Author Archives: Brad Shepard

Say what you want to about Butch Jones’ tenure thus far at Tennessee, but there’s no question the man is building a program through top-notch recruiting, redshirting and building depth.

There’s no place more evident of that than the offensive line, where Tennessee was in dire straits when Jones took over for Derek Dooley, who failed to sign a single offensive lineman in one recruiting class. Though Jones inherited a stable of quality linemen in his first year, the Vols had to rebuild that position from scratch after they all left for the NFL following the 2013 season.

Now, the Vols are deep and strong on the offensive front. That depth got even greater Sunday with the pledge of instate Ensworth High School offensive tackle Tanner Antonutti.

Though the Vols once tried to get Antonutti to grayshirt in this class, the 6’5″, 260-pound athlete who once played quarterback in his high school career before moving to tight end and growing into an offensive tackle, has seen his recruitment blow up recently.

Schools like Louisville, Mississippi State, Missouri and Georgia Tech coveted the Midstate prospect who grew up a Vols fan. But when LSU offered after a camp this summer, it became obvious that UT wasn’t just going to be able to convince a long-time fan to come to Knoxville without a full ride. That came recently, and after visiting this weekend, Antonutti decided he wanted to be part of what is going on at UT.

“It’s just absolutely a dream come true,” Antonutti told InsideTennessee’s Danny Parker. “After talking to (Tennessee) coach (Butch) Jones yesterday and then calling my mom and dad and talking things over with them, there was no other option beside UT is how I felt. I knew my heart was 100 percent committed to them and they were 100 percent committed to me. So I had to pull the trigger.”

The best part of this for the Vols is they can bring Antonutti along slowly, helping him add weight and build strength in time to redshirt and possibly play two or three years firmly in the rotation. That’s the way it’s supposed to be on the offensive front, and it’s exactly what the Vols can afford to do now.

If Antonutti can be 290 pounds or so by the time he arrives in Knoxville, that timeline could be escalated.

With Jerome Carvin still on Tennessee’s board and a definite take, the 3-star Antonutti gives the Vols another important cog in an already-strong offensive line class that includes 5-star Knoxville native Cade Mays and 3-star Knoxville native Ollie Lane. If the Vols can add 4-star Carvin, that’s an ideal follow-up to last year’s group. Carvin and Antonutti are almost certain tackles, while Mays could play guard or tackle and Lane projects to be a center.

The 2017 group included 5-star stud Trey Smith, who looks like a right-away starter for the Vols, along with tackle K’Rojhn Calbert and center Riley Locklear.

That just adds to crazy depth for the Vols along the front. Entering the 2018 season when Antonutti will be on campus, he, Mays, Lane and possibly Carvin will all be true freshmen. Perhaps Locklear and Calbert will be redshirt freshmen. Smith will be a sophomore, and redshirt sophomores will include Nathan Niehaus, Devante Brooks and Ryan Johnson. Juniors will include Marcus Tatum, Chance Hall (if he redshirts, as expected), Drew Richmond and Venzell Boulware. Then, the senior class will feature Jack Jones.

That’s crazy.

It’s also exactly the way you build a football program, with depth along the fronts. Antonutti is going to have the opportunity to be a good player for the Vols in time, and it’s a big get for UT simply because this is a kid who dreamed of playing for Tennessee, had big-time offers and decided to stay in state and work his way into an already-crowded rotation.

This is a big commitment for the Vols, who have an embarrassment of riches on the offensive front.

With the start of fall camp right around the corner, it’s time to look at some picks to prosper at each position.

Over the next few days leading up to the beginning of practice, we’ll examine each position and spotlight a player who the Vols desperately need to perform well as well as one who could elevate the team if he lives up to expectations.

Think of these as the old Chicago White Sox WGN announcers’ “picks to click.”

Oh, how the Vols need difference-makers on the back end of the defense. Even when Tennessee had some fundamentally sound safeties over the past few years like Brian Randolph and LaDarrell McNeil, they weren’t top-shelf athletes who could close a lot of ground on ball-carriers or passes downfield. Even the veteran manning the last line of defense right now — rising senior Todd Kelly Jr. — isn’t a ball-hawking defender at all. He may even be better-served playing linebacker. So, entering a crucial season and a pivotal need for turning the defense around, it’s time for some of the athletes the Vols recruited to step up. If they do, it could take the secondary to another level.

MUST

NIGEL WARRIOR, Sophomore

Nobody deserves the hype quite like Nigel Warrior, the son of Vol legend Dale Carter who chose the Vols over Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State and virtually everybody else. Though he was far from ready to play as a true freshman, UT put him out there and let him learn on the job.

Boy, were there bumps in the road.

Warrior struggled to learn Bob Shoop’s defense, and he was rarely in the right place at the right time. Though his talent and ball-closing speed were huge assets, Warrior on the field a season ago was a liability. It was cringe-worthy at times.

But that wasn’t the case this spring. Warrior began to blossom and play with more fluidity as the concepts began to come to him. He was pretty much universally lauded by coaches who saw him take some major steps. Now, he’s expected to leapfrog Micah Abernathy into the starting role opposite TKJr. and give the Vols a different level of athlete in their secondary.

He’s the kind of player Tennessee hasn’t had at safety in a long, long time.

At SEC Media Days a few weeks back, UT senior cornerback Emmanuel Moseley told the media that Warrior was going to be “great” and “special,” according to GoVols247’s Wes Rucker. The Vols certainly need for him to be as many big plays as they allowed a season ago in a forgettable 2016.

Though Warrior made way too many mistakes a season ago, he also made plays, finishing the Missouri and Tennessee Tech games with seven tackles. He can close distance in a hurry, and he arrives with a vengeance when he gets there. The Vols desperately need him to improve dramatically on the back end because an athlete like him can be a game-changer who could help Shoop’s unit take a major leap forward in 2017.

