Tennessee football: Athlon All-SEC suggests Vols capable of winning record

By Caleb Calhoun | May 21, 2021

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 29: A general view of Neyland Stadium during the South Carolina Gamecocks game against the Tennessee Volunteers on October 29, 2011 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

First-year head coach Josh Heupel has a lot to deal with in the Tennessee football program right now beyond just a coaching change. He has lost a wave of elite players to other schools, is coming off a 3-7 season and needing to start a new quarterback and still has the NCAA investigation hanging over him.

However, if you look at the talent on the team alone and the schedule coming up this year, it’s pretty clear the Vols have a path to six wins. In fact, you might even say they will be favored in at least six games this year.

Athlon’s All-SEC selections revealed on Thursday suggest as much. Tennessee football was tied for 11th with the South Carolina Gamecocks and Missouri Tigers, as they each only had five. Behind both of them, in last place, were the Vanderbilt Commodores with just three.

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UT had Velus Jones Jr. as its one first teamer at kick returner. Offensive lineman Cade Mays and punter Paxton Brooks made Second Team. Defensive lineman Matthew Butler made Third Team, and wide receiver Jalin Hyatt made Fourth Team.

Here’s how this favors the Vols. They get to face both Vandy and South Carolina, the only two teams not seemingly above their level, at home this year. Then they still get the Bowling Green Falcons, Pittsburgh Panthers, Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles and South Alabama Jaguars all at home in non-conference player. They’ll likely be favored in all four games, even against Pitt.

There’s your path to six wins if you’re Rocky Top. Then there’s the Mizzou game. With second-year head coach Eli Drinkwitz building a solid program and that game set to be played in Columbia, Mo., UT will likely be an underdog. However, that’s clearly a toss-up game, and the Vols could either win that one or get lucky, avoid a bowl ban, and make one with a chance to face a mediocre team.

To be fair, this isn’t all exact. South Carolina had two First Teamers to the Vols’ one, so their All-SEC selections appear to be a little more impressive. However, playing that game in Knoxville, Tenn. still favors UT.

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Also, if they don’t win all seven of these games, there’s still a chance Tennessee football could steal one from the Ole Miss Rebels at home or Kentucky Wildcats on the road. Both of those teams only had eight All-SEC players, and Kentucky and Mizzou just had one First Teamer each, exactly like the Vols. These selections show Rocky Top may not be outmatched too badly this year.

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