Vols Football: 5 Position Battles To Watch In The Off-Season
By Zach Ragan
Nov 1, 2014; Columbia, SC, USA; Tennessee Volunteers offensive lineman Kyler Kerbyson (77) sings Rocky Top following their overtime win over the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
Left Tackle
Your guess is as good as mine when it comes to who the Vols’ starting left tackle will be in 2015.
Three different players started at left tackle for the Vols last season (Kyler Kerbyson, Brett Kendrick and Jacob Gilliam). Both Kerbyson and Kendrick will return in 2015.
Kerbyson, who started all 13 games for the Vols in 2014, made ten starts at left tackle.
Kendrick made two starts for the Vols last season, both at left tackle.
Both players struggled at times last season, though many folks (including myself), felt like Kendrick was the better option.
The good news for Kendrick is that he’ll once again compete for the Vols’ starting left tackle spot. The bad news, however, is that it looks like Kerbyson is currently the front runner.
Earlier this month, Kerbyson told 247Sports that as of right now he’s playing exclusively at left tackle. While that doesn’t mean that Kerbyson has the position on lockdown (he doesn’t), it does mean that the coaches don’t expect to use him at guard.
In addition to Kendrick, Kerbyson will also battle JuCo transfer Dontavius Blair (redshirted last season) and true freshman Drew Richmond.
It’s impossible to say who the best option would be for the Vols.
On paper, Blair is the best option. He has the talent/experience combination that would seemingly make him the favorite.
But he was unable to win the spot last season and spent a year learning from the sidelines.
If you based it on talent alone, then it’s Drew Richmond that would win the job. But (there’s always a but when you’re talking about Tennessee’s offensive line right now) his lack of experience will make it tough for him to the win the job (it’s worth noting that Butch Jones awarded the starting right guard spot to Jashon Robertson last season, just a few weeks after moving him from the defensive line).
Kendrick has some talent, but he’s also raw. Kerbyson has the experience, but he’s not a natural tackle.
And you can’t rule out true freshman Jack Jones either. That kid has the grit and determination to make some noise on Rocky Top.
It’s basically anyone’s job. Someone is going to have to step up and own the position.
Fortunately for the Vols, they have some solid options this season.