Tennessee Football: Can Josh Heupel turn around the Volunteers?

If Heupel is to succeed, this is what needs to happen.

Two things that Heupel needs to move the ship in the right direction are already there. First, the Volunteers have resources. Their facilities are as good as any in the SEC, with upgrades that began in 2019 to both Neyland Stadium and Anderson Training center.

The fact that former AD Phillip Fulmer was part of a $180 million fundraising campaign (the improvements are 100 percent donor and booster funded) prove the Volunteers have financial resources.

Second, Heupel got the contract needed to improve the program. The Volunteers have seen many players leave via the portal, and despite recruiting not falling off a cliff (this current class is ranked 15th), it will take at least two or three cycles to build a roster that is losing some of its best players.

Heupel has a six-year deal with a clause. If the NCAA sanctions include scholarship reductions of eight or more, Heupel gets an extra year. That’s the lynchpin of the whole deal.

No one knows what the restrictions are going to be or how many seasons. There were apparent recruiting improprieties during Pruitt’s tenure, but it is unclear how deep the violations go.

On the field, Heupel has to recruit and develop a quarterback. That position has gone lacking in Knoxville for a long time.

Eric Ainge was arguably the last difference-maker at quarterback for the Volunteers. Heupel has Brian Maurer, Harrison Bailey, Spencer Smith and Virginia Tech transfer Hendon Hooker to work with. Three-star quarterback Kaldon Salter has enrolled and will be on campus for spring practice.

Developing a game-changer at quarterback could accelerate the turn around process.