Spring Practice Confirming Outside Expectations

Following a highly eventful and successful season for Josh Heupel in year two, the Tennessee Volunteers expect more great things in the upcoming season.

The Tennessee Volunteers went 11-2 and won the Orange Bowl last season. It was just Heupel's second year as head coach. 

The team also defeated Alabama and Florida. This ended a 15 and 5-year winning streak for both teams, respectively. Heupel and his team accomplished so much, yet many of those players are now gone for the NFL, such as wide receivers Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman. His highly sought-after quarterback Hendon Hooker and talented offensive tackle Darnell Wright are gone.

This team coming into 2023 looks different, but it also has relatively the same goals in mind. Before a devastating loss in South Carolina, it was a high possibility that Tennessee could make the playoffs. Joe Milton will likely take over at quarterback, and he has looked great in spring camp. 

Squirrel White, Tennessee WR

Heupel on Milton in practice, "He is extremely coachable...he cares a great deal about learning our craft and our offense."Milton started the last two games of the season to replace Hooker, who suffered an ACL injury in Tennessee's loss to South Carolina. He passed for 251 yards and three passing touchdowns in the Orange Bowl victory over Clemson. 

Milton has come up big in his two starts to the end of the year. He can do it with the right work for an entire season. A big addition for the Vols to help bulk their receiving corp backup was the addition of transfer receiver Dont'e Thornton. He averaged 21.2 yards a catch in 2022 with his previous team, the Oregon Ducks. 

The Volunteers also are returning Bru McCoy and Ramel Keyton at wide-out. Two guys who have come up huge in 2022 for Tennessee. They combined for about 1,100 yards last season.

Heupel has the pieces to give Tennessee a title push like last season. The spring practices and offseason leading up to it will be huge for them to get the team headed in the right direction. 

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