The Must List: Tennessee Running Backs

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.

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.