Preview 2019: Previewing and looking ahead to the Tennessee Volunteers season with what you need to know.
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– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Recruiting Class Analysis | Schedule Analysis
– Tennessee Previews 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
2018 Record: 5-7 overall, 2-6 in SEC
Head Coach: Jeremy Pruitt, 2nd year, 5-7
– CFN Preview 2019: All The Team Previews
5. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE TENNESSEE OFFENSE
– It’s not there yet, but everyone is back. The offense finished last in the SEC in yards – averaging 326 yards per game – was last in passing efficiency and last in rushing. There wasn’t any pop or explosion, it stalled way too often, and it only managed more than 24 points just once against an FBS team. However, again … (almost) everyone is back.
– Jarrett Guarantano appears to be ready to take the next step forward. Tennessee might always be on the hunt for a grad transfer quarterback – Jalen Hurts would’ve been interesting – Guarantano has the upside to do far more in his junior year.
He hit 62% of his passes for only 1,907 yards and 12 scores, but the key to his game are the three picks – he didn’t make mistakes. Redshirt freshman JT Shrout is the set No. 2 with good size and the mobility to add something different to the mix.
– The receivers look the part, and they have the speed to bust out big plays for new passing game coordinator Tee Martin, but now it has to happen on a more consistent basis. Marques Callaway led the team with just 37 catches for 592 yards, Josh Palmer was second on the team with 484 yards averaging over 21 yards per grab, and Jauan Jennings is a 6-3 No. 1 target who wasn’t healthy throughout last year – catching 30 passes for 438 yards and three scores.
2017 leading receiver Brandon Johnson needs to rise back up after a mediocre 14-catch year, and there’s a whole lot of veteran depth to work into the rotation. The tight end situation is set with former JUCO transfer Dominick Wood-Anderson back after catching 17 grabs with two scores.
– The SEC-worst running game that averaged just 129 yards per game and 3.7 yards per carry could use a whole lot more pop. Blame the blocking with two decent backs who should and could do a whole lot more.
201-pound junior Ty Chandler averaged over five yards per carry with 630 yards and four scores, and 206-pound junior Tim Jordan averaged four yards per pop with 522 yards. Chandler will catch a little more and is the better back, but the two will work in a rotation again with 218-pound sophomore Jeremy Banks a nice No. 3. But now …
– The blocking needs to be a whole lot better. It struggled for the running game and allowed way too many plays in the backfield. The tackle situation is one of the team’s most interesting battles on a line that will undergo a whole lot of shuffling in spring ball.
Trey Smith is an NFL-caliber left tackle talent, but he’s got health issues and is questionable at best to return. Marcus Tatum was last year’s starter, and there are other options, but superstar recruits Darnell Wright and Wanya Morris might be too good to keep off the field.
The interior is set with 313-pound junior Ryan Johnson moving from center to one guard spot, and 6-5, 270-pound junior Jahmir Johnson will work on the other side. Junior Nathan Neihaus can see time at center after starting there at times last season, but he’ll be at tackle with former Alabama transfer Brandon Kennedy taking over in the middle coming off a knee injury.
NEXT: What You Need To Know About the Defense, Top Players, Keys to the Season, What Will Happen
4. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE TENNESSEE DEFENSE
– The D doesn’t have as much experience returning as the O gets, but six of the top eight tacklers are back and there’s enough overall talent back to improve after a decent year, allowing 377 yards and 28 points per game. However …
– The front three is starting over, but there’s a whole lot to get excited about. Getting 6-5, 306-pound Michigan transfer Aubrey Solomon was huge, but he has to be ruled eligible by the NCAA for this year. He’s the main man up front when he’s ready to go, and JUCO transfer Savion Williams will make a difference once he joins the fun. 6-3, 302-pound Emmitt Gooden is the one steady part, locked in at one spot.
The depth is a bit of a concern on the end, and there needs to be more of a pass rush. 6-4, 285-pound Matthew Butler will move into a bigger role at one spot, and 280-pound sophomore John Mincey needs to rise up and be a bigger factor.
– The Vols have a whole lot of linebackers to throw into the rotation, but now they have to make more impact plays. Leading tackler Daniel Bituli is back on the inside after making 79 tackles, and the combination of Shanon Reid and 47-tackle Will Ignont will work at the other spot.
Darrell Taylor is a 255-pound edge rusher on the outside coming off a 36-tackle season with a team-high eight sacks, and 241-pound junior Deandre Johnson should do more after coming on last season with 13 tackles. True freshman Quavaris Crouch is took good to keep off the field right away, and 6-2, 251-pound sophomore Kivon Bennett will fight for the job on the other side of Taylor.
– The defensive backs are young, but good. The sophomore cornerback combination of Alontae Taylor and Bryce Thompson have decent size and a whole lot of talent to grow into the gigs over the next few seasons. Senior Baylen Buchanan can work at one corner job, but will fill in as more of a nickel. Now they all have to come up with more interceptions.
Senior Nigel Warrior is a sound veteran at safety finishing second on the team with 64 tackles, and sophomore Trevon Flowers and juniors Theo Jackson and Shawn Shamburger will all battle for time.
NEXT: Top Players, Keys To the Season, What Will Happen
3. TOP TENNESSEE PLAYERS
Best Tennessee Offensive Player
RB Ty Chandler, Jr.
There will once again be a shared workload with Tim Jordan, but the 5-11, 201-pound Chandler is the better of the two. No, let’s not call him Alvin Kamara, but he’s fast enough to work in a variety of ways, return kicks, and be used even more in the passing game.
