Alec Abeln was recently promoted to be Tennessee’s new tight ends coach, and on Wednesday, he spoke about his transition to the role and expectations for his players.

Abeln played for Tennessee head coach Heupel at Missouri and then got into coaching and followed Heupel to UCF in 2019. Abeln was on Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss staff for the 2020 season before he reunited with Heupel at Tennessee in 2021. Abeln explained that while he was a player at Missouri, he vividly remembers noticing that Heupel was a guy that he wanted to grow closer to and eventually link up with.

Abeln said that it was easy to go to UCF with Heupel after one year at Missouri, and this promotion, “means the world to me.”

About his transition, Abeln said WR coach Kelsey Pope, who also went from analyst to position coach, has been a tremendous person to lean on, and Abeln said he is very excited to hit the road recruiting to talk with high school coaches and sit down with families.

Abeln said he wants tight ends who can block and catch since Tennessee doesn’t substitute players much during a drive.

“You’ve got to be able to do both,” he said and added that newcomer McCallan Castles and returner Jacob Warren can do both. As for Warren, Abeln said he will be more of a contributor than a student when it comes to prep with all the experience that he brings to the table.