Jim Knowles spent his first preseason at Tennessee learning what his players could do within his defense.
He learned Jeremiah Telander can do a little bit of everything.
But the trait that has stood out most has little to do with scheme.
“He’s certainly like the heart and soul of our defense,” Knowles said.
It is a description Tennessee’s defensive coordinator has used more than once. Days before the Vols open the season against Furman, Knowles explained why.
“He’s Mr. Tennessee,” Knowles said. “I mean, he bleeds orange. He’s got a lot of energy. He’s got toughness. He never makes excuses.”
Those qualities have become increasingly important as Telander enters his fourth season at Tennessee and takes on a larger leadership role.
For Telander, there has been a sense of urgency behind it.
In August he described his approach to this season with two words: no regrets.
“Whether that’s what I eat, how I sleep, my preparation and film, and all those other things, it’s been no regrets,” Telander said. “So, yeah, the sense of urgency has been through the roof.”
That has meant investing more of himself into football.
“When you’re a freshman and a sophomore, you’re trying to experience other things out there in life,” Telander said. “And right now, for me, the only thing that matters is this team and football.”
It has shown in his preparation.
Telander approached Tennessee’s coaches wanting to understand the responsibilities of all 11 players within Knowles’ new defense, rather than simply mastering his own assignment.
Knowles has also seen growth in what Telander can provide physically.
“I found that he has some particular skills that we can really use to put him in great positions to make plays,” Knowles said. “And he’s really tough.”
Knowles pointed to Telander’s versatility as one of the things that impressed him throughout preseason camp.
His teammates see the leadership behind it.
Defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam said Telander brings the same energy every day and doesn’t limit his influence to one position group.
“When he speaks, everybody listens,” Gilliam said. “You know, he’s a guy I respect a lot. He controls the defense, so he’s a great player in my opinion.”
Fellow linebacker Edwin Spillman called Telander a great communicator and the loudest player on the field. He said that personality has been evident for years, including in team and special teams meetings.
Telander also views helping younger linebackers as part of his responsibility, even when those players could eventually compete with him for snaps.
“We want to see our brothers succeed,” Telander said. “If you look at our schedule, we have a tough SEC schedule and we’re going to need every single bullet in the chamber.”
It fits another message Telander has taken from Knowles: Be fanatical about getting better.
“That’s something I love because I’m a fanatical guy when it comes to football,” Telander said. “And we’re trying to spread that and make that contagious all around the team.”
Knowles believes Telander already has.
“He always wants to get better,” Knowles said. “He’s a throwback kind of player.”
For a Tennessee defense learning a new system, that combination of preparation, accountability and energy has made Telander more than one of its veteran linebackers.
It has made him, in Knowles’ words, its “heart and soul.”
