If Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel isn’t happy with receivers coach Kelsey Pope, it isn’t showing up in recruiting. At least not yet.
Pope, who just completed his third season as a full-time assistant, is on the recruiting trail and battling to make the Vols better, according to X.
Pope’s activity in recruiting isn’t an absolute that he’ll be returning to the Vols’ staff this season, but it’s a pretty good indicator that he’ll return despite the worst season of his short college career. Heupel must think things are going to get better. Or he’s going to make a change after signing day in February. However, that would be a massive surprise. Pope is almost certainly on solid ground – but should he be?
I’m certainly willing to give Pope the benefit of the doubt for two reasons. First, this is Heupel’s team. If he doesn’t feel like a player, such as freshman receiver Mike Matthews, isn’t ready to play, then he’s not going to be in the game. Second, Pope had to deal with a myriad of injuries to key receivers Bru McCoy, Dont’e Thornton and Squirrel White. There is no question that the Vols got a tough break at one of their most coveted positions. However, that doesn’t absolve Pope nor any UT coach.
It’s hard to argue against the notion that the Vols mishandled the receiver situation last season. There were times in which White, who has since transferred to Florida State, didn’t look healthy enough to play with a bum shoulder. Is that part of the reason he left? Only White knows that. However, he’s not the main point of concern.
It’s hard for me to come up with a reason why Matthews didn’t play more for the Vols last season considering his talent level, the Vols’ injuries at receiver and the glimpse of him making plays at the beginning and end of the season. However, the middle of the season was like an Oreo with no filling. There just wasn’t anything there.
Matthews played in 10 games last season. In his college debut against Kent State in September, Matthews caught two passes for 35 yards and a touchdown. Great things were supposed to be on the way. That took a lot longer than most expected.
Matthews ended the regular season with a career-high three catches for 30 yards against Vanderbilt. That’s not exactly something to brag about, but it’s something. Even worse, Matthews’ longest reception of the season was just 25 yards. Could Tennessee’s coaching braintrust not figure out a way to get him the ball on a simple play in space so he could flash his athleticism? Apparently not.
Time will tell if Pope is a quality coach, but it looks like he was just in the right place at the right time. Heupel, who is about as guarded as Area 51, doesn’t like to share his offensive philosophy with just anyone. While some coaches like to spread out responsibilities among a large group of coaches and analysts, Heupel likes to keep his intentions amongst a small group of assistant coaches. He also doesn’t hire just anyone.
Heupel elevated Pope from an analyst to assistant coach before the 2022 season. He’s also promoted Alec Abeln from analyst to tight ends coach at Tennessee and Joey Halzle from analyst to assistant coach at Central Florida, then position coach to offensive coordinator at Tennessee.
Tennessee’s offensive staff is made up of inexperienced coaches that were raised in Heupel’s system. That isn’t the best method of bringing in fresh ideas. Perhaps that’s why the Vols brought in former Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones as an analyst. We’ll see how that turns out. If you’re hoping for a magical elixir in Jones, don’t. He comes from the same offensive philosophy as the rest of Tennessee’s coaches.
Jones replaced former Tennessee analyst McKenzie Milton, who took a quarterback coaching position with Central Florida. Did the Vols upgrade? That had better be the case.
Heupel has a problem, and he knows it. Defenses have adjusted to his offense. That’s been evident across the country with schools that run similar offenses. Southern California is the most prominent example. Tempo, wide splits and all of that isn’t nearly as innovative as it was when Heupel was hired by Tennessee heading into the 2021 season.
Pope may end up being a great coach. He may even end up winning championships as a head coach. However, after last season, he has plenty to prove. If the Vols can’t return to their explosive ways, it’s time to bring in some fresh philosophies, which could mean coaching changes. Heupel knows that.
There is a reason Heupel went to a two tight-end set in critical situations this season. There is a reason why Heupel tried to run clock instead of running up the scoreboard at times. Football never stays the same. It’s always evolving. Heupel knows that. For Pope’s sake, he had better be well aware of that fact as well.
