The 2018 season featured some growing pains for — and some major victories — for Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt.
The Vols went 5-7 in his first season, extending the number of consecutive sub-.500 seasons to two. They lost to all four of their rivals in Alabama, Vanderbilt, Georgia and Florida. But they also broke their winless SEC streak by upending ranked opponents in Auburn and Kentucky. And, despite the record, Tennessee made strides on the field and on the recruiting trail.
MORE: SN's pre-preseason rankings for 2019
When it comes to new coaching regimes, the largest and most notable improvements are often made in Year 2. Will that be the case for Pruitt in 2019? The schedule is manageable early and late in the season, with a considerably tough stretch from Sept. 21 through Oct. 19. If the Vols win the games they're supposed to — and maybe steal a win or two — they'll be in good position as Pruitt continues building Tennessee back into an SEC power.
Tennessee is unranked in Sporting News' pre-preseason top 25 for 2019, but the Vols are an intriguing team worth watching this season. Taking a deeper look at this team heading into the 2019 season:
Tennessee football schedule 2019
| Date | Opponent | Location |
| Aug. 29 | Georgia State | Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Sept. 7 | BYU | Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Sept. 14 | Chattanooga | Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Sept. 21 | at No. 9 Florida | Gainesville, Fla. |
| Sept. 28 | Bye | Off |
| Oct. 5 | No. 3 Georgia | Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Oct. 12 | Mississippi State | Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Oct. 19 | at No. 1 Alabama | Tuscaloosa, Ala. |
| Oct. 26 | South Carolina | Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Nov. 2 | UAB | Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Nov. 9 | at Kentucky | Lexington, Ky. |
| Nov. 16 | Bye | Off |
| Nov. 23 | at Missouri | Columbia, Mo. |
| Nov. 30 | Vanderbilt | Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Dec. 7 | SEC championship | Atlanta |
MORE: SEC 2019 primer
Tennessee football recruiting 2019
Tennessee's 2019 recruiting class showcased one of the main reasons the Volunteers choose Pruitt — the 2012 national recruiter of the year — to lead their team. The Vols ranked 12th nationally and seventh in the SEC according to 247Sports' Composite team rankings. The highlights of the class are five-star offensive tackles Darnell Wright, the No. 2 player at his position (No. 10 overall), and Wanya Martin (No. 6 OT, No. 28 overall). The Volunteers also secured athlete Quavaris Crouch, who had offers from the likes of Alabama, Clemson and Michigan, among others. He figures to play at linebacker in Knoxville. Speaking of linebacker, perhaps the biggest coup of the 2019 class was Henry To'oto'o, who was considered a lock to sign with Alabama but flipped his commitment to the Vols on National Signing Day.
Tennessee football roster 2019
Tennessee's football roster will be updated in the spring and fall here.
MORE: Early predictions for 2019 season
What to watch from Tennessee in 2019
1. Alabama
Tennessee didn't hire Pruitt just for his defensive and recruitinig acumen. It hired him because of his association with Alabama's Nick Saban, under whom he worked from 2007-12 and again in 2016 and '17, helping him win four national titles. This isn't just another case of an SEC team hiring away a Saban staffer: Pruitt has seen firsthand what it takes to establish and maintain extended success. The Vols will want to see that put in place this year, and they will want to be competitive against the Tide, a team they haven't beaten since Saban first arrived in Tuscaloosa in 2007. It might be a tall order in 2019, but Tennessee, a traditional SEC power, won't ever make headway in the rivalry by meekly accepting Saban's continued dominance.
2. The offensive line
Tennessee's offensive line in 2018 was ... not good. The starting five did not get any push up front, resulting in the Volunteers rushing for a paltry 129.1 yards per game, good for 113th nationally and last in the SEC. They also surrendered 23 sacks on quarterback Jarrett Guarantano. Offensive line coach Will Friend is back, as are returning starters Jahmir Johnson and Jerome Carvi, but the fact Pruitt brought in five offensive linemen in his latest class shows he wants to address the issue of the O-line right away. Tennessee has shuffled its line throughout the spring, so don't be surprised if some newcomers — including Wright and Martin — get a chance to break in early.
3. The defensive line
This group, one of the team's strongest position groups in 2018, lost key contributors in Alexis Johnson Jr., Shy Tuttle and Kyle Phillips. That trio combined for 16.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks in 2018. Senior Emmit Gooden is back, as are a host of linebackers and defensive backs behind him, but it will be imperative the Volunteers maintain a strong defensive front in the always-tough SEC. It will be a tough task for first-year defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley. In that endeavor, look for Savion Williams, the top-ranked defensive tackle prospect from the JUCO ranks, to step in and contribute.
