they do a good job just holding the point, kind of two-gapping. They play a lot in that three-down front. They do their job well, not letting offensive linemen create space. You talk about playing the whole field, the backers do a good job running to the ball laterally. Safeties get downhill. We’re more in tuned to the box, so that’s probably what I could speak for the most. They do a good job being in their spots and being aggressive.”

Sophomore DB Jermod McCoy

On how the communication has grown throughout the season…
“It’s definitely way better. We just have this connection with each other now that we did not really have in the beginning. It just makes it a lot easier for us.”

On Will Brooks’ leadership in the secondary…
“He is just so smart. He is just able to keep everybody in check. Make sure we’re doing our job and the whole defense overall, just making sure we’re doing what we have to do.”