National media outlet says Tennessee won't have the most explosive offense in the SEC in 2023
The Tennessee Vols have gained a strong reputation the last two seasons under Josh Heupel for having the most explosive offense in the nation. Tennessee led the nation in scoring 2022 by averaging 46.1 points per game. Many of those points were the result of the explosive downfield passing plays. Tennessee will replace several key […]
The Tennessee Vols have gained a strong reputation the last two seasons under Josh Heupel for having the most explosive offense in the nation.
Tennessee led the nation in scoring 2022 by averaging 46.1 points per game. Many of those points were the result of the explosive downfield passing plays.
Tennessee will replace several key players this fall from last year's dominant squad, but there's still enough talent in Knoxville that the Vols could once again lead the nation in scoring in 2023.
Redshirt senior quarterback Joe Milton is a big play waiting to happen. And wide receivers Squirrel White, Dont'e Thornton, Ramel Keyton, and Bru McCoy provide Tennessee's offense with one of the top wide receiver groups in the nation. Add in loaded backfield — running backs Jabari Small, Jaylen Wright, and Dylan Sampson form a dangerous three-headed monster for the Vols — and it's easy to see why Tennessee's offense will be feared again in 2023.
Despite the loaded roster, 247Sports doesn't think the Vols will have the most explosive offense in the SEC in 2023. Instead, they think Tennessee will have the second most explosive offense in the conference, behind the Georgia Bulldogs.
From 247Sports: If there's drop-off coming offensively for the Volunteers, you wouldn't know it after talking with those close to the program, due in large part to a senior-laden two deep. And much like Ryan Day at Ohio State, Josh Heupel has earned the benefit of the doubt with a new starting quarterback given his propensity for offensive production regardless of the conductor. This scheme works and it keeps defenses off balance with its breakneck tempo.
Jaylen Wright and Jabari Small will need to produce in the backfield and the pair combined for just over 1,500 yards last fall, plenty considering this offense is designed to pick up yards in chunks downfield. Tennessee averaged a nation-leading 46.1 points per game last season and 39.3 (7th overall) in 2021. The expectation is another top-five unit nationally and one that could be tops in the SEC once again. Credit Heupel and his staff for making that the norm now in Knoxville.
There's no doubt that Georgia has an underrated offense — the Bulldogs were No. 5 in the nation last season in scoring at 41.1 points per game — but UGA is losing their quarterback in Stetson Bennett and replacing him with a talented, albeit inexperienced, quarterback in redshirt sophomore Carson Beck.
Milton showed in Tennessee's win against Clemson in the Orange Bowl that he can perform at a high level against elite competition. Beck still has to show that. And while Beck will likely be a top SEC quarterback at some point, I don't see how he's getting the benefit of the doubt over Milton.
This is just another dose of motivation for Milton and the Vols. Despite their impressive offensive outputs the last two seasons under Heupel, it looks like Tennessee is still working to convince the national media that they have the best offense in the SEC.
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