Josh Heupel, Tennessee will have thin roster

(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)The deck was always going to be stacked against Josh Heupel.

Shortly following the Tennessee administration reporting its football program’s recruiting violations to the NCAA, the decision-makers in Knoxville decided to remove athletic director Phil Fulmer from his post and hand head coach Jeremy Pruitt his walking papers after just three years of service. After hiring UCF athletic director Danny White, UCF head coach Josh Heupel quickly followed after the Vols were unable to convince Penn State head coach James Franklin or Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott to move to Rocky Top.

Then, the transfer portal happened.

Tennessee defensive lineman Darel Middleton…