In the 90’s, Tennessee had five Freshman All-Americans: Aaron Hayden and Raymond Austin in 1991, Jamal Lewis in 1997, and Albert Haynesworth and Leonard Scott in 1999. All five made the first team. (Research via Tennessee’s 2019 media guide) In the next decade, that number jumped to 18, including seven […]
Author: Will Shelton
Injury Prevents the Defense of Your Dreams, Again
Wherever you might’ve placed Emmit Gooden on your “least afford to lose” list, his presence there at all speaks to the problem of his out-for-the-season absence. Two things we’ve been saying all off-season: Defensive line is a bigger question mark than offensive line, because at least some of those guys […]
Keon Johnson and Corey Walker Make 2020 Class One of Tennessee’s Best
Keon Johnson’s commitment gives Rick Barnes three of Tennessee’s eight highest-rated signees in the modern recruiting era (247’s commitment list goes back to 2003): Tobias Harris Scotty Hopson Robert Hubbs Josiah James Duke Crews Keon Johnson Ramar Smith Corey Walker Johnson is the second-highest in-state player in that group behind […]
Hope is Undefeated in August
It’s the first day of practice, a preseason NFL game was on last night, and Madden releases today. Welcome to August. The power rankings for individual off-season days used to be topped by the release of that year’s NCAA Football game. By the time actual practice started you could throw […]
The Secret Word is “Quiet”
If I asked you to define the off-season in one word or phrase, what would you say about the last 11 years? 2009: Swagger Once upon a time, Lane Kiffin might have been the most anticipated act at SEC Media Days. The Vols were 5-7 the year before, but the […]
Jarrett Guarantano: Old Strengths & New Potential
Later today when the preseason All-SEC teams are announced, I don’t expect to see Jarrett Guarantano’s name. Tua Tagovailoa had one of the most impressive statistical seasons we’ve ever seen last year. Jake Fromm’s team is 24-5 the last two years, and he had a 30-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Kellen Mond […]
In Search of an Overachieving Season
If the Vols do meet their rounded-up FPI projection and turn 7.6 wins into an 8-4 regular season, then take what would be a pretty solid bowl victory? There’s a good chance Jeremy Pruitt’s second squad would finish the season in the Top 25. A pair of 9-4 finishes got […]
Close Games + Special Teams = Profit
If you want a glimpse of what the Vols hope to look like in a couple years, wide receiver and linebacker are the best place to look: proven multi-year starters with NFL potential, and elite incoming freshmen who might play but don’t have to be the answer. Tennessee’s two highest-rated […]
FPI Wants You to Believe
Vegas likes somewhere between 6.5 and 7 wins for Tennessee this fall, a good starting point for expectations. Advanced stats like S&P+ and FPI turned some heads earlier in the off-season when their initial projections slotted the Vols at 21st and 15th, respectively. But those are power rankings, which don’t […]
Finding the Rhythm in Tennessee’s Schedule
The Fourth of July always feels like the turning point in college football’s long summer away. Tennessee’s basketball conversation lasted longer than ever this year, and will continue in some ways with multiple Vols in the NBA Summer League over the next several days. But now, everyone’s focus starts to […]