The Tennessee Vols aren't getting the respect they deserve in early 2025 SEC power rankings
The Tennessee Vols were one of just three SEC programs (along with the Georgia Bulldogs and the Texas Longhorns) to reach the College Football Playoff in 2024. Tennessee is losing a couple of key players this offseason — most notably running back Dylan Sampson, center Cooper Mays, and edge rusher James Pearce — but the […]
The Tennessee Vols were one of just three SEC programs (along with the Georgia Bulldogs and the Texas Longhorns) to reach the College Football Playoff in 2024.
Tennessee is losing a couple of key players this offseason — most notably running back Dylan Sampson, center Cooper Mays, and edge rusher James Pearce — but the program will otherwise return the bulk of its playoff roster.
Despite a solid roster returning in 2025, the national media apparently thinks the Vols are going to take a step back this upcoming season.
247Sports, for example, revealed their early 2025 SEC power rankings this week and they have Tennessee at No. 6, behind programs like LSU and South Carolina.
From 247Sports: The expectation for the Volunteers is Nico Iamaleava developing into one of the league's top players at quarterback, but he's not going to have Dylan Sampson to help in the run game following his NFL Draft entry. Tennessee's starting group of wide receivers will look different as well following the exits of Bru McCoy, Dont'e Thornton and Squirrel White, among others. Getting five-star Mike Matthews back in the fold was important and Chris Brazzell II (6-5, 210) should star at the X. Tennessee has used the portal this cycle minimally and trusts its depth on defense despite losing all-everything pass rusher James Pearce Jr.
There are certainly some questions that Tennessee will have to answer in 2025. How do they replace center Cooper Mays? Will the running game be as dynamic without Dylan Sampson? Will Tennessee's young wide receivers rise to the occasion? Does quarterback Nico Iamaleava take another step forward in his development? How does the Vols' defense perform without James Pearce on the field?
Those are all legitimate concerns for Tennessee in 2025, but doesn't every program not named Ohio State or Notre Dame have similar concerns right now?
The Vols faced plenty of questions entering the 2024 season, too. Most national media outlets didn't think Tennessee would be a playoff team. The Volunteers proved everyone wrong in 2024, who's to say they won't do the same in 2025?
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Unfortunate injury for the stud defensive back