If he doesn’t, the Vols are probably going to just deal with his miscues because they need his speed and athleticism on the field. That’s why he needs to be a big-time player and minimize the mistakes.

MIGHT

MICAH ABERNATHY, Junior

Kelly gets a lot of the praise, but Abernathy wound up with a solid season last year, turning into one of the few bright spots on UT’s putrid defense. He just doesn’t make enough drive-ending plays.

Though that last sentence is true, he does it better than anybody else on the Vols defense, and that’s why he needs to be on the field, as a guy who is like a third starter, if nothing else. Think of his role much the way Kelly’s was in his first two seasons when the Vols still had Randolph and McNeil: He may not be one of the first two safeties to trot onto the field, but he’ll get plenty of reps.

As a sophomore last year, Abernathy started 10 of the 12 games and tied for team lead with two interceptions and six passes defended, ranked second on team with 69 tackles and led team with three fumbles recovered. He makes things happen.

So, to say he “might” be a guy the Vols can depend on is a bit short-sighted. He WILL be depended on. What the Vols need for him to do, what he might do and what he’s certainly capable of doing is developing into a really, really good player. This is a kid from a remarkable family whose brother played college football. He was coveted by Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State and others out of Greater Atlanta Christian School, and though he’s been a nice player for UT, he hasn’t had the same incredible impact that he could have.

After a year of learning Shoop’s defense, he should be comfortable. He should be a guy the Vols feel good about putting on the field at any time, whether it be with Warrior or with Kelly. So, that’s not a guy you “might” be able to depend on; it’s a guy who “might” develop into a player the Vols simply can’t keep off the field.

If that’s the case, it will allow Shoop to be creative on the back end, and Abernathy will be a player defensive backs coach Charlton Warren loves to have as his do-it-all defender.

Big things need to emerge from Abernathy’s senior year.

• For a look at UT’s quarterbacks “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s running backs “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s wide receivers/tight ends “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s offensive line “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s defensive ends “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s defensive tackles “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s linebackers “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s cornerbacks “must” list, click here.

With the start of fall camp right around the corner, it’s time to look at some picks to prosper at each position.

Over the next few days leading up to the beginning of practice, we’ll examine each position and spotlight a player who the Vols desperately need to perform well as well as one who could elevate the team if he lives up to expectations.

Think of these as the old Chicago White Sox WGN announcers’ “picks to click.”

There’s no denying the atrocity of Tennessee’s defensive backs the past two years under former assistant Willie Martinez. The lack of development had to be a major factor in head coach Butch Jones parting ways with his long-time friend after the ’16 season. Technique adjustments is a major reason why Jones went out and convinced North Carolina assistant Charlton Warren to head to Rocky Top. Now, maybe the defensive backs will turn their heads when the ball is coming. That on-ball defense is an area where UT needs major improvements, and if those basic fundamentals can get fixed, the talent certainly abounds back there. The biggest question is can Warren tap into it?

 

MUST

JUSTIN MARTIN, Senior

A perfect example of that limitless potential that has failed to find the football field with any real success in Knoxville is Justin Martin, the former Overton product who was a coveted defensive back recruit after a season in junior college. Many of the nation’s top teams wanted him, and he chose to come back to his home state rather than go to LSU, Alabama, Texas A&M or a number of other programs that wanted him.

After a decent sophomore season where Martin looked like he’d possibly be able to live up to massive expectations, he suffered through a horrible junior season where the Vols tried to avoid putting him on the field at all. That’s unfathomable for a 6’1″, 196-pound speedy specimen who’d started all 13 games and started six while showing flashes the year before. But everything unraveled for Martin last season. He also was suspended for the Georgia game for a violation of team rules.

If anybody needed a fresh start, it was the Nashville native. Enter Warren, and with only one year left to prove he is an NFL prospect, Martin found a renewed dedication this spring under the first-year assistant. He was one of the stories of camp.

“As we went through the spring Justin Martin was the most improved player in the spring,” defensive coordinator Bob Shoop told GoVols247’s Patrick Brown. “I mean, he had a really, really good spring. He’s grown and matured and developed, and he’s done an outstanding job. We have high expectations for him coming into camp.”

 

Maybe that’s standard Shoop lip service, but if it is, he, Jones and others preached it consistently the past few months. With senior transfer Shaq Wiggins entering the equation to give the Vols an almost certain starter with experience at Georgia and Louisville, and with Emmanuel Moseley entering his senior season with a fresh start, too, considering he may be the biggest culprit in the entire secondary when it came to playing the ball the past two years, it’s possible UT could have a veteran, talented trio. Those seniors must step up.

Martin is a next-level talent. If he plays with the swagger and confidence he displays off the field, the Vols really could have a turnaround season from a difference-making player. His transformation is crucial to this defense.

MIGHT

CHEYENNE LABRUZZA, Freshman

There’s no way the Vols can make it out of the season with just three serviceable cornerbacks. Rashaan Gaulden seems locked into the nickelback position, and Marquill Osborne is virtually a lock to get some playing time at corner and perhaps even nickel, too. Baylen Buchanan is a talented rising sophomore who could make some noise. But when it comes to true cornerbacks, the Vols may have to lean on some freshmen.

Though they weren’t highly rated, the trio UT brought in at the position — Cheyenne Labruzza, Shawn Shamburger and Terrell Bailey — have high ceilings. There has been plenty of buzz thus far about Labruzza, a 3-star prospect from Louisiana who was a very early pledge to UT. Though some of the nation’s top teams came calling for his commitment, and though homestate LSU tried to steal him away late when Ed Orgeron took over as the head coach, Labruzza stayed firm with his commitment.

