HOOVER Ala. – A losing record the year before and 12 lost starters is not exactly the most promising start for a college football team. With a 5-7 record and only 5 players coming back on offense and defense, that’s the situation for the Tennessee Volunteers.
However, the stifling odds don’t scare Tennessee coach Butch Jones. He sees the 2014 season as an open canvass, a completely new chance to fix all the struggles the team had the season before.
“It’s an exciting time of the year right now. Everyone is extremely optimistic,” Jones said at the Southeastern Conference Media Days on Tuesday. “Everyone starts at 0-0. No two teams are ever the same. That’s why we’ve moved on from team 117 to team 118 to Tennessee.”

With the chips stacked against them, Jones and the Volunteers look to prove doubters wrong with a roster full of new players.
Jones said the youth on the team will have to understand taking the season one moment at the time and understanding they have to earn the right to win. He also complemented some of the veterans on the team for mentoring the younger players.
The offensive questions start at quarterback, where there is a three-way battle between senior Justin Worley, sophomore Joshua Dobbs and redshirt sophomore Nathan Peterman. Worley lead the team last season in both touchdowns (10) and passing yards (1,239).
Whatever quarterback is chosen will have help with the return of receivers Marquez North and Pig Howard. North was a Freshman All-American last season after recording 496 receiving yards, and Howard led the team with three receiving touchdowns.

The biggest question will come at the offensive line because the Vols will replace the entire unit. But junior offensive lineman Mack Crowder has confidence in himself and his teammates.
“We’ve obviously been in the background the past couple years, and we are all really looking forward to going out there and showing what we have,” Crowder said. “What I’m hoping to accomplish is going out there and getting the job done, helping my team any way I can.”
Tennessee’s bright spot last season came in the secondary, where the team finished 3rd in the SEC in pass defense. The team returns its entire secondary including sophomore defensive back Cam Sutton, who was named a Freshman All-American last season.
On the interior, the team is led by roomates and good friends, senior linebacker A.J. Johnson and junior defensive lineman Curt Maggitt. Both players see themselves as leaders with youth surrounding both of their respective units.

The schedule won’t be kind to the Vols, with SEC road games against Georgia and South Carolina as well as a non-conference road game against Oklahoma. But Jones remains confident, and players said their offseason training could lead to change.
“We’ve got double the guys getting PR’s [personal records] and we’ve got double the guys getting their goal times and that’s the key, working,” Johnson said. “Any football team, if you’re working hard during the summer to bring it together, you’re going to have a good season and a road paved out for you for the season coming.”