Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel is hoping for faith. He’s hoping that players elsewhere, boosters and fans believe he can take the Vols from contender to champion via the transfer portal. So far, there’s reason to believe that can happen. The Vols currently have one transfer portal committed, offensive lineman Wendell Moe Jr., but that will surely change in the coming weeks.
There’s also plenty of room for doubt.
Just look at his record in four years at Tennessee when the transfer portal has been in full effect.
It’s fair to give Heupel a pass after his first season in 2021. During that transition period from former coach Jeremy Pruitt, I’m sure Heupel helped add some transfers, but he was caught in an unenviable position of having to scramble to assemble a signing class. That wasn’t his fault, so there’s your mulligan. Let’s move on.
The Vols appeared to be transfer portal masters in the 2022 class. That didn’t last long. Heupel signed starters Bru McCoy at receiver, Andre Turrentine at safety and Gerald Mincey at offensive tackle. That’s about the extent of it.
The Vols also signed running back Lyn J-Dixon, defensive back Wesley Walker, linebacker Jackson Hannah, tight end Charlie Browder and quarterback Navy Shuler. None have had a major impact on Heupel’s program.
There is no question that Heupel’s transfer portal acquisitions made the Vols a much better team in the 2023 class. Heupel landed defensive tackle Gabe Jeudy-Lally, offensive lineman John Campbell, Jr., defensive tackle Omar Norman-Lott, receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr., linebacker Keenan Pili, offensive lineman Andre Karic and kicker Charles Campbell. All had major impacts for the Vols.
While returns are still coming in, the Vols certainly seemed to improve their roster with the 2024 signing class. Tennessee signed contributors like defensive tackle Jaxson Moi, offensive tackle Lance Heard, tight end Miles Kitselman, receiver Chris Brazzell II, cornerback Jermod McCoy, defensive back Jakobe Thomas and tight end Holden Staes.
The jury is still out on two 2024 transfers, receiver Tommy Winton III and defensive back Jakobe Thomas, but there is no question that the transfer class as a whole has to be considered a massive success. The Vols could still get key contributions from several of the players above.
Moi will likely play a bigger role. Heard should only improve at tackle. Kitselman has proven to be one of the better tight ends in the SEC. McCoy has proven to be a lockdown cornerback and Brazzell will be key for a program that is suddenly bereft of receivers.
So will Tennessee’s roster be significantly better after the second signing period later this month?
Almost assuredly.
One Response
He seems very deliberate in this process and sometimes the turtle wins the race.