Vols unveil their 2024 Smokey Grey uniforms…read more
Under head coach Josh Heupel, the Tennessee Volunteers are entering their fourth season of play. Over the last two seasons, the Vols have won ten games on average, seemingly putting the Jeremy Pruitt era of Volunteer football in the past. With its vertical choice offense, the Heupel football team has become a potent offensive force both in the air and on the ground. At the same time, they developed into a football squad that, when playing defense, was incredibly opportunistic.
They have also successfully translated their on-field accomplishments into recruitment gains. According to 247sports.com, their 2024 recruiting class was ranked No. 13 in the consensus rankings. Still, it’s packed with stars. We examine the freshmen that will have an influence on this roster today.
EDGE’s Jordan Ross
In the SEC, playing as a freshman is challenging enough. You need a number of elements to work in your favor, chief among them being the chance to play and the physical capacity to do so. At 6’5 and 240 pounds, Jordan Ross is physically prepared for this conference. Additionally, Joshua Josephs and Caleb Herring will see playing time even though James Pearce Jr., possibly the best returning rusher in the conference, is still with the Vols. But in autumn, Ross might view situational rushes as something that a true freshman would do.
Mike Matthews, wide receiver
Over the course of the three years in Knoxville, Heupel’s system has demonstrated to us that playmakers are quick to get on the field. That’s just what five-star freshman WR, Mike Matthews is. He’s a big play waiting to happen in an offense that’s predicated on big plays. It might not be immediate, he might grow into a role towards the middle of the season no different from Squirrel White’s freshman season when he had 408 of his 481 yards receiving in the season’s final 7 games.
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