Tennessee soccer went from fairly good to nice in coach Josh Heupel’s first two seasons, however it should exchange key gamers to maintain that momentum going.
It leaves open countless prospects for the Vols’ 2023 season.
Quarterback Joe Milton replaces Hendon Hooker, the SEC Offensive Participant of the Yr. The broad receiver corps and offensive line have been retooled after sending Jalin Hyatt, Cedric Tillman and Darnell Wright to the NFL. And there’s no clear-cut substitute for All-SEC edge rusher Byron Younger.
No. 10 Tennessee begins the season towards Virginia on Saturday (11 a.m. CT/midday ET, ABC) at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
Listed below are 5 daring predictions for the Vols.
Tennessee will rating 500 factors once more
UT has damaged the single-season college report for scoring in each seasons beneath Heupel.
In 2021, it had 511 factors. Final season, it scored 599 factors. Earlier than that, 484 factors in 1993 marked probably the most ever by the Vols.
The 2023 Vols will attain 500 factors once more and common about 40 factors per recreation. However they received’t break the report, that means they’ll fall wanting 600 factors.
That’s fairly a excessive mark for an offense that misplaced 4 NFL draft picks. However Heupel’s offense has demonstrated it will possibly reload the lineup and hold scoring.
Three receivers will attain 750 yards
It is a very particular prediction, however there’s a cause for it.
UT might have a 1,000-yard receiver this season prefer it had with Tillman in 2021 and Hyatt in 2022, however it could possibly be troublesome.
There’s a larger probability of parity with these broad receivers.
Bru McCoy had 667 yards receiving final season, and he’ll be featured extra within the passing recreation. Ramel Keyton had 562 yards receiving regardless of beginning solely seven video games. Squirrel White had 481 yards receiving with simply two begins. And Oregon switch Dont’e Thornton touts potential as a deep risk.
If three of them attain 750 yards, it might be probably the most in a season beneath Heupel.
A couple of turnover per recreation
UT will common a couple of turnover per recreation. That must be a given somewhat than a daring prediction as a result of virtually each workforce makes extra errors than that.
However the Vols amazingly have dedicated solely 24 turnovers in 26 video games beneath Heupel. They dedicated 13 turnovers in 13 video games in 2021 and 11 turnovers in 13 video games in 2022.
Don’t anticipate UT to out of the blue develop into vulnerable to errors. But it surely could possibly be a little bit farther from excellent than the previous two seasons.
Protection will shut hole with offense
With Heupel, UT has received principally due to its top-rated offense. And its protection has been ok.
However don’t be stunned if the protection, led by linebacker Aaron Beasley, closes that hole just a bit.
UT’s protection already confirmed vital progress, enhancing from No. 90 in scoring protection in 2021 to No. 36 in 2022. However that was overshadowed by the offense, which jumped to No. 1 within the nation.
This season, search for issues to degree out a little bit extra. The offense might take a small step again and nonetheless be at an elite degree, however the protection will hold getting higher. If that’s the case, this would be the most balanced workforce of Heupel’s tenure.
Vols will play in one other Florida bowl
Positive, UT may make the School Soccer Playoff with an 11-1 report, or maybe attain one other New Yr’s Six Bowl at 10-2, both the Peach Bowl or Orange Bowl.
It’s uncertain the Orange Bowl would take the Vols in consecutive years. However there’s an affordable probability that UT performs in a unique Florida bowl.
A 9-3 report doubtless would place UT within the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, which looks as if a good guess. It might equal the second-most wins for the Vols prior to now 15 seasons and be encore to 2022.
An 8-4 report would open the door to the ReliaQuest Bowl (previously Outback), which has needed to convey the Vols to Tampa for years. The TaxSlayer Gator Bowl in Jacksonville is one other chance, maybe with an 8-4 report.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee soccer beat reporter. Electronic mailadam.sparks@knoxnews.com. Twitter@AdamSparks. Assist sturdy native journalism by subscribing atknoxnews.com/subscribe.
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