Tennessee football is one month and five games into the 2025 season. There was a great deal of intrigue around Tennessee entering the year and we’ve learned a lot about the Vols in the first month.
Which players and position groups are trending up? Which ones are holding strong and trending down? Taking a look here.
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Stock Up
Joey Aguilar
There were more questions about Aguilar than anyone else on Tennessee’s roster and he’s exceeded the most positive expectations. He’s been the gun slinger people expected and with it have come interceptions— five in five games.
But there’s been plenty of boom to accompany the bust. 1,459 passing yards and 15 total touchdowns have him on pace to put up some of the best numbers of the Josh Heupel era.
Chris Brazzell
Probably the biggest surprise of September is the play of Chris Brazzell. Even those who were high on Tennessee’s receivers entering the season were banking on Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley breakouts. Both guys have been good. But Brazzell has been a completely different beast.
Through five games, Brazzell has 31 catches for 531 yards and seven touchdowns. His best games have been in SEC play. Brazzell is playing like an All-American and a first round pick in next spring’s NFL draft.
Offensive Changes
There should be all the more buzz around Brazzell in the draft because this isn’t the same veer-and-shoot Tennessee offense that has struggled to produce NFL receivers in the past. Josh Heupel needs to make offensive adjustments this offseason and he has.
At times, Tennessee’s offense has looked unrecognizable compared to past seasons. With the changes, the explosiveness in the pass game has returned.
Colton Hood
There was positive buzz around Colton Hood this summer and fall after he transferred in from Colorado. He’s played like an All-SEC corner and a potential first round pick through the first month of the season. Hood has been extremely steady while scoring twice on defense.
Tennessee has badly needed his production too. Rickey Gibson’s injury in the first quarter against Syracuse has put a ton of pressure on Hood across from true freshman Ty Redmond.
Difference Makers On The Edge
After losing James Pearce, there were questions about Tennessee being able to create pressure off the edge. They’ve answered all those questions.
Josh Josephs has taken another step forward after a strong junior season. Tyre West was one of the best players on the field against Georgia and Mississippi State. Caleb Herring and Jordan Ross have both been a bit streaky by Herring has three sacks and Ross has been good against the run.
Stock Holding
Inside Linebackers
Tennessee returned the bulk of its linebacker core from a season ago. There was some belief that they would take a full step forward but that hasn’t really happened. Arion Carter and Edwin Spillman have been better but Jeremiah Telander has struggled and none of the other young players have stepped up.
This group looks a lot like it did to end last season which isn’t awful but is a tad disappointing.
Offensive Line
Tennessee’s offensive line is a bit on the other end of the “stock holding” spectrum. It was a completely new group but there was a good bit of optimism around them entering the season. They’ve lived up to it.
The Vols pass protection has been significantly better than it was the last two seasons. The run blocking keeps me from saying they’ve truly exceeded expectations. But they’re definitely good and improved over last season.
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Stock Down
Run Defense
Tennessee’s run defense has been stout since Heupel, Tim Banks and Rodney Garner arrived five years ago. It was particularly elite a season ago. There was reason to believe that it would take a step back this season after losing so many key players from a season ago.
But through five games, Tennessee is allowing 114.2 yards per game on the ground— a mark that ranks 38th nationally and just 10th in the SEC. Not horrible numbers but not up to the high standard. We’ll see if getting healthy at defensive tackle gives Tennessee a boost.
Safety Play
Most underestimated how significant the loss of Will Brooks, and to a lesser extend Ja’Kobe Thomas, would have on Tennessee’s safety play.
The trio of Andre Turrentine, Edrees Farooq and Kaleb Beasley have not played well to this point in the season, making safety the clear weakness on Tennessee’s defense.
Special Teams
Tennessee had been consistent at special teams in the past under Heupel. But that group has struggled a bit this season. They’ve muffed three punts and allowed a fake punt.
Max Gilbert has only missed two kicks but both came in SEC play including the potential game winner against Georgia. Jackson Ross has been a bright spot as has kick and punt coverage. But Tennessee still has a lot to clean up moving forward.
