SEC Football: Way-too-early 2015 Power Rankings

Jan 2, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Marlin Lane (15) tries to avoid a tackle by Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Desmond King (14) in the fourth quarter of their 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl at EverBank Field. The Tennessee Volunteers beat the Iowa Hawkeyes 45-28. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

No. 4: Tennessee Volunteers

2014 Finish: 7-6, 3-5 SEC, 4th in SEC East
Key Losses: RB Marlin Lane, LB A.J. Johnson, DB Justin Coleman
2015 Recruiting Class: 4th in nation (28 commits)
2015 Prediction: 2nd in SEC East

The Volunteers have talent, top recruits and one of the best coaches in the business. Butch Jones has taken the dumpster fire left behind by Derek Dooley and has molded it into a tight-knit team who gets better every season.

QB Josh Dobbs is the key. He really began to blossom later in the season, and the Vols offensive line was giving him the time he needed. Tennessee still has some of the top receivers in the nation, and if the trend with Dobbs continues, this team will score a lot of points. However, recently O.C. Mike Bajakian decided to move on to the NFL, which could be an issue for Dobbs.

Defensively the Vols are returning a ton of talent, including top sack man Derek Barnett, and a secondary full of ball hawks. This defense could be the strength of the entire team.

This is the year that the Vols break through and start winning on a regular basis, and every team in the SEC East needs to circle the date they play Tennessee on the calendar.

Next: Auburn