2018 Tennessee Volunteers football team
The 2018 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Volunteers played their home games at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee and competed in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by first-year head coach Jeremy Pruitt.[1] They finished the season 5–7, 2–6 in SEC play to finish in last place in the Eastern Division.
2018 Tennessee Volunteers football | |
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Conference | Southeastern Conference |
Eastern Division | |
2018 record | 5–7 (2–6 SEC) |
Head coach | Jeremy Pruitt (1st season) |
Offensive coordinator | Tyson Helton (1st season) |
Offensive scheme | Pro-style |
Defensive coordinator | Kevin Sherrer (1st season) |
Co-defensive coordinator | Chris Rumph (1st season) |
Base defense | 3–4 |
Home stadium | Neyland Stadium (Capacity: 102,455) |
2018 Southeastern Conference football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
East Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 7т Georgia x | 7 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 12 Kentucky | 5 | – | 3 | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 7т Florida | 5 | – | 3 | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South Carolina | 4 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Missouri | 4 | – | 4 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vanderbilt | 3 | – | 5 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tennessee | 2 | – | 6 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
West Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 2 Alabama x$^ | 8 | – | 0 | 14 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 16 Texas A&M | 5 | – | 3 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 6 LSU | 5 | – | 3 | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mississippi State | 4 | – | 4 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Auburn | 3 | – | 5 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ole Miss | 1 | – | 7 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arkansas | 0 | – | 8 | 2 | – | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Championship: Alabama 35, Georgia 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Previous season
The team finished the season 4–8, 0–8 in SEC play in last place in the Eastern Division and the SEC. They were also the first Tennessee team in program history to lose eight games in a season, as well as the first to not win an SEC game since becoming a charter member of the conference in 1932.[2] They were led by fifth-year head coach Butch Jones until his firing on November 12.[3] Brady Hoke was named the interim head coach for the remainder of the season.[4]
Preseason
2018 recruiting class
US college sports recruiting information for 2018 recruits | ||||||
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Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
Trevon Flowers S |
Tucker, GA | Tucker | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Feb 7, 2018 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: | ||||||
J.J. Peterson OLB |
Moultrie, GA | Colquitt County | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | Jan 6, 2018 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: | ||||||
John Mincey DT |
Homerville, GA | Clinch County | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 250 lb (110 kg) | Jan 19, 2018 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: | ||||||
Cedric Tillman WR |
Las Vegas, NV | Bishop Gorman | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Feb 7, 2018 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: | ||||||
Dominick Wood-Anderson TE |
San Diego, CA | Arizona Western (JC) | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 255 lb (116 kg) | Dec 20, 2017 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
Jeremy Banks RB |
Cordova, TN | Cordova | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | Dec 20, 2017 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
Jordan Allen DE |
Fairfield, CA | City College SF (JC) | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | Dec 20, 2017 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
J. T. Shrout QB |
Newhall, CA | Hart | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | Dec 20, 2017 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
Jerome Carvin OL |
Cordova, TN | Cordova | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 305 lb (138 kg) | Dec 20, 2017 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
Kingston Harris DT |
Bradenton, FL | IMG Academy | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 260 lb (120 kg) | Dec 18, 2017 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
Alontae Taylor ATH, WR |
Manchester, TN | Coffee County Central | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Dec 22, 2017 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: | ||||||
Paxton Brooks K |
West Columbia, SC | Airport | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | Aug 17, 2017 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
Tanner Antonutti OL |
Nashville, TN | Ensworth | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 260 lb (120 kg) | Jul 30, 2017 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
Greg Emerson DE |
Jackson, TN | Northside | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | Jul 3, 2017 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
Jacob Warren TE |
Knoxville, TN | Farragut | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | May 24, 2017 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
Brant Lawless DT |
Nashville, TN | Nashville Christian | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 300 lb (140 kg) | May 1, 2017 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
Ollie Lane OL |
Corryton, TN | Gibbs | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 270 lb (120 kg) | Apr 12, 2017 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
Matthew Flint LB |
Gurley, AL | Madison County | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Aug 2, 2017 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
Jahmir Johnson OT |
Philadelphia, PA | Arizona Western (JC) | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | Dec 27, 2017 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
D'Andre Litaker DT |
Murfreesboro, TN | Riverdale | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 285 lb (129 kg) | Jun 13, 2017 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 22 Rivals: 20 247Sports: 20 ESPN: 25 | ||||||
Sources:
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Award watch lists
Listed in the order that they were released
Award | Player | Position | Year |
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Chuck Bednarik Award[5] | Nigel Warrior | S | JR |
Outland Trophy[6] | Trey Smith | OL | SO |
Wuerffel Trophy[7] | Kyle Phillips | DL | SR |
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award[8] | Keller Chryst | QB | GS |
SEC media poll
The SEC media poll was released on July 20, 2018 with the Volunteers predicted to finish in sixth place in the East Division.
Media poll (East) | ||
Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
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1 | Georgia | 1,977 (271) |
2 | South Carolina | 1,535 (8) |
3 | Florida | 1,441 (2) |
4 | Missouri | 1,057 |
5 | Kentucky | 874 (1) |
6 | Tennessee | 704 (1) |
7 | Vanderbilt | 392 |
Preseason All-SEC teams
The Volunteers had one player selected to the preseason all-SEC teams.
