Tennessee Vols: Jeremy Pruitt's 5 best moments at UT so far
Jeremy Pruitt's first couple of years as the Tennessee Vols' head coach have been quite eventful. Pruitt landed the job in 2017 after the Vols' wild coaching search that included nearly hiring Mike Leach, a flirtation with Jon Gruden and, of course, an offer to Mike Gundy (as is customary in a UT coaching search). […]
Jeremy Pruitt's first couple of years as the Tennessee Vols' head coach have been quite eventful.
Pruitt landed the job in 2017 after the Vols' wild coaching search that included nearly hiring Mike Leach, a flirtation with Jon Gruden and, of course, an offer to Mike Gundy (as is customary in a UT coaching search).
Somehow, despite the disastrous search, the Vols managed to end up with a perfect fit.
Pruitt is the first Tennessee coach since Phillip Fulmer that feels like he truly "fits in" at Tennessee. Pruitt is a football first kind of guy. He's no nonsense. Pruitt doesn't care about the off-the-field media stuff (like previous head coach Butch Jones), he just cares about winning on-the-field.
During Pruitt's first two years at Tennessee, we've seen some low lows (losing to Georgia State) and some highs.
Here are some of those highs — Pruitt's five best moments (so far) at Tennessee.
Win against Auburn in 2018
Jeremy Pruitt's first season on Rocky Top had plenty of highs and lows. The Vols had a rough season opener against West Virginia, losing 40-14 in Charlotte.
The end of the season was pretty rough, too. Tennessee lost their final two games of the season in blowout fashion to Missouri and Vanderbilt.
The high point of the season, however, came on October 13, when Tennessee was able to get a 30-24 win on the road against Auburn. At the time, the Tigers were ranked No. 21 in the nation. A week earlier, Auburn was in the top 10.
UT's win against Auburn in 2018 was their first win against an SEC West team since 2010. It was their first road win against an SEC West team since 2007.
The Vols finished 5-7 in 2018, but the win against Auburn gave fans some hope that Pruitt was the right coach for Tennessee.
Featured image via Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports/Image via John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Big time hires —–>>>>
Pruitt makes two big time hires
One of Butch Jones' biggest shortcomings was his inability to put together an elite coaching staff.
A head coach can only do so much. To be successful, a great staff is needed.
And that's exactly what Pruitt has put together during his first couple of years in Knoxville.
When offensive coordinator Tyson Helton left for Western Kentucky after the 2018 season, it left a big void on the Vols' coaching staff. Pruitt filled the void by stealing offensive coordinator Jim Chaney from Georgia. Swiping Chaney from UGA was a huge win for Tennessee. Chaney was in a good spot at Georgia. There was no need for him to leave an established program for a Vols team coming off a 5-7 season.
But that's how much Chaney believes in Pruitt and Tennessee.
Chaney wasn't the only big time hire that Pruitt made after the 2018 season, either.
The Vols didn't need a defensive coordinator after the season. Kevin Sherrer was serving in that role. But Pruitt saw a way to upgrade Tennessee's defense.
Pruitt managed to steal Derrick Ansley from the NFL to lead the Vols' defense.
The move paid off. In 2019, the Vols' defense vastly improved over the second half of the season. Over a five game stretch (against Mississippi State, Alabama, South Carolina, UAB and Kentucky), Tennessee allowed only 21 total second half points.
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Beating Alabama for key recruit —>>>
Beating Alabama for Henry To'o To'o
There's only one way to consistently beat Alabama on the field.
And that's to consistently beat them on the recruiting trail.
The Vols are a long toward beating Alabama in recruiting on a regular basis, but they took a huge step toward that goal when they landed four-star linebacker Henry To'o To'o over the Crimson Tide in early 2019.
To'o To'o has already proved to be a key player for the Volunteers. To'o To'o flashed elite defensive abilities as a true freshman in 2019. With Daniel Bituli out of eligibility, it'll be To'o To'o's turn to lead the defense in 2020.
I can't think of a better option for Tennessee. To'o To'o is going to be a stud.
Image via USA Today/Randy Sartin
A major comeback —->>>
Coming back to beat Indiana in the Gator Bowl
The Vols finished the 2019 regular season on an unlikely 5-0 run.
After starting the season 1-4, it was remarkable that Tennessee managed to reach a bowl game.
But the good feelings from the strong finish to the regular season would've quickly faded had the Vols lost to Indiana in the Gator Bowl.
For most of the game against the Hoosiers, it appeared that 7-6 final record was in the cards for the Vols.
But against all odds, Tennessee made a thrilling comeback. After trailing 22-9 late in the fourth quarter, the Vols pulled off a comeback for the ages.
And it was fueled by Pruitt's surprise onside kick decision.
Tennessee's win against Indiana was a microcosm of the Vols' 2019 season. And it was a perfect way to end Pruitt's second season at the helm.
After the Vols lost to Georgia State to start the season, there was practically no one that thought Tennessee would finish the season with an 8-5 record.
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Landing a key player from a rival —–>>>
Swiping Cade Mays from Georgia
Tennessee's had a tremendous 2020 so far.
The wild comeback against Indiana, signing an unlikely top 10 recruiting class, the return of Trey Smith. It's all come up aces for the Vols so far.
But the biggest moment of the offseason was when Tennessee swiped offensive lineman Cade Mays from Georgia.
Mays is a Vol legacy that ended up signing with Georgia in 2017. The former five-star recruit was committed to Tennessee in 2017, but he decommitted after Butch Jones was fired. After a wild coaching search, the Vols were unable to get Mays back into the boat.
Fast forward two years and now Mays is on the Vols' roster.
That's the kind of impact Pruitt's had at Tennessee.
Landing Mays as a transfer is a sign to the rest of the SEC that recruits/players see the Vols as a legitimate contender.
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