National media outlet hands out some major disrespect for Tennessee Vols' offense in 2023
The Tennessee Vols had the best offense in the nation in 2022. Tennessee averaged 46.1 points per game last season (No. 1 in the nation) despite playing a schedule that included tough matchups against Florida, LSU, Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia, and Clemson (in the Orange Bowl). The Vols' high-scoring explosive offense was one of the biggest […]
The Tennessee Vols had the best offense in the nation in 2022.
Tennessee averaged 46.1 points per game last season (No. 1 in the nation) despite playing a schedule that included tough matchups against Florida, LSU, Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia, and Clemson (in the Orange Bowl).
The Vols' high-scoring explosive offense was one of the biggest stories in college football last fall.
For some reason, though, Tennessee's offense isn't getting much respect heading into the 2023 season. Analysts and talking heads seem to think the Vols' offense will take a step back in 2023 because of the loss of star players like Hendon Hooker, Jalin Hyatt, Cedric Tillman, Darnell Wright, and Jerome Carvin. UT also lost offensive coordinator Alex Golesh this offseason (Golesh left to become the head coach at USF and he was replaced at Tennessee by Joey Halzle).
247Sports recently ranked the 23 most explosive offenses entering the 2023 season and Tennessee, surprisingly, wasn't No. 1. They weren't No. 2, either. In fact, the Vols weren't even in the Top five.
Instead, Tennessee was listed at No. 8, below teams like Michigan, Florida State, and Texas (a team that went 8-5 last season and was No. 25 in the nation in scoring).
From 247Sports: What are fair expectations for an explosive Tennessee offense this season that's replacing projected early-round NFL Draft picks Hendon Hooker, Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman along with OC Alex Golesh? Well, listening to Josh Heupel speak this spring, he's not expecting much of a drop-off at all given the talent level of Joe Milton and the development he's projecting for a couple first-time starters at the skill positions. Tennessee averaged more plays per minute than any team nationally last fall and the Vols aren't changing their mindset with new parts in 2023.
This is just something else that Tennessee can use as motivation in 2023. Guys like Joe Milton, Ramel Keyton, Bru McCoy, Squirrel White, Jaylen Wright, etc will be eager to prove Tennessee's offense is just as explosive in 2023 as it was in 2022.
Hendon Hooker said earlier this offseason that Tennessee plays with a chip on its shoulder. The Vols can add this take from 247Sports to the long list of disrespect that they've received over the last couple of years.
