2021 Season Preview: Tennessee Volunteers

Stoney Keeley takes a look at the state of the Vols on his 2021 Tennessee preview.

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Over the course of the next several weeks, the SoBros Network crew will be going around the landscape of the SEC, team by team, previewing the upcoming American tackle football season. Up next, our 2021 Tennessee preview!

2021 Tennessee Preview

It was kind of a bizarre exit, but after three seasons, a 16-19 record, and an internal investigation that found recruiting violations under his watch, Jeremy Pruitt was canned as the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers. A 3-7 record in the SEC in 2020, including a home loss to Kentucky for the first time in nearly four decades, just might do that for you in Knoxville. The Vols went offense in bringing in new head coach Josh Heupel from UCF, but he has a tall task in revitalizing an offense that was among the worst in the SEC a season ago.

So, let’s start with the most important position on the field, quarterback. The Vols are among many SEC teams that will be sorting it out at quarterback before the season starts, but I dare say their situation is the murkiest. Harrison Bailey looks like the future. Hendon Hooker was a stud at Virginia Tech. The waters were muddied even further when Joe Milton transferred from Michigan. If it were up to me, folks – I think I’d go Hooker because of his dual-threat capabilities. Bailey is obviously going to be the guy on down the road, and Milton damn near steadies me to death (he’s steady and safe, but how much upside does he have? That’s what I’m saying here). But, Hooker has explosive qualities that, if he can stay healthy, can help the Vols win in 2021.

There’s some promise among the receiving corps, but not a whole lot of proven talent. Velus Jones figures to be the biggest beneficiary of Heupel’s new passing attack, and could be in store for a big time breakout season. Four tight ends transferred, as did the team’s top two rushers. Thankfully, the Vols have Cade Mays and Darnell Wright to solidify a good offensive line. That should be one of the strengths of this team, and if they can jell with this new offense placing a premium on pass protection, that could be the key to make the whole thing go.

The defense isn’t much different, with star linebacker Henry To’o To’o transferring to Alabama. The burden in the linebacking corps now falls on Jeremy Banks and Texas transfer Juwan Mitchell. They have some beef, and there’s healthy competition, along the defensive line. I expect it will be a strength of the defense…maybe the entire team. The secondary has a strong potential foundation built, led by cornerback Alontae Taylor. But, there is work to do for new defensive coordinator Tim Banks, who joins the Vols staff after four seasons as the Penn State DC.

If you’re expecting this team to contend for the SEC title, I’d caution you about getting your hopes up. The boys in Knoxville have a tall order in front of them. For the defense, they need to get a shot in the arm and generate some big plays. For the offense, it’s about retooling the passing attack, proving that it can translate from UCF to Tennessee, scoring the pants off their opponents, and pushing for a bowl game. That sounds a lot more realistic for the 2021 Vols to me.

2021 Vols Schedule

Thursday, 9/2: vs. Bowling Green – Gotta get things started with the ol’ glorified preseason game…. juuuuust llike everyone else.

Saturday, 9/11: vs. Pittsburgh – I don’t think Pitt is going to be an easy out in the ACC this year, but this is absolutely a game the Vols will need to win to keep their bowl hopes alive. Thankfully, they get it at home.

Saturday, 9/18: vs. Tennessee Tech – The Golden Eagles get their pay day, and the Vols should start the season 3-0.

Saturday, 9/25: @ Florida – Now…I’ll say this…I’ll give them more of a chance this year than I would the last couple of years. The Gators are in transition, but I still think they’re too talented and well-coached for the Vols to pull off this upset early on in the Heupel era.

Saturday, 10/2: @ Missouri – I like Mizzou a lot this year, and if you’re a Vols fan, you hate getting this game on the road this year. It’s winnable if the offense gets going early on in the season, and could make for quite the fireworks show between these two offenses.

Saturday, 10/9: vs. South Carolina – If you think the Vols rebuild is tough, go check out the job Shane Beamer has on his hands down in Columbia. The Vols should take this one.

Saturday, 10/16: vs. Ole Miss – Crazier things have happened, but I don’t see the Vols stopping the best quarterback in the SEC enough times to outscore him this year.

Saturday, 10/23: @ Alabama – Nope. Not yet. But, I’ll give the Vols this – they made a coaching hire with the vision of scoring enough points to hang with the Bamas of the world. Maybe one day?

Saturday, 10/30: BYE

Saturday, 11/6: @ Kentucky – Like Mizzou, I like Kentucky a lot in a year that the SEC East feels wide open beyond Georgia. They made strides of their own in fixing the passing game and could surprise some opponents in that regard. I like ’em at home here.

Saturday, 11/13: vs. Georgia – It’s going to be tough sledding against that Georgia defense. It’d be a great, ahead-of-schedule type of win if they could pull it off, but I don’t see it happening in 2021.

Saturday, 11/20: vs. South Alabama – Gotta get that tune-up in before rivalry week!

Saturday, 11/27: vs. Vanderbilt – Hot take alert: I actually think there’s a chance Clark Lea gets the ‘Dores on track. If this game was in Nashville, I might even call for an upset. But, it’s not, and while I think Vandy could be greatly improved in 2021, I don’t think they have what it takes to score with this offense, assuming they’ve worked out the kinks by November.

Prediction

2007 – that’s the last time Tennessee won the SEC. Expectations are high in Knoxville, damn near crushing, I’d say. I like Heupel – I know some Vols fans wanted a more established coach, and Heupel isn’t exactly the most accomplished, but this guy knows how to install an offense and that’s exactly what the Vols need to keep pace in today’s SEC. I just think it’s going to take him some time to get his type of personnel in the program, and expecting much in 2021 is a bit foolish. The official gun-to-my-head prediction is 6-6, but it’s going to come down to Vanderbilt.

OTHER SEC 2021 SEASON PREVIEWS

Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley

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