How No. 15 Tennessee will potentially improve on head coach Josh Heupel’s in 2024
It’s now up to No. 15 Tennessee and head coach Josh Heupel to show they can stay up.
not just the Southeastern Conference, which is larger and even more potent. Heupel and his Vols must perform on par with the other academic offerings on campus.
Under head coach Rick Barnes, the Vols captured the SEC men’s basketball championship, and Tony Vitello guided the baseball team to its first national championship since 2009.
No program in Knoxville is under more scrutiny or criticism than football, where Head Coach Heupel has turned a team that was having trouble filling seats at Neyland Stadium into one that has a long waiting list for season tickets. More than anyone, he is aware that now is his chance to demonstrate the full potential of his program.
“I´m not sure that there´s ever been a better time to be a Vol,” Heupel stated.
After finishing the previous season with a 9-4 record and a No. 17 ranking in the Associated Press Top 25, Heupel enters his fourth season. Over the last two years, he has led the Vols to 20 victories, which is the program’s greatest two-year run since 2003–04.
Millions of fans and supporters of the Vols don’t want that.
Heupel’s fast-paced attack will now be run by star recruit Nico Iamaleava, who will have both Heupel and offensive coordinator Joey Halzle in his ear thanks to the technology in helmets that allows college coaches to speak with quarterbacks directly.
Heupel believes Iamaleava comprehends his offensive better as well.
“I think we are going to see his play go to an even higher level, which is a scary thing to think about because just his natural ability to step on a football field and go play well is elite,” Heupel stated.
Heupel changed his offensive strategy from Hooker to Milton, and now he has a quarterback who was able to watch and pick up tips before defeating Iowa 35-0 in his first start.
With an average of 202.6 yards per game, the Vols’ rushing offense spearheaded by All-SEC running back Jaylen Wright—who led all FBS in rushing yards per carry—was the best in the SEC in 2023. He will soon be replaced in the backfield by Dylan Sampson.
Bru McCoy, a wide receiver, has returned after an injury that ended the season. Leading the Vols in catches for 803 yards was Squirrel White, and returning is Chas Nimrod, who gained size and strength during the winter.
With 36 sacks and 93 tackles for loss, Tennessee was sixth in the country, led by All-SEC edge rusher James Pearce. With 10 sacks, he lead the league. He is currently regarded as the first overall, if not the top pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
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