Tennessee

[jbcarol]

First and Ten: Tennessee's 2023 national championship odds (+3000) and 5 things the Vols need to reach the Playoff

1. QB Joe Milton makes a Hendon Hooker-level jump in his 1st season as starter —

2. WR Bru McCoy finally grows into his elite 5-star talent

3. Critical additions from the portal — LB Keenan Pili and CB Gabe Jeudy-Lally (BYU), DT Omarr Norman-Lott (Arizona State) —

4. At least 2 of the 5 freshman defensive line recruits — top 100 players DT Daevin Hobbs and edge Caleb Herring —

5. DT Omari Thomas, an immense talent, becomes a consistent disrupter in the middle of the Tennessee defense and has an All-American season in his last year in Knoxville.

[jbcarol]

Hendon Hooker shouldn't be the standard for Joe Milton to live up to

Both transferred to Tennessee after getting benched at their respective Power 5 programs in 2020. They lived together and became close friends despite the sometimes awkward circumstances surrounding their shared desire to lead Josh Heupel's offense. They're both pass-first, mobile quarterbacks who showed they can air it out, though obviously to say that their arms are the same would be a slap in the face to the maker who blessed Milton with his cannon.

Now, it's Hooker who'll pass the baton...

Well, some are convinced that Nico Iamaleava ($8 million deal reported) has a realistic chance of beating out Milton by Week 1 and starting immediately as a highly touted true freshman. Barring a shocking turn of events, the job will be Milton's.

Again.

If possible, maybe let's end the Milton-Hooker comps right there.

It's not fair to the player that Milton is if the standard is Hooker, who was the best Tennessee quarterback since Peyton Manning. (Josh Dobbs)

Remember that Josh Heupel had a four QB competition going in fall camp leading up  to his first game as Vol head man in August 2021.

The reporters did their part claiming that it was that close (to keep the chance of a transfer down), anybody's job to take.

Brian Mauer became self-aware enough to figure it wasn't going to be him. Instead of transferring or accepting, he went missing for a bit. And then he quit. Maybe not in that order.

I remember heading to the Smokies a few weeks into the season. listening to Vol sports radio and hearing for callers calling for Harrison Bailey. He had an equal chance, right?  He had given Vol fans a great hope. The radio host nearly shouted that it never was going to be Harrison Bailey.

The offensive genius that is Josh Heupel started Joe Milton III. Neyland needed to issue warnings like they have at MLB to always be on alert sitting in the first 20 rows or so. This guy overthrew everything. He was the player's favorite except for the WRs and the hand injuries. Hooker had a head set and clipboard and loads of potential that was eventually realized, especially after that drive that defeated Bama in Neyland over a year later.

[jbcarol]

Jeremy Banks, Tennessee LB, insists there was 'no reason' he should have missed South Carolina game

Jeremy Banks, Tennessee's top linebacker from last season, met with teams and scouts at the NFL Draft combine Wednesday.

Banks also spoke some on his past at Tennessee, including an interesting nugget about the Vols' horrible loss to South Carolina in the penultimate game of the regular season.

Vols were demolished in that game by Spencer Rattler and Shane Beamer's offense, giving up a spot in the College Football Playoff as a result (well, I think there was a committee agenda to get two B1G teams in that one).

Banks was absent from that game for reasons he decided not to divulge Wednesday, though it may have to do with an altercation at practice the week prior.

Banks insisted there was no reason he should have missed Tennessee's loss to South Carolina.

"It was just a competitive environment and everybody competing to get a spot," Banks said, via the Knoxville New Sentinel. "We're here now. There was no reason I should've been not playing to help my team get in the playoffs and compete for a national championship."

At least Banks wasn't running his teammates and/or staffers off the road, some to their death so he has that going for him at the Combine.

[jbcarol]

Patrick Brown@pbrown247
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NEWS: Tennessee is nearly sold out of 2023 football season tickets with more than 70,000 sold and a remarkable 96% renewal rate from 2022.

AD Danny White details the reasons and the process leading to the soaring ticket sales to @GoVols247.

