Tennessee’s football program has been one gigantic cram session ever since Josh Heupel was hired in late January, but this week has taken it to a new level.
When the Volunteers open Southeastern Conference play Saturday night against No. 11 Florida in the famed Swamp, they will encounter a slew of Gators who have become quite stout at running the option. Florida rushed for 245 yards and 5.7 yards per carry in its 31-29 loss to top-ranked Alabama last weekend, with much of that success coming out of an attack resembling a service academy on steroids.
Redshirt junior quarterback Emory Jones rushed 19 times for 77 yards and a touchdown for Dan Mullen’s overhauled offense, while fifth-year senior running back Malik Davis had 10 carries for 86 yards and a score.
“I think that’s always been a part of what they’ve done offensively dating way back to his previous stop at Florida,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said. “Last year, they obviously had great skill players and a quarterback who was extremely efficient and put up big yards in the pass game. I think the option portion of what they do has been a mainstay of what they’ve done offensively with all the different quarterbacks they’ve had.
“At the end of the day, you’ve got to play disciplined. You’ve got to play your keys and be in the right spot.”