2018 Tennessee Volunteers season

2018 Tennessee Volunteers
Citrus Bowl, vs Minnesota, L 31-17
Conference	Southeastern Conference East Division
2018 record	9-4 (5-3 SEC)
Head coach	SageBow (2nd year)
Offensive scheme	Option
Base defense	4-3
Captain	Julius Thomas, Anthony Miller, Chris Tucker, Aaron Stiles
Home stadium	Neyland Stadium (Capacity: 102,455)
Seasons « 2017 2019 »

2018 SEC football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East
#17 Tennessee x		5	–	3					9	–	5
Florida		5	–	2					8	–	5
#19 Vanderbilt		4	–	3					9	–	4
Georgia		3	–	4					8	–	5
Missouri		3	–	4					7	–	6
Kentucky		1	–	6					2	–	10
South Carolina		0	–	7					3	–	9
West
#1 Alabama x†		8	–	0					16	–	0
#5 Auburn		6	–	1					12	–	2
#21 Texas A&M		4	–	3					8	–	5
LSU		3	–	4					8	–	5
Mississippi State		3	–	4					6	–	7
Ole Miss		3	–	4					5	–	7
Arkansas		2	–	5					6	–	6
SEC Championship Game: Alabama 32, Tennessee 23
† – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions Rankings from Coaches Poll

The Tennessee Volunteers had their sixth year in the 2018 CFBHC Season. This was their second season with SageBow as head coach. Expectations were very high for the Volunteers in 2018. In preseason media, Julius Thomas was selected as the #4 QB in the SEC. The Vols had 7 players selected to various preseason SEC teams, and Anthony Miller made it to the preseason All-Americans list.

The Vols started off okay, but it was clear that they had troubles adapting to the offensive scheme. Struggles came as they had two straight defeats to West Virginia and Georgia, but the Vols managed to right the ship with 3 straight away victories. A bad loss to Texas A&M in Neyland nearly knocked this team out of the Coaches Poll, but the Vols went undefeated for the last month of the season to win the SEC East.

In the Conference Championship Game, Tennessee dueled against the #1 team in the nation, Alabama. In that game, the Vols were up heading into the fourth quarter, but a fumble and interception from Julius Thomas cost the Vols in the final quarter leading to a respectable second place finish. Tennessee would not make the College Football Playoffs this season, but they were given the a bid to the Citrus Bowl against Big 12 runner-ups Minnesota.

Aaron Stiles and Jose Ortiz both declared early for the 2019 NFL Draft, but the Volunteers reloaded, grabbing 5 star recruits Adrian Goldson and Marcus Coles. For the second straight year, SageBow brought in a small class of highly talented recruits at the expense of more depth.

Schedule

Regular Season

Date	Time	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result
11/28/2015	9:00 PM	at #10 Arizona*	#7	Arizona Stadium • Tempe, AZ	W 17–14
12/5/2015	12:00 PM	at Memphis*	#6	Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, TN	W 27–14
12/12/2015	12:00 PM	West Virginia*	#7	Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN	L 30–21
12/28/2015	6:00 PM	at #11 Georgia	#10	Sanford Stadium • Athens, TN	L 6–13
1/9/2016	12:00 PM	at Kentucky	#14	Commonwealth Stadium • Lexington, KY	W 35–28
1/16/2016	12:00 PM	at Army*	#17	Michie Stadium • West Point, NY	W 34–14
2/13/2016	9:00 PM	at Air Force*	#13	Falcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, CO	W 31–14
3/13/2016	6:00 PM	Texas A&M	#10	Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN	L 52–42
3/26/2016	12:00 PM	Missouri	#16	Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN	W 23–26
4/2/2016	12:00 PM	at Florida	#20	Ben Hill Griffin Stadium • Gainesville, FL	W 17–14
4/16/2016	3:00 PM	South Carolina	#20	Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN	W 13–41
4/24/2016	9:00 PM	#15 Vanderbilt	#18	Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN	W 10–24
5/1/2016	9:00 PM	vs. #1 Alabama	#15	Georgia Dome • Atlanta, Georgia (SEC Conference Championship)	L 23–32
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Standard Time.

Post-season

Date	Time	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result
5/22/2016	6:00 PM	vs. Minnesota*		Citrus Bowl • Orlando, FL	L 31–17
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Standard Time.

