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At this point, I feel like Tennessee is going to struggle to make a bowl game. But that’s not to say the Vols can’t.

When you have a game like they had against South Carolina where you’ve got myriad opportunities to win and you can’t come through with the W, it gives you an ominous feeling about the rest of the year.

The Vols should come away with the home win this weekend against Charlotte, even if Tim Jordan and Ty Chandler are banged-up and UT is going to nurse some injuries. If that happens, you look at needing to win two of three remaining games against Kentucky, Missouri and Vanderbilt.

Everybody knows UK’s story, and there’s no way you can predict a win against the ‘Cats, even if they’ve not blown everybody’s socks off. They’re still a one-loss team and a top-10 team in the country. They win with defense and running back Benny Snell, and they’re a bad matchup for the Vols because they’re so good along both lines of scrimmage. Tennessee can win that game at home, but the Vols also shouldn’t cry if UK gets banged up against Georgia this weekend.

That leaves Mizzou and Vanderbilt. In the game against the Tigers, UT will be at home, and that may be the worst remaining matchup, thanks to quarterback Drew Lock. He hasn’t had a big season, but he’s got a big arm, and Tennessee has been susceptible to pass-happy teams. Tennessee desperately needs injured safety Trevon Flowers back by then. The Vols match up well against the Commodores, but Kyle Shurmur torched them the past two years. With Ke’Shawn Vaughn looking like a budding star, that’s going to be a challenge for UT. Getting Flowers back will be huge.

KEYS

Play the young guys

Everybody was excited to see Jeremy Banks get a lot of run with the linebackers on Saturday after his move there prior to the South Carolina game, but then Chandler and Jordan get hurt, and coach Jeremy Pruitt has him back at running back this week.

Banks is going to help this team as a starter down the road somewhere, and we need to see him get extended looks this weekend. Maybe on both sides of the ball (though I doubt that will happen).

JJ Peterson has seen only special teams action so far, but it’s time to get him on the defense and see if he can help this team on that side of the ball for the stretch run or if he’s a redshirt candidate. He was UT’s best commitment of the first Pruitt class, but the time has come to make the decision if he helps now or down the road.

John Mincey needs an extended look on the defensive line, especially considering Tennessee needs some answers there next season with so many departing seniors. I want to see receiver Cedric Tillman get a few targets. Guys like Kurott Garland and Greg Emerson technically could even get a few snaps and redshirt. So could quarterback JT Shrout, whom everybody wants to see.

Can those players get extended run and UT win? We’ll see.

Don’t let ’em hang around

You may laugh about a team like the Charlotte 49ers hanging around at Neyland Stadium.

Don’t.

This is a bad football team, but it’s one that played better recently, losing by one score to MTSU and beating Southern Miss. The last time we laughed about a team like this coming to UT and hanging around, the Vols were lucky to beat UMass last year.

This Tennessee team that plays on Saturday won’t be the one it trotted out against Alabama or South Carolina. It will be missing some key players it tries to rest before the important final three games. The guys who go out there need to take care of business from the jump.

Take shots

There is nothing wrong with the Vols’ game plan against South Carolina. It worked offensively, after all.

They dinked and dunked down the field, using the horizontal passing game with swings to running backs and receivers to help open up a decent running game. That’s all fine and good against similar teams.

But UT needs to open it up against Charlotte. The dynamic downfield passing attack beat Auburn, and the Vols may need it in other games this year, particularly next week against Kentucky, whose defense is too good to just let you go up and down the field.

Who knows if Jarrett Guarantano is completely healthy or how much he’ll play, but whoever is under center needs to test the Niners downfield all day.

No major injuries

Again, with basically no depth, the rest of this season is going to be an all-hands-on-deck situation if the Vols are going to have any chance of going to the postseason. Technically, UT could make a bowl at 5-7, and this is actually a year the Vols would need to take that with so much youth. But hopefully, they can get to the magic six-win window.

Is it sad we’re hoping for six wins again? Yes, it is. But it does feel like those days are coming to an end under Pruitt. This year is what it is.

The Vols can’t afford to suffer any major injuries like one to a quarterback, Jauan Jennings, Marquez Callaway, Daniel Bituli, Bryce Thompson, Alontae Taylor or Nigel Warrior. They need to keep those dudes healthy at all costs and win this game.

Prediction: It’s going to be ugly, but Tennessee will win relatively easily. Vols 34-13

LOCKS

I continued to limp last week to a 3-4 record, falling to 27-29 ATS this year [which pretty much mirrors the pick-em league I’m in]. After two really good years of picking games, this season, it just hasn’t been there. We’ll try to get back on track this week. We need a good 6-1 or 5-2 week to surge ahead.

I’d like to promise you it will be this week. The good news is that I’m 8-1 ATS in picking the MACtion and other early-week games so far. Maybe that’s the sign of a turnaround. Or maybe it’s just setting me up for failure. I like so many games this week, and that scares me. Let’s get to the picks.

1. MTSU -13.5 over Western Kentucky: In the past few seasons, this has been a rivalry game. But the Hilltoppers are awful this season with just one win. MTSU isn’t the same high-powered offense it’s been in recent years, but the Raiders still have enough of it to cover.
2. Georgia -9 over Kentucky: The Wildcats are a very nice story, and everybody should be excited about watching this team at home in such a huge game with the SEC East on the line. But the Bulldogs are still the cream of the SEC East, and UK doesn’t have the offensive horses to hang.
3. Florida -6 over Missouri: I don’t understand this line at all, especially with the Gators at home coming off a frustrating better-than-it-looked loss against Georgia. They will take care of business against Mizzou.
4. Boston College -2.5 over Virginia Tech: Did anybody see this Hokies defense against the run vs. Georgia Tech? Now they have to go against A.J. Dillon? Yes, this game is in Blacksburg. No, it won’t matter.
5. USC -16.5 over Oregon State: With JT Daniels now getting to play against perhaps the worst Power 5 defense in the nation, expect the Trojans to get better in a hurry.
6. California – Washington State over 50: Never bet the under in a game with a Mike Leach-coached team. I feel like this should be a maxim, even with this decent Wazzu D.
7. West Virginia +2 over Texas: This game is in Austin, and it’s not going to be easy. But I like Will Grier against the struggling ‘Horns secondary.

Will Muschamp is not a good football coach.

There is empirical evidence supporting this. It was obvious at Florida, and even though there have been some flashes at South Carolina, we’re beginning to see it this year as the Steve Spurrier recruits fade away and Muschamp gets “his” players in Columbia. The Gamecocks are 3-3 and have underachieved this entire year.

Yet, Will Muschamp owns Tennessee.

That same evidence we spoke of is present here, too, given the fact the Vols have never beaten Muschamp and his smart-aleck attitude during his days as a head coach. It doesn’t matter how much trash he talks or how garbage his attitude is or how good or bad his teams are, they always one-up the Vols.

Can Jeremy Pruitt put an end to that? In fairness to UT, the Vols have been coached by Butch Jones and Derek Dooley during Muschamp’s era as a head football coach, so it isn’t like Bryant, Saban or Lombardi was leading them through the ‘T’, but that is no excuse for Muschamp holding this sort of ownership of the Vols.

Tennessee has to do something about that. The Vols probably aren’t as good as the Gamecocks this year, but they weren’t as good as Auburn, either, and won. It can happen, and a win this week breaks the curse and propels UT toward a probable bowl berth.

Yeah, it’s that big. Let’s take a look at the Locks & Keys.

