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Tennessee football: 10 Vols most likely to win postseason awards in 2022

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) hands the ball off to Tennessee running back Jabari Small (2) during an SEC conference game between Tennessee and Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021.Kns Tennessee Vanderbilt Football
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) hands the ball off to Tennessee running back Jabari Small (2) during an SEC conference game between Tennessee and Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021.Kns Tennessee Vanderbilt Football /
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There’s been a good bit of talk this offseason about the level of disrespect some Tennessee football players seem to be getting when it comes to Preseason All-SEC, Preseason All-American and preseason awards watch lists. The good news for the Vols, as with any team, is they can go out and earn that respect on the field.

Josh Heupel’s system makes it a lot easier for specific players to be recognized regionally and nationally. Those players aren’t necessarily the best players on the team, but the role they play combined with the system Heupel runs on both sides of the ball sets them up for awards.

As we get set to break down the players in the best position to do just that this year, we’ll take the system along with their talent into account. The amount of action they receive specifically depending on the depth, or lack thereof, at their position is also a factor. Here are Tennessee football’s 10 Vols most likely to win awards in 2022.

These are the Tennessee football Volunteers most likely to earn postseason recognition this year.

Tennessee tight end Jacob Warren (87) warming up before the NCAA football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and South Alabama Jaguars in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, November 20, 2021.Utvsal1120
Tennessee tight end Jacob Warren (87) warming up before the NCAA football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and South Alabama Jaguars in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, November 20, 2021.Utvsal1120 /

839. Scouting Report. Jacob Warren. r-Senior. Tight end. 10. player. Pick Analysis

6’6″ 250 pounds

Running a by-committee system at tight end makes it hard for either to earn postseason recognition, and that’s what the Vols are dealing with this year. However, Jacob Warren’s role in that by-committee system gives him a great chance to be recognized nationally, which is why he was on the Mackey Award preseason watch list.

Warren is the red zone tight end given his size. Josh Heupel and Alex Golesh use him specifically to catch passes inside the 20. Last year, he had 18 receptions for 179 yards, but he also came away with three touchdowns, and that’s the crux of why he’s on this list.

Tight ends are often celebrated more for their scores than their yards, particularly if they’re blocking tight ends. Warren fits that mold, and if Tennessee football uses him more this year, he could end up with six or seven touchdowns, which would be more than enough for postseason awards to start looking at him.

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