As we inch closer to the start of the 2024 SEC Baseball season, we are starting to see multiple websites putting out power rankings and season outlooks. One team near the top of these rankings that I am not very fond of and could potentially be set up for an off year are the Tennessee Volunteers.

The Vols are coming off of a season in which they made it to Omaha but were eliminated by the eventual national champion LSU Tigers. Tony Vitello returns for his 7th season as the Vols coach and will look to take them back to Omaha.

The Vols lost a lot of talent in both the draft and transfer portal after the 2023 season. The biggest loss being star right-handed pitcher Chase Burns, who transferred to Wake Forest. The departure of Burns led to 14 more Vols entering the portal. The Vols alsolost pitchers Chase Dollander and Andrew Lindsey to the MLB Draft.

They also lost offensive star Jarred Dickey and Maui Ahuna to the Draft. Despite these departures, Tennessee did manage to finish with the nations number 4 transfer portal class with the additions of Cannon Peebles and Billy Amick.

To me, it comes down to the Vols not having enough star-power in their rotation. While they added arms in the portal, I believe that the losses of Dollander, Burns and Lindsey could potentially be too much to overcome for the Vols. There is no denying the offensive star-power for the Vols, but you are going to need pitching to be successful in the SEC, and I am just not sure Tennessee has what it takes.

Don't be surprised if it's a down year up on Rocky Top in 2024.