KEYS

Make the right QB decision

There hasn’t been much this week on the health of Jarrett Guarantano. He’s been at practice, and he’s been going through reps, even if some of the reporters who’ve seen limited reps say he doesn’t show the same zip on his passes or look fully healthy after the blow he took last week against Alabama.

If that’s the case, Keller Chryst needs to start.

Pruitt is faced with a bit of a quarterback conundrum this week. Chryst looked strong in relief of JG, but JG had a career game against the Auburn Tigers the week before. The decision Pruitt makes on who is under center will have a direct impact on the game, and whoever he choses, the other guy needs to be ready, and the coaching staff doesn’t need to hesitate to go in the other direction.

This is the “real” season, and every decision matters. The guess here is JG will go, but if he isn’t himself, it’s time to try Chryst. The postseason may very well be on the line.

Play for Trey

Just devastating news that Trey Smith again is dealing with blood clot issues in his lungs. Not only does this mean his season is in jeopardy, but his football career is, too. If he continues to play, though, his life could be. That is paramount to get him healthy and to ensure he has the quality of life needed to be a productive citizen, a father, a husband, live a life. Those are the vital things.

Football is secondary.

But this is a football column, and we have to talk about how this impacts the Vols. Smith had struggled much of the season after a 6-month layoff, but you’re still talking about losing your most talented football player who started every game at left tackle this season. For an offensive line already struggling mightily, that’s going to be a huge puzzle piece to replace. Where do the Vols go from here?

One thing is certain: They need to rally behind this. The offensive line needs to play for its fallen brother, and the run game needs to start being able to find some lanes behind this rebuilt O-line. It’s not like they’re playing the Crimson Tide or AU Tigers this weekend. Carolina is 12th in the league in rush defense, so the Vols need to do some positives things on the ground.

Limit Bentley

The Gamecocks are hellbent on playing Jake Bentley for some reason, though it looks like Michael Scarnecchia is the quarterback who can move the ball vertically best. Tennessee needs to make them pay.

Bentley has been very wishy-washy this year, and he doesn’t need to all of a sudden re-find his form against the Vols. South Carolina has been turning the ball over too much this year, and Bentley has done his share to give the ball to the other team, which means the Vols need to turn back to their old opportunistic ways from the Auburn game.

Bentley is a talented, tough kid who can break out of this season-long slumber. Tennessee has to make sure that he doesn’t. If he plays the way he’s capable, UT isn’t beating South Carolina. That means Pruitt and Co. need to dial up creative blitzes, confuse him and pressure him into mistakes.

Take care of the football

This Tennessee team can’t give away extra possessions; it’s that simple.

If the Vols have two or more turnovers against South Carolina, they will not win the game. The Gamecocks aren’t great on offense, but UT has to win this game with its offense, and, more precisely, the passing game. That means JG or Chryst need to not throw interceptions, and Tennessee can’t put the ball on the ground.

This Tennessee team lives and dies by its ability to take care of the ball and to force the other team into mistakes. Both those things have to keep happening for 2018 version of UT to close the talent gap.

Don’t get run out of Williams-Brice early

Tennessee has been a better road team this year for whatever reason, and that needs to continue against a team that is coming off a bye week with a lot to prove after starting the season 3-3.

The Vols need to make South Carolina punt early, get up a score and take the crowd out of it. That didn’t happen, even in the win over Auburn, as UT has been a slow-starting squad all year. But that has burned UT much of the season. If the Vols are the aggressor in this one, it will really benefit Tennessee.

This could be one of those games where Tennessee stuns everybody again. But it isn’t going to happen if the Vols wait around until the second quarter to get cranking.

Prediction: South Carolina 27, Tennessee 23

LOCKS

Last week was a bit better, as we went 4-3 to regroup and rebound after the 1-6 Nightmare on Par Street prior to my vacation. On the bright side, I picked the Purdue upset, which would have been fantastic if, you know, I had the guts to put real money on it. Western Michigan easily covered over Central Michigan, Cal cruised over Oregon State, and Arkansas did the same against Tulsa.

On the poop-your-pants side, Wisconsin and Illinois stunned everybody and went two touchdowns over the 55-point total. Thought that one would go under easily. Washington State outright pounded Oregon, and North Texas lost outright to UAB.

For the year, I’m 24-25, and, yes, we’re going over .500 this week. The goal for the year is .600, and there is a long way to go to get back there. But it starts this week.

1. Purdue +2.5 over Michigan State: Several of the games this week fit the “letdown” mode, and, yes, it scares me that I’m picking a few of them. But the Boilermakers offense is too good. No, I don’t think they’re still going to be riding the Ohio State high. Jeff Brohm is a great coach, and this team has turned a corner. They’re going on the road and beating Sparty.
2. TCU and Kansas over 48.5: TCU’s defense hasn’t really stopped anybody this year, but now Kansas comes to town, and that’s a remedy for any D. The Jayhawks still will score three times, and the Horned Frogs won’t have an issue against KU. This one is going at least 5-7 points over.
3. Washington State +2.5 over Stanford: Here is another one of those potential letdown games after Wazzu won an emotional game over Oregon a week ago in Pullman with ESPN College GameDay present. Stanford is beyond capable of winning this game in Palo Alto, but I’m not a believer in Stanford’s offense. Give me the Leaches.
4. Tennessee +8 over South Carolina: I believe in Jeremy Pruitt. I wasn’t sure earlier this year, but I think the Vols are getting there. They are getting the most out of their talent, and I like UT to go on the road this week and at least keep it close, maybe pull out a win.
5. Texas -3.5 over Oklahoma State: I’m sweating this one, simply because I’m not sure the Longhorns are as good as their No. 6 ranking would lead you to believe. But the word is late this week that quarterback Sam Ehlinger is expected to play. If he does, the Horns roll.
6. Oregon -9.5 over Arizona: This is a battle of the teams that have let me down this year. Arizona, I was sold on early in the year, and boy oh boy, they let me down. Same with Oregon last week. But Justin Herbert is going to throw all over the Wildcats.
7. Washington -11 over California: Washington is too much for the Bears. They are going to win this game by 17 or more points.

 

Up until the minute Jarrett Guarantano left Saturday’s game with what originally was called a collarbone issue but wound up being bruised ribs, I would have told you the guy under center was the one who gave the Vols the best chance to win.

After watching Keller Chryst against Alabama and rewatching him again in a replay of the game, I’m not so sure.

And you know what, Vols fans? That is an excellent thing moving forward.

There’s no question you’re in one camp or the other when it comes to who should be Tennessee’s quarterback when the Vols travel to Columbia, South Carolina, next weekend for Saturday night’s all-important game against the Gamecocks that could determine how the rest of the season goes.

You know who’s camp I’m in? Neither. I’ve decided to spend the rest of the fall at Camp Whoever-helps-us-win.

I don’t see practice everyday, and I don’t know if Guarantano or Chryst gives Tennessee the best chance to do that. I don’t know if Alabama backed off a bit in coverage by the time the Stanford transfer replaced Guarantano, and I don’t know how Chryst would play a complete game against mere mortals.

But Chryst certainly had his exceptional moments against those crimson cyborgs on Saturday. That’s encouraging, and nothing else. It’s not worrisome. It’s not a reason to get on a soap box. It’s not a reason to start flinging darts in JG’s direction. It’s ONLY encouraging. You know why? Because now both guys have proven they can do good things against good teams, and it’s very possible Tennessee will need both of them before this season is over, especially considering just how bad this offensive line remains.