Truth be told, the Tigers were in on him from the start, but Labruzza fell in love with the Vols, and he could wind up being one of the steals of the entire class.

A big reason for his decision to attend UT was former Vol JJ McCleskey, who trained Labruzza when he was in high school in Albany, Louisiana. Though McCleskey’s son, Jalen, is a rising star at Oklahoma State, the elder McCleskey still loves the Vols, where he was a walk-on-turned-star in the 1980s. He deserves a big assist for getting Labruzza to give Rocky Top a look, where he eventually fell in love. It looks like he may have a similar impact as an underrated prospect that his teacher did.

GoVols247’s Ryan Callahan told WBIR.com that Labruzza could reach the field early.

“It looks like he’s got as good a chance as anyone of coming in and playing right away in the secondary, despite having a knee injury during his senior season that’s forced him to rehab most of the offseason. But no doubt a guy who looks like one of the higher upside players that Tennessee is adding at the cornerback spot and because of the Vols lack of proven depth there, should have a chance to come in and challenge early, even as a summer arrival, for the Vols this year.”

He has looked the part so far after arriving on campus this summer, according to sources. At 6’0″, 188 pounds, Labruzza has great size, and he’s a technician much like former Vol Cameron Sutton was. It’s a cliche to say he’s a student of the game, but Labruzza does seem like one of those kids who continually works to perfect his craft.

With that kind of work ethic, it’s not hard to believe he will get on the field early. There’s no question Labruzza will help on special teams right away, and if the Vols can work him in early, he’ll help in the secondary as well.

• For a look at UT’s quarterbacks “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s running backs “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s wide receivers/tight ends “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s offensive line “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s defensive ends “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s defensive tackles “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s linebackers “must” list, click here.

With the start of fall camp right around the corner, it’s time to look at some picks to prosper at each position.

Over the next few days leading up to the beginning of practice, we’ll examine each position and spotlight a player who the Vols desperately need to perform well as well as one who could elevate the team if he lives up to expectations.

Think of these as the old Chicago White Sox WGN announcers’ “picks to click.”

A year ago, Tennessee had perhaps the weakest linebacking corps in the SEC East. With Jalen Reeves-Maybin missing the season and Darrin Kirkland Jr. either injured or playing at less than 70 percent for much of the season, the Vols struggled to put SEC-caliber athletes on the field at the second level of their defense.

Not many people believe that unit has improved much this season, with JRM’s departure to the NFL. But it’s up to defensive coordinator Bob Shoop and linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen to change that in 2017. If they don’t find some quality players in a full stable of ‘backers (especially considering UT only plays two on the field at once most of the time) one or both of them may be looking for a new job next year.

MUST

DARRIN KIRKLAND JR., Junior

An overlooked turning point of last year for the Vols came late in the Battle at Bristol win over Virginia Tech when Darrin Kirkland Jr. was lost for a portion of the season with a nasty high ankle sprain.

Kirkland — nor Tennessee’s defense — were ever the same after that. Kirkland missed five games and couldn’t regain full strength. But, in actuality, he was struggling early in the season with his run fits and calling the defense prior to his injury. As smart as the Indianapolis native is, Shoop’s defense didn’t come naturally. He wound up with just 45 tackles and five tackles for a loss in what essentially was a wasted season.

In 2017, the Vols need for Kirkland to return to his freshman form where, at times, he was the best linebacker on the field, even with JRM beside him. Yes, he was that good. At 6’1″, 238 pounds and blessed with sideline-to-sideline speed, Kirkland is one of the league’s sleepers this year. He never was truly fit a season ago, and now the Vols believe they’re getting a guy back who could wind up being one of the best second-level defenders on the field. That’s what Shoop is banking on. The junior seems tailor-made to play the aggressive defense, and a year into the system, he should be a transformed product.

As Gridiron Now’s Jason Hall wrote recently, Kirkland admittedly struggled with health last season and this spring, but he’s geared-up now.

“I really just want to develop myself every day and to really grow to be a leader and become an All-SEC player – that is my goal,” Kirkland said during spring practice. “My dream is to be one of the best linebackers in this conference, so I have to prepare for it every day.”

With Shoop charged to put all the speedy Vols in position to make plays, it’s essential that UT has a run-stopping second-level defender. That tackle-gobbler must be Kirkland, and he must be a starter who is consistent. Yes, Colton Jumper and Cortez McDowell can provide plenty of assistance, and sophomore Daniel Bituli has the potential to help a lot, too, but Kirkland is a proven commodity, even if he’d love to have his 2016 season back.

He’s big, fast, aggressive and has a photographic memory that should allow him to know the defense and help others get it quickly. But he has to get everybody lined up and keep his own fits, or the Vols will get gashed too often. That’s what happened in ’16, and that has to be a thing of the past.

He said in that Hall article that he feels like a veteran now, “the Last of the Mohicans,” he called it. The Vols need him to be a warrior and a defensive leader in the middle. If not, it’s going to be another long season for UT’s defense.

MIGHT

QUART’E SAPP, Redshirt Sophomore

Everybody has his favorite players, and, for me, Quart’e Sapp has fallen into that category ever since UT held a spot in a crowded recruiting class to sign him in the 2015 haul. They knew what kind of player he could be, and the blazing-fast, edge-rushing defender was a special-teams monster as a true freshman.

He looked like the next in line of the JRM/Cortez McDowell lineage of linebackers who cut their teeth chasing down kick and punt returners early on before those dues paid off on defense.

Then, just when he was readying himself for a more extended role on defense last year, a knee injury cost him the remaining 11 games of the year. That’s the second season in a row that his year was cut short with knee injuries. That begs the question: Is he still the speed demon he was when he came into Knoxville?

