SEC Football: Spring 2019 storylines for every SEC team

Tennessee: With a load of returning production, Tennessee looks to take the next step. 

No power-five team returns more production from last season than Tennessee, which, teamed with a strong recruiting class littered with players who could contribute right away, could lead to a big leap forward for the Vols in Jeremy Pruitt’s second year in Knoxville.

Tennessee returns virtually its entire offense from a year ago, including QB Jarrett Guarantano, RB’s Ty Chandler and Tim Jordan, and receivers Marquez Callaway, Josh Palmer, and Jauan Jennings to go along with the entire offensive line.

The one concern could be the depth behind Guarantano at quarterback with Keller Chryst’s departure leaving no game experience behind the redshirt junior quarterback if he gets injured.

The Vols brought in a recruiting class that ranked 12th nationally, which included a pair of five-star offensive tackles – Wanya Morris and Darnell Wright – who could come in and immediately push for staring spots up front.

Tennessee was solid offensively in 2018; it was their defense that was the real issue, a thought that likely still eats away at a defensive minded coach like Pruitt. If Pruitt can fix the defense, the Vols could be in for a big leap up the standings in 2019.

Tennessee returns six defensive starters and has a couple of pieces in this years recruiting class, led by blue-chip outside linebacker Henry To’oto’o, who could make immediate contributions.

The Vols narrowly missed bowl eligibility last season, coming one win away. They flashed some potential, earning wins over both Auburn and Kentucky. Their losses were mostly emphatic, though, with six of their seven defeats coming by 25 points or more.

The November win over Kentucky seemed to point toward Tennessee getting a sixth win and a bowl berth, but they were blown out by both Missouri and Vanderbilt to finish the season.

Pruitt inherited a tough rebuilding job, and while the Vols made strides last season, they still have a long way to go. He’s already boosted the talent level in Knoxville, which teamed with an array of returning talent should make the Vols one of the deeper teams in the SEC next season.

A bowl game is a pretty safe bet; don’t be surprised, though, if Tennessee is one of the SEC’s biggest surprises, leapfrogging teams in the East and battling for second or third in the division.