Article by David May The battle for a bowl will take place this Saturday as the Tennessee Volunteers (5–6) head to Nashville to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores (5–6). Vanderbilt has won the last two matchups in this in-state rivalry. Can the Vols return to the days where a win against the Commodores was expected, or will Vandy make it three in a row? Game Info: Where: Nashville, TN When: 4:00 E.T. How to watch: SEC Network Line: Vandy -3.5 Bryce Thompson & Alontae Taylor It’s no secret that Tennessee struggled in the secondary last week against Missouri. While Vanderbilt has had nowhere near success as the Tigers on offense, the Commodores have a well-balanced offense led by quarterback Kyle Shurmur. Shurmur threw for a career-high 416 yards in a heartbreaking upset of the Vols in 2016. He also had four touchdown passes last year. The secondary will need to step up and keep things tight in the backfield in order for the Vols to pull out a win. Ke’Shawn Vaughn Vandy RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn is one of the more underrated running backs in the SEC as he has quietly racked up 976 yards on 138 rushing attempts (7.1 avg.) and 10 TD’s. Vaughn will need to have a big game in order to keep Vandy’s offense balanced. The Vols have shown that they can shut down a one dimensional offense. Can Vaughn do enough to keep Tennessee’s defense guessing? Predictions David: (31–28 OT) Vanderbilt. The Vols keep it close, but Vandy pulls out the win in an overtime thriller. The young Vols secondary gets burnt again as Shurmur throws for 350+ yards. Except for against ETSU, the Vols offense have yet to put up 30+ points this season. John: (31-21) Tennessee. The Volunteers come out angry and hit the Commodores in the mouth early. Vanderbilt isn't built to overcome a deficit. If Tennessee CAN hit them early and fast, they’ll stand a better chance of winning the game. Guarantano throws for 180, 2 TDs and 0 int. Nate: (27-24) Tennessee. This team and coaching staff knows what’s at stake. I think Guarantano will make enough plays for the offense, and I think defensively we match up very well with the Commodores offense. Brandon: (24-10) Tennessee. I think the Vols come out and force Vanderbilt to be one dimensional on offense. I also think that Tennessee protects Guarantano enough for Jennings and Callaway to both have big days with a TD apiece. Watch Darrel Taylor to give a struggling Vandy line problems, and the freshman duo at corner to play well. Dustin Chapman (Florida Gators Correspondent): (24-20) Tennessee.

It all comes down to this, as we enter what is potentially the final game of this football season, the Vols have their post season hopes riding on the match up with in-state rival Vanderbilt. The Vols come in after a wildly inconsistent second half of the season that has seen them turn in alternating good and poor performances on a weekly basis since their upset win at Auburn. Vanderbilt enters the game asking what could have been, reaching the end of a season that has seen them have huge leads on multiple SEC opponents and being in position to beat likely College Football Playoff team Notre Dame, only to blow each of those opportunities. Still, the Commodores are coming off a big SEC win against Ole Miss, which has left them with the same record and in the same position as the Vols, win the last game and go bowling. Tennessee should expect to get the best shot that Vandy can give Saturday night, but we will preview that game a little later this week. Today, we want to focus on the implications of getting to a bowl game for Tennessee. Many Vol fans may feel as if a five hundred season and a low to medium tier bowl game really doesn’t mean that much in the grand scheme of things for this team. Perhaps in some instances that would be the case, but earning their way into the post season, with this schedule, and the hurdles they have had to overcome, would be a huge accomplishment for this team. Last season’s edition of the Vols was the worst team in the one hundred and twenty two year history of the program. There is not a more gentle way to put that, and it showed in the perception of the program nationally, regionally, and even internally. Jeremy Pruitt didn’t just have to come into Knoxville and put new offensive and defensive schemes in place, he had to install a new culture from the top of the program down. As the season went on, he was able to overcome the initial push back from some of the veterans on the team and find the players on the roster that would play his kind of football. A win on the Plains against a top twenty five Auburn team and an upset of then number eleven Kentucky have been the high points of this season for Pruitt and his Vols. Managing wins against two ranked SEC opponents after going winless in SEC play last season is big for this team. These Vols also know that they let one get away from them in Columbia, South Carolina, but have a chance to come into Nashville to win their third SEC game and get bowl eligible. Getting to the post season would be a supreme endorsement of what Pruitt is trying to build at Tennessee, proof to his current players and the rest of the nation that there is a quality football coach in Knoxville again, with the results on the field to prove it. The Vols have missed the post season as often as they have been there through the last decade, and to get back there in his first season would be a statement by Pruitt, but gives the program credibility, especially nationally, after the kicking it took last season. The Vols would benefit from having national eyes on them again during the bowl season, as any analyst that understands where this team has come from can appreciate what Pruitt has managed. That positive press and momentum not only applies to casual football fans, but also to recruits that are certainly watching. Make no mistake, the Vols have already built a solid class of the type of players that Pruitt wants with their current 2019 recruiting class, but they are far from done. In fact, at this point, Tennessee is fighting to flip or land high caliber, highly rated players, almost exclusively from now to National Signing Day. Tennessee needs to have all the momentum they can for this stretch push, and making a bowl game gives them one more bullet in the gun on the recruiting trail. Getting bowl eligible also takes away one of the biggest pitches opposing programs could use against the Vols. Recruits can see quality coaching, and getting to the post season for this team is a real selling point for Pruitt and Company. The location of the bowl game could also be interesting for the Vols on the recruiting trail. Tennessee would be a strong candidate for the Liberty Bowl, the Music City Bowl, and possibly the Belk Bowl, among a few others. The reason for highlighting these three games is they are all in cities that Tennessee has highlighted on the recruiting trail since Pruitt arrived, and where the Vols have huge targets in both the ’19 and ’20 classes. You can bet Tennessee will ensure those local targets have an opportunity to watch a Tennessee Bowl game live and in person. Possibly more important than the momentum this could build on the recruiting trail, this is an opportunity for the Vols on the roster to build momentum on the field going into the off season, as well as getting more practices and another game under Pruitt and his staff. This Tennessee team is young. All of the offensive starters have at least one year of eligibility remaining, while outside of the defensive line, the majority of the Vols’ starters return on that side of the ball as well. That means that the players on the team now would get another game week as well as two weeks of practice to spend in the system Jeremy Pruitt is trying to develop them for. Beyond they starters, this Tennessee team has quite a few players that will be playing a bigger role on this team next season that get to experience the post season, develop, and be a little further along going into the 2019 season. If anyone questions the value of these additional practices, go back to the beginning of this season and listen to West Virginia Head Coach Dana Holgorsen lament being a few practices short of what Tennessee had entering the season’s first game. These practices, under quality coaches, are meaningful, and this also allows Pruitt to develop his protocol of handling bowl and post season preparation. Having that in place already, for the coaches and players, removes a source of uncertainty and a first for the staff when the stakes for Tennessee could be higher in the coming seasons. Apart from a clear sign the program is on the right course and trending up, validation for the coaches, momentum in recruiting, another game week for young Vols, and prep for future bowl games, getting bowl eligible this week has one more benefit for Tennessee. It means that Tennessee would have stopped the losing streak to Vanderbilt. The Vols haven’t lost three games in a row to the Commodores since a statement about Robert Neyland in Knoxville would have returned a question of, “Who?” Yes, it has been that long. No, it is not acceptable. Two years ago, Vanderbilt dashed the hopes that Tennessee had to return to the Sugar Bowl after an abysmal effort by Butch Jones and company as the Vols, with multiple current NFL stars on the roster, blew another lead and lost in Nashville. Last season, the Commodores came into Neyland Stadium and gave the Vols a kicking in their own back yard. These Vols are playing for a bowl, they are playing for pride, but they are also playing to take control of this state on the football field again. Vanderbilt Stadium is likely to be, “Baby Neyland West,” again on Saturday night, and though the Commodores have a solid team, this is a game that Tennessee expects to win. And that it should expect to win. For Pruitt, establishing and carrying out these expectations is a significant part of his rebuild at Tennessee. This is a meaningful game in November for Tennessee, a game against a rival, and an opportunity to put in place what the expectation is going forward. These Vols have been up and down all season long, so the challenge is there for Pruitt to get a team that should win this game ready to play, and to actually then go out and do it on the road. It should be noted, that even with a loss, the Vols could potentially go to a bowl as a 5-7 team thanks to their improved Academic Progress Rating (APR). While this would still allow Tennessee the benefits of an additional game and practices, it feels a bit like backing into the reward of the post season. Make no mistake, the Vols would take an invitation based on APR, but they don’t want it to come down to that. Tennessee wants to earn their way into a bowl game by winning on the field on Saturday. It may not be the biggest name bowl and it may not be what most fans talk about before the season starts, but getting into a bowl game for these Vols is a real accomplishment. It builds a foundation for what Pruitt wants to build in his time in Knoxville, and can be a big push for Tennessee to come much stronger into the 2019.

