Josh Heupel explains the need for continued leadership on Tennessee’s roster

Josh Heupel recognizes leadership will be as important as ever to Tennessee’s mission in 2023.

The Volunteers have lost a number of talented players since last season, including quarterback and leader Hendon Hooker. As another season roars it’s head, Heupel realizes that for the Volunteers to repeat their success from last season, they’re going to have to have the right group leading the way, and he believes Tennessee does.

“I think their energy, their consistency, their work habits and their competitive nature out on the practice field,” started Heupel, regarding his team’s abilities. “You know I think the camaraderie and connection that they have too, and the leadership has been really good, really strong throughout the course of training camp. I’ve said it before, but you know, getting into the season, it’s not going to be perfect for everybody. All goals individually that you set, at the end of the day, everybody’s got to sacrifice a little bit for the success of the team.

“Important that we continue to have that inside of our locker room, and inside of our program.”

Evidently, that camaraderie helped Tennessee to their best season in recent memory. The Volunteers are hoping to duplicate that success moving forward, and continue to build an awesome culture in Knoxville.

“I think every situation, everything that you encounter, continues to help build trust and understanding of who you are, what you’re about and what you want to be,” added Heupel. “You know, there’s always moments of growth in everything that you’re doing at the same time. But the players have great trust in the culture that we want to have and what we’ve built. They understand the expectations on and off the field. We’ve developed stronger leadership.

“So I think all of those things play into Year 3 being a better situation that we were in Year 1, and a lot of ways Year 2 too.”

Instead of Hooker leading the charge for Tennessee, it’ll be Joe Milton called upon to head up Heupel’s squad in Year 3. He’s shown flashes throughout his collegiate career, and he certainly has the talent, but it’ll be up to the quarterback to get the job done this season.

Time will tell if Josh Heupel and Tennessee can stay among the best of the best in college football this season, but it all begins on Saturday, as Week 1 is finally here. We can’t wait to watch the Volunteers take the field.

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