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Tennessee football: Top five needs for 2023 recruiting class

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel during an SEC football game between Tennessee and Kentucky at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.Kns Tennessee Kentucky Football
Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel during an SEC football game between Tennessee and Kentucky at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.Kns Tennessee Kentucky Football /
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The Tennessee football team runs through the T during a NCAA football game against Tennessee Tech at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021.Kns Tennessee Tenn Tech Football
The Tennessee football team runs through the T during a NCAA football game against Tennessee Tech at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021.Kns Tennessee Tenn Tech Football /

2. Tight end

This should have been address in 2022, but nobody committed to Tennessee football. That leaves the Vols in a vulnerable spot for 2023. Josh Heupel got a break with Princeton Fant and Jacob Warren both deciding to return this year, but Fant will be out of eligibility in 2023, and Warren is a senior this year, so he could leave if he stands out.

Should those things happen, then UT will be stuck with just two scholarship tight ends in 2023 if nothing changes, Julian Nixon and Miles Campbell. Since Nixon initially committed as a wide receiver, Campbell is the only true tight end sure to be on the roster in 2023 without transferring.

That’s not enough. Heupel’s system requires multiple tight ends to be able to rotate in and out, and with only two right now, he’s got to bank on both working out.  Of course, Warren could come back, but the Vols would still have to address this issue for 2024.

Now, the good news is, on this front, Heupel has addressed the problem. He’s got three commitments for 2023 so far, and his highest-rated one is tight end Ethan Davis. A four-star across the board, if Davis stays committed and signs with Rocky Top next year, this issue will have been addressed for now, but he could add one more.

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