For the Tennessee Volunteers, it seems like every week brings talk of another streak that the team in Orange is trying to break. However, on Saturday, the Vols had a prominent streak on the line that they wanted to preserve. The Vols hadn’t lost to the Kentucky Wildcats in Neyland Stadium since 1984. Kentucky, a team that had already broken a significant streak of their own earlier this season with a win in the Swamp, came in as the number eleven team in the country, the favorite, and poised to finally leave Knoxville with a win. The only problem was that someone forgot to get the memo to Jeremy Pruitt and his Volunteers that they were supposed to lose. Perhaps it isn’t stunning that the Vols pulled the upset on Kentucky, but the way that they managed it was rather eye opening. We looked at some keys to the game yesterday, and some learning opportunities Tennessee had after a gutting loss at South Carolina a couple of weeks ago, and those were factors in Tennessee’s convincing win. First, it is time to give credit where credit is due. The biggest key to the game coming into yesterday’s contest with the Wildcats was Tennessee’s offensive line. Kentucky had one of the stingiest defenses in the country and the SEC’s leading sack artist in defensive end Josh Allen. The Vols had an offensive line that had been the weak link on the team for most of the season, a unit down several of their best players, and a group that was coming off one of the worst performances for a Tennessee line in the memory of even long-time fans. A lot of responsibility for the Vols’ struggles had fairly been laid at the feet of this offensive line group, and it didn’t look good for them or Vol backs going into the game with Big Blue. So, of course, Tennessee came out and ran for over 200 yards while providing the best protection Jarrett Guarantano has gotten all season long. Isn’t college football great? Tennessee’s offensive line played the best game that they have put together as individuals and as a unit, by far, against the Wildcats. Some of the same issues that have plagued the Vols up front still showed up, giving up some sacks, tackles for loss, and big hits on Guarantano, but the line played better. Much better. Marcus Tatum, pressed into the starting lineup due to injuries, played the best game of his Tennessee career, by far. He drew the difficult assignment of trying to neutralize the dynamic Allen, and while Allen made some plays, Tatum won that matchup more than he lost it. Tennessee also got a very solid effort from Right Tackle Drew Richmond. While Richmond drew the ire of Coach Pruitt after an exchange in the endzone when the Vols went up 10-0 on a Tim Jordan touchdown run, it appeared to be more of Pruitt trying to keep Richmond from letting his emotions get the best of him and cost the team. That fire and edge from Richmond is something that the Vols have wanted out of the Memphis product and the line as a whole for a while now, and it appeared Pruitt was willing to do what it took to direct it properly as long as it showed up. The biggest improvement for the Tennessee line came on the interior, though. Jahmir Johnson has been solid for the Vols since arriving on campus from the JUCO ranks and having Johnson healthy was a boon for this Tennessee group up front. Nathan Niehaus, Ryan Johnson, Jerome Carvin, and K’Rojhn Calbert all contributed with Johnson on the interior of the Tennessee line. A week after being handled by Charlotte, these guys stepped up and created some good seams for Volunteer running backs. Ryan Johnson had a particularly solid effort from his center position. The Vols were far from dominant up front but coming off a week where they struggled to get any blocks on the guys across from them, they turned in their best performance of the year, blocking a stout Kentucky defense very well. These guys have taken a lot of blame this season, and their vastly improved performance is possibly the biggest reason that the Vols have their second win of the season over a ranked, SEC opponent. Not to be outdone, the Tennessee defense rose to the challenge of squaring off with one of the nation’s best rushing attacks, spearheaded by the Cats’ work horse running back Benny Snell. Kentucky goes as Snell goes, and for only the second time all season, the Vols held the talented runner below one hundred yards on the ground. Tennessee had a good scheme for containing Snell, and it relied heavily on their pair of true freshman corners, Alontae Taylor and Bryce Thompson, holding up in a lot of one-on-one man coverage situations. Taylor and Thompson rose to the occasion yet again this season, covering Wildcat receivers tightly all game. This allowed the Vol front to zero in on containing Snell, which is exactly what they did. The Tennessee linebackers turned in a good group effort, taking advantage of the penetration that the Vol defensive line was able to generate. For the good efforts turned in by the likes of Shy Tuttle, Daniel Bituli, Darrin Kirkland, Will Ignot, and the two-interception performance Marquill Osborne turned in, the Vol defender that stole the show was undoubtedly Darrel Taylor. The redshirt junior wreaked absolute havoc on the Kentucky offense, and acquainted himself with Wildcat quarterback Terry Wilson on four separate occasions, once stripping and recovering the ball from the Cat signal caller. Taylor came perilously close to the school record for sacks in a single game, which stands at the four and a half that Corey Miller managed, also against the Wildcats. As it stands, Taylor will have to settle for seeing his name tied for second in the Volunteer Record Books…. Right next to Reggie White. That effort has earned Taylor National Defensive Player of the Week honors, and rightfully so. When Taylor is healthy, he has shown flashes of what he can be, turning in three sacks at Georgia earlier this season. If Taylor can continue this hot streak and manage to get home on opposing quarterbacks more consistently, he has a real shot at a double-digit sack campaign this season and can prove to be the catalyst to push the Volunteer defense to the next level as they grow under Pruitt. In our preview article, we talked about the fact that the Vols had some chances to make plays against Kentucky with skill players, particularly at the receiver position. While Tennessee took advantage of the line’s performance by gashing Kentucky with Ty Chandler and Tim Jordan multiple times in the game, they also found some chunk plays passing the ball. Big catches came from Jordan, Dominick Wood-Anderson, who appears to be carving out a larger role in the offense, and Marquez Callaway. None were bigger than the Hail Mary to close the first half that Callaway came down with to put the Vols up 17-0 before the intermission. Callaway cut in front of the group clustered near the backline of the endzone, went up, cleanly ripped the ball from a Kentucky defensive back that had a hand on it, and scored a huge touchdown. Guarantano stepped away from Allen, a legitimate All-American candidate for the Cats, to get the pass off to Callaway. The Volunteer quarterback would add another touchdown pass off a pretty play action sweep near the goal line that went to a wide-open Wood-Anderson. Turning in yet another two touchdown, interception free, performance, Guarantano set the school record for most passes attempted without an interception, now at one hundred forty-six and counting. Tennessee looked efficient for the most part against Kentucky, and that is the adjective that describes the offense when they are at their best. Some late fumbles hurt cost the Vols opportunities at further points, but the defense bailed them out with a blocked field goal by Shy Tuttle and the aforementioned strip, recovery, sack by Taylor. The Hail Mary before the half was not only a good play by the offense, showing their growth, it shows the growth of the coaching staff as well. After the South Carolina game, a contest that the Vols lost close, we talked about how Tennessee passed up an opportunity to get points before the close of the first half. Tennessee had the ball late in the half with timeouts. On a handoff to Chandler, the speedy sophomore gashed the Gamecocks for a good gain, giving the Vols first and ten near their own forty yard-line. Rather than trusting the efficient Guarantano, his dynamic receivers, and strong legged kicker, Pruitt elected to take a knee rather than pushing to extend the lead. That decision wound up biting the Vols, as points even a field goal, before the half could have led to the Vols at least getting a shot at overtime against Carolina rather than losing the game. That drive was something we highlighted as a potential learning opportunity for Pruitt as head coach. Fast forward two weeks, and the Vols find themselves in almost exactly the same situation against Kentucky. This time, after Chandler gashed the Wildcats to give the offense good field position, Pruitt elected to push for points. He used his timeouts well and after a long catch by Callaway, the Vols were in position to high-low the Cats. A ten-yard completion and a quick timeout would put the Vols firmly in Cimaglia field goal range, or they could opt to take a shot for the endzone with their big armed quarterback and great jump ball receivers. The Vols elected to take a crack at the latter, and it paid off with the superb grab by Callaway. Going up 17-0 felt, even at the half, like a back breaker for Kentucky, and though the Cats fought the rest of the game, the lead just felt insurmountable. This shows Pruitt identifying his own mistakes, growing from them, and resulting in a different outcome for his team. That growth, and the win that it helped to spark, should make Tennessee fans feel good about their coach. After the Carolina game, Tennessee had a lot of position groups that had tough questions to answer. The coaching staff had to look in the mirror and identify how they could improve. The entire team had to stomach a bitter pill of trying to improve after knowing they let a game get away that they should have won. Today, Tennessee is celebrating a win over the number eleven team in the country, defending home turf, and extending an impressive home winning streak, all because when faced with similar situations as they folded under in Columbia, they rose to the occasion. The defense found their answers in a solid group effort, a game wrecking performance from Taylor, Osborne’s multiple interceptions in relief of the injured Thompson, and a huge field goal block from Shy Tuttle when the Cats tried to claw back into it. The offense had a line that took last week personally and played like a unit that was determined to put something on tape to be proud of. Guarantano, the backs, and receivers took full advantage of the big guys playing well to gash a very good Kentucky defense repeatedly. The coaching staff could have been satisfied with what they had, but instead they pushed for more, coached and played to win. The result? The best effort the Vols have put together in a full game this season, a top fifteen upset, and a team that looks to be growing. It appears that those hard lessons were learned, and if that is the case, it could just lead to a post season trip for these Vols.

