SEC Power Rankings for 2019 preseason: Should Vols start in bottom tier?

Preseason SEC Power Rankings for 2019: Should Vols start in bottom tier?

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 /

The Texas A&M Aggies knew they made a home run hire in Jimbo Fisher, and last year he proved it by taking them 9-4, finishing in the top 20 and going down to the last play against the eventual national champion Clemson Tigers in his inaugural season. Excitement and momentum is enough to put them in the top five of our SEC Power Rankings for this year.

A 52-13 win over the N.C. State Wolfpack in the Gator Bowl gives them a ton of momentum entering this season. Of course, their 74-72 multi-overtime win over the LSU Tigers before that shows how strong their finish to the year was, and it shows what he’s building in College Station.

Now, he does lose more than half of his starters on defense, which could make this a rough offseason, but the return of Kellen Mond at quarterback still gives this team lots of hype. A top 10 recruiting class that was No. 4 in the league only adds to it, so expectations are for the Aggies to take a big step forward in 2019.

Fisher, to be fair, inherited a decent cupboard, as Kevin Sumlin recruited well and ran a relatively successful program. So he already has a good bit to deal with, but this offseason and the hype are what put A&M up here on the list.

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