PREVIEW Volume 142, Issue 2 Wednesday, August 31, 2022 @utkdailybeacon|| |utdailybeacon.com FOOTBALL
It’s not lost on me that getting to cover college football is a unique experience, especially as a college student. This season I am ready to relish every moment of it.
For most people, the fall semester represents all things new. A new grade, new classes, new teachers and even a new football season. But for me, this semester means something different — the end.
All this and more makes for an exciting year of Tennessee football ahead. And I am excited to be joining the Tennessee football beat this season. It seems like the best time possible, honestly. I have watched a lot of football in my years, and most of it has been Tennessee football. This season, I’ll be watching from a different point of view. With every beat that I have been on — softball, soccer, women’s basketball and baseball — I have walked away with a new perspective and appreciation for the sport I covered.
CORRECTIONS POLICY:It is the Daily Beacon’s policy to quickly correct any factual errors and clarify any potentially misleading information. Errors brought to our attention by readers or sta� members will be corrected and printed on page two of our publication. To report an error please send as much information as possible about where and when the error occurred to managingeditor@ utdailybeacon.com, or call our newsroom at (865) The974-5206.DailyBeacon is published by students at The University of Tennessee on Monday and Thursday during the fall and spring semesters. The o�ces are located at 1345 Circle Park Drive, 11 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 379960314. The newspaper is free on campus and is available via mail subscription for $200/year or $100/semester. It is also available online at: www. utdailybeacon.com
roster of the last 20 years. Last season, Josh Heupel brought a new energy to Knoxville. But it doesn’t take a once-in-a-decade team to excite Vol fans. Philip Fulmer had some bad seasons in his later years at Tennessee, but it was still undeniably exciting to watch. Derek Dooley had just one winning season in three years at Tennessee, but that didn’t stop fans from showing up week in and week out. Jeremy Pruitt had one of the worst seasons in Tennessee history on his way out in 2020, but games were still packed. Tennessee football will always be exciting.
ANDREW PETERS Assistant Sports Editor
Staring down the end of my college career, I can’t help but be sentimental about my time at The Daily Beacon — truly the brightest moments of my years at Tennessee. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and reflect on how I’ve grown as a person and professional, and hopefully you the reader can learn something from my experiences as well.
To keep with the sports theme, as we go through the different stops of my career, we’ll call it my retirement tour. My time at the Beacon started back in 2019 when a class project had me write for them for the first time. I will never forget my first assignment — my Major League debut if you will — shadowing a reporter on a women’s soccer match. The Lady Vols beat Florida and I got the experience of being in a press box, but the night crescendoed when I realized I locked my keys inside my car. So, first lesson on the retirement tour — do not lose your car keys. Maybe a more universal way of phrasing it is to be responsible. Odds are you will be employed by someone one day — that’s usually how jobs work — and bosses love responsible workers. I got to cover that same soccer team the fall after the pandemic for my first full beat at the Beacon, and I grew tremendously as a writer and journalist. Those are some of the earliest stories I’ve written that I would not cringe to read now, and I did not lose my keys once. Before long, I had parlayed a successful winter covering soccer and women’s basketball into a role as the assistant sports editor under the great Ryan Schumpert, just under a year after my first real story for the Beacon. As an editor, I got to cover Tennessee baseball’s rise to prominence, and being on that beat for the last two years has been the most influential aspect of my career up to this point. I remember the other baseball writers the most, which leads me into what I think is my most important lesson – surround yourself with those who are good at what you want to do, and do what they do. Notice how they approach and handle a situation. Take the time to get to know them and learn from them. For me it was the excellent questions that Mike Wilson of Knox News Sentinel asks, or the descriptive game stories that Troy Provost-Heron of The Daily Times writes. Watching experts in action at their craft inspired and taught me to be better.I’ve talked for a while now so I’ll wrap up my farewell tour. There’s so many people I haven’t mentioned yet that I still need to thank — probably enough to write another one of these letters — but I’ll keep it brief. I’m extremely blessed to be in this field and to have had the college career I did. I don’t take where I am for granted for one day, and — final lesson — neither should you.
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, August 31, 20222 DAILY BEACON STAFF AND POLICY INFORMATION EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Daniel Dassow MANAGING EDITOR: Abby Ann Ramsey COPY CHIEF: Olivia Hayes NEWS EDITOR: Autumn Hall ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR: Emma Co�ey SPORTS EDITOR: Josh Lane ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR: Andrew Peters OPINIONS EDITOR: Lily Marcum DIGITAL PRODUCER: Kailee Harris PHOTO EDITOR: Alexandra Ashmore DESIGN EDITOR: Bella Hughes PAGE DESIGNERS: Rhylee Gross and Emma Fingeret SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER: Jackie Dremel COVER DESIGN: Bella Hughes and Alexandra Ashmore ADVERTISING/PRODUCTION STUDENT ADVERTISING MANAGERS: Aubrey Bishop and Cullen Askew ADVERTISING PRODUCTION ARTISTS: Victoria Wheelock CONTACTS TO REPORT A NEWS ITEM OR SUBMIT A PRESS RELEASE, please email editorinchief@utdailybeacon.com or call (865) 974-2348 TO PLACE AN AD, please email admanager@utk.edu or call (865) 974-5206 NEWSROOM: (865) 974-5206 editorinchief@utdailybeacon.com LETTERS POLICY: Letters to the Editor must be exclusive to The Daily Beacon and cannot have been submitted to or published by other media. Letters should not exceed 400 words and can be edited or shortened for space. Letters can also be edited for grammar and typographical errors, and Letters that contain excessive grammatical errors can be rejected for this reason. Anonymous Letters will not be published. Authors should include their full name, mailing address, city of residence, phone number and e-mail address for verification purposes. Letters submitted without this information will not be published. The preferred method to submit a Letter to the Editor is to email the Editor-in-Chief.
After three and a half years at Tennessee, I will be graduating after this fall — pending no unforeseen disaster. I’m eager to be done with college a semester early and excited to get into the real world. I love class as much as the next student, but there’s only so many lectures I can take.
I would argue that the season ahead is one of the most exciting seasons in recent years. Heupel exceeded expectations in his first season. Now he comes back with an even more talented roster to shoot for nine or 10 wins (or Hendonmore).Hooker is one of the most electrifying quarterbacks in the SEC and he’s back at Tennessee for a second season. He is — though probably unlikely — a Heismancaliber quarterback. The first Vol quarterback with a sliver of a chance at Heisman in a long, long time. That’s just another reason for fans to be Andexcited.Hooker’s No. 1 target is one of the best wide receivers in the SEC in Cedric Tillman. The two of them will be one of the most dangerous duos in the league. This season will be the first “normal” season since before the pandemic, ensuring that each game will be packed with rowdy fans.
