‘Bought in’ Tyler Baron ready to reach potential with team success
It’s never been a question about talent or ability for Tennessee defensive lineman Tyler Baron. The conversation has always been about durability and willingness to adapt to the Rodney Garner way of things.
Hey, that’s no easy task. Garner is tough. Baron is a senior now, however, and sees what could happen if both his mindset and that of Tennessee is perfectly aligned. He got a taste of it last year and hopes for an even better experience in 2023.
“I think Tyler Baron has had the best offseason he’s had since we’ve been here,” the veteran defensive line coach said this week. “I’ve seen maturity come from him.”
“I think he is being more of a team guy—more of a Tennessee guy than a Tyler guy. I think he is starting to see that if Tennessee does well, then Tyler Baron is going to do well. But if Tennessee does poorly, odds are Tyler Baron is not going to do as well. That’s everybody, that’s not just Tyler.”
The Knoxville Catholic product has been in the rotation since his true freshman season in 2020. He’s flashed at times and looked like the best player on the field. Then there’s been some cases where it’s been a struggle to stay on the field with injuries or players getting snaps ahead of him.
There’s been some lessons learned along the way. But now, he likes the direction he’s headed.
“I feel like everything happens for a reason. I may not have necessarily seen the plan in the journey, but now I feel like I have a really good idea of what the coaches want from me and what I want for myself,” Baron said at Media Day to begin fall camp. “I think those two plans are perfectly aligned. I’m all the way bought in and I’m excited to give it my all and be a team player.”
That sounds like a mature player. Now, to pass on what you’ve learned. Tennessee lost two key members of the defensive line group from a season ago in Byron Young and LaTrell Bumphus. Both were leaders in their own way. And despite this still being a veteran position group, the defensive line is in search of leaders.
Baron believes he can be that leader and has a good way of going about it.
“I think leadership goes two ways,” the defender said. “For me to be a great leader, I’ve also got to listen and take things that are said to me. Trying to be that example for the younger guys, even the older guys, it’s something I have really been focusing on.”
The 6-foot-5, 260-pounder was named a preseason All-SEC player by Athlon Sports. He’s totaled 7.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss in three seasons at Tennessee with multi-sack games at Pittsburgh and against Missouri last season. Baron was on the field more last year than any other in his Volunteer career and was considered one of Tennessee’s highest-graded players, according to Pro football Focus.
“Tyler has taken on more of a leadership role and I think he’s doing a great job with it,” defensive lineman Bryson Eason told the media last week. “He’s been leading us with positive energy and positive feedback.
“He’s been really positive and showing a lot of love to all the guys in the room.”
It’s not been the smoothest journey so far, and it’s a long season ahead, but it appears Baron is on track to put himself in position to reach his potential in 2023. It’s a process where trust has been earned, from both himself and the coaching staff.
“It’s been amazing developing my relationship with the coaches,” Baron concluded. “They have more trust in me and I’m doing the things that show them they can trust me. They trust that I’m going to be where I need to be when I’m supposed to. It’s imperative.”
Tennessee kicks off the season on September 2 in Nashville against Virginia.
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