As the Tennessee Volunteers enter their fifth season under head coach Josh Heupel, NFL sources see a bright future for the program. Before Heupel’s arrival in 2021, Tennessee averaged just 7.5 wins per season for nearly two decades. However, under his leadership, the program has rapidly transformed from a mid-tier SEC team into a consistent playoff contender.
Coming off their first College Football Playoff appearance, despite a disappointing finish, Tennessee boasts one of the nation’s top returning quarterbacks in Nico Iamaleava and a proven ability to run the football under Josh Heupel. The Vols have established a stable standard of excellence in Knoxville—something that had been missing for years. This success isn’t just reflected in their record over the past four seasons but has also caught the attention of NFL executives and head coaches. After spending the week at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, it’s clear that Tennessee has the industry buzzing.
An NFL coach told “Vols on SI” at the NFL Scouting Combine that Tennessee’s program is finally operating with intelligence and discipline under Josh Heupel. He noted that, for years, the fan base was its own worst enemy, but the current leadership is steadily building, acquiring talent, and making strategic moves. The coach emphasized that Tennessee is at its best when it has both talent and strong coaching, and under Heupel, they finally have both on Rocky Top.
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