It’s well-documented that Tennessee’s recruiting has picked up during coach Butch Jones’ tenure, but one ESPN analyst went a step further when discussing the Volunteers’ level of talent.

ESPN college football insider Travis Haney appeared on “The Paul Finebaum Show” Wednesday afternoon to discuss a number of SEC topics with guest host Peter Burns. When discussing the Vols, Burns asked Haney how UT’s talent compares to perennial conference powers Alabama and LSU.

“I’d put them in the same breath,” Haney said. “That’s really the illustration of what Butch Jones has done at Tennessee. Look at the talent they had three-to-four years ago when he got there. It was abysmal on both lines of scrimmage. The offensive and defensive lines were horrific. They were closer at that point to the bottom of the league than the top of the league. Now, they’re in the same conversation as LSU and Alabama.”

Haney visited Tennessee’s media day and described the general vibe surrounding Team 120.

“There’s this nervous energy about what it’s going to look like, what it’s going to be,” Haney said.

The ESPN analyst said that with the level of talent, there’s no excuses this season for the offense to not establish a pass-catching threat on the exterior. His man to watch is sophomore Preston Williams.

“Another guy on my breakout list: Preston Williams,” Haney said. “That’s someone to watch – 6’5 receiver, who came in late last year, he didn’t get there until August. He came along slow. As a freshman, not much expected from him. As a sophomore? Totally different.”

Williams and the Volunteers open the 2016 season Sept. 1 against Appalachian State.