Game week is finally here, which means it’s time to get out the final rankings, lists, and predictions before Week 1 officially begins this weekend.
ESPN’s Max Olson and Eli Lederman put their heads together to come up with the Top 100 newcomers across college football this season, including both transfer portal additions and true freshmen.
Tennessee landed a trio of players on the Top 100 list with all three players from the transfer portal side of things. Despite a handful of impressive rookies on the field this fall, no Tennessee freshman made the list.
The portal players are not ranked in numerical order; instead, they are just in groups. Tennessee’s first selection, LSU transfer OT Lance Heard, lands in the Big Men category.
“Heard, the No. 3 ranked offensive tackle recruit in the 2023 class, moved on from LSU after playing 195 snaps (one start) during his true freshman season,” Olson and Lederman wrote. “The 6-foot-6, 340-pound tackle gets a clear path to playing time with the Vols as their No. 1 left tackle and has an extremely bright future entering his first season as a full-time starter.”
Heard’s arrival at the left tackle position gave Tennessee the ability to move John Campbell Jr. to the right side of the line, thus bolstering Nico Iamaleava’s pocket from the sides of the line.
The second Vol to land in the rankings, cornerback Jermod McCoy, lands in the Dynamic Defenders category. McCoy played for Oregon State as a freshman in 2023 and recorded 31 total tackles, 16 solo tackles, one fumble recovery, two interceptions, and seven passes deflected. With the amount of turnover Tennessee had in the secondary this offseason, McCoy has a clear path to making an impact on Rocky Top.
“Here’s another defensive back who flashed exciting potential in 2023,” ESPN wrote. “The 6-foot, 193-pound cornerback was able to start five games as a true freshman for the Beavers and led the team with nine passes defended (seven PBUs, two interceptions). McCoy brings impressive skills and one source said he has done some ‘special stuff’ in fall camp for the Vols, so expectations are high for his sophomore season.”
The final Vol to land on the list has some of the most big-play potential on the team. ESPN slots former Tulane wide receiver Chris Brazell II in the Moving Up category heading into the season.
Brazzell had a breakout year with Tulane last season and is looking to continue to raise his profile with the Vols. Brazzell has natural athletic ability and a knack for locating and high-pointing the ball, as seen on a few occasions during Tennessee’s fall camp in August.
Just another Chris Brazzell highlight👀 pic.twitter.com/cdfKiMurrx
— Rocky Top Now (@rockytopnow) August 12, 2024
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“After leading the Green Wave with 44 catches for 711 yards and five touchdowns in 2023, Brazzell made the move to the SEC and is putting in the work to become a difference-maker for Tennessee,” Olson and Lederman wrote. “The Vols return proven pass catchers in Squirrel White and Bru McCoy and have a deep cast of wideouts, but their coaches see serious high-end ability in Brazzell.”
All three players that Tennessee listed project to be starters for the Vols this season, but we’ll know more when the Vols’ first depth chart is released on Monday afternoon and certainly come kickoff this Saturday.
No. 15 Tennessee will open the season on Saturday, Aug. 31, at 12:45 p.m. ET against Chattanooga in Neyland Stadium.
Former Tennessee defensive lineman Tyler Baron (Miami) and former Tennessee linebacker Elijah Herring (Memphis) also land on ESPN’s list.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more Tennessee coverage leading up to kickoff.