The Vols will also play in a newly renovated Neyland Stadium, with new seating, a new upper deck, a jumbotron and more. Not to mention the return of the V-O-L-S lettering that can be seen from all around campus.
Letter from the Asst. Sports Editor: UT football will always be exciting
JOSH LANE Sports Editor It is an inescapable fact that Tennessee football is and always will be exciting. It doesn’t matter what year it is, who the coach is, what the roster looks like — Tennessee football will always excite fans. And most of the time, that excitement is warranted. The Vols have had a lot of exciting teams over the years. In 2007, the Vols went against all odds and reached the SEC Championship game. The 2016 Vols had arguably the most talented
I’m not sure what that will look like after covering a sport that I already know and love, but I am ready to embrace it.
Letter from the Sports Editor: Call it a retirement tour
Tennessee looking to set tone for season in Ball State opener
The Vols return the majority of their highpowered offense that averaged 475 yards per game last season. Ball State’s defense, on the other hand, gave up close to 420 points a game last season.
Tennessee should be able to move the ball and score with ease to start the season. Against smaller schools like Bowling Green and South Alabama last year, the Vols totaled 475 and 561 yards, respectively.
ALFRED EZMAN Contributor Follow Sinan on TikTok @sinantn18T-Shirts Available Soon!
Vols’ Offense Should Pick Up Where It Left Off
Wednesday, August 31, 2022 • The Daily Beacon 3FOOTBALL PREVIEW
The Vols take on the Ball State Cardinals to open their season on Thursday, Sept. 1. Head coach Josh Heupel and his team look to build off a promising 7-6 season with an exciting sequel. They will first have to face off against head coach Mike Neau and his Ball State team that came off a 6-7 season.
Jeremy Banks returns as the Vols’ leading tackler from last season. He should provide a presence blitzing the quarterback and limiting Ball State’s run game. Trevon Flowers returns at safety after also being one of the team’s top tacklers. The defense as a whole brings back many starters across every level of the field. Aaron Beasley, Jaylen McCollough and Byron Young join Banks and Flowers on an experienced defense.“If you wanted to say where we are now based on where we were a year ago, we’re definitely ahead and we feel like we’re heading in the right direction,” defensive coordinator
Tim Banks said. The defense can gain some momentum to ride into the remainder of the 2022 by overwhelming the Ball State offense that has struggled at times to put up points. They scored 20 points or fewer in seven games last season and against a Tennessee team that averaged 35 points per game, it will be hard to get it done.
Ball State also had major quarterback battle over the offseason with who would replace Drew Plitt. John Paddock is the frontrunner, but they have four freshmen that could all see time on the field.
Tennessee’s run game should be effective against a Ball State defense that gave up 177 rushing yards per game. Jabari Small is coming off a breakout year with 800 yards and nine touchdowns in 2021, including a 180-yard game in the finale against Purdue in the Music City Bowl. Small even added weight over the offseason to make himself a more versatile player.
A big catalyst to Tennessee’s offensive success this game will be returning wide receiver Cedric Tillman. He ended the year with four straight 100+ yard games, including the Music City Bowl. The chemistry between quarterback Hendon Hooker and Tillman from last season should continue to shine this year.
“It just comes with a lot of benefits, and it’s made me a better player,” Small said of his transformation.Thebig-time stars should shine for Tennessee offensively and give the Cardinals a challenge right out of the gate.
Defense Showing Improvement Although Tennessee’s defense was not a problem, it did have the occasional slip-up that would hurt the Vols. As a whole, they gave up an average of 421 yards per game. However, Ball State’s offense is not as explosive as some of the ones Tennessee saw last year, such as Alabama, Florida or Ole Miss. This game gives the Vols time to prepare for the tougher offenses they will face later in the year.
Receiver Cedric Tillman fails to secure the ball during the Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt football game on Nov. 27, 2021 in Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN. File / The Daily Beacon
“I feel we are better this year than we were last year,” Tillman said. “You know, just being more comfortable with each other, year two of the offense, year two of the chemistry.”
Darrell Taylor – Seattle Seahawks Taylor, a second-round pick in 2020, missed his entire rookie campaign with injury but emerged as one of the best pass-rushers on the team with 6.5 sacks in 16 games and five starts. With a season finally under his belt, Taylor should only improve and embrace a bigger role in 2022.
Junior quarterback Josh Dobbs rushes the ball for a touchdown during the Tennessee-Ar kansas game. File / Daily Beacon
Velus Jones Jr. (1) in Neyland Stadium on Sat urday Sept. 11, 2021 against the Pittsburg Panthers. File / Daily Beacon
The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, August 31, 20224 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
The Vols have been successful in sending athletes to the pros over the years. This past year, five VFL’s were drafted, Tennessee’s best mark since 2017, and there are currently 28 Vols on active rosters. With the NFL season right around the cor ner, let’s take a look at which former Vols will produce.
Wide Receivers Velus Jones – Chicago Bears
Cordarrelle Patterson – Atlanta Falcons Patterson has had quite the career up to date. He is a four-time Pro Bowler and six-time AllPro as a kick returner. He is currently tied for first in all-time kicks returned for touchdowns.
Defensive Lines
Cade Mays – Carolina Panthers
Following a very strong final year at Rocky Top, Alontae Taylor was the first Vol off the board in the 2022 draft. Taylor is a physical corner with blazing speed, and he will compete for snaps early with potential to be a starter at the next level.
Butler was taken in the fifth round and has impressed in preseason and training camp. He could prove to be solid in the trenches during his rookie campaign.
Alontae Taylor – New Orleans Saints
Jauan Jennings – San Francisco 49ers
Offensive Lines
Shy Tuttle went undrafted in 2019 but has become a solid contributor for the Saints since then. He should continue to produce well in 2022.
Derek Barnett (9) tackles a member of the Alabama offense on Oct. 15, 2016. File / Daily Beacon
Vols in the NFL: Dobbs highlights successful preseason for VFLs
Shy Tuttle – New Orleans Saints
Cameron Sutton – Pittsburgh Steelers Sutton is coming off of his best season as a pro with 52 tackles, four tackles for loss, two interceptions, six passes defended and a forced fumble. Sutton will be a key piece in the sec ondary for the Steelers.