If you’re looking for positives in yet another Bama beat-down, this time a 58-21 loss that marked the record 12th-straight Crimson Tide victory in the Third Saturday in October, there aren’t that many. The best thing by far is that it’s over, and, barring the news on receiver Josh Palmer who went out with an injury, Tennessee may have survived. Guarantano is hurt, but is he injured? Coach Jeremy Pruitt didn’t sound terribly concerned Saturday night.

Pruitt didn’t sound worried. Didn’t explicitly say Guarantano would be back next week, but said he’d be back. I’ll be surprised if he misses any time. https://t.co/y3yovGSXFp

— David Ubben (@davidubben) October 21, 2018

Chryst came in, however, and more than did his job. He finished 9-of-15 for 164 yards and a pair of touchdowns. It wasn’t just that he posted decent numbers, either. It’s that he looked really good doing it. He utilized Jauan Jennings, who had his second strong game in a row, catching six balls for 102 yards; he threw an absolute dime over the middle to Tyler Byrd [HE EXISTS!] for a touchdown; and he kept Ty Chandler in the passing game, throwing him a scoring strike, too.

There was plenty of zip on his throws, and it’s simply something we haven’t seen from him. According to practice reports, the coaches hadn’t seen it much, either.

All of those things are positive, but the most important thing — especially with this offensive line — is Chryst recognized blitzes, moved away from pressure and made some plays. His pocket presence is a lot better than JG’s, even if the latter can advance the ball downfield with authority and make every throw.

Now, I’m not saying that you absolutely need to start Chryst next week. As a matter of fact, I think if Guarantano is ready to go and I was the coach, he would probably remain the starter until he proves he isn’t the guy. Tennessee doesn’t really need a quarterback controversy right now, especially before such a pivotal stretch of the season — the most pivotal stretch of the season.

But Chryst’s emergence and Saturday’s performance gives Tennessee options, right? That’s not a bad thing.

Is it really a controversy to have a competition? If you believe Pruitt, every player every week is evaluated, and his game reps mirror how well he performed in practice. He reportedly hasn’t done that with the quarterbacks because the offense needs to develop continuity with “The Man” who is going to lead the team. That’s been Guarantano, and other than taking some absolute shots because he doesn’t yet have the pocket vision, he’s done nothing to be benched.

As a matter of fact, he’s coming off his career game in the huge win at Auburn. Do you punish him for getting hurt against Alabama?

No. But you also have to realize that taking those kind of hits may make you a warrior, but they hurt your team. They cause turnovers, extra possessions for the opponent, and drive-killing sacks. Those are mistakes the Vols can’t afford with such a slim margin for error.

So, why not split first-team reps this week, just to see? Guarantano may not be able to go against South Carolina, anyway. We don’t know yet.

Some of you on Twitter have argued that you believe the coaches are not only doing what they think is best for now but adding weight to what’s best for the future, and that’s why Guarantano is getting the nod. I don’t agree with that at all. These coaches know how important selling marked improvement is to recruits, and if there’s anything we learned about Pruitt after Saturday’s comments, it’s that he still values recruiting above all else and knows he needs to recruit 25 players who do things his way because there are still people on this UT team who don’t. You don’t strive for the future to hurt the present. I believe they really believe JG is the man for the job.

Do they still? We’ll see.

It’s hard to fault what JG has done in games, even though offensive coordinator Tyson Helton has only let him loose a couple of times.

We all loved him last week, remember? This week, we all love Chryst.

It’s just vitally important to remember that both are Vols, and now we know that both are capable. If JG wants to keep his job, he may need to elevate his game, right? How can that be a bad thing? If you pull him against South Carolina, you should now have confidence in Chryst where, before, any of that would have been blind hope.

Tennessee lost a game on Saturday, but it found out that the offensive hopes don’t necessarily hinge of the health of Guarantano. That is a huge positive, because you know what?

The rest of this season — Every. Single. Game. — is winnable.

You heard that right. Though I would say the odds certainly are against the Vols to run the table (can you even fathom an eight-win season, especially with how we started??) there are no reasons why the Vols should be huge underdogs in any remaining game.

Will Missouri’s high-flying passing attack be a problem for Tennessee’s youthful secondary? Absolutely. Will Kentucky’s dynamic defense and Josh Allen wreak havoc on the Vols awful offensive line? Sure, it will. Is South Carolina a more talented team? Yeah, probably. Can Vanderbilt beat UT? Well, yeah, it has two years in a row, hasn’t it?

But are you scared of any of those teams? You shouldn’t be. Especially not now.

Don’t let Saturday’s slaughter do anything to make you feel worse about this season. What happened was what was always going to happen, and it’s happened to every team Alabama has played this year. The Tide are an NFL team single-handedly sucking the life out of college football. It is what it is.

Anything is possible for the Vols from here on — from 8-4 to 4-8 — and they’ve got two capable quarterbacks who can do good things with the football and lead this team on drives.

At this point, we have to trust the coaches to make the right decisions, and if they’re struggling within the framework of a game, the other needs to be ready to play. If they seize that opportunity, all the better, right?

Chryst seized his chance against the Tide and looked excellent doing it. Guarantano did the same a week before against Auburn.

Small sample sets, both. Neither have proved they’re elite, dynamic signal-callers capable of carrying this team on their shoulders. Both are proving they’re perfectly competent, and it’s going to be fun watching this growing, developing team play against some competition that is on the same plane as them right now.

Florida is, and the Vols turned it over six times in a lopsided loss. Auburn is, and Tennessee finally took advantage, made its own breaks and won a big game. Every other team is in that sack of potatoes, too.

It’s time for Tennessee to take care of business in the “real” season, which starts next week. It will be interesting to see how Pruitt, Helton and crew handle the developing quarterback situation. However they do, the dude out there will have the Power T on their helmet.

We should all be encouraged by what we’ve seen recently, because we will need the quarterback to make plays for us to win games, especially next week against a South Carolina team that is angry, will be playing at home and had an extra week to rest and prepare.

You say the goal should be 6-6? I don’t agree. Every game is winnable, so the goal should be 8-4. Pruitt and Co. need to do whatever it takes to get there, including opening up the quarterback competition and seeing what shakes out.

 

When I was younger, there were no games I looked forward to more than Alabama. Your really could throw out the records, and the streaks were even fun because you knew it could go either way any year.

Nick Saban has sucked the joy out of that. Well, him and Derek Dooley. And Butch Jones. And Mike Hamilton. And Dave Hart. And all the failures.

Now, after a fun week — (man, it was fun, wasn’t it?? Maybe it was more fun for me because of all the bragging rights over my Auburn buddies) — it’s time to go out and probably endure the biggest gut-shot of the season. It’s the week that Alabama fans invade Neyland Stadium, the best FBS team of the modern era probably has its way with our Vols and we have to sit there, take it, and then listen to those buffoons sing “Rammer Jammer” afterward.

Makes me sick just thinking of it.

But here’s the deal: Coach Jeremy Pruitt and the Vols simply cannot let this game erase the momentum from the valiant Georgia showing and the resounding road upset at Auburn. The Crimson Tide is a different animal that has been destroying everything in its path. The Vols have to try to cover the four-touchdown spread, do some things they can build on and, most importantly, not get anybody hurt.

It sucks that those are the goals, but just being realistic, they are.

Could the Vols win this game? Absolutely, they could. Crazy things happen. They did in 1982. They did in 1990. There are many other examples.

