Tennessee football is a third of the way through its 2024 regular season as it approaches its first open date of the 2024 season.
It’s been a strong first month of the season for the Vols. They opened the season ranked 15th in the AP Poll but they’re up 10-spots to No. 5 after their 4-0 start to the season.
So what have we learned about the Vols through the first month of the year? Taking a look here in the Tennessee football stock report. As you’d expect, more stock rising than falling to this point in the season.
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Stock Up
Tennessee’s Running Backs
Tennessee’s running back depth was one of the biggest roster personnel questions this offseason with Dylan Sampson being the only proven returning running back and Cam Seldon undergoing spring shoulder surgery.
But despite Seldon missing two of Tennessee’s first four games, the Vols’ running back depth has been perfectly fine. Redshirt freshman DeSean Bishop has proven he’s a completely capable back and has rushed for 287 yards and three touchdowns so far this season.
It’s not just Tennessee’s depth that’s impressed. Sampson looks like one of the best running backs in the SEC, totaling 449 yards and a nation’s best 10 rushing touchdowns.
Jermod McCoy
I really liked the addition of Jermod McCoy when Tennessee landed the Oregon State cornerback transfer over the offseason. Through four games against poor passing offenses, McCoy has exceeded my expectations.
McCoy has allowed just eight catches for 39 yards while being targeted 16 times this season. He has an interception and hasn’t missed a tackle. Still early but McCoy looks like one of the SEC’s best cornerbacks.
Tennessee’s Linebackers
This was a group that there was excitement about before the season but also felt like there was a wide variety of potential results due to a number of unproven players.
But I’ve found this group mildly exceeding my expectations. Keenan Pili has been fantastic and Arion Carter looks like a player that’s made a jump from his freshman to sophomore season.
The depth is strong there too. Jeremiah Telander has also improved, Kalib Perry is a serviceable backup and even redshirt freshman Jalen Smith has been solid when on the field.
The Kicking Game
Jackson Ross has picked up right where he left off last season and looks like one of the SEC’s best punters. He’s averaging 45.3 yards per punt and has pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line on three of them.
Kicker Max Gilbert was the question and he’s been great, connecting on 10-of-11 field goal attempts and is three-of-four on kicks over 40 yards.
Stock Holding
Tennessee’s Defensive Line
We’re judging to a high standard here. But Tennessee told us this offseason that they have the best defensive line in the country. Through four weeks, that looks pretty close to the truth with the Vols and Ole Miss having the two best defensive fronts in the country.
We knew that the depth was stellar. The question was whether any players could take that next step forward and become All-SEC level players. Juniors Tyre West and Josh Josephs have done that while a number of players including Omari Thomas and Omarr Norman-Lott have continued to improve.
There’s no bigger reason for optimism for the 2024 Tennessee football team than its defensive line that looks like one of the best in the country.
Nico Iamaleava
Through one month, Nico Iamaleava largely looks like what I expected. A good quarterback that has some elite flashes while also making some young mistakes.
Does he look like a legit Heisman Trophy candidate to me at this point? Not really. But he looks like someone who has a strong grasp of Tennessee’s offense, can make all the throws and is capable enough with his legs to put pressure on defenses that way.
Now, Tennessee still hasn’t asked him to do a ton in any game this season. That’s going to change over the next month. He’s going to have a chance to prove he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the country and that he belongs in New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony.
Tennessee’s Receivers
I questioned all offseason whether Tennessee has a true No. 1, elite receiver. I thought that was a big issue with its offense a season ago and I wasn’t sure they addressed it this offseason, though I wasn’t ready to say that they undoubtedly didn’t.
I nearly put this group in the stock down group, but I’m holding out hope still because what I said about Iamaleava. Tennessee has rotated a ton at receiver and hasn’t thrown the ball a ton this season to date.
Only two Tennessee receivers have double digit catches (Brazzell and McCoy) and only two have 200-plus yards (Thornton and McCoy). We’ll figure out before too long whether this group has more juice that we just haven’t seen yet.
Stock Down
Pass Protection
Part of this comes from the lack of depth along the offensive line and the early season injuries to offensive tackles Lance Heard and John Campbell Jr. But while Tennessee’s run blocking has been great this season, its pass protection has been very shaky.
That was obviously the case in the Oklahoma game but also proved true at times against NC State. While receiving play might not be elite this season, I worry more about pass protection agains the best defenses that Tennessee will face.
James Pearce Jr.
Let me start by saying that I think James Pearce is playing well. His three tackles and 0.5 sacks are not a perfect representation of how he’s performing. For one, he didn’t play many snaps in wins over Chattanooga or Kent State. And he is drawing tons of attention from opponents which is opening up opportunities for other defensive linemen.
But compared to the preseason praise heaped upon him— the best player in college football and the potential No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft– Pearce’s stock is down. Down to just a All-SEC player and a top 10 pick in the NFL Draft. Which is to say, the stock is still really high! And Pearce is still a really good player who makes a big impact on each game.
