By TJ Chapman
After a mass exodus of key contributors on the offense, the Tennessee Volunteers find themselves looking to a host of younger players to run head coach Josh Heupel’s up tempo offense. The Vols finished the 2024 season with the 15th best offense and ninth best rushing offense. Almost all of the key contributors from that offense are gone either to the transfer portal or exhausting their eligibility.
It will be very difficult to replace the production of players such as running back Dylan Sampson and wide receivers Squirrel White, Bru McCoy and D’ante Thornton. The only offensive lineman returning with starting experience in Heupel’s offense is redshirt junior LT Lance Heard.
In looking at the potential two-deep, Tennessee’s only listed senior is tight end Miles Kitselman. Duke transfer RB Star Thomas is the third back in the rotation and he is a graduate transfer. A few juniors are mixed in but the majority of the two-deep are true freshmen, redshirt freshmen, true sophomores and redshirt sophomores.
New Look Offensive Line
At first glance the offensive line is a concern, losing four of five starters. However, offensive line coach Glen Ellerbee likes what he’s seen so far.
“I feel like we are off to a good start, man,” Ellerbee said when speaking with the media March 28. “It’s different because you lost so many guys, but the good news is this group is all sort of the same age and same level of learning. They have tied into together. They are helping each other.”
More Sports News
Replacing center Cooper Mays will be a difficult task but Ellerbee is excited for the battle between redshirt freshmen William Satterwhite and Max Anderson. So far Satterwhite has taken the reigns, but Anderson and Notre Dame transfer guard/center Sam Pendleton are pushing Satterwhite for reps.
Heard, who missed fall camp last season with an ankle injury that stretched into the season, is the starter at LT. Heard is said to be healthy and playing well. Five-star freshman David Sanders Jr. is in a battle with redshirt junior Larry Johnson III to be the starting right tackle.
Both guards are transfers, Wendell Moe Jr. from Arizona and Pendleton. With the defensive lines Tennessee will see this season, this unit needs to be on top of their game. They will also need to have depth as injuries are inevitable for any team.
Developing Quarterback
Nico Iamaleava will need to take the next step in his development. Iamaleava will need to develop more in the passing game, particularly the deep passes. One of the keys of the Heupel offense is being able to hit on the deep passes utilizing play-action.
making it look easy 🎯#GBO 🍊 pic.twitter.com/r4xGTK8SeX
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) March 25, 2025
Iamaleava cannot be afraid to make mistakes and he will sometimes have to have a gunslinger’s mentality. Iamaleava has the arm to make the throws, when the defense loads the box to stop the run. He must make the deep throws count. Iamaleava’s backup is redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger who threw nine passes in 2024.
Youthful RB Duo
At running back, the Vols have both Peyton Lewis and DeSean Bishop who will split time. As of now, Lewis is RB1 and getting more of the first-team reps in practice. Both played backup roles to Sampson in 2024 and are solid SEC backs. The main focus of Heupel’s offense is always the run game so there will be plenty of carries for both backs. Thomas transferred in from Duke after posting 871 rushing yards in 2024 and provides veteran depth.
Young But Exciting WRs
Sophomore WR Mike Matthews has been the talk of spring practice with his play and leadership. DB Boo Carter has also gotten some reps on the offensive side of the ball and is expected to contribute as a WR this season.
“You saw him as a punt returner—electric with the ball in his hands. We’ve experimented with him on the offensive side of the football as well, and he’s handled it really well up until this point,” Heupel said about Carter seeing offensive snaps in the spring.
BOO CARTER, Huge return pic.twitter.com/du6S4CkXFH
— gmannVOLS (@gmannVOLS) November 17, 2024
Redshirt junior Chris Brazzell II and redshirt freshman Braylon Staley have also impressed the coaching staff. It is vital for Iamaleava to get on the same page with all three receivers for Tennessee’s offense to be successful.
Best Returning TE Duo in the SEC?
Tight ends Kitselman and Ethan Davis will be relied upon to help move the chains and spring the backs for big gains. Davis has had a good spring so far and will have a bigger role in 2025.
With the turnover on Tennessee’s roster, it will be difficult to replicate last season’s 10 wins. But with the group of young returning players, mixed with key transfers, another run at the College Football Playoff is not out of the question. Barring major pieces leaving via the transfer portal after the 2025 season, this could be a very good two-year run for Tennessee’s youthful offense.
There will be some bumps in the road, but if those bumps are minimal, it should pave the way for Tennessee’s success in 2025 and possibly 2026.
