Tennessee OL Coach Elarbee Says Signee Crawford is a 'Huge Piece' for the Vols

Tennessee OL Coach Elarbee Says Signee Crawford is a 'Huge Piece' for the Vols

"(Josh) Heupel is the scariest blend of the best human being that I've been around that actually cares about people, cares about family and is blended with a freaky smart guy," Tennessee Offensive Line Coach Glen Elarbee told reporters during his introductory press conference. "He's highly intelligent. I've never been around anybody who is that genuine and that smart at the game of football. I wanted to work for him ever since I met him. The decision (to follow him to Tennessee) was pretty easy."

The two have built a strong rapport working together, which quickly allowed them to identify a need at Tennessee before Elarbee was ever officially announced as the new offensive line coach and capitalize on the recruiting trail by signing Butler C.C. offensive tackle Jeremiah Crawford. 

"Coach Heupel did a great job. We do need some depth at that position. We've got some good young guys and some guys coming back, but that is an area that we needed depth. He did an awesome job of going back on past experiences and guys that we knew were available," Elarbee said on the process of prioritizing Crawford. "I think with Jeremiah (Crawford), you get a guy that is plenty athletic, can do what we want and has the measurables. That was a huge piece for us that will help us depth wise and also bringing in a guy that has had more experience as well."

Crawford is tailor-made for Tennessee's new offensive identity, which head coach Josh Heupel elaborated on during the media session.  

"On the offensive side of the ball, we're going to play with tempo. We're going to play in space. We're going to apply pressure to the defense consistently, and we've got a group of guys here on the offensive side of the football that are ready to go lead that charge.

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