ERIC WOODS Staff Writer Junior defense lineback Jalen Reeves-Maybin prepares for a play against the Bulldogs on Oct. 10. File / Daily Beacon
The 2017 first-round pick has not yet shown that he is the star that he was supposed to be coming out of Tennessee, but he has been a productive player so far for the Eagles. Follow ing the end of his rookie contract, Barnett was signed to a two-year deal and still has oppor tunities to show off his potential.
Marquez Callaway – New Orleans Saints
The 2017 Offensive Rookie of the Year and four-time Pro Bowler faces some uncertainty as he battles felony charges. It is looking like he will suit up for the 2022 season as of now, but that could change unexpectedly. However, barring legal issues, he will likely have another productive season as both a lethal runner and pass catcher.
Josh Palmer - Los Angeles Chargers
Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin Reeves-Maybin had a breakout year in 2022. While earning 11 starts, he totaled 82 tackles four tackles for loss, four pass breakups and two forced fumbles for the Lions. With the Texans, he will have the opportunity to be a consistent starter and build on his previous season.
Defensive Backs Emmanuel Moseley – San Francisco 49ers Moseley has put together a solid career af ter going undrafted. He was a key player in the 49ers NFC Championship run and looks to continue his solid production in 2022.
Derek Barnett – Philadelphia Eagles
Though most of Patterson’s success has come in special teams, his past season as a member of the Falcons saw him emerge into a force on offense when he switched from wide receiver to running back. He had his best season as a pro with 1,166 total yards and 11 touchdowns. In his new-found role, Patterson will look to build on the success he had in 2021.
After a breakout season for the Vols, Jones was selected with the 71st pick by the Bears. He didn’t see much action in preseason but re turned a punt for 48 yards that set up a touch down in the final preseason game. In a subpar receiver room, Jones will get an opportunity to showcase his speed and versatility next to Dar nell Mooney as Justin Fields looks to break out.
After going undrafted in 2020, Callaway was primarily a returner in his rookie season. In his sophomore campaign, however, he lead the Saints with 698 receiving yards and six touchdowns in star receiver Michael Thomas’ absence. Callaway looks primed to continue his break out as a deep threat with Jameis Winston returning.
Running Backs Alvin Kamara – New Orleans Saints
Matthew Butler – Las Vegas Raiders
John Kelly Jr. – Cleveland Browns Kelly has had an impressive preseason as the Browns’ leading rusher. With the uncer tainty surrounding Kareem Hunt, Kelly should get some opportunities in the backfield behind Nick Chubb.
The 77th pick in the 2021 draft had a produc tive rookie year with four touchdowns. Palmer had an impressive outing in game two of the preseason with three catches for 75 yards and a touchdown against the Cowboys. With the third receiver spot next to Keenan Allan and Mike Williams, Palmer could establish himself as a top target for one of the top targets for Jus tin Herbert.
Smith was a sixth-round pick in 2021 that slipped due to health concerns that he experi enced at Tennessee. He quickly made the rest of the NFL look foolish for not drafting him ear lier. Tasked with protecting one of the NFL’s best in Patrick Mahomes, Smith earned AllRookie honors while playing every offensive snap for the Chiefs. As the 18th-ranked guard by Pro Football Focus, he should only get better as his sophomore season rolls around.
A sixth-round pick, Mays looks to show his versatility to play any position on the line in his rookie campaign. Mays has impressed the Panthers’ coaching staff so far and that versa tility should help him find a spot on the line.
Quarterback Josh Dobbs – Cleveland Browns As the starting quarterback of the two most successful teams in the 2010’s, Dobbs is still looking for his first start in the pros. Now a new member of the Cleveland Browns, that day could come this year with Deshaun Watson’s suspensions and an impressive preseason per formance. Dobbs has thrown for 338 yards and two touchdowns this preseason. He showed off his legs against the Eagles with 47 yards and a touchdown on the ground on just four carries, including a 37 yarder that led to his touchdown on the next play. While he sits behind veteran Jacoby Brissett, he will likely get to showcase his talents this year.
Trey Smith – Kansas City Chiefs
Jennings had a big impact as a redzone threat in 2021, tallying five touchdowns in the slot for the 49ers. He has seen limited pre season action but caught three passes for 34 yards in the finale. Jennings could surprise some as a third option next to Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel.
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel on the sidelines as Vols play the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. Alexandra Ashmore / The Daily Beacon
Football program returns nearly all coaching staff for 2022
Tennessee has all but one of its coaches from a year ago returning to Rocky Top. The lone loss from Josh Heupel’s year-one staff was wide receiver coach Kodi Burns, who left to accept a similar position for the New Orleans Saints. Continuity among coaching staffs is not something Tennessee has seen in recent years, with Heupel being the fifth head coach since
Let’s take a look at the Vols’ coaches for the 2022 season. Head Coach Heupel took over a decimated roster in 2021 and brought football excitement back to East Tennessee with his explosive offense. Hailing from the University of Central Florida (UCF), Heupel took over a Tennessee team that had gone 3-7 the year before. He led the Vols to a 7-6 record in his first year and instilled trust between the players and coaching staff. He took home the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach Award for his efforts in 2021. Heupel also took player development seriously. Hooker grew into one of the top quarterbacks in the country in 2021 and called Heupel, “The best coach in America,” following a year which he broke several single season records, including fewest interceptions thrown (three) and passing efficiency (267.10).
Tennessee’s offensive coordinator Alex Golesh followed Heupel from UCF, where he saw success running a similar high-tempo offense to the one he instilled on Rocky Top. Golesh’s offense in 2021 ran a blistering 2.99 plays per minute, wearing down defenses while scoring quickly.
Other Assistants
Vols’ offense set to build off strong 2021 season
JACK CHURCH
Contributor
“I feel good with both those guys. They’re different players,” offensive coordinator Alex Golesh said. “They’re both inexperienced, but they’re different, so they both have weaknesses, they both have strengths.”
In the weeks leading up to Tennessee’s season opener, head coach Josh Heupel was able to get a good feel for where his offense was at. “We were able to get a lot of real football, drive for the offense to be able to play with tempo, and see how the communication and efficiency of movement between plays (looked),” Heupel said. With players from last season moving on and unexpected injuries, the Vols’ offense has also had to work around some setbacks over the offseason, which has just made the team stronger heading into the season. “We’ve had to grow and evolve, too,” Golesh said. “And like I said, you spend a lot of the offseason looking for answers —where we got hurt, and where we hurt people — knowing that there’s going to be answers to that. I think you’ve got to continue to evolve offensively.”
