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Tennessee football: Ranking Jeremy Pruitt and all other SEC coaches for 2019

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 08: Head coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers brings his team onto the field prior to a game against the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers at Neyland Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennesee won the game 59-3. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 08: Head coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers brings his team onto the field prior to a game against the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers at Neyland Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennesee won the game 59-3. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images /

Record at Missouri/Overall 19-19

Championships: 0

Postseason accomplishments

Bowl appearances: 2

Sure, he has no top 25 appearances, which Joe Moorhead got in his first year and Will Muschamp got in his second year with the Florida Gators. But Barry Odom inherited a mess with the Missouri Tigers on the level of what Jeremy Pruitt and Matt Luke inherited.

Remember, his takeover in 2016 came on the heels of Gary Pinkel’s resignation and the Mizzou protests. Since that first 4-8 season, he has recruited very well and continued to improve the team. Now, he is coming off back to back bowl berths.

Given the state of the Tigers when he walked into Columbia, that’s a huge accomplishment. Now, with Drew Lock gone, he got another steal in Kelly Bryant transferring at quarterback. Sure, Odom’s program is currently on a one-year bowl ban. But that ban is a joke and could and should be lifted.

Last year, with former Tennessee football head coach Derek Dooley as offensive coordinator, Odom led the Tigers to an 8-5 record. And it’s worth noting that they were two fluke plays from going 10-2 in the regular season. Transitioning to a pro-style like that overnight to lure more NFL talent was a gutsy move, but it worked. So that’s another major plus for Odom.

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