Vols Football: Analyzing Week One Depth Chart

As expected, the Vols will be a young, inexperienced group this season. The depth chart is full of freshmen and inexperienced sophomores. PHOTO: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

The University of Tennessee football team released their two-deep depth chart for the Utah State game today, and it carries with it a few surprises.

Senior Justin Worley headlines the offense, and that’s no surprise. His seniority is not commonplace on the depth chart, however.

Seventeen freshmen and redshirt freshmen are listed on the two-deep, and that includes at kicker, punter, and kick returner. Of those seventeen different freshmen, four are slated as starters or co-starters.

Tight end Ethan Wolf, right guard Jashon Robertson, and defensive end Derek Barnett will start against Utah State. Kicker Aaron Medley is listed as a co-starter along with redshirt sophomore George Bullock for placekicking and kickoff duties.

Offense:

Besides seniors Justin Worley and running back Marlin Lane, the Vols offense is full of inexperienced and young players. Redshirt junior Alex Ellis and freshman Daniel Helm are listed as co-backups at tight end behind Wolf, and the Vols receiving corps is loaded with young talent. Marquez North, Pig Howard, and Von Pearson are the starters. First up in the rotation is Jason Croom, followed by Josh Malone and Josh Smith.

The talk of fall camp was the battle at left tackle, and it appears redshirt senior Jacob Gilliam, who was once a walk-on, has beat out heralded JUCO transfer Dontavius Blair, as he is listed as the starter. A trio of redshirt juniors will start as well, as Marcus Jackson (left guard), Mack Crowder (center), and Kyler Kerbyson (right tackle) will look to replace an experienced unit from last season. Freshman Jashon Robertson rounds out the unit at right guard.

The depth behind the starting offensive line is extremely young. From left tackle to right tackle, the backups are junior Dontavius Blair, redshirt freshman Austin Sanders, sophomore Dylan Wiesman, redshirt freshman Brett Kendrick, and freshman Coleman Thomas.

As expected, freshman Jalen Hurd will backup senior Marlin Lane heading into the opening game of the season. Nathan Peterman and Joshua Dobbs are listed as co-backups behind Worley at QB.

Defense:

The defense is littered with young talent, but nowhere more than in the secondary. Surprisingly, senior Justin Coleman is listed as the No. 2 corner alongside sophomore Cam Sutton. Behind Cam is freshman Emmanuel Moseley, and behind Coleman is sophomore Mike Williams.

Sophomore Devaun Swafford is listed as the starting strong safety alongside redshirt junior Brian Randolph, and freshman Todd Kelly Jr. will back up Swafford, leaving junior LaDarrell McNeil to back up Randolph.

Interestingly, the depth chart lists Curt Maggitt as the starting strong linebacker and not at defensive end. The redshirt junior had been practicing mostly at end during camp, but an injury sidelined him for a week and a half near the end of camp. Senior A.J. Johnson and sophomore Jalen Reeves-Maybin round out the starting linebacking corps. Backups include freshmen Dillon Bates and Colton Jumper with junior Chris Weatherd backing up Maggitt.

The interior of the defensive line is comprised of senior Jordan Williams and sophomore Danny O’Brien, and their backups are freshman Dimarya Mixon and redshirt junior Owen Williams. None of the tackles weigh more than 290 lbs, meaning this unit is as undersized as billed.

The defensive end unit is one of the youngest units on the team, as sophomore Corey Vereen and freshman Derek Barnett are listed as the starters. Their backups: redshirt sophomore LaTroy Lewis and freshman Dewayne Hendrix. A freshman backs up a freshman, which speaks for itself about the youth of the program.

Of note:

Cam Sutton is listed as the punt returner heading into the opening game, and senior Devrin Young and freshman Evan Berry are listed as the two kick returners who will trot out against Utah State. Senior Matt Darr will start at punter.

Over half of Butch Jones’s 2014 recruiting class is listed on the two-deep depth chart, which confirms everything heard during camp and practices about the immediate impact this class will have.