Always an interesting look.
Spring practice is just around the corner as we continue to turn the page to the 2025 college football season. One of the more interesting articles of the offseason is always Bill Connelly’s returning production metric, which is published after all the dust settles from the transfer portal.
We still have one round of portalling to go in April, but we shouldn’t see huge movement. So here’s where things stand now, according to Connelly.
Tennessee’s 2024 returning production
- Tennessee ranks 58th overall in the returning production metric, bringing back 58 percent of their returning production from a year ago.
- The Volunteers bring back 49 percent of their offensive production, while returning 67 percent of their defensive production.
- That averages out to about mid-pack for all 136 FBS schools. The average was just over 53 percent.
Tennessee starts 2025 with the task of replacing their most productive player, Dylan Sampson. The bell cow back of 2024 has moved on to the NFL, leaving the Volunteers with Peyton Lewis, Desean Bishop and Duke transfer Star Thomas. Tennessee will also be replacing four starters up front on the offensive line.
The receiver room has been nearly completely flipped with Dont’e Thornton, Bru McCoy, Squirrel White and several depth pieces on the way out. Tennessee is set to roll with Mike Matthews, Chris Brazzell, Braylon Staley and Amari Jefferson going forward.
Tennessee will return Nico Iamaleava and starting tight end Miles Kitselman.
Defensively, Tennessee will have to replace key impact players on the defensive line like James Pearce, Omarr Norman-Lott and Omari Thomas. They’re in a good spot to do that as Rodney Garner has loaded up on talent over the last several cycles, so not much concern there.
Questions once again remain in the secondary following the ACL injury to top cornerback Jermod McCoy. Tennessee also has a situation to figure out with CB2 Ricky Gibson, who announced plans to enter the portal later this spring. Expect Tennessee to work a ton of youth in here during the spring as they try to build out some depth. Nobody would be surprised if the Vols added a body out of the portal here either.
Experience returns at safety with Andre Turrentine and Jakobe Thomas, while Boo Carter will return to his STAR role.
Tennessee is set to open spring practice one week from today.