Quote from Bears GM about Darnell Wright shows the big benefit of drafting players from Tennessee
Former Tennessee Vols offensive lineman Darnell Wright is already making quite the impression with the Chicago Bears. Wright, the No. 10 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, is expected to start at right tackle for the Bears this fall. And there will be plenty of pressure on Wright to perform at a high level. […]
Former Tennessee Vols offensive lineman Darnell Wright is already making quite the impression with the Chicago Bears.
Wright, the No. 10 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, is expected to start at right tackle for the Bears this fall.
And there will be plenty of pressure on Wright to perform at a high level. Chicago is looking to compete for the NFC North division title in 2023 and they'll need their offensive line to play at a much higher level than it did in 2022 (the Bears were No. 4 in the NFL in sacks allowed last season).
Chicago general manager Ryan Poles spoke to reporters on Tuesday as NFL training camps get underway and he was practically gushing about Wright.
"I do want to give that kid credit," said Poles while discussing Wright on Tuesday. "This offseason he busted his butt. He's down, he lost weight. He's lost body fat. He absolutely crushed the conditioning test — like, he didn't break a sweat. So, he's focused. He cares. He wants to be really good."
Conditioning can be an issue for some players when they enter the NFL. But it's not a surprise that a former Vols offensive lineman is having absolutely no issues with conditioning as a rookie. Tennessee's players have be to well-conditioned to play in Josh Heupel's up-tempo offense. If a player isn't conditioned, they won't be able to perform a high level while driving down the field at a ridiculously fast tempo. And then Tennessee's offense simply won't work.
Wright, who received a significant amount of praise for the way he performed during a pre-draft workout with the Bears, has nailed every aspect of being a pro so far. He's handled the media well, he's in excellent shape, and he's doing every little thing that's been asked of him in Chicago (dropping body fat during his first offseason is a great sign that he has the right work ethic to succeed in the NFL).
Players from Tennessee aren't just conditioned well, but they come from a culture where players are expected to handle their business like professionals. And that shows with players like Wright, Hendon Hooker, Cedric Tillman, and Jalin Hyatt receiving consistent praise from coaches for the way they've handled themselves since entering the NFL.
Tennessee's offense has received criticism for not fully preparing players for the NFL. While it may be true that UT's offense lacks some of the pro-style terminology that players will need to learn in the NFL, it's also true that Tennessee prepares players in other ways for the NFL (like conditioning and culture) that a lot of programs don't.
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