ESPN analyst names Tennessee as bounce-back candidate in 2024
Tennessee is hoping to rebound from what was a disappointing 2023 season, and at least one ESPN analyst is optimistic about the Vols’ chances to do so.
Bill Connelly published a story for the World Wide Leader on Saturday going over some of the top “breakthrough and bounce-back candidates” for the 2024 campaign. He named Tennessee as a top candidate to rebound from its 9-win regular-season a year ago.
Here’s an excerpt from Connelly’s analysis on the Vols:
There’s no certainty that blue-chip sophomore Nico Iamaleava is ready to quarterback a top-five offense this fall, and as their No. 16 overall projected ranking suggests, improvement is not guaranteed. But with leading receiver Squirrel White and veteran Bru McCoy returning and intriguing big-play transfers Chris Brazzell II (Tulane) and Tommy Winton III (ETSU) joining the party, the ceiling is immensely high. The defense has played at a solid top-25 level for two straight years and boasts maybe the best defender in the country in James Pearce Jr. By SEC standards, the schedule is manageable with only four projected top-25 teams on the docket.
Vegas isn’t expecting Tennessee to take a major jump forward this year. The Vols’ regular-season win total at DraftKings is set at 8.5, despite a very high ceiling on both sides of the ball.
Tennessee is also plus-money to make the College Football Playoff (+170) and a relative long-shot to win the SEC in 2024 (+1500), per DraftKings.
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Tennessee’s schedule does include road matchups against Playoff-hopefuls in Oklahoma and Georgia as well as a home game against Alabama. The Vols will open the 2024 campaign against Chattanooga in Knoxville on Aug. 31.
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Ok-Ga-Al…win one of those 3 games and yes, CFP is possible. Until you remember what a gimmicky offense they have, and look back at the history of their coach’s success running said gimmickery…
Heupel’s history shows that any success is directly attributable to having a glaring advantage at a skill position and exploiting that weakness. Take away the glaring weakness and he has never been able to adjust. We shall see. I will say this, Josh has done a commendable job of stabilizing a program that badly needed the fire to be extinguished. I am impressed with that part of his coaching ability.
What you are calling a gimmicky offense is not at all correct. Just because it’s up tempo, like several other teams run, it’s gimmicky?
Probably would surprise you to know his offense is very balanced, practically 50/50 run versus pass. We have seen what Heupel’s offense can do with a very good QB like Hendon Hooker, now he has another in Nico. The guy is going to be special. Plus there is another 5 star committed for ‘25 and one for ‘26.
To say nothing of the quality depth he finally has on defense. But hey, the Vols aren’t a threat at all to the dogs, are they?
You’re most definitely right. I think Heupel wanted to go as fast as possible in the Hooker era because of our depth and talent compared to elite programs like GA. The country won’t be able to say “gimmicky” with a solid ground game and a defense that can actually hold it’s own with the depth we have now. Hopefully Heupel slows down a little bit so that we can run the clock and run plays more efficiently.
Agreed Hump! The Round Mound of Clown Town has done a good job of stabilizing the dumpster. They go into this year with an unproven QB so we shall see!
The offense is not “gimmicky”..It spreads the field and forces a defense to match up from sideline to sideline..It finds mismatches and prevents substitutions by using tempo..Anyone with a basic knowledge of football knows that is what an offense should do: exploit mismatches..With a full complement of scholarships and excellent recruiting, the Vols are more than capable of being a double-digit win team every year..Seems like more than a few rival fans don’t get it..But they will soon enough
From what he inherited to where he has us now with talented depth on defense, which I think a lot of people are overlooking, as well as top tier talent on offense, I think he has done a great job getting Tennessee back into the national conversation. To beat Alabama Florida LSU and Clemson and an Orange bowl win in year 2 was much quicker than I think any Vol fan anticipated. Yes we took a step back last year as Joe Milton showed why he never lived up to the expectations. But he took a mid level transfer in Hooker and developed him into what would have been a Heisman finalist if not for his injury late in the season. And we still ended that season with the number 1 offense in the country. Even with losing Hooker we still led the SEC in rushing last year. And won 9 games. Which we had only done twice in the preceding decade and a half. All that to say, I love Heupel and the direction he has the Tennessee program. Landing elite recruits is only going to help us in the coming years. Anyone who still uses that gimmicky offense narrative doesn’t know what they are talking about. Will we be at GA this year. Kinda doubt it they are and have been the class of the country for the last few years and show no signs of slowing down. Congrats that feels great I’m sure of you are a Dogs fan. But I love my Vols even if they lose a game or 2. Who knows though with an improved defense and QB play the sky is the limit. Go Vols
Is it just me, or is this website getting more and more glitchy? The expand comments button was super glitchy for the longest time. I don’t know much about computers and websites and whatnot but I’m not real sure why that button is necessary anyway. It does seem to be working better lately, but other buttons won’t respond when pressed. Like the one in the top right corner on the home page that allows you to go directly to your team’s articles. Logging in, back page buttons… Seems like whoever is in charge or the IT part of the website needs to do some debugging..
Not sure how Tin R See will bounce? Ole Fat Heupel would certainly bounce a few times if that fat belly hit the ground.
He really going to be bouncing when we hang 50 on y’all again in Neyland
123. You are not smart.
Luvdaride is pegged every time bama gets scored on. His butthole is about the size of an elevator shaft, pegging him is like throwing a hot dog down a hallway. He’s got some ptsd, cut him some slack.
Wow that’s some in depth commentary u got there Luvdaride.. It’d b nice to actually discuss our favorite football teams strengths and weaknesses without the middle school commentary but I guess thats what y’all Bama fans would rather do.. that’s the internet for ya
GWhite puffs peters
Y’all have anyone arrested this weekend ?
Georgia first in criminal behavior and last in graduation rates. Ol Kirby running a tight ship there in Athens
The main improvement the offense needs to compete with elite programs is having an elite OL. Against Georgia, we have not been effective running the ball (except for the first play last year, and we probably got a total of 30 rushing yards for the rest of that game).
On defense, our secondary has been our Achilles heel. I love our DL. I like the talent at LB, but I’m not sure about the depth there.
One other poster asked if this site has been glitchy. After I logged in to comment, that post is gone. My problem is that I can no longer hit Reply to anyone else’s post. It just doesn’t work for me.
Finally, we are into the longest 2 weeks in sports for me – waiting these last several days waiting for CFB to kick off.