FOX (Mandel): 8th (3rd in SEC): It's now or never for fourth-year coach Butch Jones' Vols, who return 17 starters from a team that won their last six games in 2015. New DC Bob Shoop, formerly of Penn State, inherits top-flight players like DE Derek Barnett, LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin and CB Cam Sutton. Meanwhile, QB Josh Dobbs is back to lead an offense highlighted by the tailback tandem of Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara.
ESPN (Schlabach): 11th (3rd in SEC): With so many starters coming back, Tennessee is a popular pick to win the SEC East this coming season. New Volunteers defensive coordinator Bob Shoop had to install his system this spring without several of his best players, including star defensive end Derek Barnett (shoulder) and linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (shoulder). They're expected back for the start of preseason camp. Quarterback Josh Dobbs continued to work to improve his passing accuracy, and sophomore receiver Preston Williams and juco transfer Jeff George emerged as go-to possibilities.
Campus Insiders (Cirminiello): 11th (3rd in SEC): At long last, this should finally be the season the Vols return to SEC contention. Butch Jones is entering his fourth year, the roster is littered with returning starters and 2015 ended with six straight wins. At a minimum, Tennessee ought to be the class of the East for the first time since 2007.
SI (Becht): 8th (3rd in SEC): Count me among those buying the Tennessee hype. The Volunteers seem to be finally set to make a run to the SEC Championship Game, bolstered by a core that has developed from high-potential youth into experienced talent. The defense boasts stars at every level from Derek Barnett at defensive end to Jalen Reeves-Maybin at linebacker to Cam Sutton at cornerback. The offense brings back Joshua Dobbs at quarterback, Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara at running back and four returning starters on the offensive line. The Vols ended 2015 on a high note, winning their final six games. They appear poised to pick up where they left off this fall.
College Football News (Fiutak): 3rd (2nd in SEC) It’s time for Tennessee to stop all the playing around and actually start to win something. Butch Jones has had long enough to put all his recruits in place to make this all go, and after coming painfully close to doing big things last season with four tough losses, it’s time to be on the right side of those. There’s still work to be done this fall, but if the offense really can start to create more big plays, look out.
Bleacher Report (Pederson): 7th (3rd in SEC):
With six consecutive victories, Tennessee heads into 2016 tied with Western Kentucky for the nation's third-longest win streak. Add in a veteran roster that has been playing together for several years, and the Volunteers' expectations are at an all-time high. Or at least as high as they've been in a year.Butch Jones' work to beef up the roster has paid off in the form of upperclassmen projected to start at most positions after having to rely heavily on freshmen the previous few years. He was also aided by the return of draft-eligible players such as linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin and cornerback Cameron Sutton. Tennessee's main question mark can be found at wide receiver, where last year it had no player log more than 38 catches, 409 yards or three touchdowns.
ESPN (Schlabach): 11th (3rd in SEC): With so many starters coming back, Tennessee is a popular pick to win the SEC East this coming season. New Volunteers defensive coordinator Bob Shoop had to install his system this spring without several of his best players, including star defensive end Derek Barnett (shoulder) and linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (shoulder). They're expected back for the start of preseason camp. Quarterback Josh Dobbs continued to work to improve his passing accuracy, and sophomore receiver Preston Williams and juco transfer Jeff George emerged as go-to possibilities.
Campus Insiders (Cirminiello): 11th (3rd in SEC): At long last, this should finally be the season the Vols return to SEC contention. Butch Jones is entering his fourth year, the roster is littered with returning starters and 2015 ended with six straight wins. At a minimum, Tennessee ought to be the class of the East for the first time since 2007.
SI (Becht): 8th (3rd in SEC): Count me among those buying the Tennessee hype. The Volunteers seem to be finally set to make a run to the SEC Championship Game, bolstered by a core that has developed from high-potential youth into experienced talent. The defense boasts stars at every level from Derek Barnett at defensive end to Jalen Reeves-Maybin at linebacker to Cam Sutton at cornerback. The offense brings back Joshua Dobbs at quarterback, Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara at running back and four returning starters on the offensive line. The Vols ended 2015 on a high note, winning their final six games. They appear poised to pick up where they left off this fall.
College Football News (Fiutak): 3rd (2nd in SEC) It’s time for Tennessee to stop all the playing around and actually start to win something. Butch Jones has had long enough to put all his recruits in place to make this all go, and after coming painfully close to doing big things last season with four tough losses, it’s time to be on the right side of those. There’s still work to be done this fall, but if the offense really can start to create more big plays, look out.
Bleacher Report (Pederson): 7th (3rd in SEC):
With six consecutive victories, Tennessee heads into 2016 tied with Western Kentucky for the nation's third-longest win streak. Add in a veteran roster that has been playing together for several years, and the Volunteers' expectations are at an all-time high. Or at least as high as they've been in a year.Butch Jones' work to beef up the roster has paid off in the form of upperclassmen projected to start at most positions after having to rely heavily on freshmen the previous few years. He was also aided by the return of draft-eligible players such as linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin and cornerback Cameron Sutton. Tennessee's main question mark can be found at wide receiver, where last year it had no player log more than 38 catches, 409 yards or three touchdowns.
