‘It made me tense’ — Tony Vitello explains his craziest Drew Gilbert story while at Tennessee

The Vols’ former skipper tells a hilarious story that should probably surprise no Tennessee fan.

Craig Smith — College Football & NFL Trending News Writer
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Tennessee’s Drew Gilbert runs home after hitting a three-run homer during the NCAA Baseball Tournament Knoxville Regional between the Tennessee Volunteers and Campbell Fighting Camels held at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Saturday, June 4, 2022. Utvcampbell0604 0617 Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

Drew Gilbert is a wild man. That’s as much of a revelation as the sky is blue and water is wet.

However, even the beloved former Tennessee Vols star slugger could catch his new San Francisco and ex-UT manager Tony Vitello off guard from time to time with his crazy antics in Knoxville.

Vitello was asked recently by Outkick about the craziest thing that he had ever seen Gilbert do during their time together in Knoxville, and Vitello responded with a story that, understandably, made him a bit nervous at times.

Tony Vitello said Drew Gilbert’s post-batting practice wrestling matches were the craziest thing he did in Knoxville

“(Laughs) some of it can’t be talked about, even in a locker room as we stand here now,” Vitello quipped. “I think one of the crazier things he would do is — Charlie Taylor was an important part of our team at Tennessee and he was a catcher. So, we don’t need that guy hurt. But they came up with this routine after — well, Drew did — after batting practice every day in 2022. He would wrestle Charlie Taylor, and Charlie was strong, but Drew is tough to deal with. So, this was an all-out wrestling affair, and it made me tense every day, but we kept winning. So, there’s one of your superstitions.”

That sounds like par for the course from what you’d expect from a player as wild, intense, and physical as Gilbert. And it’s not hard to imagine Vitello sitting there holding his breath, hoping for the best while also enjoying the bonding between teammates.

Gilbert is undoubtedly one of a kind, as is Vitello, and the former has already started leaving his unique and energetic mark on the Giants’ clubhouse back during the 2025 season.

The 2026 Giants’ season should be must-watch late night television, particularly for Vol fans hoping to enjoy a little bit of that Vitello-Gilbert energy that made them special to watch during a memorable run in Knoxville.

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