47 | 2023 SOUTHERN FOOTBALL GUIDE
TENNESSEE
HEAD COACH: Josh Heupel OC: Joey Halzle DC: Tim Banks
Knoxville, TN
2022 RECORD: 11-2 (6-2) FOUNDED: 1794 STADIUM: Neyland (102,455)
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
The Tennessee offense could not have been much more productive last season. Most of the firepower returns, but there are two critical pieces missing: quarterback Hendon Hooker and offensive coordinator Alex Golesh. Quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle has been promoted to OC, and Joe Milton III has another shot at being the man in Knoxville. The leadership change shouldn’t disrupt much, but you never really know. Milton has the strongest arm on the planet, but can be erratic. However, he proved his worth in the Orange Bowl, so the offense shouldn’t slip much. The line will probably be a bit better, the running backs are elite and Bru McCoy, Ramel Keyton and Squirrel White are dynamic playmakers. John Campbell Jr., a transfer from Miami, fills the only hole on the line. Dont’e Thornton (Oregon) adds another weapon at receiver.
As unworldly as the offense was last season, let’s not dismiss how well the defense performed. Opponents averaged 3.3 yards a carry, were 34.2 percent on third down and scored just 22.8 per game. The Vols totaled 31 sacks and forced 22 turnovers. Tennessee led the SEC with 94 tackles behind the line. Omari Thomas and Bryson Eason are difficult to move in the middle. Roman Harrison must now step up to compensate for the production gone from last season. Top tackler Aaron Beasley returns, and he’s joined at linebacker by Keenan Pili from BYU, a veteran of 34 games over four seasons. The secondary is the only question mark on this side of the ball, but there is no lack of talent, just proven experience. Jaylen McCollough and Tamarion McDonald are tough safeties, especially against the run. The corners bear watching early.
DEPTH CHART
DEPTH CHART
NO 7 0 10 15 9 87 74 78 63 76 53
PLAYER POS Joe Milton III QB Jaylen Wright RB Squirrel White WR Bru McCoy WR Ramel Keyton WR Jacob Warren TE John Campbell Jr. LT Ollie Lane LG Cooper Mays C Javontez Spraggins RG Jeremiah Crawford RT
HT 6-5 5-11 5-10 6-3 6-3 6-6 6-5 6-4 6-3 6-3 6-5
WT 235 210 165 220 195 250 320 325 305 325 320
CLASS SR JR SO SR SR SR SR SR SR SR SR
NO 9 21 20 30 6 11 8 0 2 13 12
PLAYER POS Tyler Baron DE Omari Thomas NT Bryson Eason DT Roman Harrison LB Aaron Beasley LB Keenan Pili LB Brandon Turnage CB Doneiko Slaughter CB Jaylen McCollough S Wesley Walker S Tamarion McDonald NB
HT 6-5 6-4 6-3 6-2 6-1 6-3 6-1 6-0 6-0 6-1 6-2
WT 255 316 310 235 225 240 186 190 204 195 208
CLASS SR SR JR SR SR SR SR SR SR SR SR
8 2 81 84 1 34 66 75 72 70 54
Nico Iamaleava QB Jabari Small RB Chas Nimrod WR Kaleb Webb WR Dont’e Thornton Jr. WR McCallan Castles TE Dayne Davis LT Jackson Lampley LG Addison Nichols C Andrej Karic RG Gerald Mincey RT
6-6 5-11 6-3 6-3 6-5 6-5 6-7 6-4 6-5 6-6 6-6
206 213 196 198 214 252 320 320 327 310 337
FR SR FR FR JR SR SR SR FR JR JR
90 10 99 19 44 7 4 5 17 14 25
Dominic Bailey Elijah Simmons Kurott Garland Joshua Josephs Elijah Herring Arion Carter Warren Burrell Kamal Hadden Andre Turrentine Christian Charles Jourdan Thomas
6-3 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-1 6-0 6-1 5-11 6-1 6-2
280 340 310 244 235 228 188 197 200 195 200
JR SR SR SO SO FR SR SR SO JR SO
19 98
Charles Campbell Jackson Ross
195 195
SR FR
3 3
Dee Williams Dee Williams
194 194
SR SR
SPECIAL TEAMS K P
5-9 6-3
2023 SCHEDULE
DE NT DT LB LB LB CB CB S S NB
SPECIAL TEAMS KR PR
5-11 5-11
NEWCOMERS
S.2 ......... Virginia (Nashville)
O.21 ....................at Alabama
S.9 .......................Austin Peay
O.28 ...................at Kentucky
Nico Iamaleava, QB — The No. 2 quarterback in the nation has landed in Knoxville and impressed coaches in the spring. He will be ready for SEC play early should Joe Milton III falter.
S.16 .........................at Florida
N.4 ............................... UConn
Keenan Pili, LB — BYU was 24-10 in his 34 games.
S.23 .................................UTSA
N.11 .................... at Missouri
Dont’e Thornton, WR — Last season at Oregon, Thornton helped stretch the field with 17 catches for 366 yards (21.5).
S.30 ..............South Carolina
N.18 .......................... Georgia
O.14 .....................Texas A&M
N.25 ..................... Vanderbilt
Arion Carter, LB — The freshman was on campus this spring and showed that he is ready to run with the ones. He will earn some snaps early and could be a starter by season’s end.
