10 questions we still have about Tennessee after SEC Media Days
By Dave Hooker
Published:
ATLANTA — Tennessee made the rounds at SEC Media Days on Wednesday and, as usual, there weren’t many answers provided to the most pertinent questions. That’s the nature of SEC Media Days.
The answers are coming as preseason camp is scheduled around the corner before the Vols open the season against West Virginia and its high-powered offense. The Vols came to Atlanta as an enigma because of the lack of media accessibility. Not much changed after their media appearances.
The season opener against the Mountaineers in Charlotte on Sept. 1 will likely be the first time fans and media are able to truly evaluate UT since there won’t likely be many open practices during preseason camp.
Here are the questions I still have after SEC Media Days with the season pressing upon us:
What went on behind the scenes when Jeremy Pruitt was at Georgia?
I believe things got really bad between Pruitt and former Georgia coach Mark Richt after speaking to reporters and former players during Pruitt’s time at Georgia. However, I don’t know who’s to blame for the poor relationship between the two. Was Richt, who is now the coach at Miami, just too laid back or was Pruitt an incredible jerk? It’s likely we’ll never know the complete truth as neither wants to address it. But it would have been nice to be a fly on the wall during some of those heated conversations.
What is going on behind the scenes at Tennessee?
With all the changes at UT, it’s hard not to imagine that some confrontational moments have occurred in the offseason after Pruitt took over. Pruitt has changed coaches, recruiting personnel and even the medical staff. Surely some of those changes didn’t go swimmingly. Surely some of those in the athletic department didn’t agree with some of Pruitt’s changes.
What does Pruitt really think of Aaron Murray’s comments that questioned the coach’s personality?
Murray’s comments had to get under Pruitt’s skin. The first-year head coach had a decent rebuttal. He said he hasn’t had a vast exodus of players since he came to UT and his career rise is proof that he can work with people. However, the timing of Murray’s remarks, which came Tuesday, dominated UT’s media availability Wednesday. If Pruitt had an overall message he wanted to convey, he had no chance to do it.
Who will start at quarterback for Tennessee?
I certainly wasn’t expecting an answer to this question at SEC Media Days and I certainly didn’t get one. I wouldn’t be surprised if sophomore Jarrett Guarantano and Stanford graduate transfer Keller Chryst both played in the opener against West Virginia. However, whoever starts against Florida in UT’s fourth game will be Pruitt’s ultimate choice.
What type of offense will the Vols run?
UT’s players didn’t offer much insight. The Vols have referred to their new offense as “multi-dimensional.” The only hard facts we really procured from SEC Media Days was that UT’s offense will be physical and (ghast) have a fullback. No word on where they might find one since the Vols haven’t had a true fullback in years.
Who will be UT’s defensive stars?
There are some decent candidates: defensive end Kyle Phillips, defensive back Nigel Warrior and linebackers Darrin Kirkland Jr. and Daniel Bituli. However, Pruitt wisely wasn’t ready to anoint the Vols’ next defensive star. Why would he? Keep them hungry for preseason camp.
Is Phillips the most likely to fill that role?
I believe there’s a good chance Phillips could be one of the stars of UT’s defense. Phillips has shown the ability when healthy. He apparently loves the coaching change, even calling the stoic Pruitt a “fun guy.” He was also chosen to represent the Vols at SEC Media Days, which means he’s earned Pruitt’s respect.
What does Pruitt really think of his roster?
Pruitt has chosen not to take former UT coach Butch Jones’ public stance on the Vols’ personnel, which was to constantly remind media and fans that he had taken over a sub-par group of players. I like Pruitt’s stance. If it’s always a “process” as Jones used to often say, then why should the Vols think they’re going to win now? I prefer Pruitt’s approach, but I’d like to know if UT’s roster is worse than he thought it was when he took the job.
Who will be the go-to tight end?
I would have thought junior college transfer Dominick Wood-Anderson would have been the favorite to fill the role left by Ethan Wolf, who was a senior last season. However, now I’m starting to wonder if former walk-on Eli Wolf might be the go-to guy at tight end since he bulked up and earned Pruitt’s respect enough to be chosen to go to SEC Media Days.
How can Eli Wolf eat so much?
Wolf’s diet is very Joey Chestnut-like. The tight end said he has gained 35 to 40 pounds and eats three meals before lunch. That’s a lot of food. Well, maybe that doesn’t sound so bad after all.
Dave Hooker started covering Tennessee in 1998. He hosts an SEC radio show out of Chattanooga and covers the SEC for Saturday Down South.
