After Tennessee wrapped up practice on Monday morning, three of Tennessee’s defensive players met with the media.
Redshirt senior defensive lineman Kurott “Prime” Garland, his brother and redshirt junior linebacker Kwauze “Pakk” Garland, and junior defensive lineman Omari Thomas all spoke to the media to discuss their thoughts on the first week of fall camp, their individual position units, and offseason training.
More from RTI: ‘A Legend at This’: Rodney Garner Fostering Quality Players Through Tough Love
DL Kurott “Prime” Garland
“Coach Garner really stresses penetration all the time,” Garland said about pressuring the quarterback without having to blitz. “Whenever we’re just running stunts and stuff like that, that’s what’s on our minds. Trying to get that penetration, along with knock back, pushing, pressing the pocket as much as we can just to stress that quarterback out.”
LB Kwauze “Pakk” Garland
“My parents really wanted all of their kids to go to the same school,” Garland said. “My parents have nine kids so we want all of us to go to the same school. So you wont have as far to travel, game days will happen because everybody plays on Saturdays in college. So my older brother went to Coastal Carolina, transferred to U.N.A (North Alabama), and now me and my brother [Kurott], we’re here. I really had a decision to go play with my brother over at U.N.A. or here. We talked to my parents about it and ended up coming here.”
DL Omari Thomas
“He’s been at it a long time,” Thomas said about Rodney Garner. “He’s a legend at this. So you’ve got to understand, respect that he knows what he is talking about. You’ve got to always be coachable. I’d say that’s one thing where we’re coming along as a d-line, just being able to be coachable. Some of the guys in the room are already coachable, but we’re bringing everybody on. Just [knowing] that he’s not attacking you, he just wants you to be the best player that you can be.”
