Like many baseball teams in the Bay Area, Los Gatos spent a week away from home playing non-league teams. 

But instead of taking on other opponents from the West Coast, the Wildcats traveled down to middle Tennessee, playing unfamiliar programs like Friendship Christian and Overton in a small town called Lebanon.

Located around 45 minutes east of the state capitol and a world away from what the South Bay natives were used to, the teenagers grew to appreciate the state that coach Mike Minkel spent his college years.

“They saw a lot of respect for strangers and people you’ve never met before,” said Minkel, who went to school at Cumberland in Lebanon. “A lot of time spent holding doors for people and going out of your way to be kind when you don’t have to be.”

Despite both graduating from the same NAIA program in the 2000’s, both Minkel and his assistant coach Eric Mull still have plenty of friends in the area, making it possible to plan games and put together events with help from locals. 

Los Gatos won all three games in the Volunteer state, including a 10-5 victory in Nashville over Mookie Betts’ alma mater Overton High. 

They might have been 2,000 miles from temperate Los Gatos, but Brayden Smith and Lucas Carlisle led an offense that looked comfortable in the southeastern humidity. Each junior hit a home run against the Nashville powerhouse, which is 9-1 in league play. 

The 18-3 Wildcats stayed focused between the lines, but their coaches made sure they also had fun on their trip. 

With several of his players both avid country music and college baseball fans, they also enjoyed a day in the genre’s mecca and caught a Vanderbilt game too. 

The Wildcats even got to see the South’s party bus and hot chicken epicenter of Broadway Street, albeit from a distance. 

“They got to see what Broadway looked like at night,” Minkel said, who then laughed and added, “Although obviously, we all stayed in the car and drove them around, because there’s not much you can do walking around there at 16.”

But it wasn’t the baseball or the big events that the coach enjoyed the most – It was a quiet team BBQ on the Cumberland river. 

“They’re out doing their thing, they’re engaged in nature and off of their phones,” Minkel remembered. “It was refreshing to see and be a part of it. It was an instance where I didn’t really want to leave there and do the next thing.” 

He hoped that his team took a new appreciation for that region of the country, and the people who live there, back with them to the South Bay. 

“You take all the politics out of everything, and when you come together and sit down, with us from California and them from Tennessee, we’re all just human beings who care about each other,” Minkel said. 

The Tennessee Titans began retooling the defensive front by picking Texas DT T’Vondre Sweat with the 38th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. This comes after the Titans selected Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham with pick No. 7 in Round 1.

Sweat will bring immediate size to the defensive line, standing at 6-foot-4 and 362-pounds. He won the Outland Trophy last season, which is awarded to the best interior lineman in college football as Texas made it to the college football playoff semifinal, falling to Washington.

Here’s a look at Sweat’s college highlights:

T’Vondre Sweat highlights: Tennessee Titans NFL Draft second-round pick highlights

Sweat played in 62 games in five seasons at Texas, starting in 18 games, eight of which came last season. He recorded career highs in tackles (45), tackles for loss (8), solo tackles (18) and sacks (2) last season.

Given his size, Sweat doesn’t possess an explosive burst off the line. But with his size, opposing defensive lineman will be hard pressed to prevent his pressure. That size helped Sweat bully his way inside and record four pass breakups and one blocked kick last season.

He became the fifth defensive tackle from Texas to be a unanimous All-American selection and was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.

More: Meet T’Vondre Sweat of Texas, the Tennessee Titans’ second-round 2024 NFL Draft pick

More: Tennessee Titans drafted a project in JC Latham because of trust in Bill Callahan | Estes

T’Vondre Sweat scores lone career touchdown

Sweat’s highlights consist of bursts of strength as he bullies his way inside, yet he showed off his hands in the Big 12 championship game against Oklahoma State last season.

Sweat hauled in a touchdown reception last season, becoming the fifth Texas lineman in history to score an offensive touchdown.

Sweat hit the Heisman pose after the reception and although he wasn’t a candidate for that award, he did take home the Outland Trophy, being named the best interior lineman in college football last season.

What is T’Vondre Sweat’s weight

Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing over 350-pounds, Sweat’s frame is perhaps his greatest weapon.

While not exceedingly mobile, Sweat possesses the ability to shed his defender in large part due to his elite strength. When the opposing quarterback or ball carrier scurries into Sweat’s path, more likely than not he’s wrapping them up and taking them down.

With just over 33-inch arms, Sweat’s reach coupled with his height not only allows him to push past his defender but then quickly swallow whoever is in his sights.

Harrison Campbell covers high school sports and more for The Daily Herald. Email him at hcampbell@gannett.com and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @hccampbell7.

The Tennessee Titans selected Texas Longhorns defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat with the No. 38 overall pick in the second round of the NFL draft on Friday.

An April arrest for driving while intoxicated appears to have not had much impact on Sweat’s draft stock.

The Huntsville, Texas, native had 45 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 18 solo tackles in 2023. He was the Outland Trophy winner and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year for his efforts. He played five seasons at Texas.

Sweat was also named a unanimous All-American and went viral after he struck the Heisman pose following a 2-yard TD reception in the Big 12 championship game. He won a conference title last season, played a big part in Texas’ first appearance in the four-team College Football Playoff.

Find more Texas coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.