Tennessee football might have had a playoff squad in 2022 if Hendon Hooker hadn’t torn his ACL. With 525.5 yards per game on offence, the Vols topped the country and scored the most points. Their 46.2 points per game also lead the country. Last season, however, the Vols took a step back. Tennessee’s offence suffered a significant drop-off after losing Hooker and standout receivers Jalen Hyatt and Cedric Tillman to the NFL. They dropped from 46.2 to 31.5 points per game. They also averaged roughly 70 less yards per game on offence. An 8-4 record isn’t bad, but it’s a far cry from Tennessee’s 11-2 record in 2022.
Tennessee will have to hit the transfer portal hard if they want to return to the top of the SEC and make the playoffs. They’ve done it before; all they have to do is point to Hendon Hooker, who the Vols got out of the portal from Virginia Tech. Tennessee is a desirable location for portal players. The dilemma then becomes, who should the Vols bring in via the gateway to assist their team?
DJ Uiagalelei is the quarterback.
DJ Uiagalelei has previously experimented with two orange colors, so why not try a third? When Uiagalelei graduated from high school, he was expected to be the next great Clemson quarterback when Trevor Lawrence left for the NFL. However, it never resonated with Uiagelelei at Clemson. During his debut season as a starter at Clemson, he threw ten more interceptions than touchdowns (nine). His 2022 season was considerably better, possibly the greatest of his career, but he was also benched in favour of current Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik.
Uiagelelei transferred to Oregon State, but he never took the next step. He set career highs in throwing yards (2,638) and yards per attempt (8.4), but he also only completed 57.1% of his throws. Oregon State finished the season 8-4, which was a very good season for them but fell short of the expectations they set in the offseason.
Uiagalelei is back in the portal, and Tennessee football might be the greatest fit for him. Tennessee brought back Hendon Hooker from Virginia Tech and now has a vacancy at quarterback with Joe Milton, another quarterback obtained through the gateway from Michigan, out of eligibility. Uiagelelei may be an interesting and exciting addition to Josh Huepel’s cast.
Wide Receiver Tobias Merriweather
Tennessee football may also benefit from a wide receiver. The Vols didn’t have a receiver step up in their absence after losing Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman to the NFL. In 2022, Hyatt had 67 receptions for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns. Squirrel White was their leading receiver in terms of receiving yards, with 764 yards. White also had the most receptions on the squad, with 64. Last season, White was solid for the Vols, but he may have been overworked as the team’s number-one receiver.
