Will Josh Heupel be rebuilding or restocking the Tennessee football team for 2025? Let’s talk about
Boo Carter, Mike Matthews, and Nico Iamaleava were excluded from the transfer portal by Tennessee football.
However, so far this offseason, the gateway has lost more than it has gained. Additionally, the 2024 playoff team’s seasoned nucleus is leaving for the NFL, while the Vols appear to be starting a youth movement.
Adam Sparks and John Adams, hosts of “The Volunteer State,” analyze UT’s roster changes and their potential effects on the 2025 campaign.
They also include Josh Heupel’s capacity to replenish the squad, Tim Banks’ importance as a defensive coordinator, and Carter’s offensive prowess.
Listen to the podcast to hear the entire conversation. Here are a few highlights.
Should portal turnover worry Tennessee fans?
Wendell Moe, an offensive guard transfer from Arizona, was added to UT’s roster after 13 scholarship players were removed.
Sparks stated, “The 13 (players) that left don’t worry me. The fact that they have only added one worries me.
Adams said he’s discouraged by UT’s lack of portal additions but acknowledges that more players could be coming. He sees Auburn, LSU and Ole Miss doing more than the Vols to upgrade their roster, which could put them into the playoff hunt and perhaps squeeze UT out.
“When you look at your roster when you’ve had success – which Tennessee did this past season at 10-2 – you can’t get too devoted to the roster returning,” Adams said. “You have to look at it like, ‘Can I improve at that position through the portal?'”
Key players are back with the Vols. Are they sufficient, though?
Due to retention, UT coaches are likely more upbeat than some supporters. Iamaleava, Carter, Matthews, All-American cornerback Jermod McCoy, tight end Miles Kitselman, and sufficient defensive line depth were all retained by the Vols.
Last offseason, with the Vols returning seniors in their fifth and sixth years, that optimism made more sense. Starters were returning for another season as a result of retention.
This isn’t the same. Freshmen will mostly replace the Vols’ senior class and portal losses. Once more, UT is still adding transfers. However, there are still large gaps on the depth chart.
Sparks and Adams discussed UT’s wide receiver needs in further detail.
Boo In 2024, Carter didn’t play offensively. Next season, should he?
Carter is already an accomplished two-phase playmaker. He was a defensive back and punt returner who was named an SEC All-Freshman. He may now get an offensive opportunity the following season.
If so, Sparks believes that the manner UT coaches handled Carter was appropriate.
Since defense is where he will play the most, it seemed sense to start with defense. Eventually adding a punt returner, who has an impact, was the perfect move. Additionally, it was appropriate to prevent him from playing offensively as a freshman, particularly if doing so would have required Matthews to miss snaps.
Giving Carter a chance to play a few wide receiver snaps as a sophomore would now be very reasonable. Carter possesses the dynamic aspect that the Vols need in their passing game.
Sparks and Adams also discussed the Vols’ manageable 2025 season and the value of Banks, a Broyles Award nominee who might be considered for additional positions.
Listen to the podcast to hear their entire conversation.
