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Tennessee football: Ranking all 28 offseason coaching changes by impact on Vols

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee Herd Coach Josh Heupel at the 2021 Music City Bowl NCAA college football game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.Kns Tennessee Purdue
Tennessee Herd Coach Josh Heupel at the 2021 Music City Bowl NCAA college football game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.Kns Tennessee Purdue /
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Florida Gators head football coach Billy Napier talks with the media during a weekly press conference at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, in Gainesville, Feb. 11, 2022. Napier was asked about coaching hires, recruiting, his team preparation plans and also mentioned the Gators will begin Spring practice March 15.Flgai 02112022 Napierufpresser 01
Florida Gators head football coach Billy Napier talks with the media during a weekly press conference at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, in Gainesville, Feb. 11, 2022. Napier was asked about coaching hires, recruiting, his team preparation plans and also mentioned the Gators will begin Spring practice March 15.Flgai 02112022 Napierufpresser 01 /

Billy Napier. 1. player. 840. Scouting Report. Florida Gators. Dan Mullen. Pick Analysis

Previous role: Head coach, Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns

Ranking every player who transferred from Vols in 2021. light. Related Story

Obviously, any coaching hire in the SEC East have the biggest impact on Tennessee football, and the Florida Gators are the only school that underwent such a change this year. Billy Napier heads there after a heck of a four-year run with the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns that ended with back to back Sun Belt Conference titles.

Just like LSU, Florida undergoing a coaching change by its very nature is relevant to UT. The Vols host the Gators this year, and they now have a chance to cash in, finally, with Florida playing under a first-year head coach. Last year’s team that went 5-6 under Dan Mullen and 1-1 under Greg Knox still has talent but has a lot of issues to work out.

Luckily for the Vols, they get to face Florida and LSU within the first five games of the season. That’s a great draw for them, as 5-0 is truly on the table, which could do wonders for Josh Heupel on the recruiting trail without the cloud of the NCAA investigation hanging over him.

Next. Ranking, grading position groups in Vols' 2022 class. dark

Of course, Tennessee football has to worry about what will become of Florida and LSU in the future with the success Napier and Brian Kelly have there. That will probably affect them in a negative way, but they can get out ahead of it by taking advantage of the coaching changes next year to build real credibility.

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