After a 10-win season, this team lost a highly touted quarterback, their leading rusher and their three leading receivers. There is a wide range of opinions on how good they will be this fall. Can they contend for another berth in the 12-team College Football Playoff, or finish 11th in the SEC, as one outlet predicts?
The team: Tennessee.
But the description fits another team: Syracuse (except for the CFP appearance).
Syracuse and Tennessee football will square off this Saturday at noon in the Aflac Kickoff Classic in Atlanta’s Mercedes Benz Stadium, the season-opener for both teams.
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The Vols are ranked as high as No. 18 in the Coaches poll and favored to win by 13.5 points. Syracuse, meanwhile, is unranked and picked by Phil Steele magazine to finish 12th in the 17-team ACC.
Why the disparity?
The Big Orange have recruited much better than the Orange, and the Vols have much greater tradition than the ‘Cuse. In short, it’s easier for Tennessee football to reload than Syracuse.
Lert’s take a lot at the position-by-position groups to see why UT is expected to win by double digits.
QUARTERBACK
Tennessee has settled on Joey Aguilar, who had to go junior college out of high school, prospered in junior college, then threw for 3757 yards and 33 touchdown his first season at Appalachian State and has started 24 career FBS games. Counting JuCo, Aguilar has passed for almost 10,000 career yards. But he threw 10 picks in 2023 and 14 in 2024. He must protect the ball better, and he must also be a quick decision maker, be able to read defenses and get tough rushing yards to move the chains.
Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord threw 34 touchdown passes and for a nation’s-best 4,779 yards last season for Syracuse. Notre Dame transfer Steve Angeli, who won the job in August camp over LSU transfer Rickie Collins, passed for 771 yards in two seasons as a Notre Dame reserve.
Advantage: Tennessee
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RUNNING BACKS
Tennessee lost the SEC Offensive Player of the Year in Dylan Sampson, who rushed for 1,491 yards and 22 touchdowns – both school records. DeSean Biship rushed for 455 yards, Peyton Lewis 339 and Duke transfer Star Thomas had 871 rushing and 153 receiving. Don’t be surprised if Thomas leads the group in combined rushing-receiving yards. This is a strong trio.
Syracuse lost to the NFL draft LaQuint Allen, who gained 1,021 yards and scored 16 touchdowns. The leading returner had 130 yards. UT’s trio (counting Thomas) had over 1,500 yards last year. Syracuse’s top two returners combined for 206 yards.
Advantage: Tennessee
WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
Tennessee lost its top three wide receivers. The top returners are wideout Chris Brazzell II (29 catches) and tight end Miles Kitselman (22). No other returning wideout caught more than seven passes. Tight end Ethan Davis had 13 catches last year.
Syracuse’s top receiver, Trebor Pena (84 catches) transferred to Penn State. The ‘Cuse also lost receivers that caught 78 and 73 passes. Darrell Gill Jr. is the top returner with 31 catches for 570 yards and two scores.
Advantage: Tennessee (barely)
OFFENSIVE LINE
Tennessee lost four starters up front, but LT Lance Heard is slimmer and healthy, Arizona transfer Wendell Moe made all-Big 12, and five-star RT David Sanders has impressed in camp. UT led the SEC in rushing last year at 226 yards per game. The line likely won’t be as good as 2024, but there shouldn’t be a significant drop-off.
Like Tennessee football, Syracuse lost four offensive line starters. Unlike the Vols, Syracuse didn’t attract as much talent, despite bringing in five transfers. The unit has 37 combined career starts.
Advantage: Tennessee
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DEFENSIVE LINE
Tennessee’s defensive line was one of the SEC’s best, ranking second in rush yards allowed per game (104). While the Vols lost a first and second round draft pick, they return eight quality players from a 12-deep rotation. UT should again rank again among the SEC’s toughest run defenses.
Syracuse lost two starters from a 3-3-5 defense that allowed 150 rush yards per game. Three experienced transfers joined the ranks and two could start. They also return seven defensive linemen that got at least one start.
Advantage: Tennessee
LINEBACKERS
Weakside linebacker Arion Carter is athletic and led the team with 68 tackles. Middle backer Jeremiah Telander has great instincts and was fourth in tackles with 43. This could become the strongest unit for Tennessee football.
Syracuse is solid with returners Derek McDonald and Devin Grant (who plays at the star). South Dakota transfer Gary Bryant and West Virginia transfer James Heard strengthen this unit.
Advantage: Tennessee
SECONDARY
Tennessee’s secondary was much improved last year, thanks to All-American CB Jermod McCoy (4 picks, 9 passed broken up). But McCoy suffered a torn ACL in January, and when he returns is uncertain. CB Ricky Gibson III had a good spring and summer camp. One safety starter returns: Andre Turrentine. This group went from allowing 229 pass yards per game to 189 last year, and the completion percentage dipped from 65 to 59.
Syracuse allowed 227 pass yards per game and a completion mark of 66 percent. They were No. 106 in pass defense rating, and three starters are gone. That doesn’t bode well for the ‘Cuse.
Advantage: Tennessee
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SPECIAL TEAMS
Tennessee returns PK Max Gilbert, a walk-on who made 20 of 26 field-goal attempts and was the first Vol to hit three from 50 yards in the same season since 1985. Punter Jackson Ross averaged 43.9 yards. Boo Carter led the SEC in yards per punt return (16.5). UT ranks near the top of the SEC in special teams talent.
Syracuse had four different kickers make a mere 13 of 22 field goals. They allowed three blocked punts, two blocked field goals and two touchdowns on returns. Jack Stonehouse averaged 45.7 yards per punt but a net of only 36.2. The Orange’s special teams rating last year was 131 by Phil Steele.
Advantage: Tennessee
No, you didn’t misread that. Tennessee football gets the edge at every position group. That could mean a Big Orange blowout over the Orange.
The post JIMMY’S BLOG: Tennessee football vs. Syracuse position by position comparison first appeared on Off The Hook Sports with Dave Hooker.
