National writer says the Tennessee Vols are on the verge of being an elite SEC team
The Tennessee Vols took a big step forward in 2021 under Josh Heupel. In 2020, under former UT head coach Jeremy Pruitt, the Vols went 3-7 with an offense that ranked No. 109 in the nation. Heupel immediately turned the program around, leading Tennessee to a 7-6 record and the No. 7 scoring offense in […]
The Tennessee Vols took a big step forward in 2021 under Josh Heupel.
In 2020, under former UT head coach Jeremy Pruitt, the Vols went 3-7 with an offense that ranked No. 109 in the nation.
Heupel immediately turned the program around, leading Tennessee to a 7-6 record and the No. 7 scoring offense in the nation.
That quick turnaround has one national college football writer believing that the Volunteers are the next elite SEC East program.
Here's what longtime college football writer Matt Hayes had to say about Tennessee this week:
Get ready for more pressure from the Tennessee offense, everyone. Enough pressure to potentially become the next SEC East team trading blows with Alabama in the 1st week of December.
The concept that was laughable merely 2 seasons ago can no longer be denied: Tennessee is a threat again in the SEC because the Vols will have 1 of the 2 best offenses in the conference.
The Vols have the best quarterback not named Bryce Young, and they have an already dangerous offense poised to boom in Year 2 under Heupel.
Tennessee fans have heard this before. In 2015, the Vols were poised to be the next SEC East giant under Butch Jones. But the team failed to live up to expectations and instead finished 9-4 in back-to-back seasons.
The program was hyped again after the 2019 season when the Volunteers were coming off an 8-5 season under Pruitt. But then the wheels fell off in 2020 and Pruitt was sent packing.
This time, however, feels different. Heupel took over a situation that was arguably worse than what Jones and Pruitt took over. And he exceeded expectations in his first year.
It's impossible to predict how Heupel's tenure with the Vols will play out. But so far, there haven't been any red flags. Vol fans aren't having to talk themselves into Heupel having the "potential" to turn the program around. To steal a line from Butch Jones, Heupel has already laid the foundation. The culture has changed. And the players believe in his vision.
All that's left now is to bring better talent to Rocky Top. That could take some time — recruiting on the same level as Alabama and Georgia won't happen overnight. But once it does happen, I think Hayes' prediction for the Vols could end up being accurate.
Featured image via Nikos Frazier / Journal & Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK
