Report: Josh Heupel remains Tennessee's main play-caller, will share responsibilities with top assistants

At SEC Media Days this week down in Dallas, TX, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel revealed the plan for the Volunteer staff when it comes to calling plays on offense in 2024.

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.

With Heupel at the helm, Tennessee always has a dangerous offense. However, on Tuesday, former Alabama head coach Nick Saban looked back at last year’s offense, which wasn’t quite as strong as the incredible unit from 2022. In 2023, Tennessee just struggled to hit those explosive deep plays quite as often.

“I think that’s the key to the drill. Can their skill players, with their quarterback, make those kind of explosive plays?” Saban asked. He remembers how dangerous that ’22 group was and wonders if the 2024 team has the same threats.

“Because when they spread you out the way they do, and they can make those vertical plays down the field — which they killed us with a couple years ago when they beat us — because they’re gonna get their best player matched up on your safety because you’re spread out so much. And then that enhances their ability to run the ball.”

Tennessee was still excellent on offense in 2023, finishing with the No. 19 offense in the country last season averaging 448.1 yards per game. The defense ranked right outside the top-30 and there’s hope that unit can improve even more.

The UT defense gets 58% of its production from last season coming back in 2024, per ESPN. In comparison, the Volunteers’ offense will only 46% of its production back for the upcoming season, but does feature a new quarterback with plenty of promise.

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 with their most balanced team yet under the current regime in Knoxville.