Where the Tennessee Vols land in SEC power rankings ahead of fall camp
Entering the 2023 season, the Tennessee Vols are viewed as one of the top teams in the SEC. The latest SEC power rankings from On3, just ahead of the start of fall practice, have the Vols as the No. 4 team in the SEC, behind Georgia, Alabama, and LSU, respectively. From On3: Fresh off their […]
Entering the 2023 season, the Tennessee Vols are viewed as one of the top teams in the SEC.
The latest SEC power rankings from On3, just ahead of the start of fall practice, have the Vols as the No. 4 team in the SEC, behind Georgia, Alabama, and LSU, respectively.
From On3: Fresh off their best season in more than two decades, the Vols have no intention of taking a step backward in 2023 — openly declaring a “win the east” or bust type season. Tennessee must replace a ton of offensive production, but there’s confidence that Joe Milton, a trio of solid tailbacks and wideouts Squirrel White and Bru McCoy will just keep the Big Orange offensive locomotive humming. If the defense, particularly the secondary, shows signs of improvement, Tennessee could win double-digit games for just the second time since 2007.
This is a fair ranking for Tennessee, though there's a strong argument to be made that the Vols should be ranked No. 3 and it should be Alabama that's ranked No. 4 (LSU getting starting quarterback Jayden Daniels back for another season gives them the edge over a Tennessee team that lost Hendon Hooker).
Alabama lost a significant amount of talent from last season, including superstar quarterback Bryce Young, one of the better players to come through the SEC in the last decade. Without Young last season, there's a really good chance that Alabama doesn't even win 10 games. And while they have some talent at quarterback, albeit unproven, there's no one on the roster that's going to perform at a Bryce Young-level. Young was a special talent that can't be easily replaced.
This is simply a case of Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide getting the benefit of the doubt. And perhaps that's fair with the way Alabama has dominated the sport over the last 15 years. But if you take away the names off the uniforms and you base these rankings on what happened last season, and with the losses each program suffered during the offseason, then it would be Tennessee that's ranked above Alabama entering the 2023 season.
Anonymous SEC coach slams Tennessee Vols QB Joe Milton
An anonymous SEC coach slammed Tennessee Vols quarterback Joe Milton this offseason
Featured image via Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