➡️ https://247sports.com/college/tennessee/LongFormArticle/Tennessee-Vols-Football-2023-Season-Ticket-Sales-Athletic-Director-Danny-White-Details-Unprecedented-Success-208161442 #Vols

[jbcarol]

Wes Rucker@wesrucker247
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COLUMN: It's easy to laugh at the Detroit Lions, who haven't won a playoff game since 1991. It was also easy to laugh at the Tennessee Volunteers until Hendon Hooker arrived in Knoxville.

https://247sports.com/college/tennessee/Article/Tennessee-Vols-Football-2023-NFL-Draft-Hendon-Hooker-Detroit-Lions-Wes-Rucker-People-laugh-at-the-Lions-They-also-laughed-at-the-Vols-until-Hendon-Hooker-arrived-209168439

It still feels like a misprint every time I write that Hendon Hooker produced 68 total touchdowns with just 5 interceptions in two seasons at Tennessee.

What he did was absolutely remarkable.

[jbcarol]

SDS Podcast@TheSDSPod

Tennessee fans were livid after the early whistle at the end of the 2021 Music City Bowl.

This story from @tom_hart will just make them even more mad.

[jbcarol]

[jbcarol]

McElroy believes expectations for Tennessee are 'getting a little out of control'

"When you look at Tennessee, some of the hype right now surrounding Tennessee is getting a little out of control," said McElroy. "Some are saying 'Hey man, 10-2 at the very worst. 11-1 possible.' Now, I understand you beat Alabama last year, I understand last year you had a really good performance against Florida... So much to be proud of for what was accomplished last year. First 11-win season in 2 decades, the highest AP ranking in 2 decades, all these things need to be taken into account.

"I think Tennessee, given the fact that the expectations are so insanely high this year, that's where I'm a little bit concerned," McElroy explained. "You know Bama's been studying them all offseason, you know Georgia continues to study them because right now they are the second-best team in the SEC East... and they are the biggest threat to what Georgia's doing. There are some other difficult games on the schedule as well for Tennessee."

He may still be a little sore

[ALLVOL]

McElroy believes expectations for Tennessee are 'getting a little out of control'

He may still be a little sore

What's crazy is the media (like Greg) are the ones driving the hype. Most UT fans are hoping for a 9-3 type season.

[jbcarol]

Finebaum believes Tennessee can sustain success under Josh Heupel

One year of success at Tennessee has to feel good in Knoxville. For the first time in a long time, the Vols are moving in the right direction. Josh Heupel was able to win 11 games, capped off by a monster Orange Bowl performance against Clemson. The dreaded losing streak to Alabama was snapped and there were College Football Playoff hopes.

After years of being below standard, Tennessee has it going. Heupel deserves a lot of credit for a successful 2022, earning respect throughout the SEC.

"Tennessee has it going," ESPN's Paul Finebaum said. "All of a sudden, it just clicked at Tennessee. I think Heupel is a genius when it comes to offensive plays. They've got a lot of good compliments on that program.

"You don't need to go from a record-breaking year and a huge bowl win and slip back to 8-4. I don't think they will.

"We forget that Tennessee has always been a major power in college football," Finebaum said. "But they've fallen so far off the stage. It's not as difficult for Tennessee to suddenly get everything clicking because they have the infrastructure there."

[jbcarol]

SDS Mailbag: Alabama/Tennessee panic meter



What's your panic level on Alabama and Tennessee at this point in the season?

To be completely honest, it's pretty high for both teams. I don't think either the Vols or Tide have the right quarterback this year. They both have been hit hard by recent NFL departures and don't have backups ready to go, either.

I like the Vols' running game a bit better. I like Alabama's defense better. Both teams still have plenty of talent. But is either team elite? I don't think so.

If I have to put a 1-10 number on it, give me an 8 for Alabama and a 7 for Tennessee. I think there's more of a chance Joe Milton develops into a capable quarterback over the course of the year than there is of any QB on Alabama's roster becoming a star.

We'll find out a lot about both of these teams during the Third Saturday in October.

How many losses will each squad have by then

[jbcarol]

Hayes: Blur ball to bully ball. How Tennessee became a force capable of wrecking the SEC
Matt Hayes | 1 MINUTE AGO

1. I don't want to get on a soapbox, but ...
The finesse team just got serious, everyone. Dug in and bowed up, and for the first time in 3 seasons, looked like a legit SEC bully.

"The line of scrimmage was relentless," Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said Saturday. "We dominated it."

Before you start to minimize what Tennessee did in Saturday's rock 'em-sock 'em fistfight with suddenly shaken Texas A&M, let's not overlook the specifics.