KELSEY POPE WIDE RECEIVER COACH Our brand is offense. Obviously, it’s the tempo. We’re high powered.
The2008.return of almost all his previous staff is a testament to the culture Heupel and company are hoping to instill in a Tennessee football program that had very little before. Quarterback Hendon Hooker even went as far as calling the staff “a family feeling from day one.”
Golesh’s offense, however, had a strange issue in 2021, struggling to score in the second quarter. Tennessee was first in the country in points scored in the first quarter, but 199th in second quarter points.
In the majority of college football programs, the offensive coordinator or head coach handles the quarterback coaching responsibilities. However, Joey Halzle is the quarterback coach for Tennessee. His relationship with the quarterback room is instrumental in creating the explosive passing offense we see on the field.
Rodney Garner returns as the defensive line coach. Other than his on-field role — he has a wealth SEC defensive line knowledge — Garner is important to Tennessee on the recruiting trail. Who’s New Heupel stayed in house to find Burns’ replacement after his departure to the NFL, promoting Kelsey Pope to the role. Pope was an offensive analyst for the Vols in 2021, and his relationship with the receiver room that he formed as an analyst helped him hit the ground running immediately after being hired.
“You spend the offseason looking for answers,” Golesh said during a preseason media availability. “People tend to settle in and get used to (the high tempo offense).”
Offensive Coordinator
CALEB JARREAU Contributor
A strong Tennessee offense returns eight starters from a year ago, including starting quarterback Hendon Hooker and leading receiver Cedric Tillman. Combined with four returning offensive linemen, head coach Josh Heupel’s uptempo offense should be strong from the first week.From the moment he came in to relieve Joe Milton during Tennessee’s meeting against Pittsburgh, Hendon Hooker has impressed. Throwing for nearly 3,000 yards along with 31 touchdown passes, Hooker was a large part of the Volunteer offense a year ago. Hooker also accounted for over 600 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, proving his dual threat ability.
Wednesday, August 31, 2022 • The Daily Beacon 5FOOTBALL PREVIEW
“You got to anticipate answers to people’s answers,” Golesh said. “We have to continue to evolve and look different. We’re drastically different today than we were leaving the bowl game in Nashville.” Defensive Coordinator Tim Banks returns as the defensive coordinator for 2022. The Broyles Award nominee inherited a thin roster in 2021, and he ran an attackingTennessee’sdefensive.defense is their biggest question mark going into 2022. With little depth in 2021 in combination with being on the field an average of 36 minutes a game, the tired defense averaged 29.1 points allowed per game.
Golesh does not have the luxury of surprise like they did in 2021. Opposing teams expect a high-tempo, explosive offense from Tennessee this year. Although he did not go into detail, Golesh insisted that the offense had plans for whatever opposing defense threw at them, including mixing up formations or play calls.
“When we first got here, I watched every clip that every quarterback that was on campus had from game film,” quarterback coach Joey Halzle said. “Hendon was clearly very talented. I was excited for the opportunity to work with him.” Once again, his top target will be senior wide receiver Cedric Tillman. A year ago, Tillman crossed the 1,000-yard mark to go along with his 12 receiving touchdowns. He sits tied for second in single-season touchdown receptions in VolunteerJalinhistory.Hyatt,who caught 21 passes for 226 yards a year ago, will look to take a step forward in the receiving unit. “The more that you do that and the more you have prolific receivers, the more it just adds to your brand,” wide receiver coach Kelsey Pope said during a preseason press conference. “Our brand is offense. Obviously, it’s the tempo. We’re high-powered. It’s receiver friendly. Receivers from any form of life and any shape or size can come in this offense and be successful.”
Running back Jabari Small looks to build on a year in which he led Tennessee to the secondbest rushing offense in the SEC. Rushing for 796 yards and nine touchdowns, Small led the Volunteers in Sophomoreyards. back Jaylen Wright is also looking to take a step forward. He ran for just over 400 yards in 2021. The Vols also return four starters on the offensive line. The experienced unit wants to protect Hooker better than they did a year ago when they allowed 44 sacks. Jeremiah Crawford and Gerald Mincey will both challenge for the vacant left tackle position.
Linebacker Brandon Martin is the veteran leader on this defense. What can you expect from him this season?
If Ball State is in a rebuilding year, what’s a reasonable goal for this season? Are they ca pable of making it back to a bowl game?
“I don’t think six games is out of the ques tion. A lot will be decided with Western Michi gan, their first home game on Sept. 10. I know if you ask any Ball State player, the minimum goal is the MAC Western division title. That’s always their goal going into every season. And the MAC is kind of like that in that — it’s up for grabs every season.
“And for this program, that is at least the bare minimum. This is now two years running that they have made a bowl game. They will look to make it three straight in 2022.” What does the quarterback position look like for Ball State? It looks like redshirt junior John Paddock has the most experience — is he the frontrunner to start?
“It was a lot of building up, and in that 2020 season the team got a lot right. They won the MAC Championship, they went to a bowl game, finished No. 23 in the polls. It was what most would see as a successful progression, but in 2021 they took a step back. They still made a bowl game, but it was kind of an underwhelm ing“Lookingseason. at this season, especially with a new starting quarterback, a couple things shifted around, still got a lot of young guys but still a nice mix of veterans in the trenches, it’s kind of a rebuilding or retooling year. I still think the team is going to compete, I think it’s still going to be that Ball State we know in the MAC, but they are trying to put that disap pointing season behind them.”
“Paddock is the most experienced on the roster. He has been getting a lot of those start ing snaps. We know that Mike Neu and of fensive coordinator Kevin Lynch have faith. They like John Paddock in that system. He’s a redshirt junior this year. He played in two ap pearances last year, and they were more cameo appearances than anything else, but he’s still looked relatively comfortable and we’ll see him this year kind of build on that role. I do think he will be the starting quarterback though.”
Ball State Daily News’ Daniel Kehn previews Tennessee’s season-opener with Cardinals
Wide receiver Jayshon Jackson was named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List. How does he fit into the offensive scheme? Are there any other playmakers to watch on offense?
“I think the run game for Ball State is going to be really important, not just against Ten nessee but just this season. Like I said, Carson Steele out of the backfield, he came into Ball State, and he made moves very quickly. In ad dition to Carson Steele in the backfield they have Will Jones, redshirt senior running back who has a lot of veteran experience. So when it gets time they might call on him to carry the ball a little bit.
