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SEC Put on Notice as Tennessee’s Viral Offseason Transformation Reveals 867 Pounds of Muscle Gain
Tennessee Football (Image Credits: Imagn)

SEC Put on Notice as Tennessee’s Viral Offseason Transformation Reveals 867 Pounds of Muscle Gain

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports  |  By Sarthak Khanna  |  Last updated May 10, 2026 10:10 AM ET
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The buzz around Tennessee football this offseason has not just been about recruiting or transfer portal additions. Instead, the Volunteers have grabbed national attention because of a staggering physical transformation that has fans across the SEC talking.

A recent offseason update shared by Tennessee revealed that the Vols added a combined 867.3 pounds of lean muscle during a 14-week training program. They also lost 218.1 pounds of total body fat. What makes things even more shocking is that 33 athletes on the team have gained at least 11 lbs of muscle mass since January.

The numbers instantly became a talking point on social media. This might have been one of the biggest and most dramatic offseason transformations ever. This could help the team transform the program in the SEC.

Head coach Josh Heupel made a major move earlier this year when he hired Derek Owings to lead the program’s strength and conditioning department. Owings arrived in Knoxville just days after helping Indiana win a national championship, and Tennessee clearly expected him to reshape the roster quickly.

Who is Tennessee’s New Strength Coach, Derek Owings?

Owings entered Tennessee with one of the strongest resumes among college football strength coaches. Before joining the Volunteers, he spent six seasons working alongside head coach Curt Cignetti, first at James Madison and later at Indiana. During Owings’ time with the Hoosiers, Indiana won a Big Ten title and made it to two College Football Playoff appearances.

Owings’ rise in the world of college football has been steady. He was named the 2025 FootballScoop Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year and reportedly became the highest-paid strength coach in college football after accepting Tennessee’s offer.

Owings specializes in adding good weight without compromising athletes’ speed and agility. He monitors his athletes’ speed, power, and jump numbers to ensure everyone stays explosive as they get heavier.

Fortunately, his approach is already showing results in Knoxville. Tennessee’s offseason transformation has quickly become one of the biggest talking points heading into the 2026 college football season.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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