247Sports updated their preseason top 25 college football rankings this week with the 2024 recruiting cycle officially in the rear view.
And they have the Tennessee Vols entering spring practice as the No. 11 program in the nation.
From 247Sports : Former five-star Nico Iamaleava leads the Vols at quarterback in a new era of sorts offensively. He was responsible for four touchdowns in his first career start in the Citrus Bowl win over Iowa and last season’s sensation at the position, Hendon Hooker, already deemed him “the chosen one” in Knoxville. That’s high praise given Hooker’s importance to the program and heightened success during his tenure. Like Penix did at Washington, Iamaleava is the type of talent that makes everyone around him better.
The only SEC programs that 247Sports has ranked ahead of Tennessee are Georgia (No. 1), Texas (No. 3), Ole Miss (No. 5), Alabama (No. 6), and Missouri (No. 8).
Tennessee obviously has high expectations in 2024 — they plan to compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff — but being ranked behind five of their conference rivals isn’t a bad thing. The Vols will enter the season with a gotta-prove-it mentality, which is when Tennessee tends to be at its best under Josh Heupel.