The Tennessee Volunteers have a lot of work to do if they want to get back to the point where they can challenge for an SEC East title.

To help speed that process along following a season in which they went 0-8 in SEC play, the Vols hired former Alabama DC Jeremy Pruitt to be their new head coach.

While he acknowledges there’s a long way to go, he said after Saturday’s practice that he likes what he’s seeing so far (via 247Sports):

“I’m really starting to like this team, being around these guys,” Pruitt said after Saturday’s practice at Haslam Field. “I sense of a bunch of guys that are hungry and maybe have a chip on their shoulder — not all of ‘em, not all of ‘em, but maybe enough of ‘em, and maybe we can make it where it’s contagious.”

The Vols will have some talented players returning to the roster next year, so they should avoid another winless SEC season.

However, seeing how Pruitt fares in his first season at the helm of the program will be something everyone on Rocky Top pays close attention to this fall.