Tennessee has its next football coach as Josh Heupel has arrived on Rocky Top.

The Volunteer coach won’t have much time to sit idly by, however, as several of Tennessee’s best players have entered the NCAA transfer portal following the firing of Jeremy Pruitt and are likely headed elsewhere.

In addition to those departures, there’s always the chance more players could soon enter the transfer portal in the days to come.

Heupel just had his introductory press conference on Rocky Top and addressed his message to any players on the fence regarding their futures in Knoxville.

“To the current members of this football program on this roster, we need to be a family, we need to act like a family,” Heupel said. “Everyone has a different perspective based on their background of what a family is. When you sit in front of your team and there’s 100 guys in front of you, everyone has a little different perspective. But at the end of the day, a family is defined – when push comes so shove – that family stays together.

“Let’s stay a family. Let’s trust the people that are in place to help you become what you are capable of. You chose this university for the right reasons, and I’m saying be a part of an elite football program, the traditions. It’s our job to get it back to that level. You will get an elite education in one of the best communities in college football. You walk outside of that stadium… that’s an electric stadium. There’s not a better atmosphere in college football.”

Here is a clip of the moment, which was shared by the SEC Network.