The Tennessee Volunteers have excessive expectations for the upcoming 2025 season after they managed to make the school soccer playoffs final yr regardless of being in a extremely aggressive SEC. Coach Josh Heupel was assured about his staff’s progress till they bought kicked out by Ohio State within the first spherical.
Although they may not make the championship sport, the 2024 season holds a big place within the historical past of this system. In accordance with CFB insider Josh Pate, Heupel is now progressing in an upward trajectory. He simply must make some fixes to his staff which is able to assist him get the place he needs to be.
The 47-year-old coach is arguably one of the crucial profitable coaches this system has ever had. Although he nonetheless lacks a championship title, what he has achieved within the final three years holds nice significance. He secured 30 wins throughout that stretch, with a mean of 10 wins per season.
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Pate believes the important thing factor for them to repair is their protection. Final season, Tennessee noticed a glimpse of what may occur in the event that they managed to outsmart opponents defensively.
“I am very excessive on Tennessee’s program, and I am extraordinarily excessive on what occurred final yr. All individuals keep in mind is that they bought blown out at Ohio State. That is the way in which they ended the yr. However that is, that is one sport,” Pate mentioned on his present on Saturday. [Timestamp – 3:00]
“What I keep in mind is, for all of the discuss how massive an offensive genius Josh Hepel is and he’s that, how’d they win final yr? They have been good offensively, however there have been a number of prolonged durations final yr of offensive drought.
“Protection is what received a sport. They’d a high 10 protection final yr. To me, one of many surest indicators of upward mobility, of upward trending as a staff and a program, is when the facet of the ball you do not specialise in, begins to raise. Lincoln Riley is a basic instance of the opposite facet of this coin,” he added.
Josh Heupel can have a brand new QB on the heart
This offseason has been crammed with drama for the Tennessee coach after longtime QB Nico supposedly demanded extra NIL cash. He was making roughly $2.4 million, however his pitch for $4 million put him beneath the hearth. After weeks of backwards and forwards, the passer made his approach to UCLA.
Inside days, Heupel managed to herald UCLA commit Joey Aguilar to the staff, who is predicted to be the beginning QB in 2025. The 21-year-old comes with a number of expertise at Appalachian State and a earlier stint at Diablo Valley. Anticipate nothing lower than an 11+ sport profitable season for Heupel in 2025.
Edited by Nadim El Kak