Tennessee football is hoping to take the next step this season after making its debut in the College Football Playoff last year. The Vols were one-and-done but have the potential to be CFP contenders for at least the next few seasons.
Even if Tennessee doesn't make the College Football Playoff and get a couple of wins closer to a national championship, that doesn't mean the Tennessee football program isn't improving.
The Vols had a clear lack of leadership last season, which could have been a big reason for some of their struggles on the road and in the CFP against Ohio State. That has changed this year, according to Tennessee tight end Miles Kitselman.
The Vols' tight end discussed this year's leadership council and praised their ability to step up and uphold the standard throughout the offseason.
"I love how Coach Heupel has his leadership council," Kitselman shared. "There's maybe 15 of us on it, and then we have some shadow warriors who are young guys coming up. Every Wednesday, we have a meeting, and it's all about being on the same page.
"When Miles Kitselman calls someone out, is Jeremiah Telander going out and backing up Miles? When AC calls out someone, is Dominic Bailey going and holding them to the standard? When you have 30 guys on the team who are leaders, and when one person calls another person out and that guy talks back, you have 30 guys going he's right. That's not the standard. So, it's incredibly easy when you know guys have your back."
While Heupel has used a leadership council every year while at Tennessee, it sounds like this year's leadership is on another level. Teammates support one another and ensure everyone does everything the right way.
If that carries over into the season, with Joey Aguilar being a more vocal leader at quarterback, the Vols could pick up right where they left off in 2024.