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Tennessee Volunteers: SEC East
Tennessee will have an entirely different look this year as the Volunteers fired the defensive-minded Jeremy Pruitt and poached Josh Heupel from UCF after a great job with the Knights.
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With an offensive-minded approach, Heupel hopes he can take the success he's had over the last three years and help Tennessee reach its first SEC Championship Game since 1998.
Here's a look at the Tennessee Volunteers' strengths and weaknesses heading into the 2021-2022 season.
2021-2022 SEC East Conference preview: Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee's strengths: Will the running back duo of Jabari Small and Tiyon Evans turn into a strength? That's the Vols' hope, as there's not much juice in the passing game for it to compete within the SEC.
Tennessee's weaknesses: The offense was bad last season. Like, really bad. Heupel will obviously help, but until we see the results on the field, scoring is still going to be the main weakness of the Vols.
Tennessee Volunteers key player: Offense
QB Harrison Bailey: The Volunteers have an interesting quarterback situation developing, but they'll likely stick with Bailey to start the season. He was a fine player in 2020, completing over 70% of his throws in six games as a freshman. There's talent to be unlocked.
Tennessee Volunteers key player: Defense
DB Alontae Taylor: Senior Alontae Taylor returns for his final season with the Vols hoping to bounce back from a disappointing year under Pruitt. Even though the new head coach is offensive minded, he'll count on Taylor to be a leader in the locker room. He's also a fine player, with 102 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles during his three-year career.
2021-2022 Tennessee Volunteers schedule
Week 1: Thursday, September 2 vs. Bowling Green Falcons
Week 2: Saturday, September 11 vs. Pittsburgh Panthers
Week 3: Saturday, September 18 vs. Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles
Week 4: Saturday, September 25 at Florida Gators
Week 5: Saturday, October 2 at Missouri Tigers
Week 6: Saturday, October 9 vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
Week 7: Saturday, October 16 vs. Ole Miss Rebels
Week 8: Saturday, October 23 at Alabama Crimson Tide
Week 9: Bye week
Week 10: Saturday, November 6 at Kentucky Wildcats
Week 11: Saturday, November 13 vs. Georgia Bulldogs
Week 12: Saturday, November 20 vs. South Alabama Jaguars
Week 13: Saturday, November 27 vs. Vanderbilt Commodores
2021-2022 Tennessee Volunteers prediction (6-6 overall, 2-6 SEC)
It won't be easy for Heupel to replicate the same level of success he's had in the AAC to the SEC, but he's more than capable of doing the job. If he reaches the bowl season in 2021 it's going to be a successful first year as he's inherited a roster he hasn't even recruited.
It's difficult to envision a shot for the SEC East, but the team will be part of the bowl season.
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