The SEC released its three Preseason All-SEC teams last week and Tennessee was not well represented. Defensive end James Pearce Jr. and center Cooper Mays were the only two Vols that landed on the three teams making Tennessee one of the least represented teams in the predictions.
It wasn’t a massive surprise that Tennessee only had two players land on the list due to the number of key players that are stepping up into bigger roles this season and haven’t proven themselves as top SEC players. But if the Vols are going to have the season that they hope then they need more players to perform at an All-SEC level.
So which Vols are most likely to step up and have All-SEC level seasons? Taking a look at five here.
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Nico Iamalaeava, Quarterback
If Tennessee could pick one player to perform at an All-SEC level it would be Nico Iamaleava. Quarterback is the most important position in the sport and there’s some really strong returning quarterbacks in the SEC this season.
Between Georgia’s Carson Beck, Texas’ Quinn Ewers, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart and Missouri’s Brady Cook, the SEC quarterback scene is loaded this season. If Iamaleava is one of the conference’s three best quarterbacks he won’t have lucked into it.
The redshirt freshman has the talent and a really high ceiling that makes him playing at an All-SEC level possible in his first season as a starting quarterback. It would be a game changer for Josh Heupel’s fourth Tennessee team.
Dylan Sampson, Running Back
Sampson was a part of Tennessee’s three headed monster in the backfield last season where he totaled 604 rushing yards, 107 receiving yards and totaled eight touchdowns.
With both Jaylen Wright and Jabari Small off to the NFL, Sampson enters the season as Tennessee’s lead back and the next potential star in the Vols’ backfield. Tennessee will continue to approach his running back room by committee but Sampson is the definitive main back.
Sampson is the most likely Vol on this list to end up on the All-SEC teams by the end of the season.
Omari Thomas, Defensive Tackle
Thomas was the one player that I thought would end up on the Preseason All-SEC team that was left off. The fifth-year senior has been a constant contributor for Tennessee in recent years, totaling 82 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, nine pass deflections and four sacks over the last three seasons.
The 6-foot-4, 325-pound defensive tackle is a good college player but the question is whether he can take the step forward and become a All-SEC level player.
I debated whether I should pick Thomas, sophomore defensive tackle Daevin Hobbs or sophomore inside linebacker Arion Carter for this spot but I’m rolling with the safe option here.
Dont’e Thornton, Receiver
I took the safe pick with Omari Thomas so why not be a little bold here and roll with the receiver that was largely disappointing in his first season at Tennessee, catching just 13 passes for 224 yards.
But there’s no obvious top receiver for Tennessee entering this season and if Iamaleava has the season he can then someone is going to step up and have a big season. I’m banking on Thornton making the year two jump in Heupel’s offense.
The experiment with Thornton in the slot backfired but once he moved out wide, the Oregon transfer showed improvement before suffering a season-ending injury. Thornton is extremely talented and he’s my pick to have a breakout season.
Jackson Ross, Punter
A more bland pick to wrap up the list but punter Jackson Ross is fully capable of having an All-SEC caliber season. He struggled in the first few games of 2023 and that hurt his averaged but the rugby style punter was sneakily really good for most of his first season as the Vols’ full-time starter.
Ross isn’t a name people think about with Tennessee, and the Vols hope they don’t need to use him much, but I’d pick him to have a big season.