The Vols square off inside Neyland Stadium today against a traditional foe, but in roles that are far from what is normal in the game’s history. The Kentucky Wildcats come calling in Knoxville this afternoon, and they show up as the number eleven team in the nation. The Wildcats have not won in Neyland since the 1984 season and have not been favored in Knoxville since the 1950’s. Mark Stoops’s team has already ended a set of streaks this season with an early win over Florida in the Swamp, and they are favored in today’s contest. A loss last week against Georgia means that the Cats saw their SEC East Title hopes come to an end, but the chance to finally beat Tennessee in Knoxville and create a winning streak against the border rivals that have dominated them for so long means that this is still a big game for the squad in blue. Tennessee, on the other hand, is fighting to get themselves bowl eligible, needing two wins in their final three games. A win today at home would be huge for the Vols’ post-season hopes, not to mention, in a season where the Vols so often hear about streaks, it would be nice to continue one that is actually beneficial for Tennessee. If Tennessee wants to protect home turf against their SEC East foes from Lexington and net their second upset win against a Top 25 team in SEC play this season, they have a few key areas to focus on. There is no easy or polite way to say this, Tennessee’s offensive line is bad. Really bad. And against the Charlotte 49ers last weekend, a team that it should be noted has the sixth ranked run defense in America, the Vol line was abysmal. Some of the problems can be attributed to injuries, some to young players being forced into the lineup too soon, and some falls to learning a new scheme. Even with that in mind, last week’s effort up front was possibly the worst a Tennessee offensive line has played in my memory. It is one thing to line up across from an opponent and to have them be better than you, be that faster, stronger, or more technically sound. It is one thing to have an opponent out scheme you, a defensive coordinator putting his players in a situation to beat an offensive play call, exploit tendencies, or take advantage of individual weaknesses. It is another for one side to just line up and whip the other one for sixty solid minutes. That final scenario, with liberal additions of the first two, is what Tennessee endured last week against Charlotte. When Tennessee attempted to run the ball, on simple, fundamental, straight ahead runs, Charlotte defenders made it into the Volunteer backfield without being touched. This was not an isolated incident, nor was it one player making a mistake or making a play. Throughout the game, the Vols had multiple members of the line completely whiff on block after block, and most of Charlotte’s front seven benefitted from being untouched to make a tackle for loss. There is no simplifying of plays like that for Tennessee up front. At some point, as an offensive lineman in the run game, you must fire out of your stance and hit the man across from you. If he gets off the block or beats you, that’s one thing. If a defender from another level shoots a gap while you are occupied and makes a play, that is another. But last week the Vols were not even contacting the lineman a few inches away from them. If the Volunteers are to have any chance of upsetting the Wildcats, the offensive line must show dramatic improvement from a week ago. Kentucky comes into Neyland with one of the stingiest defenses in the country, and the SEC sack leader in Josh Allen. Against an offensive line that has allowed a staggering number of hits on their quarterback, Allen must be licking his chops. Tennessee is not going to stop Allen. He is going to sack Jarrett Guarantano at least once or twice today, and he will likely hit him several more times. This Kentucky defense is going to make quite a few tackles in the backfield today. At this point in the season, both Tennessee and Kentucky have put their identities on tape, and that isn’t going to suddenly change this afternoon. The Vols will struggle to keep their quarterback from taking big hits, and to open holes for their running backs. Still, an effort more in line with what came against Auburn or South Carolina, not good games by the offensive line, mind you, but better, could see Tennessee give Guarantano enough time to take some shots deep and open lanes for explosive backs to gash the Wildcats. This matchup is the single most important one to see on the field today. If Tennessee’s line comes out and plays like a decent Power Five unit, the Vols have a shot to beat Kentucky. If they put out another effort more akin to last week, Kentucky will win, likely handily, and the Vols may have some injuries to deal with. There are two other trends that Tennessee must buck from this season, besides poor play from the line, if they want to upset Kentucky. The first involves the first quarter. The only thing that has been worse than Tennessee’s offensive line play this season has been the team’s play in the first quarter of games. It has been maddening to watch, but week after week, the Vols seem to come out and look lost in first period of games. Through most of the season, Tennessee seems to settle in and play better down the stretch but struggles to overcome the giant holes they dig themselves early. Kentucky is the definition of a team that you can’t afford to spot a big lead to. The Cats have a stellar running back in Benny Snell that can take a game over, break it open, and grind down the clock while he does it. Couple that with a defense that plays well and has a superb pass rusher that can wreak all kinds of havoc if he is permitted to just pin his ears back and rush the quarterback, and you have a recipe for a team that can turn another bad first quarter into yet another SEC loss. Another troubling trend for these Vols has been the fact that their best efforts have come away from Neyland Stadium. While Tennessee has won some games in Knoxville this season, they have also played all their worst games at home this year. The Vols underwhelmed against ETSU and UTEP, looked bad against Charlotte, and had terrible games against Florida and Alabama. The Vols upset Auburn on the Plains in their best effort of the season, but Tennessee also looked much better in road games against Georgia and South Carolina, with a real shot to win both of those games late in the second half. Tennessee must play better today against Kentucky, and they need to play well enough to use the crowd as a weapon in a home game for the first time this season. For Tennessee, giving the crowd something to cheer about is going to be key in this game. That means that the Vols have to make some plays when they have the ball, and that they must contain the explosive Snell. While the Wildcats have talent on their offensive roster, Benny Snell is the engine that makes the Cats go. Expect to see Tennessee to load the box against Snell and the Kentucky running game, adopting an attitude of forcing Kentucky to beat them with anyone else on their roster. Expect to see Kentucky come out in some of the double tight end sets Tennessee has struggled so much against the last two weeks and run a fair amount anyway. That is who these Wildcats are. Snell is their horse, and they are going to ride him. If Tennessee can contain Snell and force the Wildcats to rely on Terry Wilson’s arm, they have a chance. Wilson has a propensity for turning the ball over, and Tennessee has some defenders, namely Alontae Taylor and Bryce Thompson, that can turn those into points. The Vols may need a defensive score to pull this off, but the pair of true freshman corners are both capable of supplying it. Taylor and Thompson are going to be left one on one in a lot of man coverage situations today. The young bucks have risen to the occasion this season and played very well, and they have an opportunity to keep Tennessee in the game today, or even help them win it. When Tennessee has the ball, expect to see more of the same from the last two weeks, quick passes, screens, misdirection, and the occasional deep shot thrown off play action and max protection. The Tennessee line must find a way to generate enough push to allow the Vol running backs to be a factor in this game. Ty Chandler, Tim Jordan, and Jeremy Banks are too valuable and too explosive to remain non-factors because they are being hit as soon as they take a handoff. If Tennessee can generate even a serviceable ground game, it opens the play action pass and buys Jarrett Guarantano some time to throw the ball. For all the struggles this season, the Volunteer passing game has been effective, particularly when you consider how poorly the offensive line has played and how little support the rushing attack has offered. If the Vols can make Kentucky respect the run, Guarantano has a pair of weapons in Jauan Jennings and Marquez Callaway that he feels confident about throwing a jump ball to against anyone. More involvement from Ty Chandler as a receiver and a greater utilization of Dominick Wood-Anderson can also help Tennessee today. The Vols have to get their best athletes the ball and get it to them in space. If the line can give Guarantano enough time to find these weapons, they can gash a stingy Kentucky defense. Tennessee must take advantage of any chances they get against a tough Kentucky defense, that means taking care of the ball, something the Vols have been good at this season, and cashing in on takeaways. The Vols will likely have a few chances at some turnovers if they can force Terry Wilson into passing downs. If Tennessee can turn the Cats over, they need to turn those chances into points. Winning the turnover battle will go a long way into keeping the Vols in this. There is certainly a monumental task in front of the Vols today if they want to upset the number eleven Wildcats. While Tennessee may want to say that they aren’t as bad as they played last week, they put it on tape, and were at least that bad for one game. They must get a much better effort up front to win this game, and even then, will likely need to get a defensive score in order to win an ugly, low scoring game if it goes their way. Tennessee has put some good efforts on the field this season, but it seems when one unit rises to the occasion, two others have terrible games. It will take solid games from all the Volunteer units, playing sixty minutes of good football, and their best effort at home this year to extend their winning streak over the Cats in Neyland. The Vols are capable, and a Kentucky team coming off a loss to Georgia could be a bit deflated, but Tennessee has to turn potential into results to do what so many teams before them have done: Beat Kentucky in Neyland.

When they entered the 2017-2018 season, the Tennessee Volunteers were picked to finish thirteenth by the national media……in the SEC. Fast forward one season and coming into the 2018-2019 season that same national media has Rick Barnes’s squad ranked sixth…...in the Nation. What a difference a year makes. Well, a year, a share of the SEC Regular Season Title, the returning SEC Player of the Year, the Returning SEC Sixth Man of the Year, an intact starting lineup, and a team that is hungry from an NCAA Tournament exit that was far too soon for their taste. The fact of the matter is that the Vols are opening with their highest pre-season ranking in the history of the program, and a compelling case can be made that they aren’t high enough. These Vols are already an exceptional squad, and the expectations are rightfully through the roof coming into this season. If Tennessee stays relatively healthy, this is a team that belongs in any conversation of teams that are favorites to bring home the National Title. Those are lofty expectations for this program, players, and staff, but there they are just the same. Keeping that in mind, let’s look at some of the different position groups for Tennessee going into the season. Perhaps the greatest strength Tennessee has going into this season is that they are one of the toughest matchups any team in the nation can draw. With their personnel, the Vols can play small, space the floor with shooters, play gritty defense with long athletes, play big, or grind teams down in the half court. Due to that versatility, some of these players will be listed in more than one group as they move depending on what the Vols choose to do. Today the players that the Vols primarily utilize as Guards are up. Admiral Schofield 6’ 5” 241 lbs. Sr. Zion, Illinois That Tennessee can put their stellar Senior from Illinois out on the wing, matched up on a two guard may not be right morally, but it certainly isn’t fair. At 6’ 5” 241 pounds, Schofield regularly looks linebacker driving on a skinny Guard. When he is matched up on most guards, Schofield is simply able to use his exceptional strength to move them where he wants them to go. Frankly, Schofield regularly does this to SEC Power Forwards and even Centers, a Shooting Guard isn’t much of a problem in that department. Schofield is a complete basketball player that has elevated his entire game each season has been at Tennessee, however when he is out as a Guard, his exceptional strength is often so dominant that it overshadows everything else he does. Schofield not only possess that strength, but he knows how to use it. He can move defenders to get his own shot, take contact, shoot through it, and still make the shot. Schofield handles the ball well enough and has a high enough basketball IQ to know when he needs to put the ball on floor and drive as well as when to shoot from range. Schofield has worked on extending the range of his shots, which is lethal when paired with his ability to drive