UT Vols: Can Phillip Fulmer convince coaching candidates of Tennessee's potential?

As Tennessee athletic director Phillip Fulmer searches for a football coach, he should hope that candidates don’t notice The Associated Press All-SEC team that was announced Monday.

Only one Vol, freshman offensive guard Trey Smith, was named to either the first or second team. Smith made the second team, which was a slight given the season he had. But offensive linemen — even one as big as the 6-foot-6, 320-pound Smith — easily can be shortchanged when they toil for a 4-8 team.

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Fulmer knows that any coach would wonder about his talent base if he were considering the UT job. He also knows that Tennessee has more talent than either its record or the All-SEC selections reflected.

His job is to sell coaching candidates on next season's potential, as opposed to this past season's production. And given his experience as a coach and recruiter, he’s quite capable of doing that.

You don’t need to be a former coach to realize the Vols could be greatly improved next season, assuming they hire a competent coach.

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Injuries contributed to Tennessee's dreadful season in 2017. So did inadequate coaching.

Smith overcame both. He could become the best offensive lineman in the conference next season.

He’s just one reason Tennessee’s injury-depleted offensive line could be significantly improved. Chance Hall is another. He made freshman All-American in 2015 but missed the 2017 season with a knee injury.

There's no All-SEC quarterback on the depth chart. But the Vols could return three quarterbacks with starting experience. And it's reasonable to think anyone of them could do better in a different system.

There’s also plenty of room for improvement on a defense that underachieved in each of the past two seasons.

Safety Nigel Warrior, who will be a junior next season, has All-SEC potential. So does Rashaun Gaulden, who is capable of playing anywhere in the secondary.   

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Safety Todd Kelly Jr. might not be an all-conference candidate, but he will help fortify a secondary that was victimized too often in 2017.

The impact of losing Kelly to injury was probably underestimated. Not only is he a team leader, he’s a savvy player and a sure tackler.   

Linebacker Daniel Bituli, who led Tennessee in tackles this past season, should be an All-SEC candidate next season. So might fellow linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr., who missed the 2017 season with a knee injury.

Tennessee’s defensive front four is full of former four-star recruits. You would think that at least one of them could emerge as a prominent player next season in a new defensive system with a new defensive staff.

Fulmer can make that point to coaching candidates. He can appeal to their ego, too.

All he needs to say is, "You know, there’s enough talent on this roster that the right coach could turn the program around immediately.”

Every coach thinks he’s “the right coach.”  

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: Twitter.com/johnadamskns.