by Christopher Paschal

6^th – SEC East

Knoxville, TN | Neyland Stadium (102, 455) | 2017 Record: 4-8 (0-8)

Yet another Nick Saban disciple was hired away from Tuscalossa this past offseason when Jeremy Pruitt became the head coach at Tennessee. Pruitt is as Alabama as they come, but Tennessee fans will quickly look past that if the Vols finally regain their rightful place among the SEC elite. The Pruitt hire was an interesting one in that Pruitt has never been a head coach in the SEC or in college football. In fact, just over a decade ago, Pruitt was coaching high school football. At first, I was critical of this hire, because it felt like Tennessee had settled. Of course, it was well documented that the University of Tennessee has had some leadership issues in the past, not only in the football program, but in the athletic department, as well, and it felt like those problems were highlighted in the coaching search. Fans are sick of the losing and even more sick of the incompetence, and they need results. They won’t get them this year, but I may have been critical of Pruitt too early. He may very well be the man that leads the Vols back to competing for SEC Championships, but it won’t be in 2018 or even in 2019. This is going to be a long, overdue, sorely needed rebuild that will take place on the field and on the recruiting trail.

Offense

Quarterbacks: From the sound of things coming out of Knoxville, Jarrett Guarantano is not the future of this program. While big (6-4, 220) and athletic, Guarantano is not the type of player Jeremy Pruitt needs at quarterback. Last year, Guarantano showed his emotions both on the field, and off, a huge no-no for a Nick Saban disciple. From slamming his helmet, to having mini temper tantrums on the sideline as he watched Quinten Dormady start, to the tweets discussing anything from being the best quarterback on the roster to how he isn’t afraid of Alabama, it just feels like Guarantano has a lot of growing up to do. I don’t know him personally, it may be unfair that I am labeling him as immature, and he didn’t transfer out of the program, so I may be wrong, but it feels like Guarantano’s chances are limited and numbered. For this year, at least, the Volunteers are probably going to start Stanford graduate-transfer, Keller Chryst (6-5, 235) who started all seven games that he played in last season, leading Stanford to a 5-2 record. Chryst looks like an NFL quarterback and he plays like one, too. Both Chryst and Guarantano will have a shot in week one in Charlotte, but look for Chryst to separate himself as a more dynamic option in the passing game.

Image from USA Today

Running Back: A couple of years ago, this backfield had Alvin Kamara (one of the best players in the NFL), Jalen Hurd (now at Baylor), and John Kelly (taken by the Rams in the 2018 NFL Draft). None of those players return. Ty Chandler was a highly recruited prospect out of Nashville a couple of years ago, and he now enters his sophomore season as the projected feature back. It’s funny, watching his film from last year, he isn’t the fasted back, he doesn’t have the greatest first step, he isn’t the most agile and he doesn’t have unbelievable vision, but he runs like a big-time SEC back. He isn’t the biggest (5-11, 200), either, but he runs hard. If this offensive line plays a little bit better up front, Chandler might have a quiet, one thousand yard season. Behind him, Tennessee doesn’t have ton of depth, which is a problem in the SEC where running back by committee is the new norm, but Tennessee looks to be in the running for 2019 prospects Quavaris Crouch out of Charlotte and Eric Gray out of Memphis.

Image from the Orange & White Report

Wide Receiver: This position group is a big-ole wild card. On the one hand, Marquez Calloway, Brandon Johnson, Tyler Byrd, and Jauan Jennings are all returning. On the other hand, will they perform at a high level? The talent is there, no question about it, and maybe Tennessee’s abhorrent passing statistics were more an indicator of poor play at quarterback and in pass protection, but maybe these guys are not as good as they look. If I were a betting man, I would put most of their woes on Butch Jones and poor quarterback-play, and I would expect Jauan Jennings, and the fact that he will require safety help almost every snap, to help Marquez Calloway, Tyler Byrd and Brandon Johnson to all have better seasons. If Tennessee can replace Ethan Wolf at tight end (looking at you Dominick Wood-Anderson – top tight end prospect in JUCO last year), and Chryst plays like the big-time NFL prospect that he is, Tennessee might actually have a decent passing attack, but a lot has to happen in Jeremy Pruitt’s (and offensive coordinator, Tyson Helton’s) first season on Rocky Top.

