The Tennessee Volunteers were dealt their first big blow of the season against Utah State when starting left tackle Jacob Gilliam tore his ACL. Tennessee announced on Tuesday that Gilliam would miss the rest of the season.
So now the Vols are forced to replace a starter on an offensive line that’s already ripe with inexperience.
The big question is “Who will the Vols throw out there?”
The seemingly obvious choice would be JuCo transfer Dontavius Blair.
Blair, who many expected to start at left tackle this season (including myself), was listed on the Vols’ first depth chart of the season as the backup to Gilliam.
But when Gilliam went down, it was redshirt freshman Brett Kendrick who came into the game to replace him.
Kendrick was listed on the depth chart as the backup to right guard Jashon Robertson. That just goes to show that the depth chart is more of a “suggestive order of players”, rather than a game-plan set in stone.
Jones said on Tuesday, during his weekly press conference, that Brett Kendrick, Dontavius Blair and Coleman Thomas have all garnered first team reps.
Thomas, a true freshman, is listed as the backup to Kyler Kerbyson at right tackle.
On Wednesday, when Jones was asked about the left tackle position during the weekly SEC Coaches teleconference, it was Kendrick and Blair that were mentioned by the Vols head coach as possible replacements.
Jones pointed out that Kendrick was helped by “live-game reps”, while Blair continues to work and progress.
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I would assume that Thomas stays at right tackle. Kerbyson didn’t look particularly great in the Vols’ opener and he played some very undisciplined football (he was called for two false starts in a row). Nothing will draw the ire of Butch Jones quicker than committing needless penalties.
Thomas could end up being the Vols’ right tackle by the end of the season.
As far as left tackle is concerned, it will probably be Kendrick starting when Tennessee takes the field against Arkansas State on Saturday.
There’s no doubt that Blair is the more talented option (that’s why Tennessee signed him), but if the coaching staff thought he was game-ready, you’d think they would’ve played him on Sunday night to get him some live game reps.
It’s not as if Blair is a known commodity. There was no reason for Tennessee to hold him out on Sunday night. In fact, there were plenty of reasons they should’ve played him.
There have been questions about Blair’s progress since the spring. And while we’ve repeatedly been told by the coaching staff that he continues to improve, we’ve yet to see the coaching staff have any sort of confidence in him.
Brett Kendrick might not be the most attractive option for the Vols at left tackle, but he’s probably going to be their best option — at least for the foreseeable future.