Tennessee Volunteers Football Team 2023 Preview

Introduction about Tennessee Volunteers football team

The Tennessee Volunteers football team is the intercollegiate football team that represents the University of Tennessee. The team competes in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and its home stadium is Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Volunteers are nicknamed the “Vols” or the “Big Orange”.

The Vols have won 16 conference championships and claim six national championships, including two (1951, 1998) from major wire-service polls. The team has had many prominent players over the years, including Peyton Manning, Reggie White, and Eric Berry.

The current head coach of the Vols is Josh Heupel. He was hired in December 2021.

Here are some of the most prominent players in Tennessee Volunteers football history

Peyton Manning (QB, 1994-97)
Reggie White (DL, 1980-83)
Eric Berry (S, 2007-10)
Johnny Majors (RB, 1967-70)
Condredge Holloway (QB, 1972-74)
Doug Dickey (QB, 1959-61)
Alvin Kamara (RB, 2015-16)
Tee Martin (QB, 1997-2000)
Josh Malone (WR, 2015-18)
Alvin Harper (WR, 1992-94)

The Vols have had a long and storied history in college football. They are one of the most successful programs in the country, and they have produced some of the greatest players in the game.

History about Tennessee Volunteers football team

The Tennessee Volunteers football team was founded in 1891. The team’s first game was played on November 21, 1891, against Sewanee. The Vols lost the game 18-0.

The Vols’ early history was marked by a lot of success. The team won its first conference championship in 1907 and its first national championship in 1951. The Vols also won national championships in 1998 and 1999.

The Vols’ success continued into the 21st century. The team won conference championships in 2001, 2004, and 2007. The Vols also played in the BCS National Championship Game in 2007.

The Vols have had some recent struggles. The team has not won a conference championship since 2007 and has not played in a major bowl game since 2008. However, the Vols have a lot of young talent on their roster, and they are expected to be competitive in the SEC in the years to come.

Here are some of the most notable moments in Tennessee Volunteers football history

1951: The Vols win their first national championship, defeating the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the Sugar Bowl.
1998: The Vols win their second national championship, defeating the Florida Gators in the Fiesta Bowl.
1999: The Vols finish the season undefeated, but are not awarded the national championship due to a controversial loss to the Auburn Tigers.
2001: The Vols win their first SEC championship since 1998, defeating the Arkansas Razorbacks in the SEC Championship Game.
2004: The Vols win their second SEC championship in three years, defeating the LSU Tigers in the SEC Championship Game.
2007: The Vols play in the BCS National Championship Game, losing to the LSU Tigers.

The Tennessee Volunteers football team is one of the most successful programs in college football history. The Vols have won 16 conference championships and claim six national championships. The team has had many prominent players over the years, including Peyton Manning, Reggie White, and Eric Berry. The Vols are a proud tradition in college football, and they are expected to be competitive for years to come.

Coaching Staff Information about Tennessee Volunteers football team

Head Coach: Josh Heupel

Josh Heupel is the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers football team. He was hired in December 2021. Heupel previously served as the head coach of the UCF Knights from 2018 to 2021. Heupel played college football as a quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners from 1999 to 2000.

Heupel’s coaching philosophy is to run a high-tempo, spread offense. He believes that this type of offense can be very successful in the SEC, and he has been successful running it at UCF. Heupel also believes in developing his players both on and off the field. He wants his players to be good football players, but he also wants them to be good students and citizens.

Offensive Coordinator: Alex Golesh

Alex Golesh is the offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Volunteers football team. He was hired by Heupel in December 2021. Golesh previously served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at UCF from 2018 to 2021. Golesh played college football as a wide receiver for the Bowling Green Falcons from 2005 to 2008.

Golesh’s coaching philosophy is to run a fast-paced, spread offense. He believes that this type of offense can be very successful in the SEC, and he has been successful running it at UCF. Golesh also believes in developing his players both on and off the field. He wants his players to be good football players, but he also wants them to be good students and citizens.

Quarterbacks Coach: Joey Halzle

Joey Halzle is the quarterbacks coach of the Tennessee Volunteers football team. He was hired by Heupel in December 2021. Halzle previously served as the quarterbacks coach at UCF from 2018 to 2021. Halzle played college football as a quarterback for the North Dakota Fighting Hawks from 2007 to 2010.

Halzle’s coaching philosophy is to develop his quarterbacks into leaders and playmakers. He believes that quarterbacks are the most important position on the field, and he wants his quarterbacks to be able to make plays when the game is on the line. Halzle also believes in developing his quarterbacks’ mental toughness. He wants his quarterbacks to be able to handle the pressure of playing in big games.

Wide Receivers Coach: Kelsey Pope

Kelsey Pope is the wide receivers coach of the Tennessee Volunteers football team. He was hired by Heupel in December 2021. Pope previously served as an offensive analyst at Tennessee in 2021. Pope played college football as a wide receiver for the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles from 2013 to 2016.

Pope’s coaching philosophy is to develop his wide receivers into playmakers. He believes that wide receivers are the most explosive players on the field, and he wants his wide receivers to be able to make big plays when the team needs them. Pope also believes in developing his wide receivers’ route running. He wants his wide receivers to be able to run crisp routes and get open for their quarterbacks.

