Vols insider hints at new offensive wrinkle for Tennessee in 2024

Earlier this week, Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel hinted at some new wrinkles that could be coming to UT's offense in 2024.

While discussing the Vols' red zone issues from last season (No. 73 in the nation in red zone offense), Heupel noted that Tennessee's made some "subtle changes" to their red zone approach.

On Friday, VolQuest's Brent Hubbs joined 104.5 The Zone's Ramon, Kayla, and Will and he mentioned that he thinks Tennessee will run more two tight end sets in 2024 -- especially in the red zone.

(Hubbs also pointed out Alabama tight end transfer Miles Kitselman as a player that hasn't been talked about much this offseason, but could prove to be an important contributor for the Vols.)

“I think the transfer nobody’s talked about, or they haven’t talked a ton about, is Miles Kitselman, the tight end from Alabama,” said Hubbs. “Perceived to be just a big guard, basically an extra offensive lineman out there — he’s much more athletic, he plays better in space. He’s a guy that they can do some things with.

"And I think they’re going to play a lot of two tight end — not a lot, but a good bit of two tight end sets. I think you’ll see that some in the red zone where they can create some matchup advantages for them with Ethan Davis as a second tight end down there. I think that’s going to be a nice little potential wrinkle for this offense.”

Tennessee starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava mentioned on Thursday while speaking with reporters that he expects the tight ends to be a weapon in the red zone.

“We got a good, good tight end room," said Iamaleava. "All three of them (Kitselman, Davis, Holden Staes) can go so I’m excited. They’re big bodies, big targets that I love throwing to -- especially down in red zone. Being able to use all three of them in packages if we have to, I feel like them being on the field down in the red zone will be big for us.”

If Tennessee is going to have a legitimate shot at making the College Football Playoff in 2024, they'll need to be better than they were in the red zone last season -- field goals in the red area don't win championships.

Fortunately for Vols fans, it sounds like Heupel and his staff recognize that they need to be better in the red zone and they've worked on new ways to attack opponents once they get close to the goal line.

Related: Former Tennessee Vols OL Trey Smith is now in a murky situation with the Kansas City Chiefs