Tennessee Vols: Kyle Phillips makes bold prediction for the future of UT's football program
The Tennessee Vols haven't been ranked No. 1 in the nation since winning the national championship in 1998. In fact, the highest the Vols have been ranked since winning the national championship was No. 2 in 2001 (they were ranked No. 2 before losing to LSU in the SEC Championship game). But outgoing defensive lineman […]
The Tennessee Vols haven't been ranked No. 1 in the nation since winning the national championship in 1998.
In fact, the highest the Vols have been ranked since winning the national championship was No. 2 in 2001 (they were ranked No. 2 before losing to LSU in the SEC Championship game).
But outgoing defensive lineman Kyle Phillips, who is hoping to get drafted in next month's NFL Draft in Nashville, thinks the Vols will ascend to the top of the rankings within the next five years.
In a recent "exit interview" with The Athletic, Phillips was asked where he thinks Tennessee's football program will be in the next five years. Phillips replied "No. 1".
His reasoning?
Phillips says Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt's "five-star coaching staff" and their knowledge of "how to win championships" will help the Vols become a team that's "always in the conversation for national championships".
While that's a lofty expectation that Phillips has placed upon UT's football program (especially when it hasn't been done in over 20 years), it's certainly plausible that Tennessee could have a No. 1 ranked team in the next five years.
When the Clemson Tigers went 6-7 in 2010, I doubt anyone thought they'd be a No. 1 team the following five years.
But that's exactly what happened. Dabo Swinney was able to right the ship and by 2015 the Tigers were the No. 1 team in the nation.
Pruitt absolutely has the pedigree to turn Tennessee into a program that annually contends for national championships. It won't happen overnight. But I think over the next several years we'll see UT's football program steadily improve.
I'm not one to make predictions about where a program will be five years from now (there are way too many variables involved), but I don't think Phillips' prediction is nearly as outlandish as some folks might believe.
Featured image via Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