Is it likely? Nah. If you think so, you’re drinking orange Kool-Aid and aren’t being very realistic about where these two programs are right now. Alabama under Saban is the most well-built, well-rounded, talented programs in college football history. This dynasty is even greater than Bear Bryant’s at Alabama. Until Saban leaves, it’s probably not changing.

Tennessee went 4-8 last year, don’t you remember? Don’t let last week fool you — this team is still a long ways away. But, also, don’t let this week fool you, either. We’re not going to be as far away as Alabama makes us look.

The Vols have to stay on schedule. They have to keep Jarrett Guarantano upright, get Jonathan Kongbo’s replacements (like DeAndre Johnson and Jordan Allen) some valuable repetitions and not lose anybody else of any value. Games against South Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri and Vanderbilt are going to determine the postseason. Tennessee needs a split to get one.

They can’t lose those games this week. That is very important. Tennessee needs to fight, it doesn’t need to give up, and it needs to find some building blocks. But the most important thing is don’t lose more than once against Alabama, and don’t lose what you’ve built. There is a lot of season left to be played.

Now, if there was a chance, let’s take a look at what must happen.

KEYS

Protect JG

If the Vols are going to shock the college football world and upset Alabama, they have to do that by keeping Jarrett Guarantano’s jersey clean. This offensive line did some positive things a week ago against Auburn, and you’re going to be hard-pressed to find a signal-caller tougher than JG.

But Alabama is going to have a bunch of manimals coming after him, blitzing, breathing down his neck, trying to crush his soul and his will. It is vitally important Tennessee’s offensive front plays with more pride than it has so far this season and that Tyson Helton finds some ways to help his quarterback get the ball out quickly.

UT needs to run some play-action to keep the Tide honest and keep the pressure off. The Vols need to hit them with some draws up the middle, and that means they need to win some one-on-one battles in the trenches. If those things happen, UT could put up some points against an Alabama defense that is very good but nothing like it has been in recent years.

Biguns

While Helton needs to dial up some quick strikes to help JG get the ball out of his hands, he also needs some time to get the ball downfield.

Tennessee won the game against Auburn last week because Guarantano threw the ball up and let Jauan Jennings, Marquez Callaway and Josh Palmer beat the AU cornerbacks on 50-50 balls. Alabama’s DBs are better than its counterparts on the Plains, but again, this secondary isn’t as dominant as it has been.

Do the Vols have an advantage with their wide receivers? That’s still debatable because of all the talent Saban has recruited, but Tennessee has talent, too. JG has to take some shots downfield, and the Vols have to take advantage of man coverage and win those battles with some big gains. Then, they’ve got to convert those big plays into touchdowns.

Coming of age

Last week was a breakout party for freshman cornerback Bryce Thompson, who had a huge interception and a pass deflection in the end zone against Auburn that may have been the game’s two biggest plays.

He’s really emerging into a young star before our eyes. And his fellow first-year defensive back Alontae Taylor has enjoyed flashes of brilliance, too.

Though Baylen Buchanan isn’t the kind of defensive back you want in man coverage, he’s doing better playing the nickelback position.

They’re all going to be tested this week like they never have before. UA quarterback Tua Tagovailoa isn’t a guarantee to play, but he probably will. If he does, the Vols must face the Heisman Trophy frontrunner who throws one of the prettiest deep balls of any collegiate quarterback in recent memory. Alabama has nearly patented the first-drive long scoring pass with guys like Jerry Jeudy routinely on the other end.

The Tide are going to go long, and they are going to convert more often than not.

Take this into consideration: There hasn’t been a single game this year where Alabama failed to score a touchdown on its opening drive.

This will be the best wide receiving corps the Vols’ young secondary faces all year, and they’ve got to minimize the huge gainers and make their share of plays. UT has a lot of talent and even more inexperience in the secondary. They need their share of wins this week. This is where the game will be won or lost.

Uncle mo

We say it a lot, but we mean it a lot, too: Tennessee will have a rowdy crowd at Neyland on Saturday, and the Vols must keep them in it. If not, Alabama’s fans (they’ll travel plenty, too) will take over and so will its team.

The last time UT was at home, Florida gutted the crowd early and kept pushing. We never had a chance to stay in the game as the Vols killed themselves. If that happens against UA, the Vols will lose by 70.

Uh, that’s not an exaggeration.

Tennessee needs some big early plays to get the players believing, get the fans believing and stay in it till late. That’s a huge ask, but it needs to happen if UT has any chance.

Mistake-free

Last week, Tennessee not only made big defensive plays, it played spotless, mistake-free football. Penalties were minimal, and there were zero turnovers.

Giving up the ball and extra possessions against Alabama lead to bunches of Tide points. This is the best Bama offense of the Saban era, and you must keep it off the field. I want to see Tennessee aggressive, and when you play like that against great teams, you can get burned. That doesn’t mean it should change anything about the approach. Guarantano needs to throw the ball around and whatever happens, happens.

But if what happens are interceptions, the Vols are in trouble. They’ve got to make big plays and keep UA from making big plays. They have to make their own breaks and can’t give ‘Bama anything.

They do not need help.

***

All that said, I have a hard time believing the Vols win or even cover the spread. There is just too much talent on Alabama’s side of the ball, and UT doesn’t have the horses to hang.

My fear is the Vols get banged-up and it keeps them from beating South Carolina the next week in a very winnable game. They’ve got to play aggressive, but they’ve got to be smart and get a little lucky, too.

You’re not going to like the prediction, but given my record ATS this year, it should make you feel better about the game.

Prediction:  Alabama 48, Tennessee 17

LOCKS

Well, we took a vacation last week. It certainly wasn’t because of all the money we’ve been making betting on college football, that’s for sure. So far this season, it’s been one step forward, two steps back.

Last week, we were off, but the week before, it was more like 10 steps back. We went 1-6 which takes us to 20-22 so far this season. That’s embarrassing. As a matter of fact, it’s the worst I’ve ever been in this column. That is going to change. I’m not going to predict undefeated this week because every time I do that, I suck.

But it’s gonna be a winning record, guaranteed. We’re going to get back to .500 this week and vow to improve afterward. It’s time, as Lane Kiffin would say.

1. Illinois vs. Wisconsin under 55: What in the world happened to the Badgers this year? They’re not anywhere near as good as I thought they’d be, and they’ll take out some aggression this week against a bad Illini team. But Illinois can’t score enough for this over to hit.
2. Arkansas -5.5 over Tulsa: I don’t see the Hogs losing to Colorado State, North Texas AND Tulsa in the same season. I see Chad Morris’ team improving each week, and this is my favorite pick of the week.
3. California -6.5 over Oregon State: Oh man, the Beavers are bad. Yes, Justin Wilcox’s team is reeling, but it isn’t far removed from playing decent football. This line is far too low even if it is in Corvallis.
4. Oregon +1.5 over Washington State: I love the Ducks. They’ve been good to me this year, and they’re a well-coached, disciplined team that can win games many different ways. I like them to cover this way-too-low line against the Fighting Leaches.
5. North Texas -0.5 over UAB: The Mean Green have come back down to earth a little, but I still love Mason Fine and they look back on track after a 30-7 win over Southern Miss. They’ll cover this scant line easily in a defensive battle. Fine will make enough plays.
6. Purdue +14 over Ohio State: This was my Bleacher Report upset of the week. Not only do I think the Boilermakers are going to win, I’m going to follow up this bet by laying on the money line as well. I’m a Brohm believer, baby! I also think it’s a matter of time before the Buckeyes have their midseason “WTH” game.
7. Western Michigan -4.5 over Central Michigan: This has trap game written all over it, and the line is just dangling out there as too good to be true. Still, I’m falling for it. I think the Chippewas are awful and the Broncos aren’t. This is a solid cover.