And what it all means moving forward this season for the Vols.

Too often we look at things at ground zero instead of a wide view angle. So it's easy to say Tennessee's win over Texas A&M is about a rare as an empty hooch bag in Neyland Stadium.

[jbcarol]

Wes Rucker
@wesrucker247

You can't reasonably ask for better circumstances to win in Gainesville and Tuscaloosa than this season.

Lost opportunity to take a step forward. This team shouldn't have lost either game.

You can't improve without acknowledging and correcting mistakes.
8:34 PM · Oct 21, 2023
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[jbcarol]

Rece Davis explains why it's a fascinating time at Tennessee

Would know

Rolando Rosa | 1 MINUTE AGO

"It's such a really fascinating time I think for the Big Orange. Such a giant step forward last year. Now you go to Kentucky. You've got Georgia coming," Davis said. "A 3-loss season probably feels like okay we didn't have [Hendon] Hooker, we didn't have [Jalin] Hyatt. Still really good. You start getting into that 4-loss territory or more, it feels like you missed an opportunity to keep growing."

ESPN analyst Ryan McGee diagnoses Tennessee's struggles specifically to the lack of consistency from legendary quarterback Joe Milton:

"The offensive line is playing great. Their run game is arguably the best in the Southeastern Conference. Their defense has played really well...The 1 thing that's not working is the passing game," McGee said. "It's the 1 thing with Tennessee certainly under Josh Heupel you thought you could count on...It's a bit of a tightrope going forward."

Tennessee at Kentucky is slated for a 7 p.m. EST kickoff and will be televised on ESPN.

[jbcarol]

Why Tennessee remains ranked in top 25 after blowout losses
Andrew Olson | 11 hours ago

Tennessee entered the 2023 season hoping to build on last year's Orange Bowl bowl win. Things have not gone as planned for the Volunteers, but Josh Heupel's squad remains in the top 25 of the College Football Playoff rankings.

Many fans and media members questioned Tennessee's inclusion.

"Yeah, they've been a really good team early in the year," Boo told media members. "When you look at their losses to Alabama, to Missouri, to Georgia, they've played really – as a lot of people have – a tough schedule, but their ability to rush the ball. They've got some guys up front defensively, as we look at it, that they continue to impress the committee, and as I said before, there's 13 people on the committee. We're making sure we're getting every angle and making sure we're making the right decision every week."

Tennessee being a ranked team boosts the resumes of Georgia, Alabama and Mizzou as the Playoff and New Year's Six bowls are set to be decided by the final CFP rankings.

No. 21 UT wraps up the regular season against a 2-9 Vandy squad...

[jbcarol]

Wes Rucker
@wesrucker247

COLUMN: For the entirety of Nick Saban's tenure, Tennessee was the only SEC East team that had to play Bama *every* year.

Now divisional play is gone, and so is Saban.

If you don't see how much this changes things for Tennessee, you're out of your mind.



Yeah, yet for half the schedule you could trade a Mizzou for an LSU, a Vandy for Arkansas, a depleted Florida for a revitalized Ole Miss, and Kentucky for Texas, a USC for Oklahoma, a ... Georgia for Bama.

[jbcarol]

Wes Rucker
@wesrucker247
Look how crazy Tennessee and Auburn were for the better part of Saban's tenure in Tuscaloosa.

You know why?

Tennessee was the only SEC East team playing Bama and Georgia every season.

Auburn was the only SEC West team playing Bama and Georgia every season.

It started there.
12:38 PM · Jan 11, 2024
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[jbcarol]

Tennessee baseball title caps historic spring

Volunteer athletics

Derek Peterson |

Tennessee dominated the spring in the SEC, winning a historic trio of titles.

On March 6, Dalton Knecht scored 26 points as the fourth-ranked Vols basketball team beat No. 17 South Carolina to clinch the outright SEC regular season championship on the hardwood. On May 3, Tennessee softball used a 4-run fourth inning to pull away from Kentucky for an 8-3 win to clinch a second consecutive regular-season title on the diamond. Then, on Saturday, the Tennessee baseball side swept South Carolina to win a share of the regular-season baseball crown.

Vols are the favorites to win the College World Series, currently +550 to win the national title at DraftKings.

Vols also won in the court of law.