ESPN analyst Peter Burns, citing sources within Tennessee’s program, had some strong comments about the Vols’ upward trajectory.
“I’ve got some friends that work at that football facility and it’s been tough over the last four or five years for a bevy or different reasons,” Burns told Off The Hook Sports during SEC Media Days in Atlanta last week. “This is the first time that when I call and take phone calls out of Knoxville, it’s like ‘This is really fun.’
“That excites me because it’s one of those programs that if Tennessee football is good, all of college football is really good.”
For those that might think Burns is just waxing poetic about the Vols, he quickly added, “Trust me, these are people that have told me when it’s ‘Bro, I might need to get out of here. It is not a good situation.’ These are the same people that are like ‘You wouldn’t understand (how much better it is). Night and day.’”
With eight preseason All-SEC players on its, Tennessee has players worth talking about. However, it’s a backup Vol that has Burns’ attention. He pointed out that quarterback Joe Milton’s willingness to remain at Tennessee despite being overtaken by starter Hendon Hooker last season was very revealing.
“Joe is still there,” Burns said. “That tells you all you need to know about this Vols’ program. I like what’s happening here.”
Burns said Tennessee being good at football is good for the entire sport. He added that Tennessee, which was picked third in the SEC East behind Georgia and Kentucky, is the team that he’s most excited to talk about in the division.
“I want teams that I don’t really know what is going to happen,” Burns said. “Anything can happen with Tennessee right now. Josh Heupel was so damn fun to watch this first year because the offense got rolling. He was fun.
“I have Vol fans I have that I have’t heard from in six or seven years and they’re like ‘We’re back. This is fun! This is what fun football looks like. My question is what that defense is going to look like.”
That’s a valid concern. The Vols were second in points scored in the SEC last season and 12th in points allowed.
