STRIKING: Approximately two hours after the assistant coach was suspended, Tennessee officially revealed reasons…

Even at this halfway in June, college football seems a long way off, yet it also feels like it will arrive soon. Teams in the sport, including Tennessee football, are getting more and more focused before kickoffs with every day that goes by. Even at this halfway in June, college football seems a long way off, yet it also feels like it will arrive soon. Teams in the sport, including Tennessee football, are getting more and more focused before kickoffs with every day that goes by.

After Hooker left, the passing game was further hindered by season-ending injuries to receivers like Bru McCoy, and Michigan transfer quarterback Joe Milton was not the answer everyone had hoped for. Despite this, the Vols’ offense averaged 4.48 yards per game and 6.76 yards per play, scoring 53 touchdowns, and finishing 19th in the nation in total offense. However, that was a significant decline from their previous year’s national championship, when they averaged 525.5 yards per game and 7.2 yards per play.

Given Tennessee football’s last two decades, where such a win number or better was uncommon, going 9-4 and winning a second straight bowl game should still be viewed as a huge victory. But will that still be feasible in 2024?

Head coach Josh Heupel plans to achieve his goal of becoming and remaining fit in 2024. As was already mentioned, Tennessee football’s season was hampered by injuries to the receiving corps. McCoy declared he would be joining up with top receiver Squirrel White from the previous season, tight end Holden Staes of Notre Dame, Oregon transfer Donte Thornton Jr., and Chris Brazzell II, a transfer from Tulane.

Tennessee football has some momentum, much like the year before when they defeated Clemson in the Orange Bowl. Despite falling to two of the SEC’s top teams in Georgia and Missouri during their two-game losing streak in November of last year, the Vols ended their season with a commanding victory over Vanderbilt and a Citrus Bowl triumph over 20th-ranked Iowa. But the most encouraging thing was what they showed at the Citrus Bowl. The highly regarded rookie Nico Iamaleava took over at quarterback after Milton chose not to play in the bowl game.