College football rankings 2023: Georgia leads charge for 3-peat, Michigan, Alabama close behind
College football rankings 2023, way-too-early Top 25: No. 8-7
8. Tennessee Volunteers
It might be a bit ambitious to think that Tennessee will even come close to replicating the success from the 2022 campaign in 2023 under Josh Heupel. Hendon Hooker is gone after exhausting his eligibility after his Heisman-worthy campaign prior to getting injured and he’s just the tip of the iceberg with EDGE Byron Young, receivers Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman, and linebacker Jeremy Banks, among others, now gone from the program.
With that said, Joe Milton was impressive in relief of Hooker at the end of the season. Squirrel White and Bru McCoy also look capable of stepping up as receivers. In Heupel’s offense, I don’t expect too much of a drop-off in the overall production. The big key will be bringing in defensive talent and showing improvement on that side of the ball if the Vols are to keep this train steaming ahead.
7. LSU Tigers
Looking at the immediate success that Brian Kelly enjoyed with LSU and then what the Tigers are bringing back for the 2023 season, it’d be hard to not be excited about what they could accomplish. Jayden Daniels was inconsistent but the dual-threat signal-caller had some special moments that he can build on. And he has weapons all around to aid his cause, even with Kayshon Boutte heading for the NFL.
The defense was inconsistent but EDGE Harold Perkins Jr. is going to come into the year considered one of the best defensive players in the country with a game-wrecking presence on the end. And if former Texas A&M 5-star Denver Harris can deliver as a transfer addition, that will help to solidify the secondary and give LSU a big jolt overall.