Image from the Medium

Offensive Line: The injury bug has plagued this offensive line for years now, and they are still feeling the effects to this point. The biggest question mark is at tackle, and it’s not because the tackle position has played any worse than the interior members of this offensive line. In fact, they might have played better, but this is one position group that has a little bit of talent. It starts and ends with the former, top-ranked offensive prospect in the country, tackle Trey Smith (6-6, 320). He was the one stud on this offensive line last season. He was out all spring due to injury, but Pruitt expects him to be back in time this fall. This man is an All-American offensive tackle. It would be huge if he played like one and stayed healthy. Opposite of him will either be junior Drew Richmond who was a former elite prospect in his own right or oft-injured Marcus Tatum who is as athletic as Trey Smith. If these three stay healthy, and the interior of the offensive line improves, Tennessee will average over 50 more yards per game rushing the football. If they are injured and do not improve, Tennessee’s offense will be handicapped just like it was in 2017.

Image from Tennessee Athletics

Defense

Defensive Line: When Tennessee, on average, gave up over 250 yards on the ground, you knew something was wrong. Defensively, an SEC defense should never give up that many yards just based on sheer talent and skill. Forget coaching, the defensive linemen that play in this league should be good enough to hold an opposing team under 250 yards of rushing. But for whatever reason, Tennessee was unable to do that, and it put them at the bottom of the SEC in rushing yards allowed per game. In enters head coach Jeremy Pruitt and c0-defensive coordinators Chris Rumph and Kevin Sherrer, three highly successful defensive minds who will implement a 3-4 defense. Pruitt is known for being an excellent linebackers coach, but linebackers can only be as good as their defensive line counterparts. The funny thing about Tennessee is that the guys they have up front were highly recruited, highly ranked prospects coming into Rocky Top. Khalil McKenzie is now in the NFL… as an offensive linemen. Talk about a bust. McKenzie was considered one of the top five overall prospects in the country just a few years back, but he never amounted to anything at Tennessee. In that same recruiting class was another highly touted defensive tackle in Shy Tuttle (6-2, 310). Tuttle is now a senior and will probably be asked to occupy the nose tackle position. This is Tuttle’s last shot at proving he can anchor a defensive line and gobble up blockers while clogging gaps. Look for Greg Emerson and Brant Lawless, both highly regarded true freshman to get their shots at a few snaps this season, as well.

Image from Sports Illustrated

At end, Tennessee is going to need Kyle Phillips and Jonathan Kongbo to play like monsters. In a 3-4 defense, the defensive ends are critical in keeping offensive tackles from releasing to the second level (linebackers) and being able to cleanly execute blocks. If these two can do their job in run defense, which they are certainly talented enough to do (again, very highly regarded prospects coming to Tennessee), this run defense should improve. In closing, talent sometimes isn’t evaluated correctly, and these players aren’t built to run a three down defensive front. I expect improvement (how could you not), but this won’t look like an Alabama defensive line.

Linebacker: Jeremy Pruitt is one of the best coaches in the SEC at coaching not only defense, but linebackers, and he has some pretty good ones to coach this year. Some unexpected news got even weirder (for the better) when Darrin Kirkland, Jr. announced he was transferring from Tennessee only to then turn around and announce he was staying. Kirkland is a big-time linebacker. Just watch his film. He is fast for a 240 pound linebacker, he hits hard, he has great awareness. The only problem is that he has been injured throughout his career. If he stays healthy this year and buys into what Pruitt preaches, Kirkland could be an All-SEC linebacker. Also at inside linebacker is Quart’e Sapp (6-2, 225) who is a junior out of the Atlanta area. Sapp hasn’t had a lot of shining moments in a Volunteers’ jersey, but don’t be fooled, he is another fast linebacker that can chase down receivers and extend zone plays on running backs.

Then there is the 2017 leading tackler in Daniel Bituli (6-3, 240). Bituli is a massive, speedy athlete who might have the type of junior campaign needed to declare a year early for the NFL Draft. Pruitt will be moving Darrel Taylor (6-4, 255)  from his usual end position to an outside linebacker position. This man is Demarcus Ware. Remember him? He was a former All-Pro, NFL linebacker that was the same size as and played with the same tenacity as Taylor. Opposite of Taylor may be the talented true freshman, JJ Peterson (6-3, 230) who hails from Colquitt High in South Georgia. Peterson’s high school coach? Rush Propst, the head coach of Hoover High when Pruitt was the defensive coordinator. This could develop into a nice pipeline from one of the most talent rich areas in the country to Rocky Top. Overall, I am very high on this position group. A lot higher than a lot of pundits, and a lot higher than I probably should be, but this position group should take a massive step in the right direction in 2018.

Image from Knoxville News

Defensive Backs: If Jeremy Pruitt is known for successfully coaching linebackers, then he is Mr. Miyagi when it comes to coaching defensive backs. His track record from Alabama to Florida State to Georgia speaks for itself. From 2010-2015, Pruitt coached defensive backs (from 2016-2017 he coached linebackers). In those six seasons, Pruitt’s pass defenses ranked 16^th, 1^st, 13^th, 5^th, 2^nd, and 1^st in passing yards allowed. The most impressive of those coaching jobs was 2014 Georgia in which he took over a passing defense that ranked 71^st in the year before in passing yards allowed and turned them into the 2^nd best passing defense in the country.

