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Vols are a sleeping 2026 football giant

Posted on 2/5/26 at 8:28 am
Posted by GameDay7
Member since Feb 2026
3 posts
Posted on 2/5/26 at 8:28 am
Why is no one talking about this? We went out and hired arguably best defensive coordinator in all of football AND the best strength and conditioning coach from Indiana.

Did you see how a bunch of 2 and 3 stars matched up physically against 5 star loaded rosters with Indiana in the playoffs? We hired the man responsible for it.

We also bought the best defense that money can buy and took 1/3 of Penn State's starters on D who know Jim Knowles system.

On paper, this is the most stacked Vol defense since the Chavis and Fulmer days.

Now here comes the key cog to turning Tennessee into a national championship contender next year.

Joey Aguilar it turns out was playing with a tumor in his throwing shoulder the latter part of last season and he was in great pain the entire time and kept it all a secret.

Guess what? Despite him being injured and despite him having only one month at Tennessee before the season started, he still led the conference in passing but dropped off a bit some latter part of the season because he was playing injured.

We all saw prime Joey against UGA. That's who he really is.

Imagine how good he's going to be healthy next year with one more year in Heupel's system.

And the WR and TE room is completely stacked. RB too and online will be strong.

Vols will have a top 5 offense nationally easily next year and a top 20 defense worst case scenario. For the first time in a long time we have an elite defensive coordinator lock down DBs and the most stacked LB room in the conference.

2026 will see a deep playoff run for the Vols.

Here's the story about Joey's tumor. What a Vol legend this man is:

. VFL and a warrior
This post was edited on 2/5/26 at 8:31 am
Posted by tyler925
Auburn
Member since Oct 2019
2407 posts
Posted on 2/5/26 at 8:29 am to
Deeply asleep
Posted by GameDay7
Member since Feb 2026
3 posts
Posted on 2/5/26 at 8:30 am to
If y'all can't see what's coming in Knoxville then you are blind. This is NOT going to be your average Tennessee football team. We are stacked everywhere.
Posted by Cdawg
TigerFred's Living Room
Member since Sep 2003
61778 posts
Posted on 2/5/26 at 8:30 am to
quote:

2026 will see a derp playoff run for the Vols.

Yep, I expect a lot of derping for the '26 Vols.
Posted by Captain Crown
Member since Jun 2011
56748 posts
Posted on 2/5/26 at 8:31 am to
So what's the sleeping giants record?

Posted by TT9
Seychelles
Member since Sep 2008
91305 posts
Posted on 2/5/26 at 8:31 am to
Obese will be fired if you can afford too. You couldn't afford to give, by far your best coach there a few NIL dollars to keep him around, so we'll see.
This post was edited on 2/5/26 at 8:34 am
Posted by GameDay7
Member since Feb 2026
3 posts
Posted on 2/5/26 at 8:35 am to
Is that schedule supposed to be scary or something?
The SEC is incredibly overrated.

Ga Tech and Texas early will be stiff challenges and A&M on the road will be tough, but I see 2 losses absolute worst case scenario here.

Bama and LSU in Knoxville are wins. No UGA this year.
This post was edited on 2/5/26 at 8:37 am
Posted by Captain Crown
Member since Jun 2011
56748 posts
Posted on 2/5/26 at 8:39 am to
quote:

Is that schedule supposed to be scary or something?


You're calling your shot with Tennessee being a sleeping giant. So I wanted you to predict their schedule.

It will be a fun book mark seeing as this is your first post
Posted by VFL67
Member since Feb 2025
1231 posts
Posted on 2/5/26 at 8:39 am to
I will agree that Tennessee has had a good off season that no one has noticed because of LSU Ole Miss drama. However all of it still hinges on Aguilar coming back. If he is back then Tennessee is a contender given our aquisitions this offseason. If he isnt back then we are a 8-4 team again.

I'll give you credit, you came out swiniging for your intro to the forum
Posted by TheDeathValley
Louisiana
Member since Sep 2010
20411 posts
Posted on 2/5/26 at 8:43 am to
I believe what you are referring to is a called a "coma"
Posted by hooperj75
Indiana
Member since Oct 2022
187 posts
Posted on 2/5/26 at 8:44 am to
Why do this? We did upgrade the secondary, but the Dline will take a major step back. I think we will be better, but not close to a playoff team (even if JA comes back).
Posted by VolSquatch
First Coast
Member since Sep 2023
7976 posts
Posted on 2/5/26 at 8:45 am to
I would temper my expectations a bit. We have some tough games on the schedule and are losing several key contributors even if Joey can play.
Posted by VFL67
Member since Feb 2025
1231 posts
Posted on 2/5/26 at 8:47 am to
quote:

We did upgrade the secondary, but the Dline will take a major step back. I think we will be better, but not close to a playoff team (even if JA comes back).


I disagree. The offense was good enough last year to get to the playoffs. The defense wasn't. We have upgraded at every defensive position group except the D-line, which is not super important in Knowles' system. If the defense can go from in the 90s to a top 50 defense, which it should, then with Aguilar again, this team should go 10-2
Posted by Simple Solution
Member since Dec 2024
255 posts
Posted on 2/5/26 at 8:47 am to
1998
Posted by SOBMarcus
Boerne TX
Member since Apr 2020
2676 posts
Posted on 2/5/26 at 8:48 am to
Whiskey GFY
Posted by kywildcatfanone
Wildcat Country!
Member since Oct 2012
137450 posts
Posted on 2/5/26 at 8:49 am to
New alter serraustitute

Posted by Tarpon08
Cut Off, LA
Member since Dec 2014
8446 posts
Posted on 2/5/26 at 8:50 am to
Welcome Back Whiskey!!!!
Posted by CarolinaGamecock99
Member since Apr 2015
24710 posts
Posted on 2/5/26 at 8:50 am to
Talking about football a week before baseball starts? Vitello leaving really hit yall hard
Posted by Hback
Member since Aug 2017
12982 posts
Posted on 2/5/26 at 8:53 am to


Whiskey!

Posted by morriscat2
tennessee
Member since Jun 2012
2261 posts
Posted on 2/5/26 at 8:54 am to
Self exaltation is unbecoming and it doesn’t do a damn thing to make your team better.
This post was edited on 2/5/26 at 8:55 am
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