SerpApi.Org
There’s been plenty of change around the Tennessee football program this offseason, most notably on the defensive side of the ball. Josh Heupel knew he had to make a change from Tim Banks, forcing him to go outside of his staff really for the first time during his time in Knoxville. Knowles will be tasked with fixing up one of the worst units in the conference this fall after bringing in several new faces to the depth chart.
Tennessee will also be breaking in a new quarterback after Joey Aguilar lost his appeal for another season of eligibility. Either Faizon Brandon or George MacIntrye will take over, serving as a pivotal x-factor that will go a long way in determining the Vols’ success this season.
For my money though, the biggest move Josh Heupel made came in the strength training department. Heupel had a chance to upgrade that spot after Kurt Schmidt’s contract expired in January. With the position open, Heupel went directly to the national title winners to find his replacement, hiring Derek Owings away from the Indiana Hoosiers.
“I don’t think it’s overhyped,” Heupel said of the chatter around the transformation of the Tennessee strength training department. “D.O. and his staff from the moment that they arrived, the day after the national championship game, have done a great job building trust and relationships with our players. Our guys are fully bought into the process of what it takes.”
According to UTSports.com, Tennessee has added “867.3 pounds of muscle mass as a team, while posting a cumulative fat loss total of 218.1 pounds. A total of 33 players added 11 pounds or more of muscle mass as measured by Dexa Scan.”
Owings spent his last six seasons alongside of Curt Cignetti, playing a big role in quickly transforming Indiana into a title winner. Heupel and Owings have history, both working together at UCF back in 2018. That team ended up going 12-1, grabbing a spot in the Fiesta Bowl.
“I think his consistency and accountability — how they have to approach it and winning a single rep, a single set, that consistency will pay dividends for us during the course of the regular season,” Heupel continued. “But as much as anything, him spearheading nutrition, training room, everybody being in sync, the growth that our players have seen from mass, explosive power, speed and acceleration, the tangible differences that they’ve seen. Our players have fully bought into it but have seen great changes and are excited about what work that they’ve put in and the benefit of that.”
Tennessee had a problem finishing games a season ago. Winnable games against Georgia and Oklahoma really stand out, and the complete second half surrender against Vanderbilt to close the regular season was a major black eye for the program. Finishing games like those is the difference between making the College Football Playoff and the Music City Bowl.
Owings was brought in to change the culture, and the early returns seem dramatic. Josh Heupel is hoping his move pays off in some fourth quarters this fall.
