We're very much in the deepest part of the college football offseason, but it won't be long before the Tennessee Vols and the rest of the SEC return to action. 

SEC Media Days, the event that pulls fans out of the depths of the offseason, is a little over a month away. 

A year ago, Tennessee arrived in Atlanta as a team on the rise without big expectations. After going 7-6 in 2021, most folks felt like the Vols were chasing nine wins in 2022. 

Tennessee, however, surprised everyone by going 11-2 while scoring big wins over Florida, LSU, Alabama, and Clemson. 

Entering the 2023 season, expectations will be a bit higher for the Vols. Analysts and opposing fan bases will be watching closely to see if Tennessee can repeat their success from last season. 

On the other hand, the Vols have made it fairly clear this offseason that they're chasing championships this fall. Josh Heupel said earlier this spring that Tennessee has to get to Atlanta, so that tells you how he views this upcoming season for the Vols. 

When Tennessee arrives in Nashville in July for SEC Media Days (July 17-20 at the Grand Hyatt), it'll be their chance to lay all of their goals out there for fans and critics to hear. 

We decided to take a guess at which three players the Vols will bring to Nashville to represent Tennessee during SEC Media Days. 

Note: Last year, UT sent quarterback Hendon Hooker, wide receiver Cedric Tillman, and safety Trevon Flowers to SEC Media Days.

Joe Milton — QB — Redshirt Senior

This one is a no-brainer. The starting quarterback has to represent the Vols at SEC Media Days. And in 2023, that will be Joe Milton. The former Michigan quarterback has only started four games for Tennessee since arriving in Knoxville in 2021, but he's already one of the biggest stars on campus thanks to his incredible physical attributes and his laid-back demeanor that, for lack of a better word, can be best described as "cool". The Florida native is a darkhorse Heisman candidate who will be looking to help deliver a championship in 2023 while also boosting his NFL draft stock. In 2024, it will almost certainly be quarterback Nico Iamaleava in this position. 

Cooper Mays — OL — Senior

I went back and forth on this choice and it came down to Mays and senior wide receiver Ramel Keyton. I went with Mays because I don't think the offensive line gets enough love (the Vols' offensive line play has been terrific the last two seasons). Mays is also a key team leader for Tennessee who grew up rooting for the Vols, so it makes sense to send him to Nashville to represent UT Football. 

Omari Thomas — DL — Senior

A defensive player has to be included. And I can't think of a better option than Omari Thomas, another player that's developed into a key team leader for the Vols. Thomas, a Memphis native, represented Tennessee on the SEC Football Leadership Council earlier this year in Birmingham. It just feels natural that he'd also represent the Vols at SEC Media Days. Redshirt senior linebacker Aaron Beasley is another defensive player that I could see as an option to represent Tennessee. 

Featured image via Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports