There's an easy wrinkle Josh Heupel can add to the Tennessee Vols' offense that would instantly provide a huge spark
The Tennessee Vols know they need to win "convincingly" in their final two games of the regular season to have a shot at making the 12-team College Football Playoff. "Yeah, I mean, it's kind of stating the obvious — got to win out," said Vols wide receiver Bru McCoy on Tuesday. "Got to win convincingly. […]
The Tennessee Vols know they need to win "convincingly" in their final two games of the regular season to have a shot at making the 12-team College Football Playoff.
"Yeah, I mean, it's kind of stating the obvious — got to win out," said Vols wide receiver Bru McCoy on Tuesday. "Got to win convincingly. Got to show some things on tape that maybe we haven't shown previously so that whoever knows that we can do certain things at a high level."
Tennessee is currently 8-2 — the same record as Ole Miss, Alabama, and Georgia — and they're ranked No. 11 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. But because of automatic qualifiers, the Vols would be the first team left out if the playoff started today.
Tennessee's offense has sputtered in SEC play this season, averaging just 23 points a game in conference play.
At this point in the season, it's fair to say this is who Tennessee is as an offense — they have talent, but plays just aren't consistently being made.
The Vols need a spark on offense — especially if they're going to make a "statement" over the final two weeks of the regular season (against UTEP and Vanderbilt).
And there's an easy "spark" that Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel can quickly provide.
It's time to give true freshman defensive back Boo Carter some reps on offense.
Carter just recently earned primary punt return duties for the Vols and he's already making a big impact in the return game.
The former four-star recruit nearly returned a punt for a touchdown against Georgia last weekend. A missed blocked prevented Carter from reaching the end zone, but the impressive return was an example of how dynamic the true freshman is with the ball in his hands (it's worth noting that Carter's return was the first significant punt return that Georgia's allowed in over two years).
Georgia senior linebacker Chaz Chambliss (No. 32 in the video above) told reporters on Tuesday that Carter "made a good move" on him, which resulted in a missed tackle on the return.
Chambliss is a player that Georgia head coach Kirby Smart has praised as "tough and physical" as well as someone who is "not afraid of contact". And yet Carter put him on skates.
When Carter committed to the Vols in 2023, he told On3 that Tennessee promised to use him on offense.
"When I had the meeting with them, they told me they were going to use me on both sides of the field," said Carter. "I’m going to be on defense more, but they’ll use me for both.”
“Coach Heupel wants me to play offense, but since I got an offer as a DB first, he said I’ll play DB, but I can learn the plays to get to offense," added Carter. "He keeps it real, he’s a good coach, and I like how he treats the players. I know I could fit in at that program.”
Carter is clearly electric with the ball in his hands. And outside of running back Dylan Sampson, the Vols haven't had a consistent playmaker to look to this season.
I don't think Carter needs to play every snap on offense. But Tennessee could at least find a way to get him on the field for some snaps and get the ball in his hands in space. Jet sweeps, screen passes, throws over the middle, etc.
Carter is undoubtedly one of the most dynamic players on the roster. And he clearly wants the ball in his hands. He's been in the system for almost a year now. It's time to take the training wheels off and fully unleash Carter for the rest of the season. And now is the perfect time to do it. Tennessee could ease Carter into the offense over the next two weeks and then have him as an X-factor if the Vols make the 12-team playoff.
Imagine Carter making defenders miss in the open field in a playoff game in December. It could be the spark that takes Tennessee's offense from mediocre to elite this winter.
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