What We Learned From Vols Spring Practice

2.) The Newcomers Can (and Will) Play

There have been plenty of new faces for the Vols this spring, and they all look to play an important role. PHOTO: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

If this spring told us anything, it’s that the incoming freshman and JUCO transfers will be seeing the field just as much as anyone else on the team for the Vols this season.

All off the 14 newcomers that joined the team as early enrollees this spring saw time with either the 1st or 2nd team offense and defense during the Orange and White game, and that continued the trend from all of the previous spring practices.

Players like RB Jalen Hurd, WR Josh Malone, WR Von Pearson, TE Ethan Wolf, TE Daniel Helm, OL Coleman Thomas, and OT Dontavius Blair all figure to either be starters or firmly positioned on the two-deep depth chart once the season starts. They will all be relied on to be playmakers on an offense that looked pedestrian at times last season.

The defense will need help from new faces as well, and DL Dimarya Mixon, DL Owen Williams, and CB Emmanuel Moseley seem to be the likeliest candidates to crack the starting lineups for the Vols in the fall.

While these players have already given us some glimpses of what they’re capable of, there are still 18 other new players who will suit up for the Vols after the summer.

The depth chart for the 2014 Vols will be one of the youngest in the SEC, and while that youth can be exciting and offer hope for the future, it will likely mean some growing pains and inconsistency for this upcoming season.