Running Backs Coach: Jerry Mack

Jerry Mack is the running backs coach of the Tennessee Volunteers football team. He was hired by Heupel in December 2021. Mack previously served as the running backs coach at UCF from 2018 to 2021. Mack played college football as a running back for the Appalachian State Mountaineers from 2002 to 2005.

Mack’s coaching philosophy is to develop his running backs into tough, physical runners. He believes that running backs are the heart and soul of the offense, and he wants his running backs to be able to run between the tackles and gain tough yards. Mack also believes in developing his running backs’ pass catching skills. He wants his running backs to be able to be a threat in the passing game.

Offensive Line Coach: Glen Elarbee

Glen Elarbee is the offensive line coach of the Tennessee Volunteers football team. He was hired by Heupel in December 2021. Elarbee previously served as the offensive line coach at UCF from 2018 to 2021. Elarbee played college football as an offensive lineman for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers from 2000 to 2003.

Elarbee’s coaching philosophy is to develop his offensive linemen into technically sound blockers.

Tennessee Volunteers football team information about players

Name	Jersey	Position	Height	Weight	Year of High School	Rating
Hendon Hooker	3	Quarterback	6’4″	225 lbs	2017	4-star
Nico Iamaleava	10	Quarterback	6’5″	230 lbs	2022	5-star
Jalin Hyatt	11	Wide Receiver	6’0″	180 lbs	2019	4-star
Cedric Tillman	12	Wide Receiver	6’3″	195 lbs	2019	4-star
Jimmy Calloway	15	Wide Receiver	6’1″	185 lbs	2022	4-star
Jaylen Wright	25	Running Back	5’10”	200 lbs	2020	4-star
Tiyon Evans	28	Running Back	5’11”	205 lbs	2021	4-star
Justin Johnson	44	Defensive Tackle	6’3″	290 lbs	2020	4-star
Matthew Butler	90	Defensive Tackle	6’2″	300 lbs	2018	3-star
Omari Thomas	92	Defensive End	6’4″	260 lbs	2022	5-star
Byron Young	94	Defensive End	6’5″	260 lbs	2020	4-star

Tennessee Volunteers football team’s last 10 years of records

Year	Overall Record	SEC Record
2022	7-6	4-4
2021	5-7	3-5
2020	3-7	2-6
2019	8-5	4-4
2018	6-7	4-4
2017	4-8	0-8
2016	9-4	5-3
2015	7-6	5-3
2014	9-4	4-4

The Vols have had a mixed bag of results in the last 10 years. They have had some good seasons, such as 2019 and 2015, when they went 8-5 and 9-4, respectively. However, they have also had some down seasons, such as 2016 and 2017, when they went 4-8 and 4-8, respectively.

The Vols are hoping to build on their success from 2019 and 2021 in 2023. They have a new head coach in Josh Heupel, and they have a lot of young talent on their roster. The Vols will be hoping that they can put it all together and have a successful season in 2023.

Season Preview: Tennessee Volunteers football team

The Vols are coming off a 7-6 season in 2022. They were 4-4 in the SEC, which was good enough for a fourth-place finish in the Eastern Division. The Vols lost a few key players from last year’s team, including quarterback Joe Milton III, wide receiver Cedric Tillman, and defensive tackle Matthew Butler. However, they also return a lot of talent, including quarterback Hendon Hooker, wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, and defensive end Byron Young.

The Vols’ strengths in 2023 will be their offense and their defense. The offense will be led by Hooker, who is a dual-threat quarterback who can make plays with his arm and his legs. The offense will also have a lot of weapons, including Hyatt, Jaylen Wright, and Jimmy Calloway. The defense will be led by Young, who is a disruptive force on the edge. The defense will also have a lot of experience, including Justin Johnson, Omari Thomas, and Caleb Spurlin.

The Vols’ weaknesses in 2023 will be their offensive line and their secondary. The offensive line lost a lot of experience from last year’s team. The secondary will also be young, and they will need to develop quickly if the Vols want to be successful in 2023.

The Vols’ potential challenges in 2023 will be their schedule and their expectations. The Vols have a tough schedule, and they will be expected to win more games than they did in 2022. If the Vols can overcome these challenges, they could have a successful season in 2023.

Here is a table of the Tennessee Volunteers football team’s 2023 schedule

Date	Opponent	Location
September 2	Virginia	Knoxville, Tennessee
September 9	Austin Peay	Knoxville, Tennessee
September 16	Florida	Gainesville, Florida
September 23	UTSA	Knoxville, Tennessee
September 30	South Carolina	Columbia, South Carolina
October 7	Texas A&M	College Station, Texas
October 14	Kentucky	Lexington, Kentucky
October 21	Missouri	Knoxville, Tennessee
October 28	LSU	Baton Rouge, Louisiana
November 4	Ole Miss	Knoxville, Tennessee
November 11	Arkansas	Fayetteville, Arkansas
November 18	Vanderbilt	Nashville, Tennessee