William Inge is no stranger to putting his corps to work.
The former Washington co-defensive coordinator, who became the Tennessee football linebackers coach, instilled a program to help his players grow when they reach campus. It has proved effective, mimicking the training of a military program.
“Basically put them through what we call Navy SEAL training, to where you’re doing everything that’s going to be mental,” Inge said. “I’m going to have you mentally sweat every day and try to have you push the panic button every day from a mental standpoint.”
The style of pushing has been crucial for the incoming freshmen. Linebackers Jadon Perlotte and Jaedon Harmon received offseason surgery after completing their high school careers, which has kept them off the field to begin spring practice.
That’s where Inge’s implementation comes into play.
“If you get the mental portion of the game correctly, we know athletically and physically they have already shown us some of the skills during the recruiting process to be able to apply them,” Inge said. “And when we take this next step during the summer, that’s when they’ll start getting there, what we call intensity through repetition.”
It’s not something new, however. Inge brought it over to Tennessee last season when he took the job. Mental strength is an important aspect as leaders of the defense, which is why Inge makes sure it’s the first thing his players are tested with.
“Some of the newer guys, that’s what we have to be able to put them through,” Inge said. “Especially when you can’t get all the reps that you would typically do when you’re on the football field. So us being able to make some of the newer guys or our newcomers, be able to mentally sweat, or the injured guys be able to mentally sweat, is great.
“I think the thing that we see from a leadership standpoint in the room is the guys who have endured it, those are the first guys to jump in and try to help aid and assist. That’s what’s awesome. And when you’re building a championship-caliber team, that’s what you want. You need your players to be able to lead, and that’s what we’re getting from those guys now.”
At the top of the room is rising junior linebacker Jeremiah Telander. The Georgia native stepped up in a big way when Keenan Pili went down with a season-ending injury. Now, he’s used his voice to guide the freshman through training.
The training that Telander experienced last season helped him grow on the field.
“That’s a thing we talk about all the time because there’s limited reps that you can get and you have to mentally sweat because that’s where the game is,” Telander said. “You have to understand it so well that you don’t even think about it when you’re out there, you just play. That comes from being on the sideline and watching the person in front of you and not making the same mistake twice.”
As for emerging sophomore linebacker Edwin Spillman, his route to playing time was more frustrating. Various injuries limited the touted hard-hitter through his freshman season, forcing him to be mentally tough when he was on the field.
It was yet another product of what Inge coaches before the guys get actual reps.
“It’s definitely taught me a whole lot about just keeping my composure and then just trusting in the plan,” Spillman said. “It’s playing football at the highest level in college and there’s always going to be setbacks in it, so you just got to keep on attacking and keep on attacking the rehab and your playbook and look for the next opportunity to come.”
As spring practices near a close, the linebackers will have a chance to shine during the Orange and White game on April 12.
