Watch: Jacob Warren, Omari Thomas and Ramel Keyton discuss Virginia and finally playing an opponent

Tennessee super senior Jacob Warren has been a coach on the field for first year coach Alec Abeln since last spring. 

Warren will Start Tennessee’s senior opener against Virginia as the veteran plays in his 42 career game. Warren started 9 games a year ago recording 12 catches for 163 yards.

With the departure of Princeton Fant, Warren’s role is obviously different in 2023. Warren welcomes more opportunities as well as continuing his role of helping transfer McCallan Castles and freshman Ethan Davis grow in the offense. 

“McCallen is a guy to comes to work every day. He’s a guy I can really depend on and trust and I know will have my back when we are out there together,” Warren said. “Ethan really looks up to me. I know you have heard him talk about our relationship. He really means a lot to me as someone that I look at that’s where I was at one point trying to listen to the guys ahead of me and the coach and buying in.” 

Senior receiver Ramel Keyton was a forgotten man last year till to the injury to Cedric Tillman forced him on the field. Now, Keyton is arguably the most consistent receiver on the roster. For Keyton it’s always been and continues to be about putting in the work. 

“There a greater level for me to get to because I left a lot of plays out there last year that I could have made to help the team,” Keyton said. “I’m just continuing to be consistent in what I have been doing (work wise).”

Defensive tackle Omari Thomas is a leader for the entire defense and is excited to see the defensive line work on Saturday against a Virginia team that is replacing 4 of their 5 starters on the offensive line, but with a scheme that presents challenges. 

“They give you a lot of eye candy. They want you to bite so they can do a lot of mis-direction things. That’s a lot of what we have been working on making sure we play vertical so we aren’t getting washed as a defensive line,” Thomas said. 

“I’m really excited. We have continued to grow together as a team. We battle in practice and compete. Now, it’s time and play against someone else. It will be fun.”

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