Tennessee football might have to rely on some freshmen to get the job done in 2025. The Vols had the No. 11 recruiting class this past cycle and have brought some elite talent to Rocky Top.
On3 Sports' Steve Wiltfong and Pete Nakos believe some players in Tennessee's 2024 recruiting class could help the Vols as early as this fall, breaking a trend in Josh Heupel's system.
The most notable of Tennessee's options in the 2024 class is five-star offensive tackle David Sanders Jr., who will need to be ready to hold down one of Tennessee's tackle spots almost solely because of Tennessee's depleted offensive line depth.
While Sanders is the most obvious answer, he isn't the only player they are impressed with so far. Wiltfong and Nakos also believe that Wide receiver Travis Smith and running back Daune Morris could also be key players for the Vols this fall.
"Travis Smith early on because of his build and skill set," writes Nakos. "David Sanders' athleticism stands out early on, and Isaiah Campbell has done some really good stuff. And Daune Morris, all those guys will be good but those guys because of their skill set you see that stuff earlier."
This is great news for Tennessee, who will be looking for new faces to provide valuable production on the offensive line, at receiver, and running back.
Morris will have the opportunity to jump in and make an immediate impact at running back, with Peyton Lewis and DeSean Bishop all competing for RB1 reps this spring.
Josh Heupel usually doesn't play first-year players very often. The first year in the program is typically spent learning the system and adjusting to the faster offensive pace, but that trend could change this year.
Even if Tennessee dips into the spring transfer portal, the Vols will likely look to add players who can have an immediate impact on the 2025 season, again breaking Heupel's trend of sitting first-year players.