Tennessee football: Outlet’s selection of Vols among top SEC players is curious

There’s a clear hierarchy among the best Tennessee football players entering 2022. However, the way those players are all touted among different services is inconsistent, and often times, it doesn’t make a lot of sense. Another preseason preview of the SEC does just that.

In College Football News’ Preseason All-SEC Football team and list of top 30 SEC players, Cedric Tillman, Darnell Wright, Hendon Hooker and Jeremy Banks were all named in some way. The way they were named. however, is a bit shocking.

Tillman and Wright were both first team All-SEC. Neither, however, were on the SEC’s list of top 30 players. Hooker was No. 4 on that list, which once again wasn’t shocking even though he wasn’t All-SEC, and Banks came in at No. 29.

Let’s first get out of the way the one Tennessee football player who shouldn’t have been left off the list. Byron Young is one of the best edge rushers returning for 2022. He’s UT’s only official First Team All-SEC selection, but he wasn’t on this top 30 list or All-SEC team.

That alone is shocking, but Banks being on the list over Young makes even less sense. Banks did rack up the most stats of any linebacker in the SEC who is back this year, but he had numerous weaknesses, and Young was as much a big-play guy in fewer games.

Meanwhile, Wright being All-SEC is mostly projection, but with him moving back over to right tackle, there are lots of questions surrounding what he’ll bring to the table. Right now, the coaches are just using him to fill a void.

Hooker makes sense to be so high on the list but not be All-SEC, as Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young is still there. However, the most shocking player on here, beyond Young, was Tillman.

How could Tillman be a first team All-SEC receiver, one of just two, but somehow not be one of the top 30 players this year? He may be the Vols’ best player, and he’s the first returning 1,000-yard receiver for Rocky Top since 2002. Add in him returning with the same quarterback, and expectations for him are through the roof.

This isn’t to say the outlet disrespected Tennessee football, but Tillman and Young were disrespected. Young belonged on either the All-SEC team or the list, and Tillman belonged on both. Banks and Wright were questionable to be on either, though, so the selection of Vols in general for 2022 is just curious.