No. 8: 2013
Head Coach: Butch Jones
Record: 5-7 (2-6, SEC)
Best win(s): vs. No. 11 South Carolina
Key offensive players: Marquez North, Ja’Wuan James, Raijon Neal
Key defensive players: A.J. Johnson, Cam Sutton, Marlon Walls
Tennessee had reached a new low in program history, a common theme with this decade, as Derek Dooley was fired after back-to-back 5-7 campaigns. Cincinnati head coach Butch Jones was hired as the Vols’ next head coach in 2013.
Expectations were low, but the excitement was there in Jones’ first season.
Wins over Austin Peay, Western Kentucky and South Alabama combined with a blowout loss at No. 2 Oregon and a ninth-straight loss at Florida had Tennessee at 3-2 heading into a home matchup with No. 6 Georgia.
The Vols debuted Adidas Smokey Grey uniforms for a thriller against the Bulldogs. Trailing 17-3 midway through the third quarter, Justin Worley connected with Marquez North for a toe-dragging touchdown. Six minutes of game time later, a blocked punt on the Georgia goal line was caught on the bounce by Devaun Swofford and scored to tie the game at 17-17. Neyland Stadium was electric.
A Raijon Neal touchdown with under two minutes left gave Tennessee a 31-24 lead with under two minutes left. Georgia responded, scoring with five seconds on the clock to take the game into overtime. Tennessee had the first possession, and an end-around to Pig Howard provided what was thought to be a diving touchdown at the pylon, but after review, the call was overturned to a fumble and a touchback. Georgia knocked through the game-winning field goal on the next possession. Fans were heartbroken, but encouraged by the Vols taking a top ten-ranked rival down to the wire.
The breakthrough finally came two weeks later when Tennessee upset No. 11 South Carolina out of its open date. The 23-21 win gave the Vols their first win over a ranked opponent since Phillip Fulmer was head coach in 2007.
Tennessee sputtered down the stretch, losing four straight games that included a 14-10 loss to Vanderbilt at home. A win at Kentucky closed out the season at 5-7 as true freshman quarterback Joshua Dobbs, a former 4-star recruit, came in for an injured Worley late in the season and showed flashes.
Running back Raijon Neal enjoyed a career season as a senior, rushing for 1,124 yards and 15 touchdowns. Neal was able to run behind a talented offensive line, including Ja’Wuan James, the No. 19 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. Guard Zach Fulton and defensive tackle Daniel McCullers were taken in the 6th round.