through anything unfortunate enough to be between him and the rack. Add in the advantage that Schofield gives the Vols in rebounding against most all two guards he would be matched up against, and it becomes evident why some players stepping up in the front court and allowing the Admiral to play on the wing more is exciting for Vol Nation. Jordan Bone 6’ 3” 176 lbs. Jr. Nashville, Tennessee In his time as a Volunteer, Jordan Bone has done something that has been difficult over the last few decades of college basketball, earn the trust of Head Coach Rick Barnes as his starting Point Guard. Barnes, who is famously hard on his point guards in particular, looks to have come to trust the Junior from Nashville to run things when he is on the floor. Bone is a pure point guard for Tennessee and his play in that role sets the tone for his teammates. More than capable of getting his own shot, especially off a drive, Bone is still looking to pass first. The commitment to get the ball moving and keep it moving coupled with being a scrappy, on-ball defender got Bone on the floor for Barnes. His ability to regularly make the right pass and score himself when that is what the opposing defense gives him has kept him there. The experience he has gained certainly helps Bone on the floor, but his unselfish attitude and court vision ensure that whichever of Tennessee’s multiple weapons is open winds up with the ball. Bone is a special combination at point guard of high basketball IQ, good size, good passing, and tough defense. He fits the smart, hard nose style that Barnes has installed at Tennessee, and he makes these Vols fun to watch when they are on the offensive end. Jordan Bowden 6’ 5” 185 lbs. Jr. Knoxville, Tennessee Jordan Bowden is a jack of all trades type of guard. A prototypical combo guard, Bowden can handle the ball and take it up the floor, but he can also play at the two and be a solid scoring option. Where he scores from is also balanced, as Bowden can shoot from outside or put the ball on the floor and drive. Defensively, Bowden is another of the scrappy, high pressure, high effort defenders that has length and active hands that Barnes prizes on his team. Bowden is a player that is happy to play wherever Tennessee needs him, in whatever role they ask him to fill. He is a team first player, and though he may not be a Guard that does one thing that opposing coaches game plan to take away out of fear, he is rock solid in every facet of his game. Like Bone, he also has gained valuable experience the last two seasons seeing a lot of minutes, many of them logged with Bone in the backcourt. There is obvious chemistry between the pair, and with both being so aware on the floor and capable of doing whatever is asked of them, they make for a difficult pair to defend. There are very few holes in Jordan Bowden’s game, and he is returning after another season of development. If he moves beyond that good-not-great in any area this season, Bowden could help push Tennessee to the National Title level that they are aspiring to. Lamonte Turner 6’ 1” 183 lbs. Jr. Harvest, Alabama Since, “Cold blooded shooter,” isn’t a position group, Turner fits in with the other Guards. The trio of Juniors all play well together, have all logged minutes together in multiple combinations, and do the things that Rick Barnes ask. The thing that singles out the reigning SEC Sixth Man of the Year is that he is offense in high tops. Bone and Bowden fit what Barnes wants to do because they both fit so well and play within the scheme and sets that he calls. They make the additional pass, make the smart play, and try to go with the play. Turner plays within the offense as well, however, he is much more willing to shoot than Bone and Bowden. For that matter, when it comes to shooting, Lamonte Turner is absolutely fearless. There is no moment too big, no situation that overwhelms him. The biggest games on the line, if the ball comes to Turner and he has a look, he is taking the shot with the confidence that he takes his next breath. Interestingly, most of his shots and breaths seem to end with a similar swishing noise. The bomb that Turner dropped to silence Rupp Arena last season was among the biggest shots in Tennessee Basketball history. On the biggest stages, Turner took the biggest shots when they ended up in his hands, and he usually made them. To be able to bring a guy like Turner off the bench is incredible and speaks to the depth and versatility that Rick Barnes has gathered and developed in Knoxville. As alluded to earlier, Turner is one of the only options that the Vols have for instant offense. He doesn’t need a play or a scheme, he just needs a ball and a moment to launch a three. Turner is not some volume shooter throwing up shots all over the gym, he is careful with his choice of shots, but when he gets the look there is no hesitation to pull the trigger. The ability to let Turner run the offense or play at the two while some of the other starters, especially Williams and Schofield, are on the bench and score is invaluable for Tennessee. The Vols need to develop at least one more player on the bench that can simply hit the floor and score, but Turner has proved up to the task of carrying Tennessee when the called offense is flagging. For all the focus on his offensive prowess, it is also important to note that Turner is also a solid defender, very quick with active hands. He is not a defensive liability at all, he just happens to excel at burying back breaking threes, and Vol Nation loves him for it. Jalen Johnson 6’ 7” 190 lbs. So. High Point, North Carolina Minutes are not easy to come by behind Admiral Schofield and Tennessee’s trio of Junior Guards, especially when you have to compete for time at the wing with some of Tennessee’s Forwards as well. That is precisely the uphill battle that sophomore Jalen Johnson finds before him coming into this season. However, like many of the younger players on this Vol roster, Johnson offers something different from his counterparts that could get him on the floor. That is his height and length. At 6’ 7” Johnson is the tallest guard that Rick Barnes has at his disposal. That wingspan gives Johnson potential as a defender just as his height gives his shot a launch point that is very difficult to block. Barring injury, Johnson won’t likely seen a ton of minutes this season, but he can still develop, contribute, and help this team win. Johnson offers Barnes another chess piece if he continues to develop, and this deep and varied Tennessee bench must contribute and rise to the occasions when they are called on if the Vols want to be celebrating at the end of March. These Vols have a lot of well-known commodities at the guard positions as they have played and won a lot of games in the SEC. Still, this entire group has now had another season to develop and get better individually and together. These guards, and the Tennessee Vols as a whole, are a team with a player somewhere on the bench suited to do complete whatever task Rick Barnes requires of them. This team has depth, experience, and versatility. An exceptionally young group last season has returned after an off season to work knowing that they have a chance to be special. The National Championship aspirations are both realistic and reasonable for this team. Watching how this team adjusts and attacks their opponents in pursuit of that goal should be fun for Vol Nation to watch.

When they entered the 2017-2018 season, the Tennessee Volunteers were picked to finish thirteenth by the national media……in the SEC. Fast forward one season and coming into the 2018-2019 season that same national media has Rick Barnes’s squad ranked sixth…...in the Nation. What a difference a year makes. Well, a year, a share of the SEC Regular Season Title, the returning SEC Player of the Year, the Returning SEC Sixth Man of the Year, an intact starting lineup, and a team that is hungry from an NCAA Tournament exit that was far too soon for their taste. The fact of the matter is that the Vols are opening with their highest pre-season ranking in the history of the program, and a compelling case can be made that they aren’t high enough. These Vols are already an exceptional squad, and the expectations are rightfully through the roof coming into this season. If Tennessee stays relatively healthy, this is a team that belongs in any conversation of teams that are favorites to bring home the National Title. Those are lofty expectations for this program, players, and staff, but there they are just the same. Keeping that in mind, let’s look at some of the different position groups for Tennessee going into the season. Perhaps the greatest strength Tennessee has going into this season is that they are one of the toughest matchups any team in the nation can draw. With their personnel, the Vols can play small, space the floor with shooters, play gritty defense with long athletes, play big, or grind teams down in the half court. Due to that versatility, some of these players will be listed in more than one group as they move depending on what the Vols choose to do. Today the players that the Vols primarily utilize as Forwards are up. Grant Williams 6’ 7” 241 lbs. Jr. Charlotte, North Carolina Tennessee has some questions about where certain players on this roster fit and how they will develop. None of those questions apply to the Junior from Charlotte, because the Vols know precisely what they have in the reigning SEC Player of the Year. Williams is a physical force down low that is capable of taking games over on either end of the floor. Though the Vols often utilize Williams at the five when they go small or feel they can push around an opponent’s post players, his natural and best position is as a Power Forward. Running the four, Williams doesn’t have to concern himself with being the rock of the defense and serving as the primary rim defender. This is particularly true when Kyle Alexander is on the floor, allowing Williams to be more aggressive on defense, using his strength and size to deny and cut off offensive players further from the rim. He can force opponents to make decisions sooner, denying easy looks that come from deep penetration into the paint. It also allows him to move more freely to play help defense and focus on pulling down defensive rebounds after he forces bad shots. There are few players in the SEC that are going to post up Grant Williams and back him down, he is simply too strong for that. That exceptional strength and the good footwork make Williams an impressive defender and rebounder that can wreck an opponent’s offensive game by shutting down an individual or the paint in general. And that isn’t even the strongest part of his game. When Grant Williams is playing at his best, it becomes clear that he has an NBA future because his game so closely resembles a long time NBA star that became a face of Tennessee’s NBA franchise. Watching Grant Williams at 6’ 7” and 241 pounds move fluidly and just out muscle everyone around him is like watching Zach Randolph at his best playing with the Memphis Grizzlies. Williams and Randolph share a similar body type, unique strength, exceptional basketball IQ, and an attitude with and without the ball. Like Randolph, Williams uses his strength and comfort with contact to move taller, but leaner, defenders and push them around. He uses his strength to create his own shot and finish it through contact, and to follow it and grab the rebound if he misses the shot. Also, like Randolph, Williams is an exceptional passer in the post, whether it needs to go outside, but often, on a quick pass to an open post-mate after the defense collapses on him. Williams is one of the faces of this Tennessee program, and he must continue to have success if the Vols want to reach the lofty heights they have their eyes on. It is because of his team first attitude and willingness to do the gritty, dirty jobs that others shy away from that Vol fans should feel those lofty expectations are realistic. Admiral Schofield 6’ 5” 241 lbs. Sr. Zion, Illinois Admiral is listed as a Guard by the Vols, however his excellent strength and technique, along with his hard-nosed attitude, often see the Vols use him at the three and even the four. When he is on, The Admiral is less of a Guard or Forward, and more of a force of nature. Admiral Schofield is one of the players from last season that was famously referred to by opposing coaches as one of the, “Pair of bulls,” Rick Barnes has at his disposal. Schofield is a player that has dedicated himself to elevating each part of his game in his time at Tennessee, and each season has seen him take steps forward. For all his physical skills, it may be Schofield’s attitude that makes him fit with this team and what Barnes wants so well. To share a conversation had while watching last season’s SEC Tournament, my thoughts on Schofield were, “If you asked that man to post up a velociraptor, not only would he do it, he’d make the shot and get the and one.” In a room of fifteen people with six different favorite SEC teams, no one argued with that statement. When Schofield is on the floor as a forward, particularly when he is playing at the four, it is when the Vols have decided to go small. For Rick Barnes, going small doesn’t see him encounter most of the negatives that typically associated with that decision. As a matter of fact, Tennessee’s small lineup excels at rebounding. While the duo of Williams and Schofield may give up some height to opponents in the low post, they always have the advantage in strength. Schofield is built like a middle linebacker on the football team, and when called on down low, he has the physicality of one. Few teams can handle the strength, toughness, and hustle of Williams and Schofield