Josh Heupel dishes on how Tennessee is handling heightened expectations in 2024

Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Volunteers aren’t shying away from their heightened expectations entering the 2024 campaign.

During the latest episode of Andy Staples On3, live from SEC Media Days in Dallas, TX, Heupel joined the show to explain how the Volunteers are readying for a season where many believe they’re the team to beat in the conference, and how Tennessee is working the media’s projections to their advantage.

“That’s just the way you want it. That’s why you come to Rocky Top,” Heupel said, regarding the immense expectations placed on Tennessee each season. “They do care, 365 days out of the year. The expectations outside of the building are never going to be higher than what they are inside of our room. Yeah, and our guys in today’s landscape, you don’t block out the noise. But you can be intentional on what you let live in your headspace, versus moving it out of your headspace, and for us, this group has been really good at how intentional they are in their work habits.

“Every single day, on the practice field during spring ball, in the weight room, just the consistency of it, and that’s where success lies. You have long term goals, dreams, visions. Where you want to get to comes down to being where your feet are, and winning that moment.”

Alas, Josh Heupel has made a name for himself in Knoxville, and the sky is the limit if he can lead the Volunteers to the promise land. Tennessee has a shot in 2024 and beyond, as long as their new leader is at the helm.

More on Josh Heupel, who will call plays for Tennessee in 2024

Meanwhile, Josh Heupel revealed the plan for the Volunteer staff, as it pertains to calling plays on offense in 2024, at SEC Media Days in Dallas, TX.

ESPN’s Chris Low tweeted out Tuesday afternoon that, “Josh Heupel said he will remain the main play-caller, but it would also be a shared duty with OC Joey Halzle and OL coach Glen Elarbee.” 

Low included the following direct quote from Josh Heupel on the situation: “Coach Elarbee and I have been together going on nine years, and Joey continues to take great understanding and ownership in what we’re doing.”

Now, it will be Heupel, Elarbee and Halzle all pitching in to call plays for the Volunteer offense this season. 

If the offense with a young QB can look like it has in the past with Tennessee’s new play-calling wrinkles, the defense could give the Vols a shot at the playoff, as this will be their most balanced team yet under the current regime in Knoxville.

On3’s Alex Weber contributed to this article.