That’s a little more like it, Vols.

After an embarrassing season-opening 40-14 loss at the hands of West Virginia, Tennessee played a much easier opponent in Week 2, overcoming a sluggish start to dominate visiting East Tennessee State, 59-3. The Vols again play a pushover this week with an early kickoff against UTEP. It would be nice to do the same thing, getting a last-week tuneup in time for the Florida Gators.

Let’s face it: This is a game where the Vols can look ahead and still win. As a matter of fact, they should go into this game with the feeling that this is a preparation game for next week’s massive early-season showdown against a Gators team that is very beatable.

Neither the Vols or Florida are going to challenge Georgia in the SEC East, but that doesn’t change the importance of next weekend’s night game one iota. The Vols need to get everything out of their system this weekend and gain a ton of confidence heading into SEC play. So, what’s it going to take to do that?

KEYS

Bypass the breakfast hangover

Morning games suck. It’s actually a good thing for me personally this week because I can just enjoy the Vols and then worry about all my other writing responsibilities later in the day, but players, coaches, fans, virtually everybody hates them.

The exciting thing for the Vols is next week’s Neyland Stadium showdown with Florida is a night game, which is awesome. But in order to get there, the Vols have to wake and rake this weekend against UTEP. Hey, at least it’s UTEP, amirite?

The Miners aren’t a good football team, but Tennessee made ETSU look OK a week ago by struggling to start the game. This came on the heels of Jarrett Guarantano nearly getting his teeth knocked out as West Virginia destroyed him on the season opener’s first play. The Vols have been sleepwalking out of the gates. That won’t get them beat this week, but it’s a nasty habit that will kill them as the season progresses. They need a hot start this weekend and to keep that momentum going.

Get the O-line online

This week, I ranked the Vols next-to-last in my SEC Week 2 power rankings on B/R. That doesn’t mean they can’t move up; I expect them to. But they’ve got to prove it to everybody. Right now, they’re still the same team that went 0-8 a year ago and still have tons of issues.

Perhaps the biggest struggle right now in what could be a fixable situation is the offensive line.

It hurts that transfer center Brandon Kennedy is out for the year after a freak accident in practice that led to a torn ACL. But between Ryan Johnson and Jerome Carvin, the Vols have players there who can fill the void if they play up to their potential.

The Vols’ most athletic offensive front includes Carvin, K’Rojhn Calbert, Trey Smith, Jahmir Johnson and Marcus Tatum. That doesn’t mean the Vols are ever going to go with that unit, but that’s what would give the Vols their biggest chance at success. But those guys have to own it, and they haven’t yet. Veterans like Johnson and Drew Richmond must play better, or they’ll get bypassed.

Coach Jeremy Pruitt has another week to mix and match, but the time has come for the first-team offensive line to materialize and start playing up to their ability. If they play like they have so far against Florida, UT is in bad shape.

Split reps

This may sound like an indictment of Guarantano, and it absolutely shouldn’t, but Keller Chryst needs to play and to throw more than three passes.

Look: I don’t think there’s any question Guarantano is the starter, and he’s earned it. Everybody “oohed” and “ahhed” over that deep ball Chryst threw last week against ETSU. Well, guess what? Guarantano completed two. Still, next weekend is going to be a different animal, and if JG starts to struggle, you need to know you can go to the Chryst well and good things could possibly follow.

I want Chryst to be loosened up entering the Florida game. There’s also the possibility that JG could get hit and hurt with all the early-season offensive line issues, and you want Chryst ready. He’s a veteran, and he looked poised an confident leading the offense.

Give him two quarters against the Miners, no questions asked. Give him 10 or 12 throws. The Vols need it for the immediate future.

Maintain the defensive edge

Last weekend was so much fun on defense. Yes, the Vols played a team they are much bigger, faster and stronger than. But they were all over the field doing big things on defense, making plays and piling on.

Marquill Osborne’s punt block and recovery for a touchdown got the ball rolling. Then you had Bryce Thompson’s interception and return for a near-touchdown that set up another one. Darrin Kirkland Jr. finally got the UT defense one with a pick six. It was the kind of plays you expect to make against ETSU, and it’s the kind of plays the Vols are going to have to make on that side of the ball if they’re going to win a game or two they aren’t supposed to this year.

The Buccaneers couldn’t convert on third downs, and the UT defense consistently got off the field and didn’t give up big plays. Now, of course, ETSU is a far cry from Georgia, Alabama, Auburn or even Florida. But the Vols haven’t done that against ANYBODY.

Troubling still is the lack of a pass rush. Tennessee desperately has to manufacture ways to get to the quarterback. That’s especially important this week as they must find a spark before UF and Feleipe Franks come to town. The Gators signal-caller is erratic when pressured, and that’s something the Vols must find.

Ride the Bull

We all hope this week that Ty Chandler can get back into the game and get some important reps under his belt before the big game against Florida. After all, he’s UT’s starter who got his bell rung early in the West Virginia game never to return. Tim Jordan has done an excellent job spelling him, but the Vols need Chandler healthy by next week.

But this is the ideal situation this week to get Jeremy “Bull” Banks 20 carries. Last week against ETSU, he powered his way in for two goal-line touchdowns and was Tennessee’s most passionate, violent runner by far. It’s exciting to think about his future, especially after Pruitt — who rarely makes comparisons — said he reminds his coach of former Alabama great and NFL starter Eddie “Cowboy” Lacy.

Bull needs 20 carries this week. Let him carry the team on his shoulders for spans. Pruitt has praised him, calling him one of the team’s best leaders already. Let him lead.

Vols 49 UTEP 13

LOCKS

Last week was Jameis Winston Skrong. After a 4-3 opening weekend, the picks thrived last weekend, going 5-2 to kick it up a notch. We’re going for 7-0 this week!  My only two losses a week ago were picking Memphis to cover 4.5 over Navy (the Tigers lost outright) and Fresno State getting 2.5 against Minnesota. The cross-country trippers failed yet again. CURSES! When will I learn!

Meanwhile, Mississippi State rolled over Kansas State, easily eclipsing 9.5, Cincinnati handled Miami Ohio despite being 2.5-point dogs, Mizzou thumped Wyoming, easily covering the 17.5-point spread, and Maryland got it going late to surpass the 16.5-point advantage over Bowling Green.

That puts the ol’ early-season record at 9-5. That isn’t too bad. We’ll take it. We’re up money!