“The offense is still looking good this sea son for Ball State. They obviously lost Justin Hall, but Jayshon Jackson and Justin Hall were right up there as kind of a one-two punch last season. And then they had this freshman run ning back Carson Steele come in and he was just a lights out player for Ball State, and he’s going to be getting a lot of carries this year.
LANE Sports Editor * Emma Fingeret / Page Designer*All data from 2021 season
The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, August 31, 20226 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
“There was a lot of speculation that last year was going to be Martin’s final year, but he got an extra year of eligibility because he had a lower knee injury. He’s kind of the elder states man on that team right now, especially on that defensive line. He’s going to lead a lot of that. He did have a couple injury bugs last year that kind of shortened his season a little bit. This will be his last year in college and he’s really going to make the most of it, but that is kind of that big stand out on that defensive side of the ball.” What position group can pose the biggest threat to Tennessee?
JOSH
Ahead of Tennessee’s season-opening matchup with Ball State, The Daily Beacon talked with Ball State Daily News’ Sports Editor Daniel Kehn who broke down the Cardinals and things to keep an eye on Thursday night. What’s the state of Ball State’s football pro gram entering the seventh year under head coach Mike Neu?
“Jayshon Jackson is going to be a great number one option, but another player that got mentioned a couple times last year was Yo’Heinz Tyler. He can be a really solid num ber two, or if they want to do kind of a one-two punch or some other stuff out of the backfield with their receivers, he will be a great option for that. In addition they have two big tight ends in Brady Hunt and Tanner Koziol. They’re both 6-foot-6, they’re pretty big guys and they will provide something different for Ball State. That offensive line had a couple of injury is sues last year, but they still are returning a lot of the veteran players who are going to help John Paddock in the pocket make some good throws.”
“First game of the year, I think the wide re ceivers are also just going to get some shots. They’re going to see what they can do with that aerial attack, knowing that they can lean on that running back spot if things don’t go to plan.”
Vols defense ready to exceed expectations
ALFRED EZMAN Contributor Byron Young (6), Aaron Beasley (24), Kurott Garland (99), at the Tennessee vs South Alabama game at Neyland Stadium on Saturday Nov. 20, 2021. Kailee Harris / The Daily Beacon
The defensive line is headlined by two re turning defensive ends Byron Young and Tyler Baron. Young was a preseason All-SEC selection who was tied for the team leader in tackles for loss (11.5) and sacks (5.5). Young provided a pleasant spark for Tennessee’s run defense at the weakside of the line. He was a menace to running backs and quarterbacks all year long and should continue to do so. Baron was moved to the strongside from the weakside and the 6-foot-5 and 260-pound edge rusher should provide a more physical threat for his crew. His adjustment from the weak to the strong side of the line in order to provide pressure and stop the run throughout the year will be an area to watch. At defensive tackle, the Vols struggled often last year with depth and many are just wait ing to see how that works out.
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Defensive Line
Brandon Turnage also saw a number of snaps last season, as did Christian Charles.
The Tennessee defense, much like the of fense, returns plenty of starters from last sea son. This includes the entire linebacker corps as well as the majority of the secondary. The defense was notorious for giving up big plays from last year and having lapses in judgment with tackling. After an offseason of prepara tion, however, Tennessee defensive coor dinator Tim Banks feels that his players are ready for an outstanding season. “If you wanted to say where we are now based on where we were a year ago,” Banks said. “We’re definitely ahead and feel like we’re heading in the right direction.”
Secondary Tennessee’s secondary ranked last in the SEC in pass defense, and the returning starters have their work cut out for them, with Trevon Flowers highlighting this group. Although he had a quiet 2021 season, Flowers’ speed to the football makes him a deadly tackler in space and a great piece to have at the nickelback.
Wednesday, August 31, 2022 • The Daily Beacon 7
Former Kansas transfer Da’Jon Terry should provide some added depth and he has looked solid through out fall camp. Omari Thomas was fierce 316-pound presence who consistently pro vided pressure with a hounding bull rush style of play. Elijah Simmons, another 300-pound plus athlete was sidelined most of last season due to injuries and will look to play more this year.
The Vols’ interception leader from last sea son Jaylen McCollough also returns for Ten nessee and will provide experience to try and improve this secondary. McCollough has tak en large strides in his own career and became a turnover producer last season. His leader ship as a senior will be vital. Doneiko Slaugh ter will also get some more playing time at the nickel and safety spots this year. He posted 16 total tackles and forced a turnover as well last season.Atthe cornerback position Tennessee has the depth to patch holes from last season, as Warren Burrell and Kamal Hadden are two talented backs who will get time on the field. Burrell is looking to shine in his senior season and Hadden has shown signs of raw talent in spring and fall camp, however injuries side lined him for some time.
Turnage can play the dime position, while Charles was moved to corner from safety dur ing spring practice.
The linebackers are arguably the most tal ented corps of this defense, returning starters Aaron Beasley and Jeremy Banks. These two stars accounted for 84 and 128 total tackles, respectively, the top-two totals on the team. They are the core of this Vol defense, and now both Beasley and Banks seniors, leader ship from them is going to be vital. Another notable linebacker to watch for is former Texas transfer Juwan Mitchell. The senior led Texas in tackles in 2020, however inju ries plagued his 2021 season with the Vols and having him healthy can add needed depth.
Linebackers
The Vols 2023 recruiting class is ranked 13th nationally by On3. Recruits who are not satisfied with Tennessee’s season could decommit if they are not sold by what they see on the field. It has never been more critical to have a competitive season, but the tough schedule will make this more challenging.
While the Vols achieved the program single-season scoring record last year, ranking 7th in the country in total points scored, the fast-paced offense took a toll on the defense. Tennessee’s defense ranked 90th in the country in points allowed which could be credited to the offense’s quick tempo. The only SEC teams that gave up more points were Missouri and Vanderbilt. As the modern game evolves, the oldschool adage “defense wins championships” remains mostly true. At a bare minimum, a competent defense is necessary to compete for a national title. In the last ten years, national champions have averaged 9th in points allowed. Half of them finished with the nation’s top-ranked defense. Even the worst defense that won a national title in the last decade, the 2019 LSU Tigers, was ranked 33rd. That number is a far cry from the Vols 90th defensive ranking last year. Historically, every one of Heupel’s teams has underperformed on defense as a result of the offensive pace. In his three seasons as head coach, Heupel’s UCF teams ranked 36th, 42nd, and 92nd in points allowed.