Offense 1st team Trey Smith – OL
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Schedule
Tennessee announced its 2018 football schedule on September 19, 2017. The 2018 schedule consisted of 7 home games[9], 4 away, and 1 neutral site game in the regular season. The Volunteers hosted SEC foes Florida, Alabama, Kentucky, and Missouri, and traveled to Georgia, Auburn, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt.[10]
The Volunteers hosted three of its four non–conference games which were against ETSU from the Southern Conference, UTEP and Charlotte, both of whom competed in the Conference USA. They traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina, for the Belk Kickoff against West Virginia from the Big 12 Conference.
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
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September 1 | 3:30 p.m. | vs. No. 17 West Virginia* |
| CBS | L 14–40 | 66,793 |
September 8 | 4:00 p.m. | East Tennessee State* | SECN | W 59–3 | 96,464 | |
September 15 | 12:00 p.m. | UTEP* |
| SECN | W 24–0 | 87,074 |
September 22 | 7:00 p.m. | Florida |
| ESPN | L 21–47 | 100,027 |
September 29 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 2 Georgia | CBS | L 12–38 | 92,246 | |
October 13 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 21 Auburn | SECN | W 30–24 | 84,589 | |
October 20 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 1 Alabama |
| CBS | L 21–58 | 97,087 |
October 27 | 7:30 p.m. | at South Carolina |
| SECN | L 24–27 | 80,614 |
November 3 | 4:00 p.m. | Charlotte* |
| SECN | W 14–3 | 86,753 |
November 10 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 12 Kentucky |
| SECN | W 24–7 | 95,258 |
November 17 | 3:30 p.m. | Missouri |
| CBS | L 17–50 | 88,224 |
November 24 | 4:00 p.m. | at Vanderbilt | SECN | L 13–38 | 35,887 | |
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- Schedule Source:[11]
Personnel
Roster and staff
2018 Tennessee Volunteers football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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Current depth chart
Source:[12]
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Game summaries
vs. West Virginia
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Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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First Meeting |
ETSU
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Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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First Meeting |
UTEP
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Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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3–0 | 1990 | Tennessee, 56–0 |
Florida
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Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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20–27 | 2017 | Florida, 26–20 |
at Georgia
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Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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23–22–2 | 2017 | Georgia, 41–0 |
at Auburn
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Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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21–28–3 | 2013 | Auburn, 55–23 |
Alabama
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Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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38–54–7 | 2017 | Alabama, 45–7 |
at South Carolina
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Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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25–9–2 | 2017 | South Carolina, 15–9 |
Charlotte
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Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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First Meeting |
Kentucky
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Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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79–25–9 | 2017 | Kentucky, 29–26 |
Missouri
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Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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2–4 | 2017 | Missouri, 50–17 |
at Vanderbilt
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Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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75–32–5 | 2017 | Vanderbilt, 42–24 |
References
- https://www.si.com/college-football/2017/12/07/jeremy-pruitt-tennessee-coach-career-nick-saban
- Toppmeyer, Blake (November 26, 2017). "Vandy 42, Tennessee 24: Vols lose eight games for first time in program history". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
- "Currie Announces Head Football Coach Transition". Retrieved November 12, 2017.
- "Sources: Tennessee fires coach Butch Jones". Retrieved November 12, 2017.
- "2018 Bednarik Award Watch List". July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
- "2018 OUTLAND TROPHY WATCH LIST UNVEILED". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- "Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List". July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
- "Watch List for 2018 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award ® Presented by A. O. Smith Announced". August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
- Cooper, J. A. (January 2, 2020). "Making orange green? A critical carbon footprinting of Tennessee football gameday tourism". Journal of Sport & Tourism. 24 (1): 31–51. doi:10.1080/14775085.2020.1726802. ISSN 1477-5085.
- "Tennessee Football Announces 2018 Schedule" (Press release). Birmingham, Alabama: Southeastern Conference. September 19, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- "2018 Tennessee Volunteers Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- Terry Lambert, "Tennessee Releases First Depth Chart of 2018," Rocky Top Talk, August 27, 2018.
- "West Virginia vs. Tennessee - Game Summary". ESPN. September 1, 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
- "ETSU vs. Tennessee - Game Summary". ESPN. September 8, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
- Adams, John (September 15, 2018). "UT Vols football shows 4-8 potential in victory over UTEP". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
- Sallee, Barrett (September 22, 2018). "Florida vs. Tennessee score: Gators romp over Volunteers to give Dan Mullen first SEC win". CBS Sports. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
- Toppmeyer, Blake (September 29, 2018). "Georgia 38, Tennessee 12: 5 things we learned from UT Vols' 11th straight SEC loss". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
- Adams, John (October 14, 2018). "Underdog UT Vols football plays like favorites vs Auburn in possibly season-changing win". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
- Adams, John (November 3, 2018). "On this UT Vols football homecoming, Tennessee fans who stayed home made wise choice". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
- Toppmeyer, Blake (November 10, 2018). "Tennessee 24, Kentucky 7: Jarrett Guarantano, Vols defense fuel upset of Wildcats". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved November 10, 2018.