Jeremy Pruitt gives thoughts on Vols' defense under Josh Heupel and explains why he recruited Hendon Hooker
Former Tennessee Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt spoke with Dawg Nation's Mike Griffith this week and they talked quite a bit about UT and their 8-0 start to the season. Pruitt touched on the Vols' improved defense against Kentucky and discussed why he recruited quarterback Hendon Hooker to Tennessee. (Hooker, in case you forgot, signed […]
Former Tennessee Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt spoke with Dawg Nation's Mike Griffith this week and they talked quite a bit about UT and their 8-0 start to the season.
Pruitt touched on the Vols' improved defense against Kentucky and discussed why he recruited quarterback Hendon Hooker to Tennessee.
(Hooker, in case you forgot, signed with the Vols just before Pruitt was fired at Tennessee.)
Jeremy Pruitt liked what he saw from Tennessee's defense against Kentucky
"I thought one of the things that stuck out to me in that game (Tennessee vs Kentucky) was kind of continuing to see some confidence on Tennessee's defense," said Pruitt. "Finding ways to get turnovers. Playing fast. I think you gotta give the coaches there credit on the defensive side [for] continuing to call an aggressive game. And I think they've done that, dating back to the Alabama game. I know Alabama put a lot of points on them, but it wasn't because they sat back and waited — they were very aggressive."
The Vols gave up just six points against Kentucky this past Saturday and held the Wildcats to 205 total yards.
Kentucky quarterback Will Levis, who has been noted as a potential first-round draft pick, completed 16 of 27 passes for 98 yards and three interceptions in the Wildcats' loss to Tennessee.
Jeremy Pruitt explains why he recruited Hendon Hooker to Tennessee
"The big thing that stuck out to us was his size, his athleticism, his arm talent," said Pruitt when asked about Hooker. "We were looking for somebody that didn't make a lot of mistakes and he didn't make a lot of mistakes at Virginia Tech."
"And if he did make one (a mistake), he kept his poise and didn't let it turn into another one. He was a guy that we felt like you could build your offense around that gave you some athleticism at quarterback. Comparing him in Virginia Tech's offense to what they're doing now at Tennessee, there's really no comparison."
Pruitt also said that he had no idea Hooker would be this good before giving Vols head coach Josh Heupel credit for developing the Greenbsoro, NC native.
I know Pruitt is a polarizing name among Vol fans, but he's provided some great (and fair) analysis on Tennessee this season and he's given Heupel and the staff a lot of credit.
Pruitt, who said he still keeps in touch with some of the players he signed at Tennessee and their families, appears to have a soft spot for the Big Orange, despite the way his time on Rocky Top ended.
Featured image via Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel via Imagn Content Services, LLC
