Tennessee Football: 5 Bold Season Predictions for the Volunteers

#4: Vols put a few players on the All-SEC First Team

I don’t think this is as bold as some of the other predictions because I see a few players that have the chance of making All-SEC First Team. The Volunteers didn’t have any players on the first team last season, which comes as a surprise. Trey Smith, even as a freshman on a very bad Tennessee team, was still one of the best offensive linemen in the country.

The media predicted the standings and All-SEC teams at the SEC Media Days a few weeks ago, in which the Volunteers didn’t receive much love. Tennessee only had one player on the All-SEC First Team, and to no surprise, it was Smith. Baring an injury or him struggling, Smith will likely be there at the end of the year.

I do think a few Volunteer players have the chance to make it on the list at the end of the year.

On the offensive side of the ball, I think Marquez Callaway has the chance to make the list. Obviously, he will need to have more targets this year. He only had 24 catches last season, which is outrageous considering the number of athletic catches he had.

Callaway will likely be the No. 1 target for Guarantano or Chryst this year. He’s a very athletic receiver and should see a lot more targets this season. Whether or not he makes it on the first team, I think he will have a chance to make it on the second or third team.

Defensively, I think there are a few guys who have the chance. Linebackers Darrin Kirkland Jr. and Daniel Bituli have the chance, as well as safety Nigel Warrior.

Bituli has a good chance to be on this list at the end of the year. He led the Volunteers last season, as he had 90 total tackles last season, including an outstanding 23 tackles in the season opener last season. He also had a forced fumble and an interception return for a touchdown.

For some odd reason, Butch Jones and staff decided to not start him for some of the games, or he would’ve had even more tackles to end the year off. With Kirkland returning, I think that will boost Bitulis’ numbers.

Along with Bituli, Kirkland might have a chance to make First Team All-SEC. Kirkland has been injured a good bit of his career at Tennessee but has shown out when healthy. Kirkland was fourth on the team in tackles as a freshman, behind Jalen Reeves Maybin, Brian Randolph, and Derek Barnett, who are all now in the NFL. Like Bituli, I think Kirkland has a chance to improve his stats and his chances with them side by side.

Warrior is a freak athlete and is no doubt one of the most talented guys on Tennessee’s roster. Warrior is on the Bednarik Watch List, which is the award given to the nation’s top defensive player. He was second on the team in tackles last season, finishing with 83 tackles. He also had one interception touchdown last year, as well as three forced fumbles.

Besides Smith, Warrior likely has the best chance to get on the First Team All-SEC at the end of the year. Whether or not these players are on the first team, all of them have the chance to make the second or third team.