No longer the champions of life, Tennessee is now lead by a new man. Jeremy Pruitt is yet another Saban assistant to get a head job; it’s time to see which category he is in.
The Butch Jones era at UT will be known for the what-ifs. After a great start in 2016, the team fell apart towards the end of the year. Last season, despite all the talent on the team, they won 4 games and went winless in the SEC. If Pruitt is as good as Tennessee fans are advertising, then maybe he will make use of all the talent on the roster.
Prestige Ranking: 3
Sorry Vols. Recent history has not been kind to you. This being said, you have the talent to improve, and (hopefully) a good coach to get you there. If not, there is always next year.
Returning Starters: 10
Offense: 4
WR Marquez Callaway, WR Brandon Johnson, LT Trey Smith, LT Drew Richmond
Like much of Tennessee, the QB position was a dumpster fire last season. rotating through three different players, the position had no consistency whatsoever. In the offseason, grad transfer Keller Chryst announced his intention to join the program. Based off of his experience at Stanford, Chryst should be expected to start. He has an 11-2 record as a starter and threw for 10 touchdowns in 2016 before losing the starting job last season. He should be the best fit for OC Tyson Helton’s offense.
Quite like Saban, Pruitt favors a strong run game. Tyson Chandler, the second man behind John Kelly last season, figures to be the lead back. Chandler, who had 305 yards last season, will be better off running between the tackles in a pro-offense such as Helton’s.
The receiving corp has a ton of talent. Many remember Jauan Jennings for his Hail Mary catch against Georgia. However, it was Marquez Callaway who showed the most promise last season. The junior totaled 406 yards and five touchdowns, and was the only receiver to find the endzone more than three times. The nation’s number one JUCO tight end also committed, so it will be interesting to see how quickly he can get acclimated and make a difference.
The Vols have an ton of inexperience on the O-line, but do return one star: Trey Smith. Smith, who sat out most the spring, was the top offensive line recruit in 2016. He will be tasked with leading a line that has both little depth and experience. Smith will be an All-SEC caliber tackle, but the worry is he will be the only one able to protect the QB.
Defense: 5
DE Jonathan Kongbo, OLB Darrell Taylor, ILB Quart’e Sapp, ILB Daniel Bituli, SS Nigel Warrior, FS Micah Abernathy
Running a 3-4 defense, Tennessee is focused mostly on stopping the run. The line returns one starter, but Shy Tuttle rotated in a ton last year, and has flashed major potential as a run stopper. End Jonathan Kongbo looks to be the team’s best pass rusher. While there is a lack of starting experience, the potential is there. As with most of the roster, the players were highly recruited.
Linebacker should be a position of strength. Leading tackler Daniel Bituli returns for his Junior year and will be the leader in the middle. A player to watch is Darrell Taylor. Taylor, a DE last season, is kicking up to outside linebacker, which will allow him to be a stand-up pass rusher. If he can master the position, he should be a force off of the edge.
Strong safety Nigel Warrior returns after being second on the team in tackles last year. He should be one of the best players on the team, and have coach Pruitt’s full trust. FS Micah Abernathy returns, but will be in a battle for the spot with Todd Kelly Jr., who held the spot in 2016 before suffering an injury. The top two corners are young, and could suffer growing pains throughout the season.
Special Teams: 0
Kicker Brent Cimagalia was a spot starter last year, and went 8-13, so there is at least some experience there. Ryan Tice is a graduate transfer from Michigan, and hopes to beat out Cimagalia. Freshman Paxton Brooks is likely to be the punter, with all the growing pains that come with that.
Tyroil Smoochie-Wallace All Name Team Member: Nigel Warrior
Key Losses: John Kelly, Rashaan Gaulden
Kelly was one of the few bright spots on a poor UT offense, and his running ability will be missed, especially in the new pro-style offense. Gaulden would be very valuable to a group of young and inexperienced corners who may struggle at first.
Five Year Recruiting Rank: 12
Well at least the Vols can recruit. That *should* never be an issue for Tennessee. The main problem is developing and applying that talent. The recruiting should not fall off under the new coach. However, if the program continues the somewhat downward trend, the quality of the classes could drop.
Alcohol Prediction for Fans: Absinthe
Vols fans should definitely stick to absinthe this season. Absinthe, a very strong alcohol, often causes people to forget what they did the night before, will help them forget the pain of the last few seasons, and the pain this season will likely bring. Also known for its hallucinatory qualities, it fits perfect with Vols’ fans expectation of “being back” each year.
Outlook:
Look, none of this is to say that Pruitt is not a good coach. I don’t necessarily believe in him, but that has more to due with the history of Saban assistants. Pruitt should have no trouble getting the defense together. If he can get the offense rolling, his time at UT has a chance to be very special. Unfortunately for the Vols, the East is on the come up with Georgia and Florida coming back to power. It will be a struggle for Tennessee at first, but if Pruitt can prove himself, the Vols will be sitting pretty. That being said, don’t be surprised if the team makes a bowl game, but fans, please don’t lose your mind if they don’t. It is a rebuild for a reason.