Article from the Tennesseean and USA Today Network
Tennessee fans’ full attention. But if you look beyond a season that will start with the Vols in the top 10, there’s more reason for optimism.
Not only are the Vols a consensus favorite to win the SEC East, they also are in position to take charge of the division for several years. That speaks volumes for the state of the division as well as the Tennessee program.
Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs takes a break during the first day of practice Monday, Aug. 1, 2016.
Aside from Florida and Georgia, no one else looks capable of challenging the Vols for a division title in the next three seasons. Maybe first-year Missouri coach Barry Odom will prove to be as good at running a program as he has been at coordinating a defense. And for hypothetical purposes, let’s open our imagination to the possibility that first-year South Carolina coach Will Muschamp will succeed in his new position after failing at Florida.
Nonetheless, the current talent shortage at those programs probably will require three years of exceptional recruiting before they’re in a division-championship discussion.
Vanderbilt and Kentucky, who comprise the rest of the East’s faltering four, might never be in that discussion. So that leaves Georgia and Florida as the only realistic challengers to a possible three-year run for the Vols.
No one is questioning Jim McElwain’s coaching acumen after he led an over-achieving team to a division title last year in his first season at Florida. However, recruiting could be a different matter, particularly when he’s matched against Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher in his own state.
As for Georgia, first-time head coach Kirby Smart is an unknown quantity. He had a faster recruiting start that McElwain did in his first season. But you don’t know whether he can manage a program when his greatest coaching accomplishment has been serving as the longtime foreman of Nick Saban’s championship defense at Alabama.
You only have to check the preseason All-SEC teams to see why the Vols are favored to win the East. Ten players on the UT roster have made first- or second-team All-SEC either this preseason or after last season.
Many of those players will be departing after this season. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs, cornerback Cam Sutton, linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin and offensive guard Dylan Wiesman are seniors. Running backs Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara likely will go pro early. So will defensive end Derek Barnett.
Even with all the likely attrition, including a three-year starter at quarterback, the Vols’ depth chart could remain formidable.
As many as eight starters could return on offense and seven on defense. Also, punter Trevor Daniel and placekicker Aaron Medley will be back.
Moreover, the Vols will lose only one starter in the offensive line and two in the front seven on defense. And at some positions in both lines, the backups might be more talented than the starters.
The prospect of losing an experienced quarterback is always unsettling for a program. But sophomore Quinten Dormady has played enough as a backup to show his potential as a passer. While you don’t know how freshman Jarrett Guarantano will adjust to the college game, there’s no denying his running ability or arm strength.
There’s also no denying that if Tennessee’s season is as good as the preseason suggests, the Vols won’t be a one-year wonder in the SEC East.
Tennessee fans’ full attention. But if you look beyond a season that will start with the Vols in the top 10, there’s more reason for optimism.
Not only are the Vols a consensus favorite to win the SEC East, they also are in position to take charge of the division for several years. That speaks volumes for the state of the division as well as the Tennessee program.
Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs takes a break during the first day of practice Monday, Aug. 1, 2016.
Aside from Florida and Georgia, no one else looks capable of challenging the Vols for a division title in the next three seasons. Maybe first-year Missouri coach Barry Odom will prove to be as good at running a program as he has been at coordinating a defense. And for hypothetical purposes, let’s open our imagination to the possibility that first-year South Carolina coach Will Muschamp will succeed in his new position after failing at Florida.
Nonetheless, the current talent shortage at those programs probably will require three years of exceptional recruiting before they’re in a division-championship discussion.
Vanderbilt and Kentucky, who comprise the rest of the East’s faltering four, might never be in that discussion. So that leaves Georgia and Florida as the only realistic challengers to a possible three-year run for the Vols.
No one is questioning Jim McElwain’s coaching acumen after he led an over-achieving team to a division title last year in his first season at Florida. However, recruiting could be a different matter, particularly when he’s matched against Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher in his own state.
As for Georgia, first-time head coach Kirby Smart is an unknown quantity. He had a faster recruiting start that McElwain did in his first season. But you don’t know whether he can manage a program when his greatest coaching accomplishment has been serving as the longtime foreman of Nick Saban’s championship defense at Alabama.
You only have to check the preseason All-SEC teams to see why the Vols are favored to win the East. Ten players on the UT roster have made first- or second-team All-SEC either this preseason or after last season.
Many of those players will be departing after this season. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs, cornerback Cam Sutton, linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin and offensive guard Dylan Wiesman are seniors. Running backs Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara likely will go pro early. So will defensive end Derek Barnett.
Even with all the likely attrition, including a three-year starter at quarterback, the Vols’ depth chart could remain formidable.
As many as eight starters could return on offense and seven on defense. Also, punter Trevor Daniel and placekicker Aaron Medley will be back.
Moreover, the Vols will lose only one starter in the offensive line and two in the front seven on defense. And at some positions in both lines, the backups might be more talented than the starters.
The prospect of losing an experienced quarterback is always unsettling for a program. But sophomore Quinten Dormady has played enough as a backup to show his potential as a passer. While you don’t know how freshman Jarrett Guarantano will adjust to the college game, there’s no denying his running ability or arm strength.
There’s also no denying that if Tennessee’s season is as good as the preseason suggests, the Vols won’t be a one-year wonder in the SEC East.
Last edited:
