The Tennessee Volunteers have all the pieces in place for an ascent up the SEC ladder in 2015. However, there are still plenty of questions to be answered before we pencil them into the conference title game. Here's our list of the 5 Biggest Questions For Tennessee Football Heading Into Fall Camp.
1) Is Josh Dobbs ready for the next step?
Dobbs led Tennessee to a 4-2 record after taking over during the last six games of last season, passing for 1,206 yards and nine touchdowns while rushing for 469 yards and eight more scores. He needs to improve his decision making on the run, but his athleticism and arm talent put him in the race as a dark horse Heisman candidate. Tennessee's SEC and College Football Playoff hopes hinge on his progression under center, so fall camp will be a huge window into just how that process is coming along.
2) Is the SEC East as winnable as it seems?
Missouri's taken the division two years running, with Georgia hot on their flanks despite a seemingly never-ending string of underachievements. However, there really is no true breakaway standout in the division going into the season, meaning that the Vols have a window to make a major, division-winning statement this year.
3) Is Jalen Hurd ready to make an impact?
Jalen Hurd's explosiveness as a ground threat is one of a handful of reasons why many pundits are projecting the Vols as an SEC power-to-be in 2015. He rushed for 899 yards and five touchdowns on just 199 carries as a true freshman and has shown signs of game-breaking ability which would transform and lift Tennessee's offense in one fell swoop. He's got all the physical tools and on-field instincts to the lead the charge. The only question left is whether or not that will translate to "the leap."
4) How fast will Tennessee's young defensive players develop?
The Vols ranked near the bottom of the SEC in total defense in 2014, giving up a stomach-churning 360 yards per game. A lot of that had to do with the overwhelming amount of first- and second-year players dotting the unit. Growing pains are to be expected in such situations, but the time is now for last year's lessons to become this year's advancement.
5. How big is Week 2 really?
The Vols' opener in Knoxville against Bowling Green is big enough on its own, but the true opening test of the season lies the week after. An Oklahoma team out to redeem themselves following an alarming 4-5 spiral to finish 2014 comes to Neyland, giving Butch Jones' crew both one of its biggest tests of the season and one of the biggest opportunities they'll have to burst into the national consciousness. Win against BGSU and Oklahoma to open things off and the sky is the limit for 2015.
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