He led the team with 630 yards and four scores, caught 19 passes with three touchdowns, and has the flash to change games around when he gets the chance. No, he’s not a workhorse, but he needs the ball a whole lot more.
2. QB Jarrett Guarantano, Jr.
3. WR Marquez Callaway, Sr.
4. OT Darnell Wright, Fr.
5. OT Wanya Morris, Fr.
Note: OT Trey Smith, Jr. is No. 1 if healthy
Best Tennessee Defensive Player
LB Daniel Bituli, Sr.
This could easily change in a hurry with several rising stars on the Vol defense, but the 6-3, 243-pound Bituli is the veteran main man on the inside of the linebacking corps who’s the most reliable parts of the puzzle. He led the team with 79 tackles with a sack and 6.5 tackles for loss after coming up with 90 stops as a sophomore. Versatile, he can play anywhere in the four-man corps and produce.
2. S Nigel Warrior, Sr.
3. LB Darrell Taylor, Sr.
4. LB Darrin Kirkland, Sr.
5. DT Aubrey Solomon, Jr.* (if eligible)
NEXT: Keys to the Season, Prediction & What Will Happen
2. KEYS TO THE SEASON
Biggest Key To The Tennessee Offense
The running game has to start working. Just about everything about the offensive improvement starts with better play from the offensive line – more on that in a moment – with the ground attack way too much of an issue over the last few seasons.
Good in 2016, Tennessee averaged more than five yards per carry, rumbled for 31 scores, and finished with close to 2,700 yards – having a running QB in Josh Dobbs and that Alvin Kamara guy helped with that. In 2017, things fell off the map with just 1,409 yards and 14 scores, averaging 3.4 yards per carry.
Last year? 1,549 yards and 15 touchdowns averaging 3.7 yards per pop. It was way too inconsistent and rumbled for 200 yards or more just two times. However, one of those times was when it took over the game right away in the win over Kentucky.
On the other side …
Biggest Key To The Tennessee Defense
Toughen up against the run. The defense has to be far, far better in the red zone, and it needs to generate a whole lot more big plays after forcing just 15 takeaways, but more than anything else, the front seven in the 3-4 has to stuff the run.
The Vols got hit for 200 rushing yards or more five of the eight SEC games, and lost all five. In the other three games, the D stuffed Auburn and Kentucky – winning both games – and had other issues in the loss to Vanderbilt.
Since allowing 535 yards in the mini-miracle win over Georgia Tech to start the 2011 season, Tennessee is 0-11 when giving up 200.
Key Player To A Successful Season
OT Darnell Wright, Fr.
The blocking has to be far, far better, and the improvement starts with the newbies.
Go ahead and throw classmate Wanya Morris in the equation, too, for possibly taking over offensive tackle jobs from Day One as true freshmen. The coaching staff loaded on on fantastic offensive line prospects, and the 6-6, 300-pound Wright was the best get of the bunch.
The West Virginia native has prototype next-level left tackle upside, and in a perfect world, he’s an instant answer to a shaky tackle situation with Trey Smith’s medical issues continuing to be a concern.
Key Game To The Tennessee Season
at Florida, Sept. 21
2003. That was the last time Tennessee went to Gainesville and came away with a win. 2016. That was the last time the Vols beat the Gators, losing 12 of the last 13 in the series.
With Georgia, Mississippi State, and at Alabama to follow, it’s going to be a tough start to the SEC season no matter what – especially if they lose to the Gators again.
2006 was the last time they beat Alabama, and getting Georgia again – the two are 2-2 in the last four meetings – is vital, but Florida is going to be one of the hot teams coming into the season, and pulling off a win in the SEC opener would be a really, really big turning point deal for the program. – Tennessee Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2018 Tennessee Fun Stats
– Tennessee 1st Quarter Scoring: 40 – 2nd Quarter Scoring: 100
– Interceptions Thrown: Opponents 9 – Tennessee 5
– Onside Kicks: Tennessee 0-for-6 – Opponents 0-for-1
NEXT: What Will Happen
1. TENNESSEE WIN TOTAL PREDICTION: WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN
All Tennessee had to do in the first season under Jeremy Pruitt was beat Vanderbilt to go bowling.
The Vols still had major problems on the lines, they turned the ball over way too often, and the defense melted down way too much considering the coaching staff and talent in place – giving up 40 points or more four times, and 38 in the bowl-or-go-home game against the Commodores – but they were still knocking on the door of a post-season game.
This year’s team has the experience in all areas to be a whole lot better in a big hurry.
Pruitt is bringing in the talent to help find some instant answers – starting with the O line this year – and he’s got the skill guys in place to quickly bump up the SEC’s worst offense.
The defensive side should be stronger with a little time and a little luck – needing some new parts on the defensive front three to be eligible and ready right out of the box – and the kicking game will be solid, so …
Set The Regular Season Win Total At … 8
BYU is good, but if Tennessee is going to be anything decent, it has to take down the Cougars in Knoxville on the way to a 3-0 start.
Going to Florida and Alabama are almost two sure losses – and if one of them isn’t, it’s gravy – and going to Kentucky and Missouri won’t be easy, but that’s it.
Eight tames are at home, there’s a week off to get ready for Georgia, and throw in a winnable game against UAB into the equation for a base of four victories among the non-conference battles.
Assume a win over Vanderbilt at home to close out the regular season, at least a split against Mississippi State and South Carolina at home, and throw in a road win over UK or Mizzou, and this will be the proverbial step forward the program so desperately needs.
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– Recruiting Class Analysis | Schedule Analysis
