Tennessee HC Josh Heupel is being coy about a big potential advantage for the Vols' offense in 2024

The Tennessee Vols' offense could have a big advantage in 2024 due to a new NCAA rule. 

But thanks to Vols head coach Josh Heupel's coy approach, we aren't sure whether or not it's something that Tennessee will actually utilize this fall.

This offseason, college football programs are trying out in-helmet communication devices that allow coaches to talk to designated on-field players through headsets (each team is limited to three devices). 

Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin, who runs an offense that has some concepts that are similar to Tennessee's up-tempo offense, suggested in late March that the in-helmet devices are a like a "cheat code". 

“It’s here and we utilize it in practice and [it's] our first time getting used to it," said Kiffin. “I think differently, especially after using it. I think it’s really like having a cheat coach in Madden, offensively. I don’t know if they’ve really thought, defensively, of what exactly that means. I think the assumption is, ‘Oh, you talk to the quarterback.’ There’s really more to it than that, especially the way we run our offense. Without giving too much into that, what it allows us to do with signals, with the whole process. I think it’s a cheat code, offensively. If you do certain things offensively.”

On Saturday, after Tennessee's annual Orange and White spring game, Heupel was asked about the in-helmet devices and how much the Vols have used them this spring. 

In typical Heupel fashion, he answered the question by using a lot of words without actually revealing whether or not Tennessee plans to use the devices during the regular season. 

"It’s still a work in progress as we continue into training camp," explained Heupel. "I think everybody inside of our league was limited to three of those devices that would work and operate on a day to day basis -- including the scrimmages. And so we put two of them on the offensive side early in spring ball [and] transitioned into the defense. Both sides got to tinker and play with how it’s going to function and operate. Our communication system will continue to evolve as we have a better idea with that.”

Heupel essentially answered that question without answering it at all. The Vols have "tinkered" with the new system, but Heupel isn't about to reveal how (or if) Tennessee will utilize it. 

Based on Kiffin's comments, though, it certainly sounds like it will be advantageous for offenses to utilize the new technology in 2024 (and it will definitely be an advantage for defenses).

If I had to bet, I'd wager that Heupel has already figured out a way to make Tennessee's offense more efficient by using the in-helmet devices.

But good luck getting Heupel to tell you that.