Vols looking to take big next step
4-game stretch will measure progress under Pruitt
The unceremonious ending to the Butch Jones era and anticipated fallout scared off a lot of coaches. Not Jeremy Pruitt.
A first-time head coach with success as a defensive coordinator at Florida State, Georgia and Alabama, Pruitt embraced the challenge. After combining for nine wins the last two seasons, Tennessee enters Year 2 under Pruitt poised to take a solid step forward and return to the postseason.
Orlando Sentinel college insider Matt Murschel ranked all 130 FBS teams in the country entering the 2019 season. The Sentinel staff will take a closer look at a new team daily, counting backward from No. 130 to our projected No. 1 team.
Today at No. 40: Tennessee
Coach: Jeremy Pruitt (5-7 entering second season; 5-7 overall)
2018 record: 5-7 overall, 2-6 in Southeastern Conference; seventh in East Division
Look back: The 2018 Vols struggled as expected, but they also were hard to figure. Tennessee beat two ranked opponents, winning at Auburn and at home against Kentucky. The Vols also lost six games by at least 25 points.
The team’s struggles on offense often were too much to overcome. Tennessee tallied 260 or fewer yards during four SEC games, leading Pruitt to lure away coordinator Jim Chaney from Georgia.
The Vols defense had its own issues. The unit yielded at least 38 points six times, including during losses to Missouri and Vanderbilt, to close Pruitt’s rocky first season.
Strengths: The Vols are banking on Chaney to help Jarrett Guarantano take the next step to become a dependable starter.. As a sophomore, Guarantano showed potential with 396 total yards against Auburn and 412 against Kentucky, but he struggled against most SEC competition. Tailback Ty Chandler also will seek consistency a season after he ripped off runs of 81 and 75 yards, yet also disappeared at times.
Guarantano could have a strong stable of receivers at his disposal. Marquez Callaway (6-2, 199) and Jauan Jennings (6-3, 216) are impressive physical specimens, but they combined for just 67 catches and five scores in 2018. The arrival former Vols’ QB Tee Martin from USC to coach the unit should help. For Guarantano and Co. to click, though, the offensive line must come together.
Tennessee also has questions up front on defense. But linebacker and secondary should be team strengths. Inside linebacker Daniel Bituli had a teamhigh 79 tackles, while Darrell Taylor produced eight sacks coming off the edge in Pruitt’s 3-4 scheme.
Meanwhile, cornerback Bryce Thompson was a Freshman All-America after posting three interceptions and 24 solo tackles. He could emerge as the Vols’ top defender. Safety NIgel Warrior is coming off a 64-stop season, but he will be without sidekick Micah Abernathy on the back end.
Kicker Brent Cimaglia, who was 10-of-13 on field goals, should be able to augment an improved offense. Callaway led the SEC in punt returns, averaging 11.9 yards and scoring a touchdown.
Weaknesses: The development of the offensive and defensive lines will go a long way toward determining the Vols’ fortunes. Left tackle Trey Smith’s recovery from blood clots in his legs is critical. Incoming freshmen Darnell Wright and Wanya Morris are considered among the nation’s top prospects in the 2019 class, but first-year O-linemen usually have difficulty keeping up in the SEC.
The defensive line is an even tougher rebuilding job. Tennessee must replace four starters that accounted for 150 tackles, including 15.5 for loss (nine sacks). Top-ranked junior college defensive tackle Savion Williams will need to emerge quickly. The Vols also hope to find more pass rushers after managing just 25 sack in 2018 — 11th in the 14-team SEC.
Outlook: The SEC long has been a line of scrimmage league, putting the Vols at a disadvantage against the top teams. The lines’ progress and Chaney’s ability to develop Guarantano will be key. The schedule eases up in spots. BYU replaces West Virginia on the nonconference slate and Mississippi State replaces Auburn as an SEC West foe. But a fourgame stretch featuring visits to UF and Alabama, along with a visit from Georgia, will signal how far the program has come.