Let’s all hope so.

Though McDowell is the odds-on favorite to win the weak-side linebacker spot, the Vols need quality depth at all positions on the second level, and Sapp is good enough to push McDowell to start and at least be a situational linebacker who can get after the quarterback in pass-rushing situations. He could be an X-factor if he hasn’t lost that foot speed, and the Vols need that badly. It’s a cornerstone of Shoop’s defenses to have guys who can put pressure on the quarterback, and with Sapp and JRM out last year, the Vols didn’t have anybody who could from the second level.

On the exterior, Tennessee will have more options this year. The Vols love freshmen Solon Page III and Shanon Reid, though it’s unclear whether either of them will help in anything other than special teams this year. Jumper is a versatile defender who can play either spot, too. Then there’s Austin Smith who looks more like a strong-side ‘backer/speedy defensive end hybrid. But Sapp was brought in to be that gazelle who is all over the place all the time, much the way JRM was before the injuries and how guys like Kevin Burnett and Rico McCoy played back in the day.

Can he be that kind of player, or am I just having visions of those Chavis safety-turned-linebackers dancing in my head in a blitz-happy defense? I guess we’ll see. We all have thoughts about what Shoop’s aggressive defenses can look like when he’s coaching at his best and his cupboard is full. My vision of that defense includes Sapp surging from all over the field and getting after quarterbacks.

• For a look at UT’s quarterbacks “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s running backs “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s wide receivers/tight ends “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s offensive line “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s defensive ends “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s defensive tackles “must” list, click here.

With the start of fall camp right around the corner, it’s time to look at some picks to prosper at each position.

Over the next few days leading up to the beginning of practice, we’ll examine each position and spotlight a player who the Vols desperately need to perform well as well as one who could elevate the team if he lives up to expectations.

Think of these as the old Chicago White Sox WGN announcers’ “picks to click.”

The Vols have an opportunity to be really good on the defensive interior in 2017, but they definitely need a lot of breaks. Nobody is expecting them to be that salty inside after an injury-riddled last season, but UT could sneak up on a lot of teams with all the talent it has. All that potential must produce, though, or none of that means anything. You’re going to see the word “if” a lot in this article and in preseason discussions about the Vols. If Kahlil McKenzie lives up to expectations… If Shy Tuttle can get and stay healthy… If Alexis Johnson and Quay Picou can provide quality depth… If Kendal Vickers can provide leadership and some interior explosion in his redshirt year…

Those “ifs” haven’t been great to the Vols in recent years, but with a new defensive line coach in Brady Hoke and a defensive coordinator in Bob Shoop that must be feeling the heat after a pitiful first year on Rocky Top, they must turn into “whens” for the Vols to reach expectations. Let’s take a look at Tennessee’s defensive tackle situation.

MUST

KAHLIL MCKENZIE, Junior

There hasn’t been a more hyped Tennessee recruit since Eric Berry. As a matter of fact, I was on the record a couple of years ago saying McKenzie, a UT legacy with an NFL body and a 5-star pedigree was a can’t-miss prospect who’d contribute right away.

Well, the clock is ticking.

Yes, McKenzie did contribute right away, but dominance has been far off. Now, after coming into UT at more than 360 pounds, he’s hit the weight room under new strength and conditioning coach Rock Gullickson, and he’s geared up to play the 2017 season at 320 pounds. That should help him with the rigors of being an every-down defensive tackle.

But how quickly will McKenzie adapt to his new body? Has he lost any of the strength that enabled him to bully some of the best high school players in the country? All of that remains to be seen.

The bottom line is McKenzie — the son of former UT defender Reggie and the nephew of All-SEC offensive lineman Raleigh — is in put-up or shut-up mode. He’s done a lot of talking in his first two years on Rocky Top on social media and other avenues, and he’s not short on confidence. He’s also contributed meaningful snaps, but other than being an interior space-eater, he’s not made anywhere near the impact recruiting analysts predicted.

His career has been overshadowed by part-time player Shy Tuttle, who has endured two season-ending injuries in two years. Now, with Tuttle still nursing his last battle, this is McKenzie’s defensive line along with Vickers. He MUST show up. He MUST dominate. He MUST get through the line, collapse the middle and provide a push. He MUST have better technique and use his ability as the team’s strongest player to produce key snaps that end possessions.

If he doesn’t do that, the Vols simply won’t be that good on defense. He’s that important.

McKenzie was expected to be a program-turning talent who’d help the Vols elevate their defense to a championship level. Instead, he has been a part-time player who hasn’t been able to stay on the field in every-down situations for whatever reason.

After really blossoming against Texas A&M with five tackles and one for a loss and looking like the kind of player UT recruited, McKenzie tore his pectoral muscle against Alabama and missed the rest of the season, limiting him to just seven games. Though that was a massive loss to UT, it gave him more time to focus on preparing his body for the rigors of SEC play.

It’s time now for him to return with a vengeance.

“Fans and coaches have been waiting to see McKenzie live up to the hype he brought to Knoxville, but against Alabama last year — in his first career start — he went down with a season-ending pectoral injury,” ESPN.com’s Edward Aschoff wrote. “McKenzie has so much potential he has yet to tap into.”

Hoke is tapped to bring it out.

Now, this has the potential for McKenzie to own this defense, to become the alpha dog he was known as during a high school career that had every single college football team in the country wanting him.

The time has come. Much like Kyle Phillips and Tuttle, McKenzie was part of that 2015 recruiting class that was supposed to make UT’s defensive line one of the best in the SEC. If it doesn’t start to happen now, it won’t. His development is vital.

