The Tennessee Volunteers’ offense will look VERRRRRY different in 2025 than it did last year in a 10-3 season. Obviously gone is Nico Iamaleava with a TBD starter to replace him. The Vols lost their workhorse running back, three starting WRs, and four starting OL. That’s a lot of talent gone.
But the cupboard isn’t bare, and some returning players fared rather well in 2024 based upon Pro Football Focus’ grading.
Here are the top five returning players in 2025 per PFF with a minimum of 130 snaps last season.
1) RB DeSean Bishop – 81.9
Bishop logged 168 offensive snaps in 2024. He ran well in limited opportunities, totaling 455 yards on 74 carries (6.1 ypc) with 3 rushing scores. The local speedster will work with Peyton Lewis and Duke transfer Star Thomas in Josh Heupel’s RB rotation this fall.
2) TE Miles Kitselman – 76.6
Kitselman wasn’t heavily used in the passing game in 2024, but he had his moments when his number was called, pulling in 4 touchdowns on the season. He also earned a 71.4 run blocking grade. He could see his receiving totals increase substantially with the Vols’ lack of proven production at wide receiver.
3) RB Peyton Lewis – 71.6
Like Bishop, Lewis saw a decent bit of work to spell Sampson last year, totaling 63 carries for 339 yards (5.3 ypc) and 3 touchdowns. He should be a candidate for early down work in Heupel’s 2024 rotation given his combination of size and speed, although fall camp will help tell the tale on the RB battle, which should be one of the more interesting ones after the QB one.
4) TE Ethan Davis – 62.9
Davis didn’t get a ton of work last year as the TE3 behind Kitselman and Holden Staes, but he should be in position to get on the field more as TE2 in 2025. He’s got a lot of potential as a receiver, but that’s been unrealized to date. Of course, improving his blocking is going to be a priority this year (51.9 PFF blocking grade in 2024). If he can show he can stay on the field and not be a liability as a blocker, the talent is there to take a big step forward as a part of the passing attack.
5) WR Mike Matthews – 61.0
Matthews is the big one for Tennessee’s offense in 2025. Or at least he really has to be if the Vols are going to do enough offensively to push for the playoff again. After the will-he-stay-or-will-he-go drama at the end of the season surrounding the transfer portal, Matthews needs to show he’s worthy of the hype he’s gotten as a five-star recruit. It’s time for him to make a name for himself.