🏈 Tennessee Football has a new sales pitch

Hello. This is the Josh and Swain Newsletter, a quick roundup of the week’s top stories and topics involving Tennessee and the sports world.

Here’s what we have for you today:

• Josh Heupel explains how the perception of Tennessee has changed

• Find out why Heupel believes the Vols can play elite defense

• Why did Tennessee freshman Julian Phillips enter the transfer portal?

• How Joe Milton III compares to other SEC quarterbacks

JOSH HEUPEL IS SELLING TENNESSEE’S BRAND

You’re familiar with Tennessee’s recent on-field success at this point.

Tennessee won several big games last fall on its way to an 11-2 season.

Tennessee’s season changed the direction of the program.

It also changed the perception.

The Vols’ big season — and that 52-49 win over Alabama — changed the way a lot of people view Tennessee.

The national media is talking more about Tennessee (at least in a positive way).

Fans are enjoying more offseason talk. That Florida game in September brings excitement, not dread.

And there are the recruits.

Prospects like a hot program. That’s Tennessee right now.

That’s a big change from when Josh Heupel took over as coach a little more than two years ago.

Tennessee’s perception at the time was… not great.

How different is it now?

“It’s like two worlds that are completely separated and so far apart from each other, as far as where we’re at now and where we started,” Heupel said this week on Josh and Swain.

Tennessee’s coaches did a good job selling what the future would be in Knoxville.

But at some point, coaches need to sell results.

The result of the 2022 season changed Tennessee’s pitch deck in a major way.

Heupel explained the recruiting impact further.

“Now they’ve had a chance to experience it, see it when they’re here on campus, watch it on TV, watch it live and in person, and understand we’re going to play the most exciting brand of football in college athletics,” he said.

Tennessee landed several highly-touted players over SEC rivals in the 2023 class.

Linebacker Arion Carter chose Tennessee over Alabama. Defensive lineman Daevin Hobbs picked the Vols over Alabama and Georgia.

Cornerback Jordan Matthews left Baton Rouge, La., to play for Tennessee.

Looking to next year, Tennessee is in the running for several five-star prospects, like receivers Mike Matthews and Ryan Wingo and edge rushers Dylan Stewart and Elijah Rushing.

Tennessee has a long list of highly-touted players on the 2024 recruiting board.

And Tennessee needs to land more of those types of players.

The roster’s talent level has improved. But it needs to keep improving for the Vols to win championships.

Win more games like last year, and that should take care of itself.

ABOUT THAT ELITE DEFENSE

Josh Heupel has been on a defensive kick.

No, the Vols aren’t switching to a slow-paced, protect-the-defense style of offense.

But Heupel has talked up Tennessee’s defense recently.

Last week’s newsletter noted Heupel using the word “elite” to describe his expectations for Tennessee’s defense.

Why is he so confident the Vols can make a big jump on defense?

Heupel’s answer:

Heupel is right about the great defensive players from Tennessee.

There are too many to name, but guys like Al Wilson and Deon Grant, John Henderson, and Eric Berry jump to mind.

Does Tennessee have anyone like that now?

Several players are candidates to make a jump this fall.

Linebacker Aaron Beasley and defensive lineman Omari Thomas lead the list.

Heupel’s point about the addition of athleticism and competition appears real, too.

The freshman class of defensive backs was signed to push the veterans.

Transfers like defensive lineman Omarr Norman-Lott and linebacker Keenan Pili add to the depth.

Second-year edge rushers Joshua Josephs and James Pearce are worth watching. Freshmen Caleb Herring and Chandavian Bradley are highly touted with tons of potential.

So let’s ask again: Will Tennessee’s defense be elite this fall?

That still feels like a big ask.

But Tennessee’s defense should improve. That’s everyone’s expectation.

Check out our full interview with Josh Heupel below. ⬇️⬇️

SPORTS NUGGETS

🏈 Lions coach Dan Campbell likes that Hendon Hooker is older than most rookies. But when might Hooker hit the field?

🏈 CBS Sports updated its power ranking of the top 10 quarterbacks in college. See if Joe Milton III made the list.

🏈⚾ This sounds like a nightmare: Bo Jackson has been dealing with hiccups for nearly a year.

⚾ Tennessee will host Kentucky this weekend. Here’s info on the Vols’ final home series of the regular season.

⚾ Robo umps have made their way to AAA. Learn how the new system works before it ends up in the majors.

💰 Missouri has a new NIL law that will help in-state recruits start earning money sooner.

⚽ One Knox Sporting Club will return home this weekend to play Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC. Here’s the full One Knox schedule.

THE NEW COLLEGE HOOPS OFFSEASON

Word came out this week that Julian Phillips would enter his name into the transfer portal.

What’s up with that?

Here’s a quick explanation: Phillips is keeping his options open.

Phillips is going through the NBA Draft process right now.

He’ll compete at the draft combine next week. His intention is to be a pro moving forward.

But things can always change.

IF Phillips were to change his mind and return to college for a sophomore season, it will be at a different school.

Tennessee has moved on and filled its roster with three transfers and four high school signees.

The Vols don’t have any available scholarships for the upcoming season.

Both sides — Phillips and Tennessee — mostly viewed last season as a one-year deal.

There’s a chance Phillips ends up back in college somewhere else.

But the likelihood is Phillips remains in the draft.

Remember, Olivier Nkamhoua entered his name in the transfer portal several weeks ago.

He could play another season at a different college.

But like Phillips, Nkamhoua kept his options open while focusing on the professional route.

There will be stories like this every year.

Coaches will plan for the next year’s roster while pro prospects have decisions to make.

The transfer process and draft process don’t exactly line up from a timing standpoint.

Welcome to the future of college basketball.

ONE LAST BYTE OUT THE DOOR

Jesse Simonton of On3 has been busy ranking each position unit across college football.

Tennessee’s new quarterback room cracked Jesse’s top 10.

What does Simonton see from Tennessee’s offense and Joe Milton this fall?

Check out our interview below as we discuss Tennessee’s offense and the Vols’ top rivals in the SEC. ⬇️⬇️

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Thank you for reading.