Five Players The Vols Should Redshirt In 2015

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Apr 12, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; A general view of the Neyland Stadium before the Tennessee Volunteers orange and white spring game. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Austin Smith — Linebacker

This one is kind of tricky.

Tennessee now has a lot of talent at linebacker — albeit young, raw talent.

If everything goes to plan, then UT can afford to redshirt Austin Smith this season.

Jalen Reeves-Maybin will once again hold down the Will linebacker position for the Vols, with Curt Maggitt dropping back to the Sam linebacker in Tennessee’s base package (despite the fact that UT typically lines up in Nickel personnel with just two linebackers).

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The Mike position, vacated by AJ Johnson, is up for grabs. True freshman Darrin Kirkland Jr, Redshirt freshman Dillon Bates, sophomore Jakob Johnson and redshirt junior Kenny Bynum are all expected to compete for the Vols’ starting middle linebacker job.

Tennessee will also receive contributions from senior Chris Weatherd, redshirt freshman Gavin Bryant and sophomore Cortez McDowell. True freshmen Quart’e Sapp could also see some action.

Suffice it to say, there should be plenty of depth to allow the Vols to redshirt Smith in 2015.