Vols Included In ESPN’s Early Pre-Season Top 25
By Zach Ragan
Spring practice has yet to get underway, but that doesn’t mean there’s a shortage of early pre-season top 25 polls on tap.
ESPN, via Mark Schlabach, released their latest top 25 poll on Monday and the Vols made an appearance.
Tennessee, ranked 20th, is one of eight SEC teams in ESPN’s poll.
Here’s what Schlabach had to say about the Vols:
"Most SEC opponents might have enjoyed playing the Volunteers the past few seasons, but it might not be so much fun in the future. Tennessee coach Butch Jones landed a top-five recruiting class for the second year in a row by signing 13 players from the ESPN 300. After allowing 43 sacks in 2014, the Volunteers signed three offensive tackles who were ranked in the ESPN 300: Drew Richmond, Jack Jones and Venzell Boulware. Defensive tackles Kahlil McKenzie and Shy Tuttle, receiver Preston Williams, ends Kyle Phillips and Andrew Butcher, and cornerback Micah Abernathy also were ranked in the top 10 at their respective positions. Now, after going 12-13 in his first two seasons, Jones has to start turning the recruiting success into on-field results. With quarterback Joshua Dobbs, tailback Jalen Hurd and four starters returning on the offensive line, the pieces seem to be in place for a breakthrough season in 2015.ESPN.com"
The Vols, due to their late season success with Josh Dobbs at quarterback and their thumping of Iowa in the TaxSlayer Bowl, are a trendy pick to contend for the SEC East in 2015.
Tennessee should have one of the league’s best defensive lines with the return of Curt Maggitt and Derek Barnett, plus the addition of Kyle Phillips, Shy Tuttle and Kahlil McKenzie, just to name a few.
The Vols should also have an improved offense, with the majority of their entire offense returning. It also helps when you bring in a player like stud running back Alvin Kamara.
I’m not saying the Volunteers are going to compete for the National Championship in 2015, but they’re certainly a darkhorse in the SEC title conversation.
If the offense gels under new offensive coordinator Mike DeBord, then the rest of the SEC better watch out.