together down low as they feed off each other well, score effectively, and are superb rebounders. That said, the Vols would ideally like to see Schofield spend more time on the wing this season at the three or even the two. The Vols have more depth in the front court than with the Guards this year. Schofield can contribute significantly to both groups, and will be used in all three roles, but a team that can put the Admiral down low as a luxury, or have him working for rebounds on the wing, becomes frightening to contain. Schofield has talent and regularly stuffs the box score and the game film with plays a coach must love, but his basketball skills may not be the most valuable part of Schofield’s game for the Vols. The intensity that Schofield plays every minute with elevates his teammates, and they feed off his energy on both ends of the floor. Beyond elevating their play to rise to his, teammates know that a lapse in effort or play means they will be answering to Barnes as well as Schofield. This is a young man driven and determined to win, the rare senior in today’s college basketball, and his experience and maturity will pay dividends for this squad. Yves Pons 6’ 6” 205 lbs. So. Paris, France The Sophomore Frenchman was a prized, four-star addition to the Tennessee roster last season. Pons arrived at Tennessee knowing that he needed some development to see minutes for Rick Barnes. By all accounts he put in that work, however the progression of a few other players on the roster meant Pons didn’t see as many minutes as most anticipated. That said, Pons workload increased as the season went on. There should be more opportunities for the sophomore this season, especially with his size and length contributing to his ability to be the type of defender that Barnes covets. Pons also benefits on defense from his greatest strength, his incredible athleticism. Pons has speed, quickness, strength, and excellent leaping ability. The physical tools were clear to see during his minutes last season, and videos of the offseason have again demonstrated what a rare, pure athlete Pons is. If he can turn that abundance of athletic ability into an ability to create his own shot and score in isolation his role can expand on this team. Tennessee relies heavily on running their sets and playing offense within the framework of the play call. Tennessee doesn’t have many guys outside of Lamonte Turner that can simply hit the floor and start scoring. At times, particularly if a team is slowing down the calls or ball movement is poor, Tennessee can go very cold on offense. Tennessee needs to find someone they can pull off the bench and watch go score some points besides Turner. Pons has all the tools to be that kind of player for Barnes, and if he can develop into an instant offense player off the bench, with his length, there will be plenty of minutes for him this season. John Fulkerson 6’ 9” 210 lbs. So. Kingsport, TN Fulkerson arrived at Tennessee for the 16-17 season, and the Northeast Tennessee product was off to a promising start as a true freshman. Fulkerson was earning more playing time, shooting at a high percentage, and playing well in some big games for the Vols before a nasty injury cost him the rest of his true freshman campaign. Fulkerson was granted a medical redshirt for the 16-17 season and contributed off the bench for the Vols as a redshirt freshman last season. Fulkerson never looked quite the same last season as he had during his impressive start, but he had more than a little rust and recovery to deal with. Barnes wants to see Fulkerson expand his game for these Vols and contribute more on the boards, something that a year of healthy strength and conditioning should help. That is something Fulkerson needs to add, but he also needs to stick to what got him early success at Tennessee, which was being an efficient scorer that had solid range at 6’ 9”. Fulkerson’s size and range within the framework of this Tennessee team could be a matchup nightmare for opponents to defend. He must grow in terms of his defense and rebounding, but a five on the floor for the Vols from five to one of Alexander, Williams, Fulkerson, Schofield, and Turner as a group has exceptional size, great rebounding, good defense, and shooters all over the floor. Again, this is simply one group Barnes would have at his disposal, but it is one that is intriguing if Fulkerson can regain his stroke in terms of helping a Vol offense that went stagnant at times last season. Fulkerson’s ability to be a stretch forward and shoot from range with his size could contribute to helping the Tennessee offense avoid some of the doldrums that plagued them at times last season. If he can develop defensively and on the boards, he has a chance to see his role jump to what it looked like it could have grown into as a freshman. Derrick Walker 6’ 8” 238 lbs. So. Kansas City, Missouri Walker arrived from Kansas City as a big bodied freshman that showed a lot of hustle and willingness to fight for rebounds and play defense. Under Rick Barnes, those characteristics will get you some time on the floor. While Walker didn’t see a ton of minutes with the Vols relying more on their Guards last season, there are clearly minutes available on the wing, it is simply a matter of who will step up and take them. Walker’s size and defense mean that Barnes will be willing to put him on the floor and develop on offense since he trusts him on the other end. If Walker can show the ability to consistently put the ball on the floor and drive to the rim, he can become an asset on offense and a player that has the mentality and physical gifts to be a very good on ball defender. Walker offers more strength out on the wing than most of Tennessee’s other options. The different skill sets of these players mean that Barnes can insert the player he feels best fits the current situation, but outside of Schofield, Walker is unique on the wing for the Vols in his body type. Expect to see Walker on the floor, but just how much will depend on how far he and his teammates have progressed this off season. Tennessee will be so difficult for teams to matchup against this season on the hardwood because they have the personnel to play whatever style of basketball they are required to. That said, it does look like one of the spots on the wing could be up for grabs if a player steps up and takes it. There are minutes to be had, even if the time is filled by committee and dictated by situation. The depth of the Tennessee bench and their ability to contribute when called upon makes the Vols difficult to handle for any team in the country, allows them to overcome foul trouble, ensures they can match up against any style of defense, and allows them an opportunity to come out and compete for a National Title this season.

When they entered the 2017-2018 season, the Tennessee Volunteers were picked to finish thirteenth by the national media……in the SEC. Fast forward one season and coming into the 2018-2019 season that same national media has Rick Barnes’s squad ranked sixth…...in the Nation. What a difference a year makes. Well, a year, a share of the SEC Regular Season Title, the returning SEC Player of the Year, the Returning SEC Sixth Man of the Year, an intact starting lineup, and a team that is hungry from an NCAA Tournament exit that was far too soon for their taste. The fact of the matter is that the Vols are opening with their highest pre-season ranking in the history of the program, and a compelling case can be made that they aren’t high enough. These Vols are already an exceptional squad, and the expectations are rightfully through the roof coming into this season. If Tennessee stays relatively healthy, this is a team that belongs in any conversation of teams that are favorites to bring home the National Title. Those are lofty expectations for this program, players, and staff, but there they are just the same. Keeping that in mind, let’s look at some of the different position groups for Tennessee going into the season. Perhaps the greatest strength Tennessee has going into this season is that they are one of the toughest matchups any team in the nation can draw. With their personnel, the Vols can play small, space the floor with shooters, play gritty defense with long athletes, play big, or grind teams down in the half court. Due to that versatility, some of these players will be listed in more than one group as they move depending on what the Vols choose to do. Stepping from the inside out, the first group up will be the players Tennessee uses as their Centers. Kyle Alexander 6’ 11” 220 lbs. Sr. Malton, Ontario (Canada) Alexander arrived in Knoxville as a lean power forward prospect that Tennessee saw plenty of potential in but felt would require some development. The long Canadian has seen his role with the Vols increase each season and has seen his stats rise as a result. That said, the 17-18 saw Alexander take a huge stride forward for Tennessee, becoming one of the key players on the floor by the end of the season. A glance at the per game stats from Alexander last season won’t blow anyone away, however, what the Senior does so exceptionally well is less easily quantified by statistics. As last season progressed, Kyle Alexander developed into an excellent rim protector. He bought in entirely to Rick Barnes demanding that for his players earn minutes, they must play good defense. This resulted in Alexander becoming the rock, the anchor, of the Volunteer defense with the set shifting around him. Anyone attempting to drive the lane on the Vols was greeted at the rim by the 6’ 11” shot blocker. His length alone forces many players to alter their shots, but one of Alexander’s biggest steps last season was his ability to move his feet and stay in advantageous position at the rim. This meant opponents were forced to move their path and shot to get over the big man, or else risk him using his quickness to close a drive entirely down. Being forced to stop in the lane against Tennessee’s attacking defense meant being closed down on by the likes of Alexander, Grant Williams, and Admiral Schofield. In other words, the possession was often stopped dead at best, or often lead to a turnover and a fast break bucket for the Big Orange at worst. Alexander grew into a reliable defender down low, his skill allowing Barnes to be more aggressive with his defense on the perimeter, confident that if a Guard was beaten, Alexander could erase the mistake. That confidence in his big man as a defender meant that Alexander saw more minutes as the season went on. It also saw Alexander rise to the occasion. Beyond his defense, Alexander is good, scrappy rebounder on both ends of the floor. He has enough experience to know when to take a shot himself, when to kick a ball out, when to flip to Williams or Schofield down low, or when to look for an outlet to start a break. Realistically, Tennessee doesn’t ask Alexander to do a lot of heavy lifting as a scorer. The Vols want their big man to be the lynchpin of their defensive scheme, pulldown double digit rebounds, and take the shots he obviously needs to. An eight to ten point effort from Alexander is a good offensive night, but only if the rebound numbers don’t suffer. If Alexander can continue to grow as a player and increase his offensive production, even just catching passes when teams collapse on Grant Williams to make easy layups regularly, he becomes greater than the sum of his stats. Becoming a reliable post option, even if it comes primarily from making teams pay for collapsing on Williams and Schofield, makes the Vols exponentially more difficult to defend. Remaining the rock that the Tennessee defense is built upon is Alexander’s primary focus but increasing his efficiency on offense and as a rebounder is one of the steps that could push the Vols into the Final Four and beyond. DJ Burns 6’ 9” 248 lbs. Fr. Rock Hill, South Carolina Originally slated to enter college as a member of the 2019 recruiting cycle, the four-star Center from South Carolina was at the top of Tennessee’s wish list in that class. Then, late in the recruiting cycle, Burns was eligible to, and ultimately elected to, reclassify to join the 2018 recruiting cycle. Rick Barnes jumped at the opportunity to get Burns on campus a season earlier than anticipated, and Burns enrolled at Tennessee back in June. As a true freshman on a team with so much talent in the front court, Burns will have plenty of work to do in order to earn minutes in the upcoming season. Barnes was clear that he expected Burns to lose some weight, commit to conditioning, and get in SEC Basketball shape. Burns seems to have done what was asked and expected of him, and that dedication could pay off not only for him, but for his new team as well. One of the few holes for the 17-18 Vols was a lack of a true center, particularly when Kyle Alexander was forced off the floor with foul trouble or just needed a break. Tennessee often addressed this by having Grant Williams play in a role that was essentially that of a center with a smaller lineup that was filled with guys that played bigger than they were. This was a bruising lineup that the Vols had success with, but that could struggle at times when they encountered teams with exceptional length and athleticism down low. The best example of this hole was Tennessee’s early exit in the NCAA Tournament where the Vols clearly missed Alexander’s presence at the rim. The addition of Burns to this roster, particularly if he puts in the work and is ready to contribute immediately, fills that hole in a big way. Burns gives Tennessee an option for a true center to work around when Alexander needs to come off the floor, and allows the Vols depth on the bench to stay big with whoever they play, even with