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Tennessee football: Five ways 2022 SEC preseason poll grossly disrespects Vols

By Caleb Calhoun

Smokey runs the end zone after a touchdown during the Tennessee Volunteers' game against Alabama in Neyland Stadium on Saturday, October 20, 2018.Kns Utvsbamafootball Bp Jpg
Smokey runs the end zone after a touchdown during the Tennessee Volunteers' game against Alabama in Neyland Stadium on Saturday, October 20, 2018.Kns Utvsbamafootball Bp Jpg /
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On the day after SEC Media Days came to an end, the media preseason predictions came out, and to nobody’s surprise, there was a ton of disrespect for Tennessee football in there. The Vols had eight All-SEC players, including one first teamer, three second teamers and four third teamers. That number, though, isn’t where the disrespect comes.

Most of the overlooking comes from placing players below where they should be and also not projecting Rocky Top properly. Only a few picks were fair. Byron Youg making first team All-SEC, Hendon Hooker making second team and Paxton Brooks and Trevon Flowers making third team were all accurate.

Cooper Mays making third team All-SEC. was also accurate, and you could make a case for that one being overrated. Darnell Wright making second team All-SEC was clearly overrated. However, the Vols got way more disrespect than love. Here are the five ways the 2022 SEC media preseason poll grossly overlooks Tennessee football.

The Southeastern Conference media poll underrated the Tennessee football Volunteers in many ways. Here’s how.

Jul 21, 2022; Atlanta, GA, USA; The Tennessee helmet shown on the stage during SEC Media Days at the College Football Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 21, 2022; Atlanta, GA, USA; The Tennessee helmet shown on the stage during SEC Media Days at the College Football Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

5. South Carolina and Vanderbilt SEC Championship votes

This is actually the most egregious level of disrespect received by the Vols. However, it’s down at No. 5 because so many other schools were disrespected by this. The South Carolina Gamecocks three votes to win the SEC Championship, and the Vanderbilt Commodores received one. That’s insane, and it kills the credibility of these predictions.

UT received no SEC Championship votes. They received one first place vote in the SEC East, while South Carolina still received three and Vandy still received one. Although they were picked multipel spots ahead of both schools overall, that’s ridiculous. There’s no need to even explain why.

South Carolina’s three championship votes was third to only the Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide, who were tabbed the favorites to win the SEC. Vanderbilt’s one title vote was tied for fourth with the Texas A&M. In addition to Tennessee football, every school outside of maybe the Missouri Tigers should feel disrespected by that.

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