Personnel

Key Personnel

Name	Position	Season at Tennessee	Season in current role
SageBow	Head Coach	2nd	2nd
Julius Thomas	Quarterback	3rd	2nd
Eli Austin	Wide Receiver	3rd	2nd
Damian Mason	Offensive Tackle	3rd	1st
Toma Malifa	Center	3rd	2nd
Anthony Miller	Defensive End	4th	3rd
Chris Tucker	Inside Linebacker	3rd	2nd
Nathaniel Jeffries	Outside Linebacker	3rd	2nd
Aaron Stiles	Cornerback	3rd	2nd
Michael Williams	Strong Safety	3rd	2nd
Adonis Rosa	Punter	1st	1st

Position key

Back	B		Center	C		Cornerback	CB		Defensive back	DB
Defensive end	DE		Defensive lineman	DL		Defensive tackle	DT		End	E
Fullback	FB		Guard	G		Halfback	HB		Kicker	K
Kickoff returner	KR		Offensive tackle	OT		Offensive lineman	OL		Linebacker	LB
Long snapper	LS		Punter	P		Punt returner	PR		Quarterback	QB
Running back	RB		Safety	S		Tight end	TE		Wide receiver	WR

Pre-Season Roster

2018 Tenneessee Volunteeers football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. Name Class QB Garrison, AdamAdam Garrison  4.5 !Sr QB Thomas, JuliusJulius Thomas  3.5 !Jr QB McLean, IsraelIsrael McLean  2.5 !So QB Light, MalikMalik Light 1.0 !Fr QB Stark, SolomonSolomon Stark 1.0 !Fr RB Wilson, JoseJose Wilson 57.0 !Sr RB Crowe, NikitaNikita Crowe  2.5 !So RB Braxton, TimothyTimothy Braxton  2.5 !So RB Peacock, JulianJulian Peacock  1.5 !Fr FB Robinson, KendrickKendrick Robinson 57.0 !Sr FB Burnett, SeanSean Burnett 5.0 !Jr FB McCord, AnthonyAnthony McCord 5.0 !Jr FB Maloney, MatthewMatthew Maloney 3.0 !So FB Moody, AlanAlan Moody 3.0 !So FB Lowery, NoahNoah Lowery 1.0 !Fr FB Whitney, JesseJesse Whitney 1.0 !Fr WR London, WillWill London  4.5 !Sr WR Mitchell, CharlesCharles Mitchell 57.0 !Sr WR Harry, PaulPaul Harry 57.0 !Sr WR Browne, TristanTristan Browne 5.0 !Jr WR Richard, EmmanuelEmmanuel Richard 5.0 !Jr WR Austin, EliEli Austin  2.5 !So WR Story, ZacharyZachary Story 3.0 !So WR Moss, CameronCameron Moss 1.0 !Fr TE Kelly, BruceBruce Kelly 57.0 !Sr TE Self, CharlesCharles Self  3.5 !Jr TE Butts, DeSeanDeSean Butts 5.0 !Jr TE Taylor, AnthonyAnthony Taylor 1.0 !Fr TE Negron, ArturoArturo Negron 1.0 !Fr OT Hart, SilasSilas Hart 57.0 !Sr OT May, RobertRobert May 57.0 !Sr OT Whitney, FrankFrank Whitney  3.5 !Jr OT Mason, DamianDamian Mason  2.5 !So OT Carney, BradyBrady Carney  1.5 !Fr OT Krause, AnthonyAnthony Krause 1.0 !Fr OG Craft, ConnorConnor Craft 5.0 !Jr OG Barnhart, JacksonJackson Barnhart 5.0 !Jr OG Kendrick, DonaldDonald Kendrick 1.0 !Fr C Barrett, LeoLeo Barrett 57.0 !Sr C Walker, HoraceHorace Walker 57.0 !Sr C Donohue, BenBen Donohue 5.0 !Jr C Malifa, TomaToma Malifa  2.5 !So C Rowe, EricEric Rowe 3.0 !So C Gold, JonahJonah Gold 3.0 !So C Mulinu'u, LaretoLareto Mulinu'u  1.5 !Fr C Reynoso, JohnJohn Reynoso 1.0 !Fr C York, LeoLeo York 1.0 !Fr	Defense Pos. Name Class DE Brown, WesleyWesley Brown  4.5 !Sr DE Barton, TomTom Barton 57.0 !Sr DE Polk, DanielDaniel Polk 57.0 !Sr DE Miller, AnthonyAnthony Miller  3.5 !Jr DE Spivey, DanielDaniel Spivey  2.5 !So DE Jamison, EricEric Jamison  2.5 !So DE Stubbs, JermaineJermaine Stubbs 3.0 !So DE Cobb, DavidDavid Cobb  1.5 !Fr DT Dukes, CurtisCurtis Dukes  4.5 !Sr DT Velasquez, RaymondoRaymondo Velasquez  4.5 !Sr DT Scott, RayRay Scott  4.5 !Sr DT McKenna, HerbertHerbert McKenna 57.0 !Sr DT Roberts, RaymondRaymond Roberts 57.0 !Sr DT Jenkins, HenryHenry Jenkins 57.0 !Sr DT Braxton, JohnJohn Braxton 57.0 !Sr DT Santos, HerbertHerbert Santos  3.5 !Jr DT Walter, RicardoRicardo Walter  3.5 !Jr DT Grogan, EdwardEdward Grogan 3.0 !So DT Manuel, TerrellTerrell Manuel 3.0 !So DT Hirsch, IanIan Hirsch 3.0 !So DT Nieves, EmmanuelEmmanuel Nieves 1.0 !Fr ILB Hansen, JasonJason Hansen  4.5 !Sr ILB Tucker, ChrisChris Tucker  4.5 !Sr ILB Betts, NicolasNicolas Betts  2.5 !So ATH Gross, BrianBrian Gross  1.5 !Fr OLB Daniel, AllenAllen Daniel 57.0 !Sr OLB Braswell, JosephJoseph Braswell 57.0 !Sr OLB Strange, DavidDavid Strange 5.0 !Jr OLB Cardenas, ElvisElvis Cardenas 5.0 !Jr OLB Jeffries, NathanielNathaniel Jeffries  2.5 !So OLB Singletary, MicahMicah Singletary  2.5 !So OLB Dudley, JalenJalen Dudley 3.0 !So OLB Durant, SeanSean Durant 3.0 !So OLB Stevens, JudeJude Stevens 1.0 !Fr CB Raymond, NoelNoel Raymond 57.0 !Sr CB Coulter, RichardRichard Coulter 57.0 !Sr CB Stiles, AaronAaron Stiles  3.5 !Jr CB Staples, JahmirJahmir Staples 5.0 !Jr CB Handy, DylanDylan Handy  2.5 !So CB Hein, OwenOwen Hein  1.5 !Fr CB Willis, AnthonyAnthony Willis 1.0 !Fr CB Williams-Spears, MamadouMamadou Williams-Spears 1.0 !Fr FS Ortiz, JoseJose Ortiz  3.5 !Jr FS Calloway, EthanEthan Calloway 5.0 !Jr FS Pressley, LamontLamont Pressley 5.0 !Jr FS Conrad, GavinGavin Conrad 1.0 !Fr SS Taylor, RobertRobert Taylor 57.0 !Sr SS Williams, MichaelMichael Williams  3.5 !Jr SS Crenshaw, IbrahimaIbrahima Crenshaw 1.0 !Fr	Special teams Pos. Name Class K Becker, ZacharyZachary Becker 5.0 !Jr K Major, PatrickPatrick Major 1.0 !Fr P Hoskins, BryanBryan Hoskins 5.0 !Jr P Rosa, AdonisAdonis Rosa 57.0 !Sr	Head coach SageBow Coordinators/assistant coaches None Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt [TBA Roster] Last update: end of 2018 season