MIGHT

ALEXIS JOHNSON, Redshirt Junior

The top-rated JUCO defensive tackle in the 2016 recruiting class was expected to come to Knoxville and make an immediate impact for a Vols interior defensive line that needed him.

Instead, he dealt with an off-the-field issue involving a woman that wound up keeping him suspended for six months from the team. After seeing charges reduced, Johnson returned to the team after a season-long hiatus, and he looked right away this spring like he was going to help the team.

There’s a season why Alabama, Florida and others wanted him out of JUCO. If he winds up being the player the Vols expected he’d be, he’ll be one of the top two defensive tackles off the bench this year and provide UT with some major depth on the interior.

If he does, there’s no reason why UT’s front can’t be salty.

Shoop told GoVols247’s Ryan Callahan this spring that Johnson was “doing all the right things” to become part of the rotation.

“Alexis is working hard to get himself into the shape that it requires to play at this level, just like Jonathan Kongbo a year ago — some of those junior-college guys. I think sometimes when you’re a junior-college guy, you guys think, ‘OK, it’s like signing an NFL free agent.’ These guys, this is a pretty high level of football. When they get here, they don’t get, necessarily, what it’s all about.”

It’s trial-by-fire time. Behind Vickers, McKenzie and a healthy Tuttle once he returns full-strength during the first third of the season, the Vols are searching for depth. Junior Quay Picou is up to 280 pounds and should be a quality player on the interior, but Johnson is right there. He’d be in the five-man rotation right now, for sure. With the Vols needing a freshman like Matthew Butler or Kivon Bennett to step up and provide some snaps in that rotation, it would be huge for Johnson to be something other than a warm body.

As a matter of fact, if Johnson is a stud, it may enable Butler to slide outside and help on the edge where the Vols need much more depth at end.

Johnson was a guy a lot of teams wanted as a recruit, and when he committed to UT, the rest of the SEC turned up the heat. But the 6’4″, 300-pound redshirt junior from Atlanta stuck with the Vols, and UT stuck with him last year through his ordeal. Now, it’s time for him to show that head coach Butch Jones knew what they were doing trusting his talent.

If he produces in a big way, the Vols’ defensive line will be much better than it was a season ago.

 

• For a look at UT’s quarterbacks “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s running backs “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s wide receivers/tight ends “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s offensive line “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s defensive ends “must” list, click here.

With the start of fall camp right around the corner, it’s time to look at some picks to prosper at each position.

Over the next couple of weeks leading up to the beginning of practice, we’ll examine each position and spotlight a player who the Vols desperately need to perform well as well as one who could elevate the team if he lives up to expectations.

Think of these as the old Chicago White Sox WGN announcers’ “picks to click.”

There’s no greater cause for the wringing of Tennessee fans’ hands in 2017 than the defensive line. After all, a group that included one of the greatest players in the history of UT football in all-time sacks leader Derek Barnett was still wholly terrible thanks to being decimated by injuries. And the group fails to return Barnett, Corey Vereen or LaTroy Lewis. So, it may be even worse than it was a season ago, right? If so, the Vols are in desperate trouble, which means the group collectively need to perform better and defensive coordinator Bob Shoop needs to coach better in ’17. Hopefully for the Vols, the addition of veteran line coach Brady Hoke will help.

Let’s take a look at some guys who have to show up.

MUST

JONATHAN KONGBO, Redshirt Junior

Beyond John Kelly and one of the two quarterbacks, there may not be a more important player on Tennessee’s entire football team.

No pressure, kid.

Last year, the 6’6″, 264-pound defensive lineman was expected to be an instant-impact star after choosing the Vols over Alabama, Ole Miss, Ohio State, Oregon, USC, Florida State and everybody else as the No. 1-ranked JUCO player in the country. It didn’t come so easily so quickly, though.

With injuries in the defensive interior, the Vols moved Kongbo inside. He also played outside, too. He struggled to carve his role early, and folks were beginning to wonder if he was a bust. Then, everything came together late in the year, and he began to show just how good he could be.

He intercepted a Drew Lock pass against Missouri and returned it 59 yards for a touchdown. Then, in the Music City Bowl, he notched a career-high with four tackles and a sack, and Shoop began to get excited about his future.

This offseason, Kongbo has been fueled by the early disappointment of riding the pine upon his arrival in Knoxville. Shoop told the media (including GoVols247’s Grant Ramey) last week that Kongbo has been “on a mission” since the end of last year. He’s chiseled his frame in anticipation of being a full-time defensive end, and he’s one of the main reasons Shoop said he was excited about this group.

Now, Shoop doesn’t get the benefit of the doubt after all the preseason chirping a year ago. He has become known for talking up his players since arriving at UT, and it’s show-me season for the Vols. That goes for Kongbo, too.

Everybody knows just what kind of talent he can be, but the Vols don’t just need to hear it; they need to see it. With Barnett and Vereen gone, UT must find pass-rushing production from somewhere, and Kongbo is the perfect place from which it should come. If he can churn out 8-10 sacks, the Vols will be in a good spot.

Kongbo and untapped talent Darrell Taylor need to blossom into the type of pass rushers that can help ease the pain of Barnett’s loss. If they can’t, it’s going to be another long defensive season on Rocky Top.

MIGHT

KYLE PHILLIPS, Junior

It would have been very easy to put Taylor in this spot, but the Vols really do expect to get quality reps from both him and Kongbo.

The biggest wild card on the edge is Phillips.

As a standout at Hillsboro High School, Phillips was coveted by virtually everybody in the country, choosing Tennessee on national television at the U.S. Army All-American Game over LSU and Alabama. That was a game he dominated off the edge, by the way.

Then, he came to Knoxville, and everything stopped.