Tennessee fans were skeptical when Danny White hired his previous head coach at UCF, Josh Heupel. Many questioned why the undefeated 2017 UCF team he inherited from Scott Frost got worse every year. Others pointed to systemic defensive problems on Heupel’s teams resulting from the fastpaced offensive tempo.
Prediction: 7-5
Opinion: I’m not sold on Josh Heupel
Heupel has potential, but we have never seen one of his teams have a consistent defense. Until that happens, I have my doubts.
Shootouts may be entertaining for fans and spectators, but they can put the team in a risky situation. Take last year’s Music City Bowl, for example. Purdue QB Aidan O’Connell had averaged 265 yards/game last season, but he threw for 530 yards against the Vols and looked like a Heisman frontrunner.Itdoesn’t help that the Vols lost key defensive players to the draft, including Alontae Taylor, Matthew Butler, and Theo Jackson. If anything, the defense should be worse this Regardlessyear.of the defensive problems, Tennessee’s schedule is brutal, ranked the 5th toughest in the country by USA Today. While the Vols are unranked in the AP preseason poll, Pitt comes in at 17th. Florida and Kentucky have potential top 10 NFL draft picks at QB. South Carolina added last year’s preseason Heisman favorite in the transfer portal. LSU is 45-5 in night games at home since 2005 and has arguably the best wide receivers in the SEC. Alabama and Georgia will simply drop two high safeties back in Cover 2 Shell all game and let their dominant defensive lines control the game.
DANIEL SCRUGHAM Columnist Heupel potential,hasbut we have never seen one of his teams have a consistent defense.
Everything changed in 2021 when the Vols, who were picked to finish behind Missouri at SEC Media Days, exceeded expectations and finished third in the SEC East. Optimism turned to assurance with the addition of 2023 5-star QB Nico Iamaleava who is presumed to be the recipient of the $8 million NIL deal reported by the Athletic. These high expectations are unwarranted. Tennessee’s lackluster defense and grueling schedule should result in another disappointing season in 2022.
Columns and letters of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon’s editorial staff. Daniel Scrugham is a senior studying business analytics and the author of the fantasy football column “Forecasting Fantasy.” He can be reached at utk.edu.dscrugha@vols.
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, August 31, 20228 Join us ednesda s @ 7pm or food, fellowship Jand oin us Wednesdays @ 7pm for food, fellowship and casual orship ith ccommunion. asual worship with communion. ALL ARE AWELCOME! LL ARE WELCOME! THE DAILY BEACON WORSHIP GUIDE • FALL 2022 •
One of the two hardest games on the sched ule, Tennessee opens the month of November at Sanford Stadium in Athens. The Vols played surprisingly well against Georgia last season — they were one of only a handful of teams to score multiple touchdowns against an historic Georgia defense — but the Bulldogs went on to win the National Championship, blowing past rival Alabama in the title game. Despite the Vols’ upward trend, they are not where they need to be as a program to realisti cally consider an upset over Georgia. Tennes see has lost its last five meetings with the Bull dogs, including its last two in Athens.
The Tigers are coming off of a forgettable two year stretch, looking to return to the glory days of Joe Burrow in 2019 under new head coach Brian Kelly.
Akron – Sept. 17 Akron won just two games last season, marking its fourth straight losing season. Needless to say, the Zips are looking to turn things around under new head coach Joe Moorhead.Moorhead
Tennessee at Vanderbilt – Nov. 26
Ball State – Sept. 1 A season ago, Ball State head coach Mike Neu led the Cardinals to their second best re cord since rejoining the team in 2016. Ball State reached its second bowl game under Neu, los ing to Georgia State. Before that, Ball State went 7-1 in a COVIDshortened season. It’s safe to say that the Car dinals are trending upward.
Heading into year two of the Josh Heupel era, Tennessee has a full slate of SEC oppo nents as well as some strong non-conference games. The Vols returned to bowl eligibil ity last season, and they’ll look to have similar success and more this season.
Likely coming off a win in week one, this early road test will give the Vols a chance to see where their team is at and possibly prove itself as top team in the SEC before their first confer ence game.
Rattler has as much potential as any quar terback in the conference, but it will be a ques tion as to whether or not he lives up to it. If he does, this will be a matchup to circle on Ten nessee’s schedule.
Tennessee at Pitt – Sept. 10 Pitt got the best of Tennessee in Knoxville last season and went on to have a very suc cessful 11-3 season. Pitt won the ACC Champi onship and lost its bowl game to Michigan.
Missouri – Nov. 12
The Tennessee-Alabama rivalry, similar to Florida, is one that has not gone well for Ten nessee this century. Alabama has won the last 15, and only a few games in that span have been close.Tennessee showed some promise in last year’s contest, trailing by just a touchdown heading into the fourth quarter. However, Ala bama kept its win streak alive going on a 28-7 run to close out the game. Vol fans are always hopeful heading into the Third Saturday of October, but this year there could be a good reason for that. Alabama has the edge in this one, but expect the Vols to hold their own.
JOSH LANE AND ANDREW PETERS Sports Editor and Assistant Sports Editor
Dawned with a new logo and plans to reno vate Vanderbilt Stadium after 100 years of op eration, the Commodores welcome the Vols in what is one of college football’s oldest — though not exactly most competitive — rival ries.Tennessee has owned its in-state rival over the 129 years of meetings, currently leading the all-time series 78-32-5. Most recently, the Vols trounced the Commodores 45-21 in their regular-season finale a year ago, putting on the final touches for their first bowl berth in twoVanderbiltseasons. has exceeded expectations early by dispatching Hawaii to open its season, but the Commodores have been at the bottom of the SEC for years for a reason. Come the final week of the season, there should be a clear tal ent gap between these two teams, and the Vols can put the finishing touches on what looks to be a promising campaign.
Just like last season, Tennessee’s matchup with Pitt is its toughest non-conference game and will be an early test for Heupel’s squad.
Let’s take a look at the Vols’ 2022 oppo nents.
As long as the Vols do not hurt themselves, they should have no trouble dispatching Mar tin on a festive weekend in Knoxville.
7-6 record that Tennessee did, but they were also under .500 in the SEC. Tennessee cruised past South Carolina in its SEC home-opener a season ago with a 25-point win. Things are looking up, however, in Colum bia, highlighted by the addition of redshirt junior quarterback Spencer Rattler. In an un predictable offseason, Rattler transferred to South Carolina from Oklahoma after its head coach Lincoln Riley went west to USC. Rattler joins former Sooner assistant and current Car olina head coach Shane Beamer in Columbia.
Alabama – Oct. 15
The Gamecocks finished 2021 with the same
A road trip to South Carolina will be an inter esting matchup for the Vols in mid-November.
