SDS is publishing a daily series this week on the ‘State of the Union’ for each SEC program over the last few seasons.

Entering his third spring practice, it appears Butch Jones is making progress at Tennessee, riding momentum from the program’s first bowl victory in several years through the 2015 recruiting season with an impressive instant-impact Top 5 class. The Vols have even generated substantial offseason buzz as an Eastern Division darkhorse thanks to 18 returning starters.

Let’s take a look at Tennessee’s State of the Union, taking into account the last three seasons and expectations for the upcoming season.

ON-FIELD PERFORMANCE

SEC standing: Middle of SEC East

Grade: C

Tennessee took a big step toward returning back to prominence last fall with four wins over its final five games after dual-threat quarterback Joshua Dobbs was inserted into the starting lineup. The Vols clicked offensively with a new leader, scoring 45 or more points three times during that stretch.

The promising 7-6 campaign in Jones’ second season doesn’t overshadow what Tennessee has been forced to endure post-Lane Kiffin. The Vols suffered four straight losing seasons (2010-13) for the first time since World War I, a far cry from a once elite program that averaged nearly 10 wins every fall during a 15-year stretch beginning in 1990. Tennessee’s battling through a steep decline with just one 10-win season over the last decade after accomplishing the feat seven times over the previous decade.

But there’s hope. Tennessee is one of the frontrunners this fall in a wide open division with the depth to compete.

RECRUITING

SEC standing: Top of SEC East

2015 rank: No. 4

Grade: A+

No one can argue with the work Jones and his staff have put in on the recruiting trail since arriving in Knoxville. Back-to-back Top 5 classes (depending on which recruiting service you prefer) has the Vols within striking distance of double-digit wins heading into their third season under the new regime.

Jones’ brick-by-brick philosophy is taking shape beautifully, led by several five-star signees who have stepped on campus and made a smooth transition into the SEC. Tennessee has been able to build the proverbial fence around its borders, convince several commits elsewhere to flip and go after elite-level prospects through Jones’ program pitch. Youth and inexperience played a part in last year’s first-half struggles on the field, but the Vols seemed to hit their stride late once jitters subsided and injuries were no longer an issue.

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

SEC standing: Top third of the league

Grade: B+

Not only has Jones developed several underclassmen into immediate impact playmakers, he has improved Tennessee’s overall academic standing during his tenure — once a serious threat to potential scholarships when he took the job in December 2012. His players showed a one-year Academic Progress Rate improvement of 962 during the 2012-13 year, which Jones referred to as ‘the greatest victory in the history of Tennessee football.’

Part of his staff’s ‘recruiting profile’ when scouting players includes the athlete’s abilities in the classroom and awareness off the field. Jones has stated that he wants his football program founded on discipline and accountability.

FACILITIES

SEC standing: In the top third of the SEC

Grade: A-

Neyland Stadium is truly one of college football’s most impressive cathedrals, made even more appealing over the last decade during a sizable three-phase renovation. Tennessee’s recent upgrades have made recruiting that much easier for the Vols, showcasing some of the SEC’s most intriguing designs inside the Anderson Training Center, player lounges and state-of-the-art weight room.

COACHING

SEC standing: At or near the top of the division

Grade: B

Most assumed Jones’ leash was short had Tennessee suffered its fifth straight losing season last fall, but something changed with this team at South Carolina in November. Trailing by double digits in the second half, much like they’ve done against other nationally-ranked teams during their recent stretch of futility, the Vols picked themselves off the canvas with an incredible comeback during an overtime win. It seemed to energize the program, rejuvenate a fanbase and really light a fire under Jones.

There’s pressure to succeed in a big way in Year 3 and the Vols are okay with that. Returning back to prominence begins with taking care of business against division rivals, something Tennessee will try and do this fall with its best roster in nearly a decade.