Following UT’s first spring practice in full pads on Saturday, Tennessee Vols defensive line coach Rodney Garner gave a crucial reminder to his entire defensive line.
A reporter questioned Garner over young players’ playing time given that the Vols will have a number of returning veteran defensive lineman in 2024.
No one, regardless of length of time with the program, is promised playing time, the veteran defensive line coach stated emphatically.
“Who said [playing time] was guaranteed? There are no assurances,” Garner stated. “My people are aware that the firm has a bottom line. It has to do with performance. We want to play multiple guys, and I believe the students would say the same thing about what we do. In order to be fresh and play the fourth quarter similarly to how we play the first, our objective is to be able to play ten to twelve players each game. Nothing is promised to anyone. They have to put themselves out there and earn it each and every day. Not just on the field, but also off it, attending classes, study halls, tutorials, making sure they arrive on time, and becoming experts well in advance of
The message from Garner applies to the entire defensive line, which includes James Pearce, the outstanding edge rusher who is set to play his last season at Tennessee but is already garnering significant draft buzz.
When questioned about Pearce, Garner responded, “No one man is bigger than the programme.” “Never, ever. Okay, so James had a very successful season. However, after watching that movie, he realizes how much work he still needs to do. I believe he is aware of it. If you are realistic about what he wants to accomplish and where he wants to go, you will see that there are certain areas he needs to improve on in order to become that commodity and prevent any red flags from appearing.