1. Tennessee vs. UTEP over 48: There must be something I’m missing here. As my score above indicates, I think the Vols get to this number by themselves, and while UT looked better on defense a week ago, the Vols still aren’t a team you think are going to hold many teams off the scoreboard. This one flies over easily.
2. Maryland -16.5 over Temple: I’m gonna keep riding the Turtles! Last weekend, they covered against Bowling Green. Meanwhile, Temple fell to 0-2 getting upset by Buffalo. This is two teams going in opposite directions. Maryland by 20-plus.
3. Hawaii +6.5 over Army: I JUST talked about the dangers of taking a team that has to go across the country, and now I’m doing it again. Stupid, right? Nah. Hawaii’s run-and-shoot offense is fun, and Cole McDonald is one of the best college players you’ve got heard of this year. I think the Warriors have a great chance to move to 4-0. Take the points, even if the fact that it being an early game scaaaaaaaares me.
4. Colorado State +20 over Florida: The Gators are going to win their final tune-up before heading to Knoxville to take on the Vols, but Mike Bobo’s Rams are fresh off an upset of Arkansas. They are a quality offensive team, and UF can’t score a ton of points, no matter how bad CSU’s defense is. I’d be stunned if the Gators won this game by three TDs.
5. Alabama -21 over Ole Miss: Is Hugh Freeze still coaching the Rebels? Didn’t think so. Ol’ Hubert always did well against the Tide, but Shotgun Kelly ain’t walking through that door. Ole Miss can’t stop anybody on defense, and now Alabama brings its elite weaponry to town. I’m taking the Tide until they prove they won’t cover.
6. Vanderbilt and Notre Dame under 52: As much as I think VU is going to cover the spread here, I liked the number better earlier in the week when it was Commodores +14. With that number creeping below two touchdowns, I’m leery on the road. But I’m not when it comes to the under. This is two hard-nosed teams, and I expect it to be low-scoring. I hate unders, but I’ll take this.
7. Rutgers +2.5 over Kansas: I’m not a Jayhawks believer just because they went on the road to Central Michigan last week and got their first victory away from home since 2009. TWO THOUSAND AND NINE!!! They return to Lawrence this weekend to take on a Rutgers team that is thankful they got the Ohio State debacle out of the way. The Scarlet Knights roll on the road.

I blame myself for yesterday.

Not Tennessee’s loss to West Virginia, but the way I felt after Tennessee lost to West Virginia.

A part of me — no matter how much I tried to be rational about the situation — thought all the awful shards of 2017 could be simply erased by good coaching.

In actuality, Jeremy Pruitt has never been a head coach. Tyson Helton has never had the reins to call plays on his own. Several of the Vols had never played a college game. And those who had played hadn’t been coached the way they’d hoped.

Still, I fell into a vortex of believing the offensive line had all of a sudden become a strength. I believed a talent uptick on the back side of the defense would produce enough athleticism to close the gap, even if there were mistakes. I believed some of the players who’d never come close to realizing their potential as pass-rushers — guys like Jonathan Kongbo and Darrell Taylor — would somehow all of a sudden be good.

Oh, me of much faith.

So it goes in the life of a Vols fan, where you build up so much hope that things will change, forgetting that you’ve got to run into a few trees if your eyes are on the forest. We plowed head-first into one on Saturday. The reality of the situation is Pruitt and his staff have to coach better than what they did yesterday, sure, but the stink of the Butch Jones era will still permeate the program for a while.

It would be very easy to chastise certain players, but Kongbo, Baylen Buchanan and Micah Abernathy [along with several others] are what they are. The bottom line is those guys probably know what they’re doing out there more than some of the other guys, but they just can’t do it at a high level. Then, if you insert some of the others [like Trevon Flowers and Bryce Thompson] they may be more athletic but they lose a step because they’re not technically ready or know exactly what they’re supposed to be.

Then you get what we saw yesterday: Receivers running rampant across the middle of the field, two steps beyond whoever is supposed to be guarding them. You see blitzes leaving us in man coverage and getting burned. When you can’t get any pressure on a Heisman Trophy frontrunner like Will Grier, he’s going to dissect you like a frog in science class.

You may say, “That’s Football 101. And the Vols failed.”

Here’s the thing, though. It isn’t 101. It’s like a freshman taking a 400-level class. They don’t have the foundation of the other things to succeed.

That’s where we are. On a positive note, things got better on offense. It’s true that Tennessee will play far better defenses than West Virginia, a team that didn’t hold an opponent to 14 points all season a year ago, which is troubling that Helton failed to exploit some of the things that materialized such as the toss outside that was gaining chunk yardage, and Callaway and Jauan Jennings running unimpeded and open 10 yards downfield.

But, still, Jarrett Guarantano looked better than he ever has, and he played within himself and at a moderately high level. It was a major steppingstone for a career, I thought, that still has three full seasons remaining. Tim Jordan may have been the least-discussed of the three Tennessee tailbacks who were supposed to get prominent carries, but he gained more than 100 yards in another major steppingstone for a career that also still has three remaining years.

Like it or not, this is what 2018 is going to be about: Finding playmakers in a sea of youth. It’s going to be about gaining trust in players who don’t have the luxury of being brought along slowly and about those players learning dependability and accountability. It’ll be the same as the year progresses and players such as J.J. Peterson and Cedric Tillman and Jeremy Banks and Jerome Carvin get those reps and learn those lessons.

You hope, along the way, the Vols find a way to six wins and bowl eligibility, but it’s more about building a program and getting Tennessee back to where it’s supposed to be that a quick-fix in ’18. That’s not to downplay the value of a good steppingstone [there’s that word again] season this year. The importance of a bowl game to recruiting and to selling a program to a fan base tired of waiting is massive.

If it happens.

If it doesn’t, we’re still stuck with hope. It’s a four-letter word, and it’s one we’re all sick of hearing. This isn’t a quick-fix, as much as we want it to be. Pruitt tried to infuse enough talent from other programs, junior colleges and freshmen to make up for what Jones left. We all saw yesterday that it’s not enough.

You may ask why it’s taken us so long. Other programs have gotten better quicker. I ask myself that question every day, fret over it, wonder about it, believe that this is some sort of penance our program is paying for whatever reason. I don’t have an answer. All I can think of is that those other programs didn’t hire Derek Dooley. They didn’t hire Butch Jones. In five years from now, we have to hope that we’re not adding, “And Jeremy Pruitt” to that list of misfits. We don’t know, yet. There’s no way to.

All we know is that we like what we hear. But I don’t think any of us liked what we saw yesterday. I expected that I’d see a better product on the field, and I choose to believe — at least until proven otherwise — that was my mistake. If we have the talent and not the coaching, we lose that hope. And as much as we hate that word right now, we need it. If we have the coaching and not yet enough talent, well, that’s better. It’s not good; but it’s better.

The next two weeks will give us some warm-and-fuzzies. They’re what we need, only because games against ETSU and UTEP will produce wins but they’ll produce good reps for the youngsters, confident reps for the youngsters. By the time Florida rolls around on September 22, the Vols either will be better, or we’ll have more reason for concern because they’re not.

This is no time for panic. To be honest, 2018 is no time for panic, even if it is a time to be concerned about the future of our program. We should be concerned, sure, but not because of anything that happened on the field against the Mountaineers, but because of the uncertainty of what’s going to happen under Pruitt. We need to see development, we need to see improvement, and we need to continue to see quality recruiting. If that happens, by the end of this year, we’ll have the basis for a program.

Jones never did that. Even though the recruiting was there, everything set up for one season and the depth behind that group of guys who left after 2016 had been gutted by his personal missteps and his inability to build the trust of his players. Let’s hope Pruitt doesn’t do that.

The biggest takeaways from yesterday? Pruitt will teach, teach, teach. But he didn’t rip, rip, rip. He accentuated the positives even in a loss. While that may be against what he is used to doing, it’s what the young guys need. He also took the blame, and while everything may not be his fault — heck, most of it may not be his fault — you don’t build the trust of your players by blaming your players.

Jones never learned that. Pruitt, it seems, already knows it. That doesn’t make him a better coach. It just makes him a more relatable person. We’ll know soon enough whether he’s got the coaching chops to go along with that positive takeaway.

Here’s why I’m disappointed: I thought I’d know the answer to that question yesterday, and I don’t. A 40-14 loss doesn’t instill confidence in anybody. I want to be encouraged by some of the things I saw, and I want to believe it was a step in the right direction, but it felt like just another difficult step.

