Projected Starting Lineup
**=Returning Starter
Offense
QB:Hendon Hooker, Senior
RB:Jabari Small, Sophomore
WR1:Velus Jones, Senior
WR2:Cedric Tillman, Junior
WR3:Jalin Hyatt, Sophomore
TE:Austin Pope, Senior
LT:*Cade Mays, Senior*
LG:Javontez Spraggins, Sophomore
C:Cooper Mays, Sophomore
RG:Jerome Carvin, Senior
RT:*Darnell Wright, Junior*
Defense
DE:*Matthew Butler, Senior*
DT:Omari Thomas, Sophomore
DT:*Darel Middleton, Senior*
DE:Tyler Baren, Sophomore
OLB:Aaron Beasley, Junior
MLB:Jeremy Banks, Junior
OLB:Morven Joseph, Sophomore
CB:*Alontae Taylor, Senior*
CB:Kennenth George Jr., Senior
SS:*Treon Flowers, Senior*
FS:*Jaylen McCollough, Junior*
Special Teams
K:Chase McGrath, Senior
P:Paxton Brooks, Senior
KR:Velus Jones, Senior
PR:Velus Jones, Senior
Returning Production:
Tennessee only returns two players on their offensive line, parts of their defensive line, and parts of their defensive backfield.
New Starters:
Virginia Tech transfer Hendon Hooker comes in at QB for the Volunteers. The Vols also replace all of their receivers, tight end, and linebacking core.
Schedule Preview
Bowling Green (9/2)
Bowling Green won’t just roll over for Tennessee but they should get the win. Projected Score: Tennessee 42, Bowling Green 24
Pittsburgh (9/11)
Pittsburgh should be one of the best teams in the ACC and challenge North Carolina and Miami for a coastal division title. Tennessee’s inexperienced offense and defense should have trouble with the panthers. Projected Score: Pittsburgh 38, Tennessee 21
Tennessee Tech (9/18)
Tennessee easily wins. Projected Score: Tennessee 56, Tennessee Tech 17
at.Florida (9/25)
Florida, despite losing a lot of their offensive and defensive talent, is so much more talented than Tennessee. Florida should dominate this game. Projected Score: Florida 42, Tennessee 24
at.Missouri (10/2)
Missouri is a talented offensive team that has a very underrated defense. The tigers might overlook Tennessee, so this is the time for the Vols to step up it up. Projected Score: Missouri 38, Tennessee 31
South Carolina (10/9)
The fight for fifth place in the SEC is between the Gamecocks and Volunteers. If Tennessee wants multiple SEC wins, this is where they can get it.Projected Score: South Carolina 24, Tennessee 17
Ole Miss (10/16)
Tennessee will not be able to stop Ole Miss’ offense. Projected Score: Ole Miss 38, Tennessee 17
at.Alabama (10/23)
Alabama will continue its dominance over Tennessee. Projected Score: Alabama 35, Tennessee 17
at.Kentucky (11/6)
Kentucky is very underrated and should be a great challenge for the Vols. Shutting down Kentucky’s new passing offense will be difficult. Projected Score: Kentucky 28, Tennessee 17
Georgia (11/13)
Georgia’s talent level is extreme. New head coach Josh Heupel and the Vols will not be able to stop that. Projected Score: Georgia 38, Tennessee 10
South Alabama (11/20)
Tennessee should handle South Alabama. Projected Score: Tennessee 49, South Alabama 20
Vanderbilt (11/27)
If there is any SEC game Tennessee can win, it’ll be this one. Projected Score: Tennessee 31, Vanderbilt 24
Projected Score: 4-8 (1-7) SEC
Incoming 2021 Recruits (per 247sports)
136.Aaron Willis, LB, Colonial Heights,VA Life Christian Academy
153.Kaemen Marley, ATH, Ramsueur,NC Eastern Randolph
155.Kaidon Salter, QB, Cedar Hill,TX Cedar Hill