Depth chart

Defense [1] FS Jose Ortiz Ethan Calloway WLB MLB SLB Micah Singletary Chris Tucker Nathaniel Jeffries Brian Gross Brian Gross Brian Gross SS Michael Williams Robert Taylor CB Aaron Stiles Noel Raymond DE DT DT DE Daniel Spivey Herbert Santos Ricardo Walter Anthony Miller Eric Jamison Herbert McKenna Henry Jenkins Micah Lankford CB Jahmir Staples Dylan Handy Offense [2] WR Eli Austin Charles Mitchell LT LG C RG RT Damian Mason Jackson Barnhart Toma Malifa Horace Walker Frank Whitney Robert May Connor Craft Horace Walker Connor Craft Silas Hart TE Charles Self Bruce Kelly WR Will London Tristan Browne QB Julius Thomas Israel McLean FB Sean Burnett Anthony McCord Special Teams PK Zachary Becker PK Adonis Rosa P Adonis Rosa P Bryan Hoskins KR Aaron Stiles PR Aaron Stiles LS Brian Gross H Israel McLean RB Nikita Crowe Jose Wilson

Individual Awards

DE Anthony Miller - All-SEC Second Team
DT Ricardo Walters - All-SEC First Team
ILB Chris Tucker - SEC Defensive Player of the Week - 9, National Defensive Player of the Week - 9
CB Aaron Stiles - All-SEC First Team
K Zachary Becker - SEC Special Teams Player of the Week - 12
P Adonis Rosa - SEC Special Teams Player of the Week - 15, All-SEC First Team

Recruiting

High School

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Adrian Goldson QB	Watertown, TN	Watertown High School	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	Round 1
	Skill:   Potential:
Marcus Coles ILB	Stockton, MO	Stockton High School	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	230 lb (100 kg)	Round 1
	Skill:   Potential:
Jake Phelps OG	Tampa, FL	Alonso High School	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	325 lb (147 kg)	Round 4
	Skill:   Potential:
Francesco Fay P	Stockton, MO	Stockton High School	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	Round 3
	Skill:   Potential:
Hunter Holmes SS	Powell, TN	Powell High School	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	204 lb (93 kg)	Round 4
	Skill:   Potential:
Aboubacar Ford RB	Denison, TX	Denison High School	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	Round 1
	Skill:   Potential:
Jared Tyler WR	Oakesdale, WA	Tekoa-Oakesdale High School	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	173 lb (78 kg)	Round 3
	Skill:   Potential:
Quinn Roland OT	Cloudland, TN	Roan Mountain High School	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	299 lb (136 kg)	Walk-on
	Skill:   Potential:
Overall recruiting rankings:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Junior College Transfers

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Miles Gray CB	Iowa Falls, IA	Ellsworth Community College	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	JUCO
	Skill:   Potential:
Overall recruiting rankings:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.