foul issues for Alexander or Williams. Burns is a talented offensive player with the size and strength to contribute as a defender, especially if he commits to taking the coaching Barnes demands on that end of the floor. There are minutes to be had for Burns if he will step up and take them, and a role available for him to fill that, like Alexander’s development, could lead to the Vols cutting down nets at the end of March. Dedication to conditioning, defense, and rebounding will get Burns on the floor and helping the Big Orange. His offensive prowess and ability to be a bench scoring option as a big, and a chess piece to use with some of Tennessee’s lead bulls could keep him there. Grant Williams 6’ 7” 241 lbs. Jr. Charlotte, North Carolina Vol fans need no introduction to what Grant Williams is capable of. The 17-18 SEC Player of the Year and the 18-19 Pre-Season Player of the Year has shown repeatedly that he can shoulder the load for Tennessee. Williams is listed as a Power Forward, and that is absolutely his true and best position on the floor for Rick Barnes. However, at 241 pounds, Williams is a slab of solid muscle that looks like he could probably play Tight End or Defensive End for the football team. That exceptional physicality and strength means that Williams is not only capable of filling the role of Center for Tennessee when they decide to go small, he excels at it. His unique body type, skillset, and the team around him means the Vols can kick the Junior to the five and watch him take over down low. It is rare to hear a 6’ 7” man referred to as, “Short,” but in the world of college basketball, that is a short Center. The distinction of, “Short,” versus, “Small,” is also important here. Williams will often give up several inches to an opponent if he is playing the five, but he is regularly the larger man. Williams uses his strength to fight through contact, get his own shot, and score. He also plays with an edge that sees him muscle out taller big men that simply lack his determination to come down with a rebound. Williams plays with a grit and physicality that have seen opposing coaches refer to him as a bully, a bull, and a grown man, respectively. Barnes is comfortable kicking Williams to the five because he can spread the floor with lengthy defenders, a couple good shooters, and watch Williams demolish taller men down low, meaning the Vols stay faster and quicker on defense without giving up much on the block on either end. Williams is a special talent, that is without a doubt, but his versatility makes him a perfect player for this team and what they do well. Tennessee would like to see Williams play more at his natural position at Power Forward this season, but make no mistake, he will be playing the five in this upcoming season, and his ability to do so effectively will determine whether Tennessee reaches their lofty expectations. These big men have a wide range of skills that demonstrate the flexibility that makes this version of the Vols so dangerous. Their defense and rebounding set the tone for the type of basketball Rick Barnes wants to have from his teams. Tennessee is starting higher than they ever have this season. If they want to finish the season with that same moniker, it will require a significant amount of success coming from down low.

After coming up short 27-24 in Columbia, the Vols return to Knoxville looking to rebound next week against Charlotte and attempt to take a step toward getting themselves bowl eligible. That said, these Vols are going to look at the tape and realize that they let an SEC East road win get away from them against the Gamecocks. Tennessee was up by as much as 21-9 before allowing a furious comeback to South Carolina. There is plenty of blame to go around in this one, but there are a few shortcomings that should be looked at in greater detail. The first is by far the most glaring. Tennessee’s defense has been solid for most of this season. They have had struggles against some elite teams in the nation and seen a few games get out of hand late, but for the most part, this unit has played solid football, could be counted on, and has shown improvement week to week as the season has gone on. Playing a South Carolina offense that has had a fair amount of struggles all season, despite have explosive play ability with Debo Samuel and Jake Bentley, the Vol defense was expected to be able to contain and limit what the Gamecocks could do with the ball. After an early interception by Shy Tuttle on a batted ball and playing tight coverage downfield against Carolina receivers, it looked early like the Volunteer defense was going to be up to the challenge. Then the Gamecocks got the ball back before the end of the first half. That possession represented the start of a string of offensive dominance by Carolina until the game’s conclusion. Beginning with the final possession of the first half, the Gamecocks had five possessions before the final whistle. On those possessions, they scored 24 points and ran the clock out to end the game, and had the game gone on, they were already well within field goal range on that drive. The Tennessee defense got torched in South Carolina’s final five possessions, and there is no way to sugar coat it. Carolina imposed their will when they chose to run the football, averaging nearly eight yards per carry in the second half of the game. The Gamecocks were just as efficient in the air during this stretch, completing a pair of very long throws, as well as having Samuel come up with a brilliant one-handed catch in the endzone just before the half. To make that play sting even more for the defense, it appeared Bentley was corralled for a potential sack when the man responsible for Samuel came up to pressure Bentley, allowing him to throw it up and give his star receiver an opportunity to make a play. Once the second half started, the Vols never even got close to slowing the Gamecocks. South Carolina went up and down the field, seemingly at will, hitting big play after big play. Tennessee was never able to adjust or correct, and the Vols looked as bad in the second half on defense as they have all season. Poor tackling, missed assignments, and losing one on one matchups contributed to what can only be described as a defensive meltdown. However, the failures to adjust to Carolina were a portion of a wider issue present in this matchup. Jeremy Pruitt is a first-year head coach with a well-documented and successful background as a defensive coordinator. This has all been discussed at length, however last night in Columbia those roles both came into play. First and foremost, Jeremy Pruitt calls his own defensive plays at Tennessee, meaning that he was not able to adjust his scheme to what Carolina was doing in the second half. Players must execute, but Pruitt lost the chess match in play calling to Bryan McClendon, South Carolina’s first year Offensive Coordinator, last night. Carolina came out of a bye week and showed Tennessee some new wrinkles, including a lot of 12 personnel, one running back and two tight ends, where the Gamecocks had tried to spread teams out for most of the season. He also came at Pruitt’s defense with a commitment to the running game that was new for the Carolina offense this season, a commitment that was successful and opened some of the deep throws that Carolina went for late. All in all, the last five offensive possessions for South Carolina went about as badly for everyone associated with the Volunteer defense as it possibly could have, including the coaches. As disappointed as Pruitt had to be as a defensive coordinator, Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt left Columbia with some bitter lessons to swallow. One of the only bright spots, it appeared, for the Vol defense in the second half of the game, was when Tennessee appeared to recover a Carolina fumble on the goal line. Replay showed that the ball was clearly out, and that Daniel Bituli emerged from the pile with the ball. The play was not whistled dead until Bituli was out and running with the ball. Broadcast replay clearly showed that the ball was out before the runner was down and a recovery by the Tennessee linebacker. The play was called down by contact on the field and the replay booth chose not to review the play. This was an instance where there was a breakdown in the Tennessee staff. Someone on staff is responsible for advising Pruitt when he would want to make a challenge. Shy Tuttle and Darrin Kirkland Jr. have stated in interviews that they knew the ball was out and a fumble. This was an instance that Jeremy Pruitt desperately needed to throw the challenge flag. The way Carolina was playing, they still could have won the game, but taking eight points off the board on a clear fumble could have led to a very different outcome. This situation, and decision to go on fourth down rather than attempt a long field goal or run on the preceding third down to make a field goal more manageable, meant a promising Tennessee possession came up totally empty. Perhaps the most bitter pill for Pruitt, though, will be the handling of the Volunteers’ final possession before the half. Tennessee got the ball after Samuel’s incredible one-handed touchdown catch, and the Vol offense was having success moving the ball against the Gamecocks. Tennessee looked to initially be running to kill the clock, and then Ty Chandler popped a long run for a first down. The Vols had 50 seconds left in the half with a timeout in their pocket. In college football, with receivers like Tennessee possesses, that is plenty of time to at least attempt to get into field goal range. Rather than push for points, Pruitt elected to take a knee and let the clock run out, leaving the Vols with a timeout in the pocket and a chance at points left on the field. Tennessee and Pruitt seemed to be playing to avoid the big mistake, to not lose, rather than pushing for points at every opportunity in a game on the road that points are historically at a premium for. It comes back as an opportunity that the Vols decided at the half that they didn’t need, and one that they wished they had taken in the fourth quarter. Missed opportunities weren’t limited to the coaching staff, however, as both failed chances and self-inflicted mistakes contributed to the Tennessee loss. That Tennessee has serious issues on the offensive line is well documented. That those issues became even worse when the best player on the roster, left tackle Trey Smith, was sidelined indefinitely due to a recurrence of blood clots in his lungs goes without saying. Even with all that in mind, the Volunteer offensive line turned in another deficient performance against the Gamecocks. Tyson Helton called a game that saw Jarrett Guarantano throwing a multitude of screen passes, slants, and crossing routes that were designed to get the ball out of his hands quickly. Even then, Guarantano was regularly hit and hit hard on three step drops, sometimes not even having his back foot set before getting the ball out. The Vol offensive line then added a further degree of difficulty to the situation they kept their quarterback and offensive coordinator in by false starting five times, all on third or fourth down, and usually making a manageable conversion into a much longer attempt. Even then, Guarantano and the receivers were excellent at picking up conversions against one of the best third down percentage defenses in America. The blocking for the run game by the line was not as bad as the pass protection, but it was not at an acceptable level. Despite the beating he took and needing to rush dink and dunk passes behind a porous line, Guarantano threw for over 200 yards, a pair of touchdowns, and no interceptions. He also took a few shots down the field and delivered them on target to Josh Palmer. Unfortunately for the Vols, the drops that had plagued Palmer resurfaced in this contest and he couldn’t reel in any of the long passes that he had a shot at. Those drops, along with a couple uncharacteristic drops in key places by Marquez Callaway, meant that the Vols literally let yards and opportunities slip through their fingers. Beyond the drops, two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on the receivers, one on Callaway and one on Jauan Jennings after a touchdown, also hurt the Vols. The Jennings penalty gave South Carolina excellent field position, that the Gamecocks turned into a score, and the penalty on Callaway killed a Tennessee drive forcing the Vols to play for a field goal on what looked to have a shot at being a touchdown drive. The Volunteers leave Columbia knowing that they left opportunities on the turf of Williams-Brice Stadium, and knowing that they let a game they should have won slip through their fingers. This tape is going to be pleasant for neither the Volunteer players nor their coaches. Expect a very tough practice leading up to the game against Charlotte on Saturday. Tennessee needs to win three of their final four games to get themselves bowl eligible, and they squandered an excellent opportunity at capturing a conference win on Saturday night. There were bitter lessons to be learned in the aftermath of the trip to Columbia, but if the Vols can learn from them, tighten up, and correct them, they still have a chance to use them to get into the post season. Whether looking back on this Carolina trip becomes bittersweet or stays plain bitter for the Vols will depend on whether they can process and grow. The Miners are this week for Tennessee, but preparation will be toward trying to get another conference win and pushing to a bowl with a contest against Kentucky looming. Hopefully, Tennessee learns these hard lessons well, and is able to teach them to a few opponents remaining on the schedule.

