Tennessee football is staring down the barrel of its first road game of the 2025 season. Before the Vols make the trip to play Mississippi State, UT tight ends coach Alec Abeln met with the media to give his thoughts on his room and the matchup.
He was asked about Miles Kitselman, the development of DaSaahn Brame, the Bulldogs’ defense, offseason adjustments and more.
Here’s what he said.
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On getting freshman Jack Van Dorselaer reps against UAB, managing the snap count for Miles Kitsleman as the season goes on
“Yeah, there’s no doubt the season is a grind. The way that we play, as fast as we play, you’ve got to be able to manage some reps here and there. It was awesome for Jack to get some burn on Saturday. I do think he’s done a really good job as far as true freshmen coming in, being ready to be out there for sure. Not being ready to be out there and functional versus being ready to be out there and dominant, that’s the next step for him. Thought it was good for him to get another taste of it on Saturday.”
On seeing the offense grow and expand during his time with the Vols
“It’s been a lot of fun, honestly. It’s a credit to Heup. He’s always a step ahead as far as what defenses are going to be doing a year from now, what we need to to address a year from now. And I think it’s just giving our guys the best chance to be successful. I think a lot of the stuff, it’s been cool as a staff just pulling from everybody’s backgrounds. And none of us necessarily reinventing the wheel, but just other things that we’ve all done and been successful with while still being who we are, still playing fast, still running the ball. It’s been a really fun off season, a really fun season at this point offensively.”
On what they’ve seen from freshman DaSaahn Brame
“I think one, just real maturity as far as understanding where he’s got to get better and working at it every day. I think obviously everybody wants to play right away. And I think he’s absolutely talented enough to where he feels, man, I can go do it. And I think he understands what he’s got to fix to get more of that. I think the more that he’s able to be out there, the more the game slows down. I think that’s really the biggest thing for any young guy, but really for Dasaahn, just getting confidence out there, not thinking about what you’re doing, but just being able to go play.”
On what he’s seen from Miles Kitselman
“He’s still knocking some rust off for sure. There’s a lot of stuff off the ball in the insert game, in the counter game, that’s a lot of feel and a lot of, you know, just bang to reps and understanding how to get your feet in the right spot, how to get your leverage right. I think some of that, as this season’s gone, he’s taken steps of getting that back. It’s tough when you don’t get to do that all spring and all fall camp and then go into it live bullets. But he’s been everything you could ask him to be for us.”
On Joey Aguilar helping tight ends
“I mean, it’s no secret. It starts with the quarterback and starts up front. When those guys are right, it makes our job a whole lot easier. I think just the vibe in the building, too, is a really positive one. I think the guys can rally around him. He leads these guys and is a calm in the storm, is an energy giver when he needs to be. It’s been awesome having that guy.”
On offseason adjustments on offense after losing to Ohio State in the CFP
“Yeah, one, that’s a great (Ohio State) defense we played. They had a really good plan. We didn’t execute some things that, when you watch it, with who we were a year ago, you’re still not far off and there’s still a lot of blocks — man, this one block gets made, this one catch gets made, this one decision gets made, it’s got a chance to feel different. But certainly every offseason we look and say, man, where do we grow? How do we get better? What are things that still fit us? Giving defenses is one more thing to prepare for.”
On what stands out about Mississippi State’s defense, the success that group has had so far this season
“They’re exotic. Play rush off the ball a bunch, free safety structure bunch, which I know you guys love talking about. They do a great job. They’re well coached. They certainly make you earn it on Sunday and Monday in a game plan perspective. But biggest thing on tape from a year ago, they’ve upgraded personnel at a couple positions. They play with their hair on fire. It is a really good defense that we’ve got ahead of us this Saturday.”
