In Knoxville, the scent of unfinished business still hangs in the air. After finally cracking the playoffs code, the Tennessee Volunteers brass ring remains the one they couldn’t grasp—the national championship. And make no mistake, Josh Heupel isn’t brushing it off. The Vols are all-in for 2025, squarely aiming at the Natty. The stakes are high, the target is clear, and expectations couldn’t be loftier. Heupel, now ranked ahead of names like Brian Kelly and Lane Kiffin in the eyes of evaluators like On3’s Ari, has crafted a reputation as one of the best offensive minds in CFB. But even the best chefs can’t cook without ingredients, and this offseason, Heupel has been left scrambling for groceries.
The warning signs are flashing, starting with recruiting. The latest On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings tell a cold, uncomfortable truth: the Gators have leapfrogged Tennessee, bumping the Vols out of the top ten. It’s a symbolic jab, but it echoes a deeper concern about roster construction. And Locked On Sooners’ John Williams raised the most pressing question of all. “Tennesse is coming off a playoff appearance. They’ve got Nico coming back. They’ve got a good head coach in Josh Heupel. The question is, can they withstand all the turnover that they faced this offseason with the number of guys going off to the NFL draft, a number of dudes entering the transfer portal?”
It’s not a rhetorical question—it’s a full-blown audit of the Heupel regime’s ability to reload at the pace modern demands. Note that while Tennessee has the NIL firepower to attract talent, even the glitziest roster isn’t a guarantee. Just ask Ole Miss. “[They] had one of the best rosters in SEC in 2024—and they only won nine games.” That’s the cautionary tale Tennessee is staring down.
The core of the issue is depth—or the lack of it. Tennessee’s locker room door has been a revolving one this offseason, with 18 players bolting through the transfer portal. Among the notable departures: running back Cam Seldon, cornerback Jordan Matthews, and quarterback Gaston Moore. Those aren’t just names—they’re reps lost, chemistry broken, and leadership vacated. Add NFL declarations into the mix, and Josh Heupel’s two-deep chart looks nothing like it did during the playoff run. What’s more troubling is that last season, when QB1 Nico Iamaleava had the stage all to himself, the production didn’t live up to the hype.
Fox Sports’ RJ Young didn’t mince words: “Problem with that is defenses have figured out Tennessee football. Defenses have figured out Nico Iamaleava.” And the numbers don’t lie—27.5 passing yards per game last season won’t cut it when you’re supposed to be the franchise quarterback in a program with national title aspirations. That’s why this offseason hasn’t been just about recruiting—it’s been about retooling the offensive identity. Heupel knows that if the arm isn’t delivering, then the legs better be. So he’s pivoted, crafting a new playbook wrinkle tailored to Iamaleava’s athletic upside. “Some intel that I got around Nico, though, in terms of how they could use him in 2025—I was told there may be a chance they do a little bit more quarterback design run game with him,” said J.D. PicKell. It’s not just speculation.
Nico is reportedly attacking the weight room with renewed purpose, adding size and power in anticipation of this shift. Tennessee’s offense might look more like a hybrid between a traditional spread and a read-option-heavy attack—a necessary evolution to keep defenses honest. But schematic tweaks can only go so far if the supporting cast isn’t there. With so many playmakers gone, the question becomes: who steps up? Who becomes Nico’s go-to target when it’s third and long in a hostile SEC environment? Who opens the lanes when the pocket collapses? Those answers are still in pencil, not ink.
The success of Josh Heupel’s plan depends not just on Nico’s growth but on an accelerated development curve for everyone around him. That’s a lot to ask in one offseason, even for a coach who’s proven he can adapt on the fly. The irony of it all? Heupel might be coaching the best version of himself—smarter, bolder, more battle-tested. But the irony doesn’t care. The calendar flips, the portal churns, and the Vols’ reality resets.
Lights on, pads Poppin, Josh Heupel praises Vols after first spring scrimmage
The Volunteers kicked off spring in style with their first scrimmage under the bright lights at Neyland Stadium on Monday night—and head coach Josh Heupel was pleased with what he saw.
“It was a good night of work, first scrimmage of the spring,” Heupel said, summing up the night with that familiar calm confidence. The team got after it on both sides of the ball, and Heupel made sure to shout out not just the players but the coaching staff too. “All-in-all, I thought the operation, coaches and players on both sides of the ball, was really good.”
Of course, it wasn’t flawless. Vols HC did note there were a few pre-snap hiccups that’ll need cleaning up, but hey—it’s spring ball. That’s what it’s for. “Really good special teams work at the beginning of the scrimmage, and in the middle as well,” Heupel added, making it clear that this wasn’t just a warmup jog. Tennessee is working to sharpen all three phases.
The Orange & White Game on April 12 is fast approaching, and with a few more practices to go, we’ll also get to see the fruits of Nico Iamaleava’s labor in the weight room.
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