247 article: VOLS will return to prominence in 2015

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Given the inexperience on the current roster and a brutal schedule, it would be a good season at Tennessee if the Vols can get to a bowl game and win more than they lose.

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But a look at the “guts” of the Tennessee program reveals that a return to elite status is right around the corner under the direction of head coach Butch Jones and his staff. There’s a lot that go into guts. It’s not just players and a lot of them (which Jones and staff have definitely added during their short tenure in Knoxville)- it’s more than that.

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Ask any program in the SEC that has risen over the years- Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, LSU, Alabama- it's all been rooted in landing the best in-state players. Look back at the early recruiting classes under Nick Saban with the Tide- it was the 2008 class- with Julio Jones, Mark Barron and Courtney Upshaw (in-state prospects) and also Barrett Jones (an out-of-state Tide legacy) that provided the foundation to bring Bama back. From a pure football and roster standpoint, there’s also excellent balance in the Tennessee classes under Jones. You can see depth improving quickly all over the field- quarterback, running back, the lines of scrimmage, linebacker, the secondary- just name a position- and Tennessee will (on paper at least as you always have to account for injuries and things of that nature) not have depth issues in short order.

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??It’s all of this- but most importantly the guts- that will facilitate a faster rise on Rocky Top, very likely beginning in 2015 when Tennessee will compete for the championship of the Southeastern Conference’s eastern division.??It’s all of this- but most importantly the guts- that will facilitate a faster rise on Rocky Top, very likely beginning in 2015 when Tennessee will compete for the championship of the Southeastern Conference’s eastern division.

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