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Tennessee football roster: Projecting the Vols’ 2017 2-deep depth chart

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 12, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; General view of Neyland Stadium at halftime during the game between Tennessee Volunteers and the Oklahoma Sooners. Oklahoma won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 12, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; General view of Neyland Stadium at halftime during the game between Tennessee Volunteers and the Oklahoma Sooners. Oklahoma won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 26, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers tight end Ethan Wolf (82) works out prior to the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers tight end Ethan Wolf (82) works out prior to the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Tight End

1. Ethan Wolf

Again, this is not much of a shock. Ethan Wolf has been the starting tight end for Tennessee football over the past two years, and he has caught four touchdowns in that time. Going into his senior year, the 6’6″ 245-pound reliable target has 67 career receptions for 752 yards overall. Last year, he had 21 receptions for 239 yards as Jason Croom emerged as a receiving target at the position.

However, Wolf is still a reliable target at the position, and he also is a great blocker, something that makes him extremely valuable. Combine that with his experience, and he’s the clear-cut starter at tight end this spring. In fact, it’s more clear-cut than ever before. However, his backup has become a bit of a shock.

And we go to him next.

2. Jakob Johnson

Last year, I named Jakob Johnson as a player who shouldn’t see the field in 2016. However, he had a dramatic burst onto the scene this past spring that makes him a legitimate guy to see action on the field his senior season. After all, Butch Jones does like to use his tight ends by committee just like his running backs.

And Johnson, a 6’3″ 250-pound over-achiever, was named the most-improved player this past spring to burst into that spot. He has experience playing defense and has also returned two kickoffs, so he’s done lots of other things on the field. And he can also block. We trust his improvements are what the coaches say they’ve been, so we’re putting him at No. 2 on this list in a shocking departure from where he was last year.

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