Vols coach says key Tennessee defender is more of a 'team guy' in 2023
Before the start of fall camp, Tennessee Vols defensive lineman Tyler Baron told reporters that he's fully "bought in" entering the 2023 season. "I feel like now I have a really good idea of what the coaches want for me, what I want for myself," said Baron at Tennessee's media day last week. "I think […]
Before the start of fall camp, Tennessee Vols defensive lineman Tyler Baron told reporters that he's fully "bought in" entering the 2023 season.
"I feel like now I have a really good idea of what the coaches want for me, what I want for myself," said Baron at Tennessee's media day last week. "I think those two plans are perfectly aligned. So I'm all the way bought in. I'm just excited to give it my all and just be a team player."
On Tuesday, Vols defensive line coach Rodney Garner told reporters that he's definitely seen Baron become more of a team player this offseason.
"I think he's matured a lot," said Garner when asked about Baron. "And I think he's grown as a young man. And I think he's bought in more to the team concept. And I think he's been more of a team guy and a Tennessee guy than a Tyler guy. I think he's starting to see that if Tennessee does well, then Tayler Baron's going to do well. But if Tennessee does poorly, then odds are that Tyler Baron's not going to do as well."
Baron's teammates have also noticed his increased leadership this offseason.
"Tyler has took a leader role and I feel like he's doing a great job by leading us with positive energy, positive feedback, and things like that," said redshirt junior defensive lineman Bryson Eason on Tuesday.
Garner is placing a big importance this summer on bonding together and creating special team chemistry. Baron fully buying in and becoming more of a team leader should certainly help the Vols achieve Garner's goal of a closer defensive line.
"We need to bond together," explained Garner. "We work extremely hard, but we need to bond together to make it special. Because if we're all pulling the rope in the same direction, then we definitely got an opportunity to do some special things."
It's starting to feel like Tennessee's defense is going to make the jump in 2023 that they offense made in 2022. The Vols' defense obviously has a lot to prove this fall — especially after giving up 63 points to South Carolina last season — but all of the positive comments coming from fall camp should have Tennessee fans excited for a potentially much more dominant Vols defense from in 2023.
Vols senior makes big statement about Tennessee’s offensive line ahead of regular season
One of the main concerns about the Tennessee Vols in 2023 centers around the offensive line. The Vols lost two extremely talented players from last year's squad in right tackle Darnell Wright and left guard Jerome Carvin (Wright was drafted in the first round by the Chicago Bears and Carvin signed as an undrafted free […]
Featured image via Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
