The Tennessee Vols' offense evolved a lot as the 2022 season progressed, but the crux of it remained the same — tempo and wide splits with the wide receivers.

Tennessee's offense works in part because of all the space they create on the field. When you combine that space with the Vols' tempo, it can create chaos for the defense.

Josh Heupel and his staff showed an ability to change things up at times — like when Tennessee lined up under center against Alabama and got in an I-Formation and handed the ball to a fullback — but for the most part, it's a wide-open offense that consistently creates explosive plays.

Because of the Vols' offensive success under Heupel, I've often wondered if more SEC programs will try to imitate what UT does offensively.

Some schools — Ole Miss and Arkansas specifically — run an offense similar to Tennessee's, but no one does it as fast or as effectively as the Vols.

Based on comments this week from new South Carolina offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains, it sounds like the Gamecocks will be joining the group of programs that attempts to run an offense that's similar to Heupel's offense.

Loggains, who spent the last two seasons as the tight ends coach at Arkansas, was introduced as South Carolina's new offensive coordinator on Wednesday. And he was of course asked about his offensive philosophy. The new Gamecocks assistant has been an offensive coordinator for four different NFL teams, but that doesn't mean he's going to try to run a true pro-style offense in Columbia.

A lot of talk about spacing, tempo and wider hashes from new South Carolina OC Dowell Loggains. Maybe a Tennessee/veer and shoot style offense coming to Columbia next season? pic.twitter.com/pXhdKQHIqu

— zach ragan (@zachTNT) December 15, 2022

Instead, Loggains talked about spacing and tempo as components of his offense.

"I don't think the play-calling process is any different than it is at the highest level," said Loggains on Wednesday. "What is different is the field dimensions and hashes and space and tempo, and all those things that in college football are very important."

"Going to Arkansas those two years will be such a benefit for me because now you can see the hash plays, you need the space plays that aren't as important in the NFL," added Loggains. "It's still 53 and a third (the width of the field), but those hashes are six yards. And now there's a field boundary. so calling the plays is calling the plays, but the two years at Arkansas have been extremely beneficial for me in that way understanding the college game a little more."

The reason that Heupel's offense wouldn't translate to the NFL is because of the closer hashes at the pro level. It's not possible to create the same amount of space in the NFL.

Loggains seems to understand this and instead of pushing a pro-style offense on South Carolina — which is what he knows best — he's going to try to use spacing and tempo next season.

Now, just because Loggains wants to run this type of offense doesn't mean it'll work. Part of the reason why Heupel's offense is so effective is because of coaching. When a team goes as fast as Tennessee, there are a lot of opportunities for mistakes — especially between plays.

But Heupel and his staff have coached their players so well that everyone knows exactly what to do in between plays. There is no wasted motion. The players get the ball to the official quickly so it can be set and then everyone is lined up and ready to go. Heupel is so advanced with this style of offense that he calls plays that set up the next play (as far as a player already being on a certain side of the field so they can get lined up even quicker).

I have a feeling we're going to see a lot of teams try to imitate what Tennessee does offensively. But that doesn't mean it'll work. Though it'll certainly be interesting to see if anyone is eventually able to run this offense as efficiently as Heupel and the Volunteers. It sounds like South Carolina will take its first crack at it in 2023.

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