College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Tennessee Volunteers season with what you need to know.
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– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Schedule Analysis
– Tennessee Previews 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
2019 Record: 8-5 overall, 5-3 in SEC
Head Coach: Jeremy Pruitt, 3rd year, 13-12
2019 CFN Final Opinion Ranking: 25
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 36
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 33
Obviously, no one knows what’s going to happen to the 2020 college football season. We’ll take a general look at where each team stands – doing it without spring ball to go by – while crossing our fingers that we’ll all have some well-deserved fun this fall. Hoping you and yours are safe and healthy.
5. College Football News Preview 2020: Tennessee Volunteers Offense 3 Things To Know
– It wasn’t a phenomenal year for the Tennessee offense, but after two disastrous seasons for the attack, averaging 366 yards and 24 points per game wasn’t bad. The O scored more than 24 points against five FBS teams after doing that just three times in the previous two years.
Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney has to get more out of the ground game, but the deep plays were there for a passing attack that averaged more than 14 yards per pass.
And now the quarterback situation will be a big thing early on.
CFN in 60 Video: Tennessee Volunteers Preview
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– Jarrett Guarantano was good. He led the team to the bowl win – even with a mediocre game – and he had moments when he looked and played like a potentially special talent to work the O. However, he was maddeningly inconsistent, and that opened the door for Brian Mauer, a talented freshman who failed to hit 50% of his passes with just two touchdown passes and five picks.
On the way is Harrison Bailey, the star of the recruiting class with the next-level pro passing skills to potentially take over the gig right away – he’s going to be the starter if and when Tennessee is playing for really, really big things again.
The quarterback situation will be fine. The receiving corps is another story.
Three of the top four pass catchers from last season are done, with only 6-2, 195-pound Josh Palmer returning among the top guys. Getting USC transfer Velus Jones helps – he caught 81 passes for 1,947 yards and a touchdown in his three seasons with the Trojans – but the pressure is on the recruiting class to step up. 6-5 Malachi Wideman is the best of the group, but Jalin Hyatt and Jimmy Calloway were brought in to play immediate roles, too.
– The offensive line has the potential to be phenomenal as long as all the parts are there. Trey Smith is the star of the show at his left guard spot. He’s the All-SEC anchor and next-level starter, but sophomore Wanya Morris is growing into a special blocker, too, at least tackle.
Morris has to get healthy after having a hip problem, and big-time transfer Cade Mays from Georgia needs to be eligible. No matter what, this is going to be one of the team’s biggest strengths with – most likely – five starters back in some form.
The O line with all of the upside has to pave the way for more of a ground attack. The top three running backs – Ty Chandler, Eric Gray, and Tim Jordan – all return, and a few good options are coming in from the recruiting class.