It felt like a starting point of a long, long excursion back to respectability. The Vols know where they are and where they want to go. Whether they ultimately can get there is the hard part.

If you think Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt is mum on his quarterback battle this preseason because he wants to lob a bit of gamesmanship in the direction of West Virginia, I think you’re off.

It’s because he’s simply not enamored with either of his two frontrunners — or anybody in particular — when it comes to who’s going to lead this Tennessee offense.

Redshirt sophomore Jarrett Guarantano’s name comes up the most as being the favorite to win the job, but graduate transfer senior Keller Chryst hasn’t been ruled out yet, either. While it would be a long shot for Will McBride or freshman JT Shrout to trot out with the 1s against West Virginia, they haven’t been officially axed in the race, either.

Pruitt knows UT has made improvements at a lot of places on the field. Offensively, in particular, the Vols have shown glimmers of hope. The running backs actually have the potential to be stout, considering Ty Chandler is the flashiest player on the team, Tim Jordan followed up his spring-game breakout with a solid preseason and Michigan State transfer Madre London is going to be hard to handle, especially in short-yardage situations.

The Vols’ wide receiving corps hasn’t been consistent in the first couple of weeks of camp, but unit coach David Johnson is known for getting the most out of his guys. If veteran Jauan Jennings gets over his bumps and bruises, he’ll lead a group that has a lot of upside with steady players like Marquez Callaway and Brandon Johnson. Josh Palmer has enjoyed a nice camp, and Jordan Murphy looks like he could help a lot right away. Maybe even freshman Cedric Tillman will have a role. The tight end position got a major boost from JUCO transfer Dominick Wood-Anderson, who should be targeted often.

Then you’ve got an offensive line group that was an atrocity a year ago but has begun to look serviceable. If Trey Smith returns at 100 percent, you can add him to a group where newcomers Brandon Kennedy, Jahmir Johnson and Jerome Carvin are carving a role. If Chance Hall can help and K’Rojhn Calbert can continue to improve, the group looks much better with veterans like Ryan Johnson, Drew Richmond, Marcus Tatum and Riley Locklear in the mix, too.

Which brings us to quarterback, where all we know is there is one, big rippling fart noise in the reports.

Come on, man.

If Guarantano can’t emerge as The Man in Year 3, that’s a cause for concern. He has all the tools: a big arm, decent speed, can make all the throws and isn’t too erratic. The New Jersey native really struggled a year ago with his internal clock, and that seems to be an issue so far in camp, as well. You can’t make plays if plays flicker out in the backfield. Guarantano must learn to feel pressure, evade it and deliver strikes to his receivers or tuck and run. He can’t take too many drive-killing sacks.

Chryst isn’t the same kind of playmaker and doesn’t have near the arm as Guarantano, but does he advance the unit downfield better? That’s something we can’t know. He’s a big kid, but he isn’t as physically gifted as Guarantano, so why hasn’t he been ruled the backup already?

It’s either because he’s been better than reported or because Guarantano isn’t good enough yet. Pruitt needs to keep both guys motivated, and the Vols need for that to translate into quality reps when it matters most.

The truth is it would be a stunner if Chryst won the job. It’s Guarantano’s to lose, and he’s GOING TO be the guy, but he absolutely must take it and run with it. If it’s Chryst early, the Vols are in Kenny Loggins’ danger zone.

Offensive coordinator Tyson Helton has led groups before that featured quality quarterbacks. Brandon Doughty posted record-breaking numbers at Western Kentucky, and Sam Darnold developed into a first-round draft pick under Helton’s tutelage at Southern Cal. But it doesn’t feel like the Vols are going to be a quarterback-led team in 2018, at least not at the beginning of the year.

If the offensive line is improved, the running backs are good enough to be the leaders on the offense. That means all Guarantano [or Chryst] needs to be is a game manager who doesn’t get the team beat by negative plays or turnovers, but they need to be able to make a few [don’t say splash, don’t say splash] big-gainers to get chunk yardage in clutch situations.

In other words, there’s no reason the winner of UT’s quarterback derby can’t be as good as Kentucky’s Stephen Johnson or Texas A&M’s Nick Starkel were a year ago. In a perfect world, you’d love to see Guarantano win the gig, settle into a muted role the way Jake Fromm did for most of the year with Georgia a season ago and then burst out in some big games later in the year.

Nobody is suggesting this year’s Tennessee can be anything like 2017 Georgia. Fromm’s supporting cast was worlds better than anything the Vols can trot out this year. But the cupboard isn’t bare in Knoxville. Butch Jones didn’t recruit enough talent, but the biggest issue was the development of the players once they got to campus; not getting good ones to come.

The Vols got less out of more than any other team in college football during the past five years, without question.

Tennessee doesn’t have the horses to compete with Alabama, Auburn or Georgia (all of which are, sadly, on the ’18 schedule) but that’s not where the season will be made or broken. Huge early-season games loom against West Virginia and Florida, and then UT needs to be in good enough shape and not spiraling out of control in the loss column to be able to finish strong late in the year.

In order to do that — beat the Mountaineers or Gators and reel off a nice season-ending streak — the Vols can’t have crappy quarterback play. This team isn’t going to be good enough to be like some of those Nick Saban-led champion Alabama teams who could have propped up any old stiff under center.

They’ve got to have somebody who takes care of the ball and can take care of a drive with a big play every once in a while.

Guarantano [or Chryst… but really Guarantano] need to prove they’re worth their scholarship. It’s time. Anything less, and it’s going to be a long football season again on Rocky Top.

 

Tennessee first-year football coach Jeremy Pruitt told the media before his Big Orange Caravan stop in Chattanooga this past week that he expects the 27-30 players the Vols will infuse into the roster who didn’t help this spring will totally change the complexion of the team.

According to GoVols247’s Patrick Brown, Pruitt said:

“I think if you looked at the guys who participated in the Orange & White Game and you count the signees and you count the guys that was injured, there could be anywhere between 27 and 30 guys who didn’t participate in the Orange & White Game that’ll be there in the fall, which will completely change our football team.”

UT hopes — and expects — that change will be for the better. If star offensive lineman Trey Smith, returning receiver Jauan Jennings, graduate transfers Keller Chryst and Madre London, linebackers Daniel Bituli and Darrin Kirkland Jr., safety Todd Kelly Jr. and others can live up to expectations, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Tennessee can go from an eight-loss team to a bowl participant.

That’s not even counting JUCO players like Dominick Wood-Anderson, Kenneth George Jr., Jahmir Johnson and Emmit Gooden.

But what about some of the guys who are already on the roster and went through spring? Who needs to take a major step forward? Who are some under-the-radar Vols who are capable of catapulting from obscurity to dependability?

The Vols simply need to get production from unexpected areas to leap back to respectability. Let’s take a look at some candidates.

K’Rojhn Calbert

You’ve got to love a story like Calbert’s, the massive McMinnville, Tennessee, native who camped for Butch Jones’ staff, eagerly awaited an offer from the Vols despite having offers from schools like South Carolina and Florida. And, when he got one, he committed quickly thereafter.

Leg problems (mostly knee issues) plagued much of his high school career and his freshman year at UT, but he began to improve and ultimately shine this spring. The redshirt freshman was a pleasant surprise in the Orange & White Game, and he looks like he can help Tennessee right now. Calbert is one of the few big, physical linemen on the roster who is athletic enough to be a difference-maker. He looks the part, works hard, and — if he can stay healthy — could be a major asset to the offensive line.

