Deandre Johnson, Sr., OLB

On what it’s like to have a big performance like he did against South Carolina…

“It definitely was great. I felt great out there, but I couldn’t of done it without my teammates. Hats off to the front seven, they allowed me to play great and I’m just thankful.”

On his decision to move back into the dorms this summer…

“Yeah, that was a move I made over the summer, but I’m out now. For the summer, I just wanted to focus on my body, focus on understanding the scheme more, so moving back to the dorms, it kind of settled me in, it got me back grounded and I’m thankful. It helped out in a big way.”

On the confidence level of the team heading into the Missouri game…

“One of the biggest things we focused on this offseason was just coming together as a unit. Guys are just buying in to the program, buying in to what Coach Pruitt is saying every day and it’s just coming to light. These guys are working hard, busting their tails off and we just want to win, so it’s coming to light.”

On the play of fellow outside linebacker Kivon Bennett…

“Kivon is a guy that comes in every day (and) busts his tail. Without him, I wouldn’t have nearly as much production as I did. He’s a guy that wreaks havoc on the other side, so we’re kind of building a little duo here. We got some young guys that have stepped up in the back end, so we’re just trying to become a force in this conference.”

On the differences between Missouri and South Carolina’s offense and the challenge they present…

“Last week was kind of a downhill attacking rushing (style). This week, kind of more zone, a lot of quarterback reads, so we just got to be disciplined off the edge. Make sure we’re looking at the right things as a defense and just running to the ball. We got to run to the ball a little better this week.”

On how the young guys have pushed the older guys and how they played on Saturday night…

“Ah man, those guys have just come in and done everything the coaches and their teammates have asked from them. They have definitely pushed us. As a unit, we’re just coming together and those guys have been working hard, so I’m glad to see that they’re doing good.”

On why moving into the dorms helped him and how he’s carried that over back to living off campus…

“Well the biggest thing was I didn’t have to pay rent, so that was a big lift off my shoulders. I was just able to focus on myself and just kind of dial in and just settle down. I had a lot of things going on around me, so it just helped me settle down. Like I said, I’m just more focused. Now that I’m back off, I kind of used some of the things that I learned in the summer, they’re helping me now. I’m just even keeled right now, just focused on the things that I need to be focused on.”

On being named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week…

“I felt great, but I know that there are many more games to go, many more, tougher opponents to face. It’s something that I’m glad I got it, but I want more man. This group wants more, and this team wants more wins.”

On the specific areas of his game his focused on in the offseason and if any of the coaches have reminded him to stay grounded and motivated…

“To answer your first question, to be an elite pass rusher, the first thing you have to have is ball get off. So, getting off that pill, that’s one of the things I focused on this offseason. And, just watching film and noticing some of the offensive linemen’s sets, just being better at reading that.

“And to answer the second one, yeah, there’s been coaches reminding me, but I’m on myself man. I reminded myself that I can’t get bigheaded and I’m just focused.”

On what he focused on during the offseason that has helped him step up…

“One of the biggest things, I had to focus on was understanding why we call certain plays, what we’re trying to give the offense and what scheme we’re trying to accomplish with that play called – just figuring that out, it’s helped me big time. About the second week of fall camp I started to get in the groove and from there on out I haven’t looked back.”

On how the defensive unit has come together…

“You see guys playing way faster now. Everybody understands why they’re doing what they’re doing and when you look to the left and look to the right, you just know that guy is going to get his job done. It makes it easier on yourself; everybody is playing fast, everybody is playing smarter and we want to just keep being aggressive.”

On what’s helped his development and what he sees for the team as the season continues…

“I’m very thankful. I had to focus on keeping my body right and staying socially distant and staying out of harm’s way of that virus. Now, that we’re getting everybody back, and we’re getting back to full strength, this team could be dangerous. This defense could be dangerous. We’re looking forward to it.”

On returning to Neyland Stadium for the home opener…

“It’s definitely going to be different for us, but I just want to thank the fans. They’re sticking with us through all this. We’re just happy to get back in front of our fans and to get ready to play football in Neyland. I’m so excited. It’s been a long time coming. Those people (the fans) have been working as hard as us to make sure they’re staying safe so I can’t wait.”

On what’s the biggest difference between his freshman year and now…

“The first thing to start with – my body. I’m about 15 to 20 pounds heavier than I was then. I’m playing stronger. And mentally, I know everything I’m supposed to be doing now and I’m comfortable with the scheme, so that’s helped a lot.”

On the younger outside linebackers on the team…

“The biggest thing is the work ethic. Those guys have just come in – they ask questions every day. You see it in their eyes that they’re trying to get better. I’m just excited with that. As a group, we have to get better with reading stances, staying lower in our stances, reading blocks. So I’d say as a group, we have to get better. I wouldn’t point anyone out.”

On what he’s learned from Darrell Taylor…

“Most definitely, learning how to get off the ball for sure. That guy there – his get off is amazing. Just learning how to use my hands and playing smart. It was just kind of sitting down and just learning the game from was very helpful.”

-UT Athletics