Isaiah Bond was remembering his mother’s advice as he prepared to take the field after halftime on Saturday.

“My mama always told me when I was young, ‘Big-time players make big-time plays,’” the Alabama wide receiver told reporters on Wednesday.

Bond and his Crimson Tide teammates were down 20-7 against Tennessee. In the locker room, Alabama was scripting plays, making a plan to try and get out of the hole.

The second half began with what Nick Saban said after the game was a planned two-play combination. The first was a run by Jase McClellan that went for 29-yards.

Now at the Volunteer 46, Bond knew the play was coming.

“It’s going out there and just believing in my training I’ve done my whole life and just knowing I’m capable of going there and making a play to change this game,” Bond said.

Quarterback Jalen Milroe dropped back and looked Bond’s way. A long throw later, Bond had the ball in the end zone and the Crimson Tide was within one score.

Alabama’s offense this season has been reliant on the ability to hit deep passes. Bond has been a major part of that, as the self-described fastest player on the team.

The sophomore from Buford, Ga. has 23 catches for 360 yards and three touchdowns so far this season. He said Wednesday that he doesn’t think the deep-passing offense has reached its final form.

“I definitely feel like it’s improved (since the start of the season),” Bond said. “Obviously, coming from a quarterback last year like Bryce Young, who was the No. 1 pick in the draft to Jalen Milroe, obviously he’s shown great improvement. Just getting better every season. I believe in Jalen Milroe and I believe in where this team can go in a couple weeks.”

Bond was one of the receivers who went to Tampa, Fla. with Milroe this past offseason to build chemistry and train. The two have built up a level of trust, and Bond had nothing but praise for his quarterback on Wednesday.

He described how he approaches plays where he knows there’s a deep-pass opportunity.

“My mindset on a deep route is literally just run as fast as I can down the field and just put my trust in Jalen Milroe to get the ball out there, honestly,” Bond said. “Because I know I believe in myself as well just to go out there and make plays, so just getting to the spot at the right time. Timing is a big part that plays into deep passes as well.

Alabama will be back in action Nov. 4 against LSU at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The game is scheduled to kick off at 6:45 p.m. and will be aired on CBS.