As a freshman, he moved inside to play some tackle out of necessity, a move he didn’t care for. After some message board whispers about a potential transfer after that season, Phillips returned and showed some glimpses of his ability before getting hurt yet again a season ago. He hasn’t been able to stay healthy since getting to college, and his back has been one of the main culprits.

Now, Phillips is (finally) fully healthy after missing spring practice once again. It’s going to be a fresh start in front of Shoop with two years to play. Though the 6’4″, 263-pound jumbo defensive end could move in and play some tackle, for the first time in his career, the Vols don’t really need for him to. They need him to push to start at end or at least be a quality No. 3 option.

There’s simply nobody else that have any proven snaps. Beyond that trio, the Vols are going to be forced to play youngsters.

In 17 career games, Phillips has 23 tackles and 3.5 tackles for a loss without registering a sack. That freakish talent sprinting around the corner and getting after high school quarterbacks in all-star games is a distant memory, but that wasn’t another lifetime ago. That was a healthy, in-shape Phillips before all the clutter and injuries got to him.

The Vols need for Phillips to put the rough start in the past and have a Robert Ayers-like resurgence. That may sound like a stretch, but it’s exactly the kind of leap UT needs in order to have a championship-caliber defense. It’s time for Phillips to live up to the blue-chip billing he was supposed to be.

• For a look at UT’s quarterbacks “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s running backs “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s wide receivers/tight ends “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s offensive line “must” list, click here.

With the start of fall camp right around the corner, it’s time to look at some picks to prosper at each position.

Over the next couple of weeks leading up to the beginning of practice, we’ll examine each position and spotlight a player who the Vols desperately need to perform well as well as one who could elevate the team if he lives up to expectations.

Think of these as the old Chicago White Sox WGN announcers’ “picks to click.”

Today, we’ll continue our in-depth look at important players on UT’s roster with a concentration on the offensive line. With Don Mahoney gone, there’s a chance the front line may actually be a strength for a change. There’s depth, experience and talent all around. If Walt Wells is half as good a coach as he is recruiter, the Vols have the opportunity to be very good along the front. If that’s the case, the offensive transition in the post-Dobbs era may not be so rocky on Rocky Top.

MUST

DREW RICHMOND, Redshirt Sophomore Offensive Tackle

When it comes to versatility, Tennessee’s offensive line may be as strong as anybody’s in the conference. Hopefully for the Vols, that equates to quality of play rather than only having Swiss army knife players who are capable of playing multiple positions.

None of that matters if you don’t have players who can play multiple positions well, does it?

UT is full of guys who can contribute to many spots along the front. Senior Jashon Robertson has the potential to be an All-SEC guard, and he could even play center to get the five best linemen on the field. Senior Coleman Thomas needs a big rebound year after a junior season that may keep him from a starting gig in 2017. He could play center or tackle, if the situation presented itself. Stud freshman Trey Smith expects to fit in somewhere as a starter right away. Fifth-year senior Brett Kendrick can play a lot of places, but the right tackle spot looks like his.

But the most important player on UT’s line this year isn’t budging from the exterior. That would be Drew Richmond, who the Vols desperately need to become the left tackle of the future (and present) right now.

The 6’5″, 309-pound Memphis native has experienced a topsy-turvy, brief career in Knoxville so far.

As a highly recruited 4-star freshman who flipped from Ole Miss on National Signing Day, Richmond was supposed to save the offensive line right away in 2015. Instead, he was slow to develop, redshirted through an admittedly difficult first year in Knoxville and stuck tight. Then, last year, he again struggled at the beginning of the year before the light came on.

Midway through the year, Richmond started to shine.

He started six games, including solidifying the unit when he moved over to left tackle late in the season. When he moved there the Vols got much, much stronger. Cases in point from his UTSports.com bio:

• Started at LT vs. Nebraska in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, paving the way for 521 yards of offense (230 rushing) without giving up any sacks
• Started at LT at Vanderbilt as Tennessee rolled to 516 yards of total offense
• Started at LT in 63-37 win over Missouri, paving the way for 609 yards of offense and as season-high 386 rushing yards
• Started at LT in 49-36 win vs. Kentucky, helping pave the way for 599 yards of offense and 376 rushing yards (UT’s most in an SEC game since 406 vs. Vanderbilt on Nov. 26, 1994). Vols’ 10.2 yards per play was their most since setting the school record at 10.9 against Kentucky in 2000 and their 9.2 yards per rush was the best mark since 9.5 yards per rush against Auburn on Dec. 4, 2004.

He figures to anchor that side of the line again in ’17. The best news for Richmond and the Vols is that Richmond was really Wells’ pet project, and the man who is now UT’s full-time offensive line coach turned around the talented West Tennessee star’s career.

There are a lot of other guys who want that spot, too, though, according to GoVols247’s Wes Rucker who wrote about Richmond recently:

One of the nation’s most highly prized offensive line prospects in the 2015 cycle, Richmond started turning a corner last season and made the first-team left tackle spot his spot late last in the year. The question now is whether he’ll hold off a bunch of other good options and keep that spot.

Now, if Richmond can emerge as a road-grading left tackle who can protect the blind side of Quinten Dormady or Jarrett Guarantano while continuing to excel in run blocking, the Vols’ offensive line could be very stout. There’s no question that a season ago, the Richmond-Kendrick combination led to UT’s best offensive numbers, and if they take a step forward, the Vols could be very tough to handle up front in 2017.

If Richmond is up-and-down again, there are players such as Trey Smith and Marcus Tatum who are ready to take over. But they’d probably take their lumps on the left side, too. That’s why the Vols need Richmond to shine and hammer down that all-important position.

