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Oklahoma football: Tennessee coach Butch Jones says Sooners have Vols' attention

  • Updated
  • 1 min to read
Butch Jones

FILE - In this Nov. 29, 2014 file photo, Tennessee head coach Butch Jones watches his players warm up before an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn. For the second straight year, Tennessee is beginning its season by facing a veteran quarterback coming back from injury. The 25th-ranked Volunteers hope they handle Bowling Green’s Matt Johnson as well as they contained Utah State’s Chuckie Keeton a year ago. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

 Mark Humphrey

Tennessee head coach Butch Jones had high praise for Oklahoma during the SEC coaches conference call Wednesday as his team prepares to face the Sooners on Saturday in Knoxville.

Jones said he finds a lot of similarities between Oklahoma running back Samaje Perine and his own back Jalen Hurd. 

"They both play very big, they're both very very powerful," Jones said. "They have the ability to not only make you miss but to break arm tackles."

He also spoke highly of new Oklahoma quarterback, Baker Mayfield. 

"I really like the way Baker plays," Jones said. "You can tell he has great energy and great passion. He's kind of the gas pedal for their offense, and I think they feed off him."

Oklahoma linebacker Eric Striker had choice words for the SEC Tuesday. 

“I don’t know why people blow gas up their ass all the time,” he said.

Jones said he doesn't pay much attention to outside noise, however. 

"We have to spend our time preparing," Jones said. "The game is played between the lines and on the field, so I don't really spend much time reading it or thinking about that kind of stuff."

Oddly enough, Striker echoed the same sentiments in a story published yesterday. 

“You say that’s about your opponent — SEC they’ve got this, they’ve got that, but what you don’t understand is you’ve got to get it done in between the lines," Striker said. "That’s all that matters."

Jones said he was impressed with several Oklahoma players when asked about OU's defense. 

"Obviously everything starts with Striker, he's a very talented football player," he said. "(Charles) Tapper is doing some good things at DE, (Zach) Sanchez is one the best corners in the country and he plays like it."

Jones went on to say that he thinks Oklahoma is underrated. 

"This a very very good football team," he said. "Even though they're ranked, this one of the more underrated football teams, and I think they know that."

"They definitely have our attention. It's gonna take everything and more to compete on Saturday night."

Tennessee and Oklahoma kickoff Saturday at 5:00 p.m. on ESPN. 

 

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