How will Tennessee football fare in 2022: A full breakdown of the Vols’ schedule
Tennessee at Sou th Carolina – Nov. 19
brings Power Five experience that could help point Akron in the right direc tion this season, and he will be tested early. Ak ron will face Michigan State and Tennessee in back-to-back weeks.
The Vols will end a three-game homestand with their closest rival Kentucky to close the month of August. Tennessee’s matchup with the Wildcats a year ago was one of its most memorable of the season, as the Vols edged out a three-point victory over a ranked Kentucky team in Lexington. The Vols have been historically good against Kentucky at home, owning a lifetime 43-11-6 record versus the Wildcats in Knoxville. This matchup will be one of a handful for the Vols that will determine whether or not they sur pass last year’s seven wins. On paper it’s a winnable game, but will Tennessee take ad vantage? Only time will tell.
The matchup between Tennessee and Ball State will mark the first time the two teams have played one another in football.
Florida – Sept. 24 The Tennessee-Florida rivalry is undoubt edly one of the biggest in college football, but it hasn’t gone the Vols’ way for most of this century. Florida has won 16 out of the last 17, and last season’s matchup was a blowout win for the Gators. To say that a win for Josh Heupel would be huge is an understatement. Not only would a win earn Heupel a lot more respect around the SEC, it would also give the Vols a chance to potentially be 4-0 heading into a huge matchup in week five against LSU. Tennessee at LSU – Oct. 8 Tennessee’s road matchup with LSU is game two of a brutal three game stretch. It is a game that could go either way.
Tennessee special teams tries to block a field goal during game against Florida on Sept. 22, 2018 at Neyland Stadium. File / The Daily Beacon
The Vols and Tigers are in similar boats heading into the 2022 season. Both are midlevel SEC teams looking to get over the hump and prove themselves in the league. This game will be a big one for both teams.
Tennessee will host Mizzou in its final home game of the 2022 season. After what will al most certainly be a road loss to Georgia to end the most challenging stretch of the year, the Vols can coast the rest of the way against the SEC bottom feeders, starting first with Mizzou and third-year head coach Eli Drinkwitz. Tennessee blew out Mizzou in Columbia early last season, one of its two 28-point first quarter showings. The Vols ran for over 450 yards and five touchdowns in the win, easily dispatching an inferior team for its first SEC win of 2021. The Vols have played only 10 games against Mizzou since it joined the SEC, but history is on their side. Tennessee has won the last three meetings and should have no trouble making it four in a row.
Wednesday, August 31, 2022 • The Daily Beacon 9FOOTBALL PREVIEW
The Vols matchup with the Zips is the first time the two teams have played in a decade, and it should be a confidence booster for Ten nessee heading into its first SEC matchup in week four.
UT-Martin – Oct. 22 Tennessee will get a brief reprieve from a tough SEC stretch in its homecoming matchup with UT-Martin, the second all-time meeting between these two schools. Tennessee won the first matchup by a lopsided 50-0 final at Mar tin in Tennessee2010. should not expect a 50-point win — the Skyhawks won 10 games a year ago and finished first in the Ohio Valley Conference — but it is the homecoming matchup for a reason.
Tennessee at Georgia – Nov. 5
Kentucky – Oct. 29
The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, August 31, 202210 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Neyland’s first-ever north end zone video board is a part of its new North End Zone So cial Deck, a standing-only premium area that “offers fans a unique view with a sports bar feel and upgraded amenities with the new north video board as a backdrop.”
Middle left: The ticket scanner is an emblem of the new digital football ticketing system.
The Social Deck – which requires a separate ticket to access – offers a variety of all-local craft beer on tap at a 360-degree bar as well as a walk-through market with innovative technol ogy to expedite the concession process.
For quick and easy entry into Tennessee Ath letics venues, fans are encouraged to download the Tennessee Athletics app to their mobile de vice.All valid digital tickets will display a moving barcode or a hold-near-reader icon. At vari ous Neyland Stadium gates, fans will enter via pedestal scanners that feature two scanning methods – their Apple or Google Wallet or the Tennessee Athletics app.
The other most visible change to the Ney land backdrop is the return of the famous VO-L-S lettering rising over the south end of the stadium. A staple of UT football for years, the lettering was removed in 2009. For the first time in over a decade, two sets with an orange background and white lettering have been in stalled, as Alpert and his team look for a balance between preserving a century-old stadium, yet keeping it up to date with the latest amenities. “We want to honor the traditions of the past and keep Neyland, the historic elements,” Alp ert said. “Whether it was your grandfather that brought you to this stadium and you came up Gate 21 and entered to go into Section YY – we want to keep those elements, but we also have to think about the future and what’s coming next and staying competitive in the space.”
View from the new North End Social Deck on Aug. 30, 2022 at Neyland Stadium. Nolan Keesee / Contributor
The plans for renovations, which were first conceived in 2017, were expanded over the summer to a cost of $288 million dollars. The renovations have decreased Neyland’s capacity from 102,455 to 101,915, but the revenue gen erated from the premium areas will reduce the cost of 60% of the seats in the stadium.
Top: The new North End Social Deck will provide a standing-only “sports bar feel” at games.
Bottom: The new 10k resolution North End video board. Nolan Keesee / Contributor
With Tennessee football’s season-opener just days away, the university unveiled a pleth ora of changes to enhance the gameday expe rience for fans. The changes span everything from major renovations to Neyland Stadium to NIL merchandise opportunities to a new digital ticket system designed to make the entire pro cess as seamless as possible.
The university estimates that the current wave of renovations will be completed by the 202526 academic year.
Tennessee Athletics unveils new premium Neyland gameday experience
JOSH LANE Sports Editor
RYAN ALPERT DEPUTY ATHLETICS DIRECTOR We take great pride inbeing able to ... renovate, innovate the ca-thedral that is NeylandStadium.
“We take great pride in being able to have the opportunity to renovate, innovate the cathedral that is Neyland Stadium,” Deputy Athletics Di rector and Chief Operating Officer Ryan Alpert said.In terms of size, the biggest changes to Ney land Stadium are two brand new state-of-theart video boards in both the north and south end zones. The new boards have a 10k resolu tion and according to Alpert, are the “bright est video boards in all of college football.” In addition with the video boards, the pregame firework and LED light show are back in 2022 to “accentuate in-game festivities.”
