It’s finally football time in Tennessee, and we’ll be squeezing every morsel of news out of every word that escapes new coach Jeremy Pruitt’s mouth over the next month leading up to the season opener in Charlotte against West Virginia.
But we are here to fully arm you with every bit of information we can leading up to the season’ start. In order to do that, we’ve got to get you up-to-date on all the new personnel you’ll be seeing on the football field in 2018.
More than 30 new players will suit up for the Big Orange who didn’t this spring. Many of those weren’t even in orange and white for the worst season in school history a year ago. That’s not a bad thing, either.
Pruitt came in and immediately determined the team that went 4-8 last year wasn’t equipped to win this year, either. So, he called on reinforcements. Over the next few days, we’ll brief you on the newbies at each position.
Let’s take a look at running backs.
RUNNING BACKS
It’s very easy to overlook some of the “new” guys at the position who could wind up playing a role in the offense in a fullback role. In a scheme that seems to value pass-blocking and power football, the Vols could line up some in — (do you hear angels singing??) — an I-formation. If that’s the case, some of the tight ends or even bigger-bodied runners could play that role.
For now, let’s take a look at one major-impact player who will really help out sophomores Ty Chandler and Tim Jordan, battling those guys for reps. Then, there are also two high-potential players who fit what Jeremy Pruitt wants at the position, especially a true freshman who turned heads this offseason.
MADRE LONDON, 6’1″, 213-pound redshirt senior
When John Kelly left a year early for the NFL, the Vols needed some depth and talent at the position, so Pruitt went out looking for a between-the-tackles, yard-gobbler who could help the Vols bridge the gap from the Butch Jones era.
He found his answer in rugged graduate transfer London, who played his first three years at Michigan State. Though he isn’t the flashiest runner, he’s got a lot of reps in a hard-nosed conference, he has proved he can get tough yards between the tackles and he has a jolt of speed when he gets to the second level.
Though he could never win the Spartans’ full-time job after his freshman year, he’ll battle Chandler for the starting gig in Knoxville and get plenty of meaningful reps as UT tries to sustain possessions and help out their quarterbacks. London’s path is a winding one as he was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and played at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Florida before landing in East Lansing.
During his freshman year, he led the team with 500 rushing yards and had 60 on 12 carries in the Big Ten Championship Game against Iowa. He saw action in 11 games. Then, as a sophomore, he fell down the depth chart and wound up with just 120 rushing yards before rebounding for 300 a season ago. He just couldn’t re-earn the primary job under Mark Dantonio.
He was a factor in Michigan State’s offense each of the past three seasons, finishing with 1,024 yards and nine touchdowns on 243 touches for the Spartans.
Now, London will try to prove he is worthy of going to the next level, but it’s going to be a tough chore behind a rebuilding UT offensive line that needs to prove it is much better than it was a season ago. Having a bruiser like London who has been in some important games will help a ton.
JEREMY BANKS, 6’1″, 211-pound freshman
It may seem crazy that Butch Jones and Co. didn’t even really give an instate running back who wanted to come to UT a sniff in the recruiting process, but that’s exactly what happened with Memphis product Banks. Once Pruitt came in, he turned up the heat on Banks and teammate Jerome Carvin, an important piece of the puzzle as an interior offensive lineman who could start as a true freshman. Both committed to UT, and the Vols are better because of it.
Banks is a workout freak who can do a lot of things with the ball, and it’s going to be exciting to watch him grow and develop. Is he a big-play threat? It’s going to be interesting to see if he develops that aspect because he’s far from slow, but Banks is going to be a dependable player for the Vols.
Even with guys like London, Chandler, Jordan and maybe even Trey Coleman ahead of him on the depth chart, Banks could surge upward. He will have every opportunity to play an important role, and you know Pruitt would love playing a kid he recruited this early. He chose UT over Nebraska, UCLA, Iowa State and others.
He’s quick and he reportedly flashed in 7-on-7 workouts over the summer. It’s going to be fun to see if he can carve himself a role right away.
PRINCETON FANT, 6’2″, 222-pound redshirt freshman
Fant was recruited with teammate Maleik Gray out of LaVergne High School in the Midstate as a receiver, but neither has been able to find a role on the Vols yet. Last year as Fant battled injuries, he also moved around to different positions.
From receiver, the big-bodied prospect shifted to tight end and has also seen time at linebacker. This past spring, the Vols moved him to running back and saw enough out of him in his new role that they kept him there, and that’s where he is listed on the updated roster.
Can Fant develop into a jumbo runner who can be a force in short-yardage and red-zone situations? Or is he just a player who is going to take up a roster spot over the next few years but maybe flash on special teams?
That’s up to him. He has four seasons left to play, and with a brand new coaching staff in Knoxville, opportunity abounds.
Fant is a good athlete with a good attitude, and he has been a team-first player who has taken every position switch fine. He wants to help the team, and the staff is trying to find the best place he can do that. Thankfully for UT, he’s a good athlete who can at least make plays on special teams, and, if he’s healthy, he may have an offensive role.