Josh Heupel’s run at Tennessee has reached the point where every season gets picked apart from two very different angles.
On one side, there’s plenty to like. Heupel inherited a Tennessee program that had been abysmal for the last 15 years, and he turned it into a true SEC contender that can compete for titles. That alone has earned him real credit in Knoxville, even if some fans still feel he has left things on the table.
On the other side, the frustration is real. Tennessee won only eight games last year after bringing in Joey Aguilar from UCLA when Nico abruptly left Tennessee at the end of spring practice. Some fans have also taken aim at Heupel’s offensive scheme, and even in Year Six, the roster still draws questions.
The conversation around his future has only gotten louder. On the Crain and Cone show, the point was made that Heupel could be in trouble if Tennessee doesn’t deliver this season. The warning was blunt: “This could get pretty dicey if Tennessee doesn’t have a good season…It just feels like (Heupel) is okay.”
The same discussion also suggested the Vols may be slipping backward. Another line from the show put it this way: “I feel like Tennessee is going in reverse…I don’t think Tennessee is in the right place.”
That kind of skepticism is understandable, but Heupel’s overall body of work still deserves a fair read. Compared with anyone in Knoxville since Phillip Fulmer, he has done a tremendous job, even if the ride has included some uneven stretches and drama-filled offseason situations. The feeling from some corners, though, is that he still hasn’t fully climbed into that elite tier of coaches.
This year’s roster gives him a strong case to quiet some of that noise. Heupel is coming off his best recruiting class since arriving in Knoxville, and that group adds a lot of talent. The Vols will also be building around a young quarterback, which makes the evaluation even trickier.
Outside of that spot, Tennessee looks capable of competing. The linebacker room is strong, the secondary should be much improved, and while the pass rush still has some concerns, the defense is expected to take a big step forward.
The offense has fewer obvious holes. Tennessee should have a very good offensive line, with David Sanders potentially breaking out into a star.
Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley give the Vols a strong one-two punch at receiver, and DeSean Bishop is one of the best running backs in the nation. In all, there is plenty of talent on that side of the ball.
There’s also the reminder that last season’s ceiling may have been higher than the final record showed. If Tennessee had a kicker last year, the Vols might have beaten SEC champion Georgia and potentially won double-digit games. In a league like the SEC, that’s how thin the line can be.
So while Heupel has not been perfect, the idea that Tennessee is somehow off track feels too harsh. The program is on the right track, even if it doesn’t always look that way.
In Other News...
Vols And Lady Vols Just Put Tennessee Orange Front And Center
Tennessee Athletics spent the week putting a brighter shade of orange in the spotlight, rolling out new adidas uniforms across a wide swath of its programs. The reveal came with high-definition photos and detailed looks at football, mens basketball, Lady Vols basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball and soccer, giving fans a first real glimpse at how the new partnership is going to show up on the field and the court.
For coaches and athletic officials, the uniforms were only part of the message. The broader adidas deal was framed as a resource boost for the department, with leaders talking up the support and investment that could come with it. The visual reset is already doing its job, but the bigger question is how quickly that momentum turns into something more meaningful for Tennessees programs. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessees Offensive Line Just Earned The Kind Of SEC Respect That Matters
With Tennessee likely turning to a new quarterback this season, the Volunteers are leaning on the one part of the offense that already looks established. Most of the offensive line is back, and that matters even more when the next passer in line is expected to be either George MacIntyre or Faizon Brandon, two young quarterbacks with limited college experience. In a league where protection and communication can make or break a season, Tennessees front has already drawn notice as one of the better units in the SEC.
Analyst Steven Lassan ranked the Vols line third in the conference, behind Georgia and Texas, which is the kind of recognition that usually comes with proven depth and continuity. Offensive line coach Glen Elarbee has also seen the benefit in spring practice, where returning pieces and experienced transfers have let the group move faster than a typical rebuild. The bigger question now is how that early stability translates once the games start and the pressure falls on a quarterback who has not taken many college snaps. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessees First Orange Adidas Uniform Reveal Will Have Vols Talking
The first look at Tennessees orange home uniforms under Adidas has already given Vols fans a fresh talking point as the program opens a new chapter in its apparel partnership. The reveal marks the start of the Adidas era for Tennessee football, with the university rolling out the new look as part of a broader week of uniform unveilings and a July 10 date set for jerseys and merchandise to hit the market.
Josh Heupel has sounded upbeat about what the partnership can bring, pointing to the resources Adidas can provide and the reach of the Tennessee brand. More designs are still on the way, including white, Summitt Blue and Dark Mode looks, and the real intrigue now is how all of it will translate once the Vols start showing off the full set this fall. [Read more 🡒]