MIGHT

TREY SMITH, Freshman Offensive Lineman

As noted before, the best-case scenario for the Vols this year would be if the Kendrick-Richmond tackle combination excelled. For one reason, that’s an experienced duo with a lot of SEC work under their belts. Another reason is it could give perhaps the most talented freshman offensive lineman in UT history a chance to ease in a little on the interior where he won’t be on so much of an island.

Yeah, we’re talking about “easing in” Trey Smith as a starter.

That should give you a good idea of how good the Jackson, Tennessee, native is. He’s just too talented not to start. When the Georgia Tech game rolls around, Smith will be starting somewhere.

While his long-term future will probably be at tackle, Smith could give the Vols a massive, hulking specimen on the inside right away. If he’s already all but guaranteed a spot in the front five (it would be a huge surprise if he isn’t) that means it’ll be an all-out war to see who starts at that other interior spot between Jack Jones and Venzell Boulware. If Smith is better than one of those two, that bodes well for UT because those guys are pretty darn good.

Smith is just a next-level player.

There’s a reason why Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, Ole Miss and virtually everybody else in the nation wanted the kid who wound up ESPN’s No. 1-ranked high school player. The Vols got him to stay at home, and he should be the anchor to UT’s line of the present and future.

If Smith can be a stud right away, the Vols are going to be dominant up front. At 6’6″, 320 pounds, Smith may look like a tackle — and he’s certainly athletic enough to play there — but combining him with Kendrick, Robertson and Richmond on the line looks like it could be flat-nasty.

Tennessee needs Smith to be a beast. If he is, the offense is going to be STRONG.

 

• For a look at UT’s quarterbacks “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s running backs “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s wide receivers/tight ends “must” list, click here.

With the start of fall camp right around the corner, it’s time to look at some picks to prosper at each position.

Over the next couple of weeks leading up to the beginning of practice, we’ll examine each position and spotlight a player who the Vols desperately need to perform well as well as one who could elevate the team if he lives up to expectations.

Think of these as the old Chicago White Sox WGN announcers’ “picks to click.”

Today, we’ll look at the wide receivers and tight ends, which finally had a breakout star emerge a season ago in Josh Malone only to see him forego his final year in Knoxville. The Vols also had a budding, big-play maker emerge in Jauan Jennings, who looked like he has what it takes to be the alpha of the offense. But who’s gonna show up after him?

MUST

ETHAN WOLF, Senior Tight End/JOSH SMITH, Senior Wide Receiver

The Vols know what they’re getting from Jennings; a gamer who is going to fight and claw for every ball, not take plays off, jaw at defenders and give his all for the program every game. That’s just the way he is. If he is a bit more consistent with his production in 2017, he’ll be a go-to receiver for the quarterbacks. If he isn’t, it’ll be a major disappointment. He’s that good.

After him, UT needs guys to step up. That’s where Wolf and Smith — a pair of seniors without excuses — to finally emerge as dependable.

Remember when Wolf came in and started right away as a 6’6″ freshman and everybody was talking about just how much potential he had and how it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility for him to be the next Jason Witten, his idol? That seems like a long time and far cry ago. You never know what all goes on behind the scenes and what players are asked to do such as taking on more blocking responsibilities or maybe playing through injuries. He maybe just never clicked in the passing game with Joshua Dobbs. But for whatever reason, Wolf’s career has been pedestrian.

In three years, the Minster, Ohio, native has just 67 catches for 752 yards and four touchdowns. That isn’t good enough, especially for an offense that needs the tight end to thrive to be successful.

The promotion of former tight ends coach Larry Scott to offensive coordinator could really help Wolf to make a major leap. If the Vols have a better passing game than they’ve had the past few years, it’ll be because of a safety valve like Wolf who needs to find soft spots and utilize his big body and soft hands with important catches.

It would behoove the Vols for Wolf to approach the UT reception record of 41 by Chris Brown in 2007.

“I would certainly not object to 50 catches,” Wolf told the Knoxville News-Sentinel’s Mike Strange. “But at the end of the day, I love getting the ball and it’s fun, it makes everything that much better, but I just want to win. Whether that’s eight catches, six catches or zero catches, I’m going to be out there doing everything as hard as I possibly can.”

He’s a needed commodity. If Wolf is involved in the offense, the Vols are likely going to be moving the ball effectively.

Now, onto Smith. It’s much the same story.

As a freshman, the Knoxville native had a bad case of the drops, which was baffling considering he came into UT with everybody believing he had great hands and that’s how he earned early playing time. As a sophomore, he was one of the most dynamic early-season playmakers for UT before a nasty high ankle sprain cost him the season.

Last year, his numbers took a major downturn with 13 catches for just 97 yards. For his career, he has 58 catches for 721 yards and five touchdowns. That won’t cut it.

With a bevy of youngsters to go along with Jennings at receiver, UT needs the 6’1″, 206-pound veteran to step up and be a leader, catching the ball, blocking and overall providing quality reps. It would be terrific if he produced a 30-catch season that allowed for some of the youngsters to come along at their own pace and provide the big plays.

Smith is never going to lead a downfield attack, but Tennessee doesn’t need him to. The Vols just need him to be a consistent rotation guy who can make plays to sustain drives.

If he doesn’t, somebody is going to pass him.

MIGHT

MARQUEZ CALLAWAY, Sophomore Wide Receiver

When you’re talking about somebody looking the part, Callaway certainly does. At 6’2″, 199 pounds and with nice cutting ability and quality speed, the sophomore is a guy you look at in warm-ups and think, “He can make plays.”

Now, he has to do it.

The Warner Robins, Georgia, native had just a single catch for 13 yards a season ago. Now, the Vols are going to look to him to be a preliminary target along with Tyler Byrd. Though Callaway is far from a sure thing, he’s a strong bet to emerge. The Vols desperately need him to.

