If Tennessee's recruiting class is any indication, the Vols are ready to get serious about competing with Florida and Georgia for SEC Eastern Division titles once again. Tennessee made a habit of signing some of the nation's top classes throughout the 1990s and even early in this century. The Vols also made a habit of winning during those years, even winning the national championship in 1998.
Along the way the Vols somehow veered off track, resulting in a 5-6 finish in 2005. The subsequent recruiting class finished 23rd nationally and didn't do much to restore any faith in the coaching staff. It took a 9-4 record in 2006 and one of the nation's top five recruiting classes to point the program in the right direction.
The Vols came back from the 5-6 season in 2005 and withstood injuries on both sides of the line. Now they need to be better on both the offensive and defensive lines. The depth, talent and experience isn't what it has been in the past, and losing players such as OT Arron Sears, OG David Ligon, DT Justin Harrell and DT Turk McBride won't make the job any easier. QB Erik Ainge and all three experienced tailbacks return, but the Vols will lose their three best receivers.
Kenny O'Neal Gerald Jones
Wide Receiver Signees:
Kenny O'Neal, City College of San Francisco
Gerald Jones, Oklahoma City, Okla
Brent Vinson, Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy
The Vols signed at least five players who can play receiver, but O'Neal, Jones and Vinson appear to be the most likely candidates for playing time following the departure of receivers Robert Meachem, Jayson Swain and Bret Smith. Of those three, the Vols are counting on O'Neal to become an immediate impact player.
Tennessee signed 32 players on Feb. 7, but two of those players will count against last year's total and at least five are expected to attend prep school or junior college and take care of their academics. The Vols didn't include a kicker in their latest signing class, but coach Phillip Fulmer said Britton Colquitt will likely do the punting and place-kicking this season.
True freshman Jacques McClendon made his first career start in the Outback Bowl, replacing injured sophomore Anthony Parker at right guard. Parker started all 12 regular-season games at right guard. Parker had knee surgery after the regular season and missed the Outback Bowl but has a chance to return for spring practice. Expect McClendon and Parker to be involved in some of the team's best competition in the spring.
The cupboard is far from empty, but a lot of unproven young players must become dependable, consistent and productive for Tennessee to win the SEC East in 2007.
The Vols filled their needs very well in this class of recruits. They Knew going into the off season they were going to need to address areas such as Linebacker and Defensive secondary, those were going to be their primary focus.
After plummeting to a 5-6 season in 2005, Tennessee's 9-4 record in 2006 appears to put the program back on the right track. As far as the Vols are concerned, though, they aren't moving nearly fast enough to suit their own goals.
I am not sure Vol fans are convinced. We need to see another year at least to be sure. We last won the SEC east in 2004. Vol fans want to compete for that every year. I think the jury is still out on whether or not coach Phil Fulmer can restore this program to the preeminece he had it operating at from 1998 through 2002.
"Our best game was Cal (the season opener), and we haven't played like that since then," linebacker Ryan Karl told The Tennessean. "We've just got to be able to put those pieces together and play like that every game."
A 9-4 season meets or exceeds the expectations at most Division I-A programs but not at Tennessee. That's particularly true when two of those losses came at home to Florida and LSU. Add a road loss to Arkansas and all three regular-season losses came to teams that entered the bowl season ranked in the top 11. The fourth and final loss came in a disappointing performance in a 20-10 Outback Bowl loss to unranked Penn State. Tennessee has won just two bowl games since winning national championship in 1998.
Again I offer this as evidence that coach Phil Fulmer uses bowls more as winter practice than a game fans want to see the Vols win. I know it sounds like sour grapes. And I know Phil will never admit it. But he is trying to save his lucrative job. And Championships have more to do with that than bowl wins given bowl losses are quickly forgotten being they happen at the end of the year.
Offensively, the Vols became a better passing team in 2006, due in part to the return of offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe and the growth of quarterback Erik Ainge, but the running game rarely produced on a consistent basis. Three turnovers, including Ainge's critical third-quarter interception, kept the Vols from climbing out of their hole against Penn State. "Erik made a couple of really undisciplined plays, to be honest with you," Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said. "Again, they're young and learning and not professionals, and even professionals make mistakes." The defense allowed 183 rushing yards and 197 passing yards without forcing any turnover, prompting defensive coordinator John Chavis to vow offseason changes.
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Kenny O'Neal 
Gerald Jones
