One mystery that Tennessee Vols fans have been trying to figure out over the last two years is why UT's offense wasn't as dynamic in 2024 as it was in 2021 and 2022 (Josh Heupel's first two seasons leading the program). 

Tennessee averaged 46.1 points per game in 2022. 

In 2024, Tennessee averaged 35.7 points per game. 

The difference is even bigger in conference games. Tennessee averaged 43.3 points per game in SEC games in 2022.

This past season, the Vols averaged 25.0 points per game in SEC play. 

There are plenty of reasons for the downtick in production. For starters, conference opponents have a better idea of how to defend Tennessee's offense after seeing it for several years. 

Execution has also been a problem at times for the Vols. Missed throws, lack of separation, poor pass protection, and drops are all things that plagued Tennessee at one point or another in 2024. 

Pass protection, ultimately, is typically the biggest culprit for poor offensive production. And that's not to put the entire blame on the offensive line. It's just that when pass protection is compromised, it throws everything else off offensively. The offensive line is the one position on the field that dictates how the rest of the play will go. If it goes bad up front on a play, that rep is usually doomed. 

The right tackle position was particularly problematic for Tennessee in 2024. 

Tennessee was sixth in the SEC in most sacks allowed per game this past season (2.31 per game). The Vols gave up 30 total sacks in 2024. 

Eight of those came from right tackles John Campbell and Dayne Davis (they allowed four each per 247Sports). 

According to 247Sports, Campbell allowed a pressure in seven of eight SEC games in 2024 (and he allowed five pressures in the Vols' College Football Playoff loss to Ohio State). 

When fans and media speculate about what the Vols' offense was more dynamic in 2022 than it was in 2023 and 2024, the conversation usually centers around quarterback play (Hendon Hooker played at an insanely high level in 2022) and the offensive coordinator (Alex Golesh left his job as Tennessee's offensive coordinator after the 2022 season to become the new head coach at USF). 

Those are certainly factors that matter. But one thing that doesn't seem to get talked about enough is the right tackle position. 

In 2022, Darnell Wright, who was a first round pick by the Chicago Bears in the 2023 NFL Draft, was a beast at right tackle for the Vols. 

Wright played 895 snaps for Tennessee in 2022 and he allowed zero sacks. According to PFF, Wright was the only offensive lineman in the SEC in 2022 to play over 850 snaps and have an efficiency rating of 99.0 or better. 

It's not just the sacks/pressures, either, that were a problem for Tennessee's right tackles in 2024. 

Penalties were also a major issue. 

Wright committed just two penalties in 2022. 

In 2024, Campbell alone committed 11 penalties (several of those were holding penalties that negated big plays). 

That's a huge difference in production at one of the most important positions on the field. And like I mentioned earlier, if things aren't right up front, the rest of the play usually isn't going to be successful. 

The good news for Tennessee is that help is on the way. 

2025 five-star offensive lineman David Sanders Jr, the No. 1 offensive lineman in the nation, is expected to start for the Vols next season. For now, the expectation is that Sanders will play right tackle with Lance Heard, a former LSU transfer, staying at left tackle (we'll see what transpires during spring and fall practices). 

Sanders is a massive talent upgrade for Tennessee at the tackle position. And while it's always risky to count on a true freshman, the hope is that Sanders is a transcendent player who can be a gamechanger from day one. 

Now, that doesn't mean that it's going to be perfect. Even if Sanders has an amazing true freshman season, there will still likely be some growing pains. But there's plenty of reason to believe that he can provide a huge upgrade in production next fall. 

For example, this past season, Colorado true freshman offensive tackle Jordan Seaton, the No. 1 offensive lineman in the 2024 recruiting class, started for the Buffaloes and had a tremendous season. 

Seaton gave up two sacks in his first two career games. He then gave up zero sacks the rest of the season. 

Tennessee fans would take that kind of production in Sanders' true freshman season in a heartbeat. 

Getting elite play from the right tackle position after getting below average play in 2024 is a must if the Vols' offense is going to take a big step forward in 2025. It doesn't matter how good the wide receivers are at getting open if the quarterback doesn't have time to operate. The addition of Sanders could be one of the main ingredients that helps Tennessee's offense return to an elite level. 

Tennessee Vols athletics gets an element the school has been missing for years

Huge for the Vols