In Josh Heupel’s first season as Tennessee football coach in 2021, the Volunteers gave up a combined 1,691 yards and 132 points in games against Florida, Alabama and Kentucky.
They avoided getting swept in those contests by outlasting the Wildcats 45-42 in Lexington.
Against the same three programs last year, Tennessee yielded 1,035 yards and 52 points, coming away 3-0 in the process. Heupel’s first season was also the first for defensive coordinator Tim Banks, who has improved that side of the ball every year, showing significant progress each of the past two seasons.
Last year’s Vols finished sixth nationally in total defense and seventh in scoring defense, so improving from that would really be an accomplishment.
“Not to be cliché about it, but we look at every year as a new year,” Banks said in a news conference at the start of preseason camp. “I think that’s why we have been able to build a culture the way we have. We don’t necessarily talk a lot about what we did last year, or where we need to go as a unit, because it’s a different team. There are obviously some things that you look at statistically in terms of where you can be better, whether that’s scheme, personnel or us as coaches.
“To a man, our guys understand this is a new year and that we’re starting fresh, starting over and adhering to the process and working step by step and day by day to get better. That has always helped us in a way we have been able to grow, because we know no sacks, no interceptions and no tackle for losses from last year will pay dividends this year. These guys understand that, and I think that’s why we have been good.”
Defense has led the way for Tennessee the past two seasons, even with running back Dylan Sampson winning Southeastern Conference offensive player of the year for 2024, and the difference could be even more profound this season given that tight end Miles Kitselman and left tackle Lance Heard are the offense’s only returning starters.
The Vols are overrun with experience at every defensive level with seniors Dominic Bailey, Bryson Eason, Jaxson Moi, Joshua Josephs and Tyre West up front, juniors Arion Carter and Jeremiah Telander back as the starting linebackers, and with a secondary returning Rickey Gibson III, Jermod McCoy, Jalen McMurray, Boo Carter and Andre Turrentine. It should not be overlooked that line coach Rodney Garner and secondary coach Willie Martinez have been with Heupel and Banks since 2021 as well.
“We’re going to be tough,” Telander said. “We’re going to be smart, and we’re going to be relentless. Those are our standards.”
Deep and versatile are also terms Telander could have just as easily used to describe this season’s defense.
Tennessee obtained former Auburn and Colorado cornerback Colton Hood through the NCAA transfer portal in May, while McMurray has the ability to play multiple spots in the defensive backfield. That dynamic could pay immediate dividends in next Saturday’s opener against Syracuse in Atlanta if McCoy is unable to play and Carter is sidelined for missing team activities in July.
The Vols could face the Orange with Hood starting for McCoy at one corner and with McMurray at the “star” position, replacing Carter.
Edwin Spillman is expected to provide more of a trio at linebacker this season compared to last season’s tandem of Carter and Telander, and then there is the depth up front. Edge rusher has been a very deep position for the Vols under Heupel and Banks, and that should continue with Josephs, Caleb Herring and Jordan Ross.
In the trenches, Tennessee not only has a slew of seniors but a touted freshman class that could produce early contributors such as Isaiah Campbell and Ethan Utley.
“I would say we’re more hungry this year,” Eason said. “We’ve got a lot of new guys who have been eager to learn and earn a role on the team. We’ve been attentive and locked in.
“I’m not going to take anything away from last year, but I just think we’ve been more locked in.”
Tennessee has ranked among the nation’s top 15 in tackles for loss every year under Heupel and Banks, but the Vols have obviously become far more complete in going from 99th nationally in total defense in 2021 to sixth last season. Improving from the year before is always an objective, but Tennessee is making that tougher and tougher for itself defensively.
“When you look at the self-scout, it always comes down to, ‘Are we playing winning football?'” Banks said. “At the end of the day, whether you are talking about our first year here or three years after that, we have always tried to play to the strength of our players, first and foremost. We want to put these guys into the best situation to be successful, and as you evaluate, you ask yourself, ‘Did you do that?’ We’ve felt like we’ve done that in a lot of ways.
“There are obviously some things we think that we can still be better at, whether that’s first-and-10 defense or continuing to be even better in the red zone. Again, as good as you are, when you look at that tape, you’re like, ‘Man, if we had just executed a little bit better here, we will be even better.'”
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.
TENNESSEE 2025 SCHEDULE
All times Eastern and p.m.
SEC games in bold
Aug. 30 — Syracuse in Atlanta (noon on ABC)
Sept. 6 — ETSU (3:30 p.m. on SEC Network+)
Sept. 13 — Georgia (3:30 p.m. on ABC)
Sept. 20 — UAB (12:45 p.m. on SEC Network)
Sept. 27 — at Mississippi State (TBD)
Oct. 11 — Arkansas (TBD)
Oct. 18 — at Alabama (TBD)
Oct. 25 — at Kentucky (TBD)
Nov. 1 — Oklahoma (TBD)
Nov. 15 — New Mexico State (4:15 p.m. on SEC Network)
Nov. 22 — at Florida (TBD)
Nov. 29 — Vanderbilt (TBD)