The Tennessee Volunteers (3–4) travel to Columbia, South Carolina this weekend to battle the South Carolina Gamecocks (3–3). The Vols led by Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt are coming off of a hard loss to the #1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, while The Gamecocks were off last weekend on a Bye. One can only wonder which Tennessee team Vol fans will see on Saturday. Will it be the team that gave up 6 turnovers against Florida, or will be the team that was quick to silence the talk of another 0–8 season in the SEC against Auburn? Let’s hope that it’s the ladder. Game Info: Where: Columbia, South Carolina When: 7:30 p.m. E.T. Line: South Carolina -7.5 Weather: 60 degrees and Partly Cloudy How to watch: SEC Network Players to Watch: Tennessee: Jarrett Guarantano: After going down early in the Alabama game with what has been reported as bruised ribs, Guarantano will be ready to go in Columbia. JG had a huge weekend two weeks ago in Auburn throwing for 328 yards and 2 TD’s. Will he be able to continue that against a somewhat struggling Will Muschamp defense? If the Vols want to be able to take home a big SEC East win, Guarantano will need to be able to take advantage of his receivers and stretch the field vertically. South Carolina: Rashad Fenton: A name most Tennessee fans probably don’t recognize, Fenton is actually one of the top 20 defensive players in the country according to CBSsports.com. We all know what Tennessee wants to do on offense. Helton wants to go vertical and stretch the field. Fenton might end up as a thorn in Helton’s side. Totalling 3 interceptions on the year, Rashad Fenton has been nothing short of impressive. Will he be able to line up across the likes of Marquez Callaway and Josh Palmer and keep them from making big plays, limiting Tennessee’s recent success on the deep ball? Predictions: David: 34–21 UT. “Guarantano comes back strong after that nasty hit last week vs. Bama. Ty Chandler and Tim Jordan open the running game back up and account for more than 200 yards rushing between them.” John: 31-20 UT. “South Carolina’s offense has had trouble with decent defenses all year. Tennessee’s defense has improved every week on the season. I expect to see Tennessee win the turnover battle 3/0, and capitalize off of those turnovers.” Laray: 21-17 UT. “Tennessee dominates on defense. Sloppy game on offense but takes care of business.” Nate: 28-17 UT. “I think South Carolina's play calling will be to predictable for Jeremy Pruitt this weekend. Jake Bentley has struggled all season behind a not so good offensive line. I think we actually open the run game back up this weekend.” Brandon: 17-10 UT. “A tight, defensive game. The Vols struggle with the Gamecock D Line, but take advantage of a short field or two courtesy of turnovers forced by the defense. Look for Jauan Jennings to make an impact with his size.” Cameron: 27-20. "The Curse of Will Muschamp is finally broken. It won't be a pretty game, but being a must win for Tennessee, I think they pull it out."

Jeremy Pruitt notched the signature win of his debut season as the University of Tennessee Head Coach on Saturday. After upsetting a top-25 ranked Auburn team on the road, Tennessee finally broke their 11-game conference losing streak. The win on the Plains also marked Tennessee’s first victory against Auburn since 1999 and their first victory on the road against Auburn since 1998. Auburn may be on shaky foundations at the moment, but don’t let that take away from what this young Volunteers team was able to accomplish. Jarrett Guarantano played the best game of his young career. Going 21-32 for 328 yards with 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions, Guarantano proved that he was capable of making accurate throws on time and down field. There were many throws you can look to from Saturday’s film that would show hard evidence of Guarantano’s development as a passing quarterback, but look no further than Tennessee’s third down conversion percentage. On the day, Tennessee was 10-19 on third down. Those numbers may not be overly impressive, but what makes them look even better is that on eight of those third downs, Tennessee needed at least eight yards or more. They were 8/8 on such plays. With Guarantano finding nine different wide receivers on the day, the Tennessee passing attack looked more balanced than it has since the late 90’s. Unable to find much success on the ground, the Volunteer wide receivers stepped up in a big way. Josh Palmer continues to show development at receiver. Leading Tennessee in reception yards on Saturday with 84, Palmer has emerged as a favorite target for Guarantano. Marquez Callaway came up with two huge third down catches to convert for first downs, and help lead the Volunteers to score. Having a hard time getting involved by running the ball, running back Ty Chandler found a way to help Tennessee’s offense through the air, including a 42 yard touchdown reception and a massive catch as he tip-toed down the left sideline that was negated by a penalty a few plays prior. The Volunteers finally found a way to get their star wide receiver, Jauan Jennings, involved heavily in the offense. Jennings has long provided an emotional spark for the Volunteers. Whether it was helping break the streak against Florida, or catching the game-winning hail-Mary against Georgia, Jennings brings an extra factor to the field. Jennings played a solid game on Saturday, catching five passes for 71 yards and a touchdown. Tennessee’s receiving core finally showed that they were worthy of the praise surrounding their size and ability. Although Tennessee was unable to get much going on the ground, they still found enough success on offense to maintain the time of possession, 34:01-25:59. Tennessee’s special teams also played exceptionally well. Barring a blocked 45+ yard field goal attempt, the Tennessee kicking game was more successful than not on the day. Brent Cimaglia was 3 of 4 kicking on the day, with a long of 45 yards. Joy Doyle also played a big role in helping Tennessee flip the field, including a 40+ yard punt that rolled to the Auburn 2 yard line. Tennessee’s defense played fantastic in the pass rush. Senior defensive end Kyle Phillips had nine total tackles on the day, including an assisted strip-sack on Jarrett Stidham that led to a Tennessee Touchdown. Defensive backs Alontae Taylor, Baylen Buchanan and Bryce Thompson all played well in coverage, allowing the defense time to disrupt Stidham in the pocket. Alontae Taylor recovered a fumble for a touchdown, and Thompson had a big interception and a huge deflection that would have been a touchdown. Jonathan Kongbo has shown great strides under Jeremy Pruitt. Switching from a defensive lineman position to linebacker, Kongbo has developed into a well-rounded linebacker. Late in the game, Kongbo went down with an apparent torn ACL, and will miss the rest of the season. The Volunteers will look to fill the void with Will Ignont or Quart’e Sapp. Late in the game, Daniel Bituli was assessed a penalty for targeting, and will miss the first half of the upcoming Alabama game. With Kongbo out due to injury, and Bituli sidelined for a half, might the Volunteers use J.J. Peterson? Only time will tell. With the win on the road against a top-25 in-conference opponent, things seem to be looking up for the Volunteers. Tennessee won’t have time to revel in the win, as they play host to the visiting Crimson Tide of Alabama. The Tide come in to Knoxville, yet again, ranked as the #1 team in the nation. Tennessee will have to build off of this victory and play the game of their lives to take down the Goliath of college football. Jeremy Pruitt has the opportunity to be the first Nick Saban assistant to upset the legendary coach.

