Tennessee spent the first three weeks of the season building depth, gaining experience, and learning what its revamped roster could handle.
Now comes the test.
The Vols will open SEC play Saturday against Texas in a matchup expected to challenge Tennessee in ways its first three opponents could not. From the Longhorns’ physical defensive front to their ability to stretch the field offensively. Tennessee is preparing for a significant jump in competition.
For the Vols, that makes the details increasingly important.
“This league, every week you’re going to see really good players play with physicality,” tight ends coach Alec Abeln said. “It’ll be about the details. It’ll be about their first steps. It’ll be about their hand placement.”
Those details will matter particularly for a Tennessee tight end room adjusting to life without Ethan Davis.
Davis is expected to miss the remainder of the season, leaving Trent Thomas, DaSaahn Brame, and Luca Wolf among the players taking on expanded responsibilities.
Abeln acknowledged Davis’ absence changes the group, but said he remains confident in what Tennessee can do from its multiple-tight-end packages.
“Obviously, he’s a special player, so I can’t sit here and say it doesn’t change us a little bit,” Abeln said. “But I do have a lot of confidence in guys in the room.”
Thomas has shown an ability to create after the catch, while Brame’s development as a blocker has given Tennessee another option in a more physical role. Abeln said consistency has been one of Brame’s biggest improvements from his freshman season.
Brame came to Tennessee known largely for what he could provide as a pass catcher. Developing the other side of his game was part of the appeal.
“That’s part of the reason why I came here, was to develop that part of my game,” Brame said. “If I wanted to take the next step, I feel like that’s the one thing that I had to improve on.”
He will get an opportunity to show that development against Texas.
Brame described the Longhorns as big, physical, and fast up front and said they attack the quarterback well. He welcomes the challenge.
“It’s really one of our first challenges of the year,” Brame said. “I’m excited to go out there and show a lot of good things.”
Abeln believes the snaps Tennessee accumulated during its nonconference schedule should help.
Practice can simulate only so much. Game repetitions force players to handle the mental and emotional demands of a snap in ways drills cannot.
“The more real snaps you get under your belt, the more you feel the real speed of the game,” Abeln said. “The more you understand what it takes mentally, emotionally to be present one play at a time.”
Tennessee still has areas it needs to clean up.
Abeln specifically pointed to pass protection as an area that must improve quickly. He said the problems have not stemmed from an inability to execute, but from smaller issues such as angles and hand placement.
“There’s nothing that you need to trust more than protection,” Abeln said. “That’s a huge area for us to fix.”
Tennessee’s secondary gets its test
The questions are different on the other side of the ball.
Tennessee’s secondary has made plays through three games, but it has not consistently been forced to defend the type of vertical passing attack Texas can present.
Secondary coach Anthony Poindexter knows that changes Saturday.
“They have challenges because they’ve got more vertical routes in their offense than the three teams we’ve been playing so far,” Poindexter said. “We’re just going to do our job and try to keep the ball in front.”
That does not mean Tennessee plans to become passive.
Poindexter wants his secondary attacking rather than playing afraid of surrendering a big play. The challenge is maintaining that aggressiveness while remaining disciplined within the structure of the defense.
“We want to attack. We want to be aggressive, which our kids have been doing, and just play within the scheme,” Poindexter said.
That approach extends beyond coverage.
Whether Tennessee’s defensive backs are responsible for run support or protecting against the pass, Poindexter wants the same identity.
“We want to play a tough brand of football, old-school brand,” Poindexter said. “Tackle hard, play hard.”
The Vols have reason for optimism entering the matchup.
Poindexter pointed to the development of players such as Tevis Metcalf, while Tennessee has also received an early impact from its secondary additions.
Poindexter said increased comfort within the system has allowed his defensive backs to play with better pace and patience instead of simply reacting.
The test now is whether that development translates when Texas forces Tennessee to defend more of the field.
Physicality becomes the standard up front
The challenge is just as straightforward for Tennessee’s defensive front.
Texas brings another level of size and physicality into SEC play, and the Vols know their response has to begin at the line of scrimmage.
Xavier Gilliam said Tennessee’s defensive line has been challenged to raise its level in virtually every area.
“Just stepping up in every aspect of the game,” Gilliam said. “Being more violent, being more physical, being more in tune with the scheme.”
The reason is simple.
“As we get into SEC play, it’s going to be more of a challenge,” Gilliam said.
Gilliam is already seeing offenses account for him with double teams, something he views less as a frustration and more as an opportunity for the rest of Tennessee’s defensive front.
“I want to get double-teamed,” Gilliam said. “Because that means my teammate, he got the single block.”
That willingness to absorb attention could become particularly important against Texas. If the Longhorns devote multiple blockers to Gilliam, Tennessee will need its other defensive linemen to
