Comment from Josh Heupel should make fans even more excited about the future of Vols football
The Tennessee Vols are the No. 1 ranked team in the initial College Football Playoff rankings. Less than two years ago, Tennessee was coming off a 3-7 record and they were entangled in an NCAA recruiting investigation. And they lost a multitude of key players to the transfer portal. It's simply stunning what Josh Heupel […]
The Tennessee Vols are the No. 1 ranked team in the initial College Football Playoff rankings.
Less than two years ago, Tennessee was coming off a 3-7 record and they were entangled in an NCAA recruiting investigation.
And they lost a multitude of key players to the transfer portal.
It's simply stunning what Josh Heupel has accomplished since being hired in January 2021.
What's even more stunning, though, is that Tennessee is just getting started. The Vols weren't supposed to be national championship contenders this season. They aren't supposed to have championship-caliber talent.
But here they are. They might be a year or two early, but the Vols have arrived. And they're just going to get better.
On Tuesday, after it was revealed that Tennessee is the top team in the College Football Playoff rankings, Vols head coach Josh Heupel was interviewed on ESPN.
Heupel was asked by one of the hosts to say something nice about his defense since the Vols' defense isn't as exciting as the defense.
"We will be (exciting on defense) as we continue to build this," said Heupel. "Two years ago we were hit heavy by the transfer portal before I was hired. We've continued to build our roster on that side of it. And [we] really believe in where we're going. Got a great defensive coordinator in Tim Banks. A great staff."
"Our players have really bought in. In year two in our system, they have a much better understanding of our schemes. They're continuing to develop fundamentally. And we are continuing to get better throughout the course of the season."
Everything about this answer should excite Tennessee fans.
The confidence from Heupel is reassuring. The Vols' defense is doing just enough this season, mostly because of the talent level, but that's not the long-term plan for the program.
Heupel plans on having an elite, suffocating defense. And I believe that he'll get Tennessee's defense to that point. We have no reason to doubt him after what he's accomplished so far in such a short amount of time.
This has been an incredible season for the Volunteers, but this isn't the end of the journey.
In fact, it's just the beginning.
Featured image via Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
