The college football season is less than six weeks away with SEC Media Days and the start of fall practice is looming. It’s an important sixth season for Josh Heupel at the helm of the Tennessee program. With roster questions and a more difficult nine-game SEC schedule, the challenge is great for Tennessee this season.
Yesterday, we took a list at Tennessee’s three strongest position groups entering the 2026 season. Now we pivot to look at three of the biggest questions and potential weaknesses on the Vols’ roster entering the season.
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3. Right Tackle
Tennessee shuffled the deck at offensive tackle this offseason. The Vols let Lance Heard walk to Kentucky and moved David Sanders to left tackle for his sophomore season. Sanders should be more than ready for the challenge at left tackle, the question is about the Vols’ plan at right tackle.
The Vols landed LSU offensive tackle Ory Williams out of the transfer portal and he appears to be the leader to start across from Sanders. Williams totaled just 150 snaps and started two games as a redshirt freshman for the Tigers, earning a 59.4 PFF grade.
Williams has long term potential but how effective will he be in his first season as a full-time starter? That is a real reason for concern entering the 2026 season. The good news for Tennessee is that projected starting right guard Jesse Perry is capable of starting at right tackle, giving the Vols some insurance if Williams struggles.
2. Quarterback
Whenever a team has a first-time starting quarterback, that is going to be a question. It’s an even bigger one when there is a quarterback competition between two underclassmen quarterbacks.
Most are predicting true freshman Faizon Brandon to edge out redshirt freshman George MacIntyre and earn the starting job to begin the season.
There’s reasons to be optimistic about how Heupel can develop Brandon and how the five-star can perform in his freshman season. But starting a true freshman is never seamless in the SEC and Brandon will almost certainly take some lumps even when he flashes his high potential.
1. Edge Rusher
Edge rusher was a major question for Tennessee even when Chaz Coleman was still on the roster. Now that the Vols’ biggest offseason addition is no longer with the program, edge rusher is a massive concern for Tennessee. That goes for both the LEO and the defensive end spot.
At LEO, Tennessee needs Tulane transfer Jordan Norman to have a big season and for other young players to provide meaningful depth behind him. At strongside defensive end, the Vols need Tyree Weathersby and Mariyon Dye to make serious leaps.
While right tackle and quarterback are true question marks, edge rusher seems like a no doubt weakness entering the 2026 season.
