NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee head coach Butch Jones is acutely aware of the similarities between him and Kentucky's Mark Stoops -- in terms of rebuilding programs from the ground up.
Granted, the tradition of Volunteers football far outweighs the Wildcats' gridiron success, but the coaches face similar tasks in raising their respective programs. The two leaders, in their second seasons, both rely heavily on a bevy of underclassmen from touted recruiting classes.
A major marker for progress would represent a bowl invitation in the coming weeks, considering neither team has gone bowling in four years. Before that, the Volunteers had reached a bowl in 26 of 29 years, including winning the 1998 BCS national championship at the Fiesta Bowl.
In Kentucky's case in 2010, the BBVA Compass Bowl ended a program-best run of five straight bowl berths.
Factoring in its comeback victory at South Carolina two weeks ago, Tennessee (4-5, 1-4) needs to win two of the final three games to become bowl-eligible. After Kentucky, the Volunteers hosting Missouri (Nov. 22) and close the season at rival Vanderbilt (Nov. 29).
After starting 5-1, Kentucky (5-5, 2-5) has lost four straight and needs to win one more victory to make a bowl. If the Wildcats can't get it done at Tennessee, intrastate rival Louisville would serve as their final chance to extend the season.
"Mark has done a very good job there," says Jones of Stoops, whose Wildcats also beat South Carolina earlier this season. "They have improved greatly. They are fighting for a lot of the same things that we are fighting for."
Conversely, Stoops was emphatic about seeing Kentucky and Tennessee going through many of the same things, particularly the growing pains with essential younger players.
"I think we're shown that as well, very energetic, fun to watch team, team flying around, and then we've been inconsistent," laments Stoops. "I think if you ask (the Volunteers), they would probably say the same thing, I don't know."
"But I see a team that's very, very good, and again, any compliment to a coach, I see a team that plays hard, a well-coached team that plays hard."
Recruiting has been the lifeblood of both program rebuilds. This year's incoming freshman class at Tennessee was ranked fourth nationally by Scout.com, while Kentucky's class was rated No. 23 in the country.
Ironically, those are the same national rankings for the Vols and Wildcats, regarding their 2015 crop of current commitments.
Certainly, Tennessee has relied upon underclassmen, especially sophomore quarterback Joshua Dobbs, who has replaced injured senior Justin Worley. Against South Carolina, Dobbs guided the Volunteers to their latest and (perhaps) most dramatic comeback in program history.
Trailing 42-28 with 4:52 remaining, Tennessee tied the game to force overtime before getting the win.
With that triumph, Dobbs cemented his starting fate with the Vols -- for the short and long term.
He passed for 301 yards and rushed for 166 yards -- the most ever by a Volunteers quarterback. Dobbs, unmoved by that one-game success, still wants to be more consistent, though.
"I need to do that every time I step on the field," Dobbs said. "I need to improve my timing and rhythm with the receivers after not being able to throw with them for most of the season, so we've definitely improved with that after practice and during practice, and we're growing. And just getting on the same page as the O-line, with the O-linemen and the running backs, so just coming together as an offense."
While the Volunteers have played more true freshmen than any team in the country, one stands out on each side of the ball:
Running back Jalen Hurd (598 total yards) rushed for a career-high 125 yards against South Carolina, the most by a Vols freshman since 1997. Defensive tackle Derek Barnett had three sacks in that same game and has seven for the season (tied for 3rd in the SEC).
"They are still freshmen," Jones said of his rookies possibly hitting the proverbial wall. "If you look at this conference ... the SEC has turned into a senior- and junior-dominated league. And you look at the teams that are having success, a lot of them are in their fourth- and fifth-year with players. And we don't have that luxury here. We are playing a lot of youngsters, and they are in vital roles."
The same holds true for Kentucky, led by sophomore quarterback Patrick Towles. He has tossed 14 touchdown passes and leads the Wildcats with five rushing scores.
Tailback Stanley "Boom" Williams leads the team with 361 rushing yards -- at 6.9 yards per carry.
"He's a true freshman," Stoops said of Williams. "And he's got to continue to grow and mature and be disciplined all the time and be disciplined in his run.
"We all know he's talented and can make some things happen, but (Williams has) to go through his progressions also and makes sure he starts where he needs to start and then let his God given ability take off."
