Vols defender makes strong statement after Citrus Bowl that sets the tone for the 2024 season

Tennessee Vols sophomore defensive lineman Tyre West had a breakout game in UT's 35-0 win against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Citrus Bowl. 

West, a former four-star recruit who signed with the Vols during the 2022 recruiting period, totaled four tackles and 1.5 sacks in Tennessee's dominant win against the Big 10 West champs. 

After the game, West spoke to reporters and he made it clear that he's high on Tennessee's chance of going all the way in 2024. 

"Definitely my coming out party, there's definitely going to be more," said West. 

"We got a lot people coming back, we got Big O (Omari Thomas), we got Lott (Omarr Norman-Lott), we got Dom (Dominic Bailey), we got a little of people coming back," added West when asked about the defensive line in 2024. "We're going to be good."

West didn't stop there when talking about the potential of the Vols in 2024.

Thanks to the presence of quarterback Nico Iamaleava, West thinks Tennessee could be playing for a "natty" next season. 

"We're going to the natty," said West when asked how Nico impacts the 2024 season. "Knowing him, we're going to the natty." 

"A thousand percent," added West when a reporter asked if he had that much faith in Nico. 

A lot will obviously have to go right for the Vols to get to the national championship in 2024 -- especially with a tough SEC schedule on deck for Tennessee. But that's the kind of mindset you have to love seeing from the Vols if you're a UT fan. I don't think a single team has ever reached the national championship without first believing that they could get there.