ORLANDO, FL - January 01, 2024 - Quarterback Nico Iamaleava #8 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the 2023 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Tennessee Volunteers at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, FL. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee
2023 Results: 9-4, 4-4 SEC
2024 Projection: 10-2, 6-2 SEC
Overview:
When Josh Heupel landed in Knoxville, there wasn’t really any fanfare. The revolving door for the head coach hadn’t stopped swinging from the last four coaches they hired and they had a few swings and misses before the former UCF coach got the call. While last year was a bit of a step back from the Hendon Hooker-led season of 2022, the Vols have a potential game-changer taking over at quarterback Nico Iamaleava. The question for the Vols is, will there be enough talent around him to reach the playoffs in 2024?
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- KNOXVILLE, TN – November 04, 2023 – Wide receiver Squirrel White #10 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the UConn Huskies and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
Offense:
While Iamaleava is getting a lot of the preseason hype for the Vols, he won’t be able to accomplish much without guys getting open. Bru McCoy will be a big help in that area, returning from a season-ending injury in 2023. Along with him, the versatile Squirrel White will be joined by a few freshmen with big potential in Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley, as well as Tulane transfer Chris Brazzell II. They return three starters on the offensive line and Dylan Sampson looks ready to take the lion’s share of the carries at running back. If Nico is as advertised and the guys step up around them, this offense will be fast and furious.
Defense:
There isn’t much not to like about the Vols front seven. James Pearce Jr. Is back after posting 10.5 sacks last year off the edge and both Arion Carter and Keenan Pili are solid and experienced at linebacker. The area of concern comes in the secondary. Ten players left the program either through the draft or transfer portal, which means new faces will have to step in and step up against elite competition. If the Vols can rush the passer like they did last year, that could help the secondary’s cause.
Special Teams:
The Vols have a switch-hitting punter in Jackson Ross, so if he wants to go with the left foot for that backspin he has it in his arsenal. Joh Turbyville will take over the place-kicking duties.
Final Thoughts:
I like the way the Vols schedule is set up. Oklahoma is a question mark to me so that road trip could be a toss-up, but honestly, Alabama and Georgia are the only games they will be underdogs. Iamaleava will need his offensive line to gel, but I expect them to do so before they run into any really stiff competition. If they only lose to Bama and Georgia or perhaps steal one of those, this will be a playoff team.
