Tennessee’s offense is entering a new chapter, and the quarterback situation is only part of the story. With Joey Aguilar gone and a battle brewing between George MacIntyre, Faizon Brandon and Ryan Staub, the Vols are going to need the players around that new starter to carry serious weight.
Three names stand out as the biggest keys to keeping Josh Heupel’s offense rolling: David Sanders Jr., Ethan Davis and DeSean Bishop.
Sanders is the one who could shape the line the most. After finishing his freshman season strong, he’s shifting from right tackle back to left tackle, which is his natural spot.
Last year, he worked on the right side while Lance Heard handled the other tackle job. Now Sanders is being asked to protect the blindside, and that brings real pressure.
As a former five-star recruit, he’s expected to develop into one of the SEC’s best tackles and, eventually, a high draft pick. The offensive line has to work as a unit, but Sanders’ job is one of the most important on the field.
In the passing game, Ethan Davis may be the most important safety valve available. Tennessee does have options at receiver, with Braylon Staley and Mike Matthews back after strong second seasons and several players in the mix for the third starting spot.
But Davis gives the offense something different at tight end. He is the clear starter now that Miles Kitselman is gone, and the room behind him doesn’t offer nearly the same level of proven production.
Davis can help as a receiver and as an extra blocker, and getting strong play from him would help both sides of the offense.
Then there’s Bishop, who already proved he can handle a heavy workload. The redshirt-sophomore rushed for 1,076 yards and 16 touchdowns on 182 carries last season, and he comes back as one of the top backs in the SEC.
Tennessee’s depth chart behind him looks thinner now, though. Peyton Lewis has transferred to Virginia, and Star Thomas is out of eligibility and now in the CFL.
The Vols are hoping rising sophomores Daune Morris and Justin Baker take a step forward, while Tulane transfer Javin Baker is also in the mix. With that group still unproven, Bishop may be asked to do even more this fall.
He handled it last season, and Tennessee will need that same kind of production again.
In Other News...
Tennessees 2026 Outlook Hinges On One Massive Unknown
Tennessee spent the offseason trying to shore up the parts of the roster it could control, making coaching changes and loading up on defenders through the transfer portal. The arrival of Jim Knowles gives the Volunteers a new voice on that side of the ball, and the addition of 12 portal defenders, including Amare Campbell and Jordan Norman, suggests there is real effort being made to raise the floor before the 2026 season even arrives.
But the entire outlook still seems to circle back to the same uneasy question under center. The Vols return key pieces on offense, yet the quarterback situation remains unsettled with two inexperienced options in the mix, and that kind of uncertainty can swing a season in a hurry. If the answer comes quickly, Tennessees ceiling looks a lot different than if the position lingers as a weekly mystery. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Suddenly Has One Defender Carrying Huge Pressure Up Front
Tennessees defensive line depth chart has taken on a different look heading into the fall, with the Vols needing to patch together a rotation after an offseason roster change up front. Tulane transfer Jordan Norman is part of that answer, and there are also younger linemen like Christian Gass, Kedric Golston and Carter Gooden who now figure to be pushed into more meaningful depth roles as Tennessee reshapes the front.
The most important name in that mix may be Penn State transfer Xavier Gilliam, who coaches have already singled out for the way he handled spring practices. With the interior of the line suddenly carrying more pressure, Tennessee is counting on Gilliam to become a steady presence in the middle and help stabilize a group that no longer has much margin for error. [Read more 🡒]