When Phillip Fulmer became athletic director, effectively nixed the Mike Leach hire and then brought in Jeremy Pruitt, the message was clear. He wanted to restore the toughness, blue-collar mindset that built Tennessee football into a powerhouse in the first place.
That’s expected for a former offensive lineman. However, there were valid concerns that in doing so, the Vols would completely abandon the analytics side of the sport, which is does have a place. Pruitt is proving, though, that he values that as much as anything.
With the promotion of Joe Osovet to tight ends coach, Pruitt has assured Tennessee football won’t lose one of its most brilliant minds to another rival school.