A freshman season that included eight losses for the first time in program history and the firing of Butch Jones.
The discovery of blood clots in his lungs before his sophomore and junior seasons. A senior year filled with postponements and rearranged schedules due to the coronavirus, as well as the school's first six-game losing streak by double-digit margins.
So what will Tennessee left guard Trey Smith take from his four trying years in Knoxville?
"Quite frankly, I think that nothing in life is really going to be that hard," Smith said Tuesday afternoon. "I've been through a lot of tough seasons here and a lot of tough situations on and off the field, and here I am still standing. As a team, we're still standing as well, so it's really just knowing that nothing in life can stop me."
Smith will play for the final time inside Neyland Stadium this Saturday, when the Volunteers (3-6) host No. 5 Texas A&M (7-1). The 6-foot-6, 330-pounder has started 40 career games for the Volunteers, who are just 20-26 during his time with the program, including an 0-12 mark against Alabama, Florida and Georgia.
Perhaps Smith is on the verge of helping the Vols to their biggest win in Jeremy Pruitt's disappointing third season at the helm, but the decision to return for his senior year already has been justified in his view.
"You look at my medical situation, and it's one of the big reasons I returned," Smith said. "I think I've definitely nullified any issue with that. I'm practicing more, and I'm obviously going to play a full season as well. I haven't had any major injuries, and my medical situation is actually perfect and clear.
"I think I've improved my stock coming back by taking those 'what ifs' off the table even more with NFL teams."
Smith has a chance to be Tennessee's first player to go in the first round of the NFL draft since defensive end Derek Barnett, who went 14th overall to Philadelphia in 2017, but it's not a guarantee. CBS projected Smith as high as 16th overall before the start of this season, while Pro Football Network earlier this week pegged him 30th to the Kansas City Chiefs, adding "Trey Smith is a mauler who oozes Pro Bowl potential."
After starting all 12 games as a true freshman, Smith started seven more as a sophomore until having that year shut down due to blood clot concerns. When he has been healthy, he has been effective, leading Tennessee as a freshman with 55 knockdown blocks and entering this year as the top returning Southeastern Conference run blocker according to Pro Football Focus.
Smith only practiced twice last season as his health was being monitored and beams when discussing how he practices every day now. He is quick to cite the overtime win over Georgia Tech in the 2017 opener, the 2018 upset of Auburn on the road and last year's 41-21 dismantling of South Carolina as his three favorite games, and he knows he will be leaving a unique legacy.
"I want people to think that this was a guy who cared about his university and cared about playing football here and loves his school," Smith said. "He didn't let adversity stop him from becoming what he's going to be some day. Two years ago, nobody thought I would be standing at this podium talking about still playing football.
"Saturday is definitely going to be an emotional day for me."
Signing period arrives
Tennessee enters today's start to the early signing period with 22 commitments in a class that is ranked 15th on the 247Sports.com team rankings. The Vols climbed as high as No. 2 in May but have recently lost notable commitments from five-star inside linebacker Terrence Lewis, four-star tight end Hudson Wolfe and four-star cornerback Damarius McGhee.
"As of right now, it looks like Tennessee could sign 20 in the early period with nine early enrollees," said Ryan Callahan, who covers Tennessee recruiting for 247Sports. "They had 10, because Hudson Wolfe was planning on being an early enrollee. Around 10 is a pretty common number these days."
Baylor School running back Elijah Howard announced on Tuesday night that he was decommitting from Tennessee and committing to Virginia Tech. Howard committed to the Vols on June 25,2019, just three days after Mobile receiver Jordan Mosley became Tennessee's first 2021 pledge.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.