The newest additions to Neyland are the first of many phases coming in the future to make the fan experience as entertaining as possible. A premium indoor club space was added in the lower west under Sections S, T, U and V for a new, field-level experience, though the current layout is temporary and will be completed after the final home game in 2022. Additionally, Alpert’s goal is to get in-sta dium Wi-Fi within the next one to three years.
The university has also added several ame nities to enhance the fan experience, including an NIL merchandise shop located near Section A on Concourse 1, where fans can purchase cus tom game jerseys or t-shirts of their favorite players. Also new to Neyland in 2022 is a digital ticketing system. In the effort to reduce ticketing fraud, all gameday tickets and parking passes will be digital and able to be accessed through a mobile device. Fans will gain admission into all venues via a unique barcode through SafeTix, which will be scanned directly from a mobile device.
“We’ll continue to remember and bring the historic elements into future plans,” Alpert said.
Middle right: The Lower West Club Seating Area on Aug. 30, 2022 at Neyland Stadium.
2.Strong Start for Hooker
JOSH LANE AND ANDREW PETERS Sports Editor and Assistant Sports Editor
Tennessee 49 vs. Ball State 14
Sophomore Jaylen Wright will be the first guy off the bench behind Small, but freshman Justin Williams-Thomas and Dylan Sampson can contribute out of the gate.
Predictions: Josh As far as non-conference teams for the Vols to open their season against, Ball State is high up on the list. Though the Cardinals took a step back in 2021, they still won six games and earned a bowl bid. Not too long ago, 2020 to be exact, Ball State was the MAC champion. Even so, don’t read too much into this one. Ball State will be the Vols’ biggest challenge to open a full season since they lost to Georgia State in 2019, but Tennessee is the superior team no matter how you slice it. The Vols have the advantage in all three phases of the game.Ithink
John Church Contributor
2022
Andrew Peters Asst. Sports Editor
Bella Hughes Design Editor
This week, the Vols will open the 2022 season and the second year of the Josh Heupel era against Ball State at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, Sept. 1 at Neyland Stadium.
The Vols’ secondary can turn it around this season, however. Tennessee lost several players in the secondary, but a few starters return and other returners will make their way into the starting lineup this season. A fresh lineup could be key for Tennessee’s secondary.
2. Backup Running Backs Need to Step Up Jabari Small is the Vols starter in the backfield, but behind him it’s a toss up. Tennessee lost Tiyon Evans to the transfer portal and Len’Neth Whitehead to injury, leaving a prime opportunity for other running backs to prove themselves.
Tennessee 52 vs. Ball State 10
Tennessee 45 vs. Ball State 14
West Virginia vs. Pitt Penn State vs. Purdue Oregon vs. Georgia Cincinnati vs. Arkansas Utah vs. Florida Notre Dame vs. Ohio State
Kailee Harris Digital Producer
Keys: Josh 1. No Second-Quarter Letdown Tennessee was known for its strong first quarters last year. The Vols averaged 14.6 points in the first quarter, including 28-point firsts in back-to-back weeks against Mizzou and South Carolina. As good as the Vols were in the game’s first 15 minutes, they were equally as bad in the second. Tennessee averaged 8.4 points in the second quarter while being outscored by 2.6 points. In their opener last season, the Vols scored a pair of touchdowns in the first quarter and got nothing in the second — the same quarter in which Bowling Green scored all six of its Thispoints.problem should not hurt the Vols on Thursday night — something else has gone wrong if it does — but it very well could in the future against stiffer competition. The Vols would do well to overcome this hurdle in week one.
Eric Woods Staff Writer
Keys: Andrew 1. Rock-Solid Secondary
West Virginia vs. Pitt Penn State vs. Purdue Oregon vs. Georgia Cincinnati vs. Arkansas Utah vs. Florida Notre Dame vs. Ohio State
On paper, Tennessee is not extremely deep in the running back position, but Thursday is the first chance for its running backs to earn respect in a pass-heavy offense.
Tennessee 48 vs. Ball State 9
Tennessee 45, Ball State 14
West Virginia vs. Pitt Penn State vs. Purdue Oregon vs. Georgia Cincinnati vs. Arkansas Utah vs. Florida Notre Dame vs. Ohio State
A year ago Hendon Hooker was on the sidelines for Tennessee’s season-opener. He had lost the starting job to Joe Milton and was on the outside looking in for playing time. Fast forward a year later, and not only is Hooker firmly entrenched in the starting role, he’s a dark horse Heisman candidate. Vegas has Hookers’ Heisman odds at +6600 entering week one, the 17th best in the country. Can Hooker overcome the insurmountable odds and become Tennessee’s first HeismanProbablywinner?not.The statistics do not favor Hooker and there are a handful of other SEC quarterbacks more likely to win than he is, but it’s college football — anything can happen. A strong week one would go a long way to his candidacy.
Keys and Predictions: Ball State
Josh Lane Sports Editor
West Virginia vs. Pitt Penn State vs. Purdue Oregon vs. Georgia Cincinnati vs. Arkansas Utah vs. Florida Notre Dame vs. Ohio State
Tennessee’s fast-paced offense means a quick turnaround for the defense. With returning players more adjusted to Heupel’s play style could mean more success in the secondary.
Tennessee’s secondary ended the 2021 season on a not-so-great note, getting torched by Purdue’s offense in the Music City Bowl.
Wednesday, August 31, 2022 • The Daily Beacon 11FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Tennessee will cruise through week one and head to Pittsburgh in the top 25.
Tennessee 55 vs. Ball State 17
Tennessee 52 vs. Ball State 17
PICK ‘EM FOOTBALL
West Virginia vs. Pitt Penn State vs. Purdue Oregon vs. Georgia Cincinnati vs. Arkansas Utah vs. Florida Notre Dame vs. Ohio State
Predictions: Andrew Beating week one, non-conference opponents is a Tennessee football tradition, though it has not held up quite the same this decade. Heupel won his first game of the season soundly in 2021, and he will do it again thisBallseason.State is a solid team and a worthy opponent, but the Vols are amped up after a long offseason and are ready to start their season with a big win. Not to mention Tennessee will be playing under the lights of a newlyrenovated Neyland Stadium with 101,915 fans cheering them on. Tennessee 52, Ball State 10
West Virginia vs. Pitt Penn State vs. Purdue Oregon vs. Georgia Cincinnati vs. Arkansas Utah vs. Florida Notre Dame vs. Ohio State
Each week, the two sports editors and football beat writers at The Daily Beacon, Josh Lane and Andrew Peters, give their keys and predictions to Tennessee’s upcoming football matchup.
The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, August 31, 202212 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