Why?

Because he can be a difference-maker. He and Byrd are guys who have the athletic ability to do big things if Dormady/Guarantano get them the ball. They’re quick-twitch athletes with breakaway speed, as evidenced by Callaway’s punt return for a touchdown a year ago against Tennessee Tech. Of course, the Golden Eagles are a far cry from Alabama or Florida, but it was a glimpse of Callaway’s ability.

All throughout the spring and offseason, Callaway’s name came up as one to watch. UT has a lot of intriguing youngsters like him, Byrd, speedy redshirt freshman Latrell Williams, smooth sophomore Brandon Johnson and the freshman trio of Jordan Murphy, Josh Palmer and Jacquez Jones. Any of those guys could replace Callaway as the guy being discussed here.

But the pick for this column is Callaway. He’s capable of providing 30-40 catches with some of them being big gains and touchdown-scoring grabs. Tennessee needs a showcase pass-catcher to go along with the dawg in Jennings. With significant reps and his first real playing time, Callaway needs to prove he’s as good as his recruiting ranking.

• For a look at UT’s quarterbacks “must” list, click here.
• For a look at UT’s running backs “must” list, click here.

With the start of fall camp right around the corner, it’s time to look at some picks to prosper at each position.

Over the next couple of weeks leading up to the beginning of practice, we’ll examine each position and spotlight a player who the Vols desperately need to perform well as well as one who could elevate the team if he lives up to expectations.

Think of these as the old Chicago White Sox WGN announcers’ “picks to click.”

Today, we’ll look at the running backs, which has been a team strength over the past two seasons with Alvin Kamara and Jalen Hurd running herd. Both of those guys are gone for different reasons, and Tennessee’s running attack under coach Robert Gillespie moves on. Let’s take a look at some key cogs to make that group tick.

MUST

JOHN KELLY, Junior

The Detroit native looked fantastic following Hurd quitting the team a season ago, running like his job depended on it and becoming a between-the-tackles force for UT. He seems to be even better at the point of attack than either Kamara or Hurd ever was, and though he’ll never have the athleticism of AK or the power of Hurd, he may just be the ideal every-down back for this system.

Every Tennessee fan is excited to see what he produces as RB1. The 5’9″, 205-pound third-year player enjoyed a stellar sophomore year, leading all UT running backs with 630 yards on 98 carries (6.4 average) and scoring five times.

Way back in his freshman year before he ever had a carry, Gillespie told the media he thought he had three future NFL runners in that film room. New Orleans picked Kamara in this year’s draft, and who knows what will happen to Hurd after he transferred to Baylor to play receiver, but Kelly looks well on his way to making his coach three-quarters right.

It’s easy to forget about Kelly in the SEC considering the league boasts studs like Derrius Guice, Ralph Webb, Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, Bo Scarbrough, Damien Harris, Kamryn Pettway and Benny Snell, but he will have every opportunity to run his way into the upper echelon of the league’s top backs.

When he was being recruited, several Big Ten teams (including Michigan and Michigan State) wanted him for defense, thinking he’d be an excellent defensive back. The Vols were insistent on him playing running back, and he’s worked out very well.

Now, this is his show. There’s no reason to believe he will fail to seize the spotlight. Not only is he the ideal size for an inside back, he’s one of the fastest players on the offense. It’s going to be a very big year for Kelly. If it’s not, it will spell doom for UT because the Vols really need the running backs to take pressure off Quinten Dormady and Jarrett Guarantano.

Kelly’s numbers really could become special when extrapolated across an entire season, especially when you consider the following. Pro Football Focus rated Kelly third in the SEC among returning tailbacks in “Elusive Rating,” a formula of missed tackles and yards after contact.

No returning SEC running back was as elusive in 2016. pic.twitter.com/6dI2VujDf3

— PFF College (@PFF_College) July 3, 2017

There’s nothing wrong with that, considering it measures how well a running back does after help from his offensive line. If Kelly has a big year, UT’s offense may not miss a beat because that means the offensive line is living up to its depth and potential and the quarterbacks don’t have games on their shoulders.

MIGHT

TY CHANDLER, Freshman

All the hype and buzz surrounding Hurd when he came into Knoxville out of the Midstate a few years ago was considerable. But this year’s Nashville-area running back may wind up generating the most postseason talk.

There’s no question the Vols got a major coup when the 5’11”, 195-pound Montgomery Bell Academy product whose father went to Ole Miss decided to stay in the Volunteer State rather than go to Oxford or Athens, Georgia, or several other places, for that matter.

Basically everybody wanted the nation’s fifth-rated running back.

He’s walking into a perfect running situation. With Kelly as the only proven back, Chandler could — and probably even should — slide into that No. 2 role. The only player in front of him is rising sophomore Carlin Fils-aime, and though the Florida product should find a nice role in the offense, he doesn’t have the same elite skill set as Chandler.

The Vols brought in three runners in the class, including Tim Jordan and Trey Coleman. But Chandler is the stud. He can do it all, running between tackles, breaking away from defenders and even proving he’s able to catch the ball out of the backfield. He reminds me a lot of Michel coming out of high school, and that would be a big-time add for the Vols.

He could wind up even better than Michel if he continues to develop.

Regardless, the Vols desperately need Chandler to be as good as advertised. No SEC football team gets by with just one quality running back; UT needs two or three at least.

Chandler is also blazing fast, as evidenced by his MBA record 10.83 100-meter dash, according to GoVols247’s Ryan Callahan.

With that kind of speed and upside, it’s hard not to like Chandler’s chances of making a massive impact right away.

• For a look at UT’s quarterbacks “must” list, click here.