Tennessee Football: One of SEC’s best offenses in 2016
By Matt Green
We are 36 days away from college football season, and today we talk about a team that had one of the SEC’s best offenses in 2016.
While there are mixed feelings around Knoxville about the state of the Tennessee football program, no one can deny how prolific the Volunteers’ offense was last season.
Tennessee had the perfect storm on offense coming into last season. They had a senior starting quarterback, an experienced offensive line, a duo of dynamic running backs, and a deep, talented receiving corps. And that leads us to no. 36 on the Southbound and Down College Football Countdown.
Tennessee Volunteers averaged 36 points per game last season.
Must Read: LSU needs to figure out the offense
The Vols’ 36.4 points per game last season were second in the SEC and 24th in the country. Tennessee scored 30 or more points in 9 of their 13 games last season.
Joshua Dobbs led the SEC with 27 touchdown passes last season. He was also second in the conference, completing 63 percent of his passes, and was third in the SEC with 2,946 passing yards.
Tennessee Volunteers Football
Tennessee was more than just a dynamic duo in the backfield. Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara entered last season as their top two backs, but it was actually Dobbs that led the Vols with 831 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground.
John Kelly, who will be a junior this season, was actually first among the Vols’ running backs with 630 rushing yards, and he only got double digit carries in five games. Kamara had 596 yards on the ground and 392 yards through the air. And before he unexpectedly left the program, Hurd managed 451 yards and 3 touchdowns in seven games.
Kamara was also one of three Vols players with 40 receptions or more last season. Josh Malone led the team with 50 receptions for 972 yards and 11 touchdowns, but he’ll be playing for the Cincinnati Bengals this season. Jauan Jennings will be the leading returning receiver. He had 40 receptions for 580 yards and 7 touchdowns last season.
If 2017 is going to be the third straight 9-4 season for the Tennessee football program, they’re going to have to replace a lot of firepower on the offensive side of the ball.
