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SEC Football Media Days 2019: One big takeaway from each team

By Jake Mitchell

(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 08: Head coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers brings his team onto the field prior to a game against the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers at Neyland Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennesee won the game 59-3. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 08: Head coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers brings his team onto the field prior to a game against the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers at Neyland Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennesee won the game 59-3. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /

There’s considerable excitement in Knoxville

Jeremy Pruitt has been a part of some very special teams. He’s spent a total of eight years at Alabama, where he was part of his fair share of big games. There is a different excitement to building a winner than just winning.

In Knoxville, Pruitt has the chance to build a winner. Year one wasn’t pretty, but it was a necessary exercise as this program looks to rise from the ashes. Rebuilds don’t happen overnight.

It will start at quarterback. Jarrett Guarantano showed promise at times, and now he’ll be joined by offensive coordinator Jim Chaney. Chaney has guided Jake Fromm to success at Georgia in the last two years, and now he’ll try to do the same in Knoxville.

The defense, however, is Pruitt’s bread and butter. Despite losing key leaders like Shy Tuttle and Kyle Phillips, Pruitt is confident that he, along with Derrick Ainsley and Chris Rumph, can transform this into a formidable unit.

The 2018 season was essentially year zero for Pruitt. He took over a program that had become a laughing stock after the tenure of Butch Jones, and the following coaching search. The job won’t be complete this season, but things are heating up in Knoxville.

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