There won't be much time to celebrate. Auburn is a dwindling team on a downward trend. The Vols hadn't won an SEC game in 11 games, 99 weeks, or 693 days. We are still going to lose to Alabama this upcoming week. We are still trash. We got lucky. We are losers. All of these are things I've read involving the game, but none of those things matter to us Volunteer fans. We have ended the streak, the first step in my opinion to a turn around. We looked good. Tyson Helton called a smooth game. Jarrett Guarantano had the best game of his career going 21-32 (65.3& CMP%) 328 yards 2 TD and 0 INT. Jauan (Clutch Time) Jennings was back in full effect and the team chemistry never looked greater. It was a great day to be a Volunteer at a time when we needed it the most. With this win the talk of Post Season Bowl Games are back. Talk of a winning record is back. And the Vols seem to have found some light in the dimmest time in UT Football history. Not by just beating a team to end the losing streak but a Top 25 team at that. To those Vol fans still here, still standing tall, strong, and proud I commend you. There are no fans more loyal and greater than us Volunteers. We all keep believing no matter who is at the helm. There is a lot to be said about a person and their pride for East Tennessee, and the Tennessee Volunteers. It falls second to none. So for every Vols fan reading this I want to personally thank you for being here at a time when the program needs you the most. All we can do now is put the losing streak in the past and take each week one step at a time. Nothing will be given this season. There are no guaranteed victories left (except Charlotte) so I recommend taking each victory as if it was your first and basking it in from week to week. Remaining Schedule I don't want to make this into a prediction article, but I will tell you this, none of this will be easy. At the chance of having Kentucky and Vanderbilt lengthen their winning streaks against of, is nothing but more hurt that no Vols fan wants to hear, but it very well could happen. Our best case scenario after the Alabama game is that we can end our win-less streak vs Will Muschamp coached teams by defeating South Carolina. That would give us a 2 game winning streak, and confidence, going into the Kentucky vs Tennessee game (which is at home). It's hard to believe if we ran the table that we could be 8-4 going into bowl season. It would be an amazing first year for Jeremy Pruitt and his Vols. Tho its not in the most likely scenario, it is still a very real possibility and that's what Volunteer fans need the most. Hope. Something that has seemed to evade us these past two years. A belief in things getting better. Hope in victory, Hope in improvement. This season won't be remembered as one of the greatest in Tennessee history. It won't have a banner hung up for years to come so people can remember the legacy it left behind. It's not a season we will brag about to opposing SEC and football fans in the work place, but maybe this season can have a special feeling to it if we allow it. Maybe this will be the season that we allow ourselves to see the writing between the scores. Look a bit deeper than record to see improvement. To see the re-implementation of a winning culture at a historically dominate program. Pruitt is the man who can bring us back and this season is proof sometimes recovery isn't beautiful, but nothing about being a Volunteer usually is. Being a Volunteer is etched into our license plates and our souls. It's a sign of the warriors that live and call this state home. When the time calls there are no braver, no stronger, no tougher group of people than the residents of the wonderful state of Tennessee. We pack a stadium week in and week out with 100,000 plus fans ready for battle every given Saturday. We are passionate winners who are willing to give all of our heart and devotion when we truly love something. So buckle up folks, the battle is upon us, and we aren't going down without a fight. Go. Vols.

By: John Dunn (TPA; KPA) Alabama (1) – It's no surprise to anyone that Alabama is still the #1 team in college football. Throughout his tenure at Alabama, Coach Nick Saban has built a dynasty that has been sustained for a decade. Whether it’s recruiting, development, or just “X’s and O’s and Jimmys and Joes”, Alabama does everything at the highest of levels. Thus far in the 2018 season, Alabama has made it look exceptionally easy, including a 56-14 routing of LA-Lafayette this past weekend. I look for the Crimson Tide to make a return trip to the College Football National Title Game in 2018. Grade: A+ Arkansas (UR) – After last season, the Razorbacks of Arkansas decided to part ways with head coach, Brett Bielema, and hire SMU head coach, Chad Morris. During his short time at Arkansas, Morris has recruited at a higher level than most Arkansas fans are used to, however, Morris’ head coaching acumen has yet to come to the forefront. With Arkansas dropping games to lesser opposition such as North Texas, it seems to be a rebuilding year for the Razorbacks. Razorback Nation’s hope for improvement was renewed this past weekend, with a close game against quality opposition in the Texas A&M Aggies. Although the Razorbacks fell short (24-17), they showed determination and an unwillingness to go down without a fight. Grade: D+ Auburn (8) – Coming in at #8 in the country, the Auburn Tigers are asserting themselves as a legitimate threat in the West. Jarret Stidham has acclimated to the offense in record time, and has helped set the pace for the Auburn offense. Behind a decent offensive line, they have found success on the ground as much as through the air. However, unable to completely and easily put away an inferior Southern Mississippi team this past weekend (24-13), Auburn seems to be feeling some residual effects of a last second loss to LSU. If Auburn can maintain their aggressiveness in the trenches, and overcome their mental blockage from LSU, they will continue to contend for the SEC West. Grade: B Florida (22) – Former Offensive Coordinator Dan Mullen was hired as head coach during the offseason. Coming off a horrendous season, the Gators look to recapture the glory of the Urban Meyer/Tim Tebow days, behind the offensive mind of Coach Mullen. Mullen is arguably one of the best quarterback developers in all of NCAA D-1 football. He has proven that he can take a young quarterback with a “gun-slinger” type arm, and find success early in the season. In Dan Mullen’s return trip to Starkville to face his former team as the opposing head coach for the first time this past weekend, Florida found a way to win against a scrappy Mississippi State team, 13-6. With the Gator’s lone loss coming by way of a better than advertised Kentucky team, they have shown that they are not as down as thought in the preseason. Grade: C+ Georgia (2) – Coming in at #2 in the country, the Bulldogs of Georgia have asserted themselves as a powerhouse in the SEC East, as well as, all of college football once again. Behind the arm of Jake Fromm and the legs of DeAndre Swift, Georgia is in prime position to maintain control of the SEC East, with the opportunity to make a run at a national title once again. Other than a lackluster three quarters against a pesky Tennessee team this past weekend, the Bulldogs have made it look exceptionally easy so far this season. If Georgia maintains the level of play they have been playing at for the past few weeks, expect to see them make a deep run in the CFP. Grade: A+ Kentucky (13) —Currently ranked #13 in the AP top-25 college football poll, the Wildcats have emerged as one of the main teams set to contend with SEC East powerhouse, Georgia, for control of the division. Behind the arm and legs of Terry Wilson, the Wildcats have proven they can play with anyone in the SEC. After a very decisive win against the Gamecocks on Saturday by a score of 24-10, Kentucky remains unbeaten. With Benny Snell at running back, and Josh Allen at linebacker, you can’t count the Wildcats out of any game this season. It looks to be a fun one for UK. Grade: B+ LSU (5) – Currently ranked #5, LSU has proven that they have found their rhythm. Behind the arm of transfer quarterback, Joe Burrow, the Tigers have shown that they are once again contenders in the SEC West. Upsetting then top-5 ranked Auburn on a last second field goal, LSU finally started getting the recognition they were deserving of. Coach Ogeron has definitively seemed to remove himself from the “hot seat” discussion that has spilled over from last season. If LSU maintains consistency throughout the next 6 weeks, look for them to be in a “New Year’s Six” bowl game, and finish as one of the top teams in the nation. After cruising to a 45-16 victory over the Rebels of Ole Miss on Saturday, LSU remains in position to content with Alabama for absolute control of the SEC West. Grade: A Mississippi State (UR) – Coming in at #17 in the country in week 1, there was a lot of hype surrounding the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Bolstering one of the best defensive back groups in the entire nation, the Bulldogs were poised to have a monumental season. With a tough loss to the Florida Gators and former Bulldog head coach, Dan Mullen, on Saturday, the Bulldogs have fallen out of contention for the SEC West. First year head coach Jim Morehead looks to rely on veteran athletes retained from the Dan Mullen era, to help the team overcome adversity. Look for Mississippi State to regain their footing and make it to a bowl game. Grade: C+ Ole Miss (UR) – The Rebels of Ole Miss are still under an NCAA postseason ban, due to residual consequences from Hugh Freeze’s tenure as the Rebel head coach. Ole Miss has since seen a multitude of transfers to other schools, most notably, Shae Patterson (Michigan). There are still a lot of offensive weapons that remain in Oxford, MS. However, the post season ban seems to be a deterrent on the recruiting trail. Dropping a tough game to SEC West contender LSU on Saturday, the Rebels look to reorganize before the end of the season. Grade: D Missouri (UR) – Missouri is one of the most enigmatic teams in all of college football. Behind the arm of veteran quarterback Drew Lock, the Tigers have found plenty of success through the air. A lot of people forget that Missouri has one of the best running backs in the SEC as well in, Damarea Crockett. If Missouri can find a rhythm under the direction of new Offensive Coordinator and former Tennessee head coach, Derek Dooley, and polish things on the defensive side of the ball, they will be a force to be reckoned with, especially in the SEC East. After a needed BYE week this past Saturday, Missouri hopes to be rested up prior to a match-up with the Gamecocks of South Carolina. Grade: C+ South Carolina (UR) – South Carolina was getting a lot of hype in the SEC East preseason rankings. Quarterback Jake Bentley is now a veteran quarterback, and South Carolina has a trio of homerun threats at wide receiver. The Gamecocks were picked to finish second in the East, but After a lackluster week two performance against Georgia, the hype train was halted. With a decisive loss against Kentucky on Saturday, South Carolina has been trending straight downward. Grade: C- Tennessee (UR) – First year head coach Jeremy Pruitt has a very steep uphill climb ahead of him this season. After poor showings against lesser opposition, the Tennessee fan base is in disarray. Tennessee’s offensive line has appeared extremely inexperienced, their defensive backs have appeared lost, and there has been turmoil amongst players on the sidelines. After a massacre at the hands of SEC East rival, Florida, Tennessee has had no time to slow down. Facing three straight top-ten opponents, Tennessee looks to quickly build off of some hard-learned lessons from the past few weeks. With a solid showing against the nation’s number #2 ranked Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, the Volunteers have shown flashes of improvement, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Grade: D+ Texas A&M (UR) – First year Aggie coach Jimbo Fisher is no stranger to the big stages of college football. Leading the Florida State Seminoles to the BCS National Championship in 2014, Fisher has since moved on to bigger and better things in the SEC. With talent littered throughout the roster in College Station, Fisher looks to build off of an already deep unit of skill position players and find success in the gauntlet of the SEC West. A poor showing against a fair Arkansas team on Saturday, shows that Fisher still has work to do in College Station. Grade: B- Vanderbilt (UR) – Not known for being a strong football program, the Commodores of Vanderbilt have proven they have gotten much better. After a 5-point loss to 8th ranked Notre Dame, many believed that Vanderbilt was ready to contend for the SEC East, however, after struggling to put away an inferior Tennesse State team on Saturday, the Commodores look forward to another chance to prove themselves as contenders in the SEC. Grade: C+