This is an area that was atrocious under the Jones regime, but with long-time quality assistant Will Friend leading the way, the unit was decent this spring. There are some players there, and Calbert — who can play tackle but likely should be a guard — emerged. If he can continue to take strides in strength and conditioning, he could become a starter this year and thrive.

Chance Hall

Talk about raising from the dead …

What a major help for the Vols Chance Hall would be if he could come back from his chronic knee problems that threatened his career. The Virginia native started as a true freshman against Alabama, Georgia and others and looked like a budding star and long-time starter on Rocky Top. Then came the injuries that began back in his high school days (much like Calbert’s). Much of the past two years have been lost.

Now, Hall is back. But is he all the way back? That’s a major question mark. If he’s just working on the sideline at practice, then big whoop. If his rehabilitation is complete this summer and he rounds back into form, that’s basically a quality player that’s the equivalent of house money. At least from a fan’s perspective, nothing else was expected of Hall in his career. Now, we’re looking at the next couple of years of eligibility believing that if he can somehow recapture the stuff that made him a go-to guy as a first-year player against some of the SEC’s best teams, he could solidify the exterior of the line while Pruitt builds back the unit.

That’s a tantalizing thought.

Will Ignont

Don’t go back and watch the Orange & White Game looking for Ignont highlights. It was bad. Really, really bad.

He missed tackles, led with his head, struggled to make any plays and generally looked like he lacked any physicality. The Buckhorn (Ala.) High School product looks like the prototypical 3-4 inside linebacker, but he played an awful spring scrimmage. Plus, when Bituli and Kirkland gets back, Ignont’s going to have a difficult time finding starting reps. JJ Peterson will further crowd the center of the defense as well.

But it isn’t all bad for Ignont. He was in position to make A LOT of plays in that spring-ending scrimmage. He’s big, he’s fast, and if he ever gets motivated, he’ll be a player for UT — whether it’s this year or next. If the light comes on under the tutelage of defensive coordinator Kevin Sherrer, he can be a difference-maker as early as this year. I’m that high on his potential.

But Ignont has to dedicate himself to being the type of player who can make an impact on the field. That starts off the field — in the weight room, film room, and out of trouble. Then, he’s just got to let his instincts take over. When he does that, he’ll shine. Will it be in 2018?

Theo Jackson

Perhaps the least-surprising player on this list is Jackson, who may not even belong. After this spring, the Nashville native has firmly put himself in position for some quality reps this fall, if not a starting role. He can play Star (his most likely spot) or safety, but he’s too aggressive to keep on the sideline.

The thoughts of a defense that boasts him and Nigel Warrior flying around on the back end is intriguing, especially if Micah Abernathy can return to as good as he was as a sophomore two years ago.

But Tennessee doesn’t just need a “starter” or a “contributor” on the back end. It needs a star. It needs somebody who can obliterate guys with the ball, force turnovers, make plays. Warrior needs to be that guy, but there needs to be more than just him. Jackson is a difference-making candidate, and if he is, that can change UT’s defense.

Pruitt is a known defensive back developer, and Jackson looks like the perfect ball of clay. That transition from “just another potato” to use a Dooley-ism to a stud needs to start right away. The Vols need playmakers on the back end stat.

Tim Jordan

Another player that won’t sneak up on anybody anymore is sophomore running back Jordan, who showed up and showed out in a spring game that simply didn’t have many stars. He showed the ability to hit a hole, drag a defender and make plays.

Is Jordan going to be as dynamic as Ty Chandler? No. Is he the type of hard-nosed, between-the-tackles bruiser that Michigan State transfer Madre London is? Uh-uh. But Jordan is perhaps the best combination of the two. He can do a lot of things, and he deserves reps because of that. Nobody is expecting a 1,000-yard season from Jordan, but to get through the rugged SEC season, you need two or three quality rushers, at least. Jordan is pretty big and pretty fast and can do a lot of things with the ball.

What you saw isn’t an aberration; he’s a good-looking back who had a great film and looks like he can be a good SEC player. Can he do it against good defenses, though? We’ll all see that this fall because he should get some opportunities.

Marquill Osborne

What the heck happened to Osborne? You remember when he committed to UT in September of his junior year, giving the Vols and Jones one of his biggest early commits? Even when powerhouses like Clemson and Ohio State came calling, Osborne stuck with UT.

Where is that player?

So far at UT, the North Carolina cornerback hasn’t made a blip on the radar screen. Much like Abernathy was the player coveted by OSU and Georgia as a prep player, the Vols need those guys to live up to their potential. There are two cornerback spots wide open on UT’s roster. Nobody has staked a claim to them. Freshman Alontae Taylor looks like a natural and could be fine there if he stays on defense, and Baylen Buchanan did some nice things this spring.

But Osborne has that pedigree. Why can’t he flash? Is he just a bust, or will the light come on and he surprise some folks? The Vols need for the latter to happen. They need somebody who can neutralize opposing receivers. I’m not sure Osborne is that guy, but a lot of good programs once thought he may be.

Is all he needs coaching?

Austin Smith

Where art thou, Derek Barnett? The Vols certainly missed their all-time sack leader a year ago as he was off winning a Super Bowl with the Eagles as a rookie. The pass rush was stagnant at times and nonexistent at others for UT a season ago. When you look up and down the roster, there aren’t a lot of exciting players who look capable of getting after quarterbacks.

Maybe Darrell Taylor will flash from the second level. Perhaps Jonathan Kongbo and Kyle Phillips can have breakout senior seasons after ho-hum careers.

But Smith is a guy I’m excited to see. There were times throughout his career where the former staff tried him at defensive end, where he was too small. They moved him to linebacker, where he was perhaps too big for a 4-3. Now, in a 3-4 scheme, he may have found a home.

The Vols would love for a guy like JUCO Jordan Allen to emerge and be a pass-rushing threat, but Smith could be hard to keep off the field. The bad thing about UT is he’s not going to be a film-flasher. Maybe he’s steady, and maybe he’ll make some plays. But is he going to make big plays?

This is his junior year. If he’s ever going to do it, it needs to be now.

Latrell Williams

Other than maybe the linebacking corps, the position group that stands to see the most improvement in 2018 is wide receiver. After all, it’ll be hard not to improve on the less-than-stellar coaching chops of Kevin Beard. Before him, Zach Azzanni never really developed anybody but Josh Malone, either.

When you’re running horizontal routes in the boring Butch offense, it’s hard to establish any playmakers.

With David Johnson coming over to coach receivers from Memphis, though, the group could see a huge boost.

Everybody is excited about getting Jennings back on the team to go along with Marquez Callaway and Brandon Johnson. That’s a quality trio right there. But UT needs a guy with game-breaking, difference-making chops with the ball in his hands.

Tyler Byrd doesn’t look like he’s ever going to be that guy. Jordan Murphy is young. Josh Palmer needs to learn how to consistently catch the ball after running his strong routes.

Williams is this year’s “pick to click.” He has blazing speed, and though he’s battled injuries during his freshman season, he got a redshirt and has three years left to shine in Knoxville. He may be raw and won’t always run the best routes, but UT is going to have a lot of guys to do those things. If Williams and whoever is quarterback can find a way to just get the ball in Williams’ hands, the Florida speedster can do some things with it that most can’t.

It’s going to be interesting to see if this offense can get guys in space where Jones’ offense failed. If they can, Williams could really emerge.