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Tennessee Football: Five Toughest Players for Vols to Replace in 2016

By Caleb Calhoun

Nov 28, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Curt Maggitt (56) celebrates with teammates after the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won 53-28. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Curt Maggitt (56) celebrates with teammates after the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won 53-28. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 13, 2014; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners tight end Blake Bell (10) runs with the ball as Tennessee Volunteers defensive back LaDarrell McNeil (33) chases during the first half at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 13, 2014; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners tight end Blake Bell (10) runs with the ball as Tennessee Volunteers defensive back LaDarrell McNeil (33) chases during the first half at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

Tennessee football returns a lot of talent this year, but the Volunteers still have a few key players they have to replace for 2016. Here are five.

There has never been a year in Tennessee football history where there are so few key players to replace. Part of it is due to the fact that some of the key players missed most of last year due to injury. Another part of it is due to the fact that Butch Jones stacked his team with freshmen and sophomores the past couple of years.

As a result, we all know the Vols have massively high expectations going into the 2016 season.

But they should not get ahead of themselves.

There are still some key players the Vols have to worry about finding replacements for. These guys were experienced game-changers and leaders throughout the season.

There are players every year that you have to replace, and that still holds true for the Vols this season.

Butch Jones bases his teams on depth and wants to run tempo, but he also wants to do it by going deep into the rotation at many positions. That makes replacing key players more critical for the Vols than most programs.

So even with so much returning talent, there are a few key players he has got to be able to replace. Whether or not that happens at some point the rest of this Spring or in August doesn’t matter. But it has to happen before the season starts.

Here are the five toughest players for the Vols to replace for the 2016 football season.

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