Image from USA Today

Tennessee was statistically one of the five best pass defenses in the country last season. But don’t let the numbers fool you. The reason why they were so good statistically is because not a single opponent had to throw against this defense to move the ball in chunks. All they had to do was pound the rock. In fact, Tennessee ranked outside the top 50 in both yards allowed per passing attempt (evidence that literally nobody threw the ball against Tennessee) and outside the top 60 in opposing quarterbacks QBR. Safety is a position Tennessee should be fine at with Nigel Warrior (excellent in run defense) Todd Kelly, Jr., and Micah Abernathy all returning as veteran upperclassman. It’s at corner that Tennessee should be worried. The talent and experience is not there to cover some of the elite wide receivers the SEC East has to offer. But if anyone can help mask those deficiencies it is Jeremy Pruitt.

Special Teams

The Vols will start a true freshman at punter, but he is a pretty dang good one. Paxton Brooks was considered one of the top three punters in the nation last year, which should help Tennessee’s defense in the field position game. Brent Cimaglia returns after a moderately successful freshman campaign at kicker. Pruitt is used to having elite athletes fill out his special teams’ positions, so it will be interesting to see if he puts starters at those spots or goes with the young backups.

Coaching Staff

Much needed relief comes to Knoxville, as Jeremy Pruitt, a straight shooting, Southern football coach replaces the corny and bizarre Michigander, Butch Jones. This roster is going to have a new feel to it. Not only will Pruitt bring in SEC-type athletes, but it will have a more rough, aggressive mindset, as well. The defense I think will be one of the best in the country by year three of Pruitt’s time in Knoxville, but my questions come on the offensive side of the ball. If Pruitt is planning on running an old school, NFL style, under center type offense, his time in Knoxville might look very similar to Will Muschamp’s in Gainesville. Something to keep an eye on.

Biggest Strength: Linebackers – This is an athletic group that will benefit from having Jeremy Pruitt as their head coach. The experience is there, the speed is there, and the aggressiveness is there for this to be one of the SEC’s top five best linebacking corps in 2018.

Biggest Weakness: Offensive Production – There is some promise, but 2018 will probably end with more headache than elation on the offensive side of the ball. Best case scenario, the offensive line is healthy and the tackles play like NFL draft picks, the wide receivers play to their ability, a second back emerges and Tennessee averages over 175 rushing yards per game, and Keller Chryst throws for over 2,700 yards and 18 touchdowns. A lot has to happen for all of that to happen, and if even one position group doesn’t play well or suffers injury, this offense will only see minimal progression in year one.

Offensive, Defensive, and Freshman Players of the Year

 Offensive: Trey Smith. If he comes back healthy (and stays healthy), he might be the best tackle in the SEC, which is really saying something. He is big, he has great feet, and he is an aggressive run blocker. He is a huge piece to Tennessee’s offensive success.

Defensive: Nigel Warrior. The linebackers will get most of the attention, but Nigel Warrior (6-0, 195) will want to prove something in his junior season. He is already regarded as one of the best run defending safeties in the SEC, but for him to get some NFL hype he has to force turnovers in the passing game. I think he finishes with at least three interceptions.

Freshman: JJ Peterson. By the end of the season, Peterson will be starting at outside linebacker for Tennessee and will be rushing the passer like a wiley veteran. He is so dang athletic and he already looks the part. I think we are talking about a Freshman All-SEC type campaign from Peterson in 2018.

 Schedule Breakdown and Projected Wins and Losses

 Loss – West Virginia

East Tennessee State – Win

UTEP – Win

Loss – Florida

Loss – at Georgia

Loss – at Auburn

Loss – Alabama

Loss – at South Carolina

Charlotte – Win

Loss – Kentucky

Loss – Missouri

at Vanderbilt – Win

 Final Record: 5-7 (1-7)

The Final Word

I’m calling it right now, Tennessee is going to beat Kentucky. I feel it in my bones, but my head will not let me pick Tennessee to win that game. I don’t even think it would be an upset, but a lot of my apprehension with the Volunteers is that the offense will not perform at a high enough level to win games in the SEC, especially with this season. October is always the month of hell for Tennessee. If they can steal one game in the five-game stretch that goes Florida, Georgia, Auburn, Alabama, and South Carolina, they have a shot at becoming bowl eligible. Do I think it happens no, but don’t lose hope Tennessee fans, at the worst you are already moving in the right direction in the 2019 recruiting class, and at the best, you may find a way to win six or seven games in 2018.