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Rodney Garner: "There are No Guarantees"
Tennessee Volunteers defensive line coach Rodney Garner commented on how his unit has to earn their reps, regardless of who they are.
Tennessee Volunteers defensive line coach Rodney Garner commented on how his unit has to earn their reps, regardless of who they are.
Tennessee defensive line coach Rodney Garner is touted as one of the best assistants in the entire sport. He coaches his players hard, but they usually come out stronger on the other end, hence the long list of names he's sent to the NFL level. He talked to the media recently about what his unit has to earn this spring, and he spent time on the topic of "guarantees."
"Who said they were guaranteed [playing time]? There are no guarantees. My guys know it's a bottom-line business. It's about performance. The thing about what we do, and I think the kids would tell you the same thing, we want to play multiple guys. Our goal is to be able to play 10 to 12 guys a game, so we can be fresh and play the fourth quarter like we play the first quarter. Nobody is guaranteed anything. They have to come out there, and they have to earn it every day. I'm talking about not just on the field but off the field too, going to class, going to study hall, going to tutorials, making sure they are on time, and being pros long before they become pros. We're not just going to reward mediocrity." - Rodney Garner on his defensive line unit
The Vols recently extended Garner's contract through the 2025 season. He has played a major role in developing edge rusher James Pearce Jr., who could be the first defensive player off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft. Garner has stacked bodies in that room since he came back to the University of Tennessee, and they could be one of the top groups in the country.
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