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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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Nov 19, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) and offensive lineman Coleman Thomas (55) celebrate after Jennings scored a touchdown against the Missouri Tigers during the first quarter at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) and offensive lineman Coleman Thomas (55) celebrate after Jennings scored a touchdown against the Missouri Tigers during the first quarter at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

Center

1. Jashon Robertson

Jashon Robertson has spent the past three years playing guard when healthy, but he never re-created the magic he had his freshman year. That’s mostly due to injuries to be fair. However, he got back to health in the spring and became a vocal leader for the Tennessee football offense in the process.

At the same time, Butch Jones and Larry Scott moved him over to center, where he took every snap. It may have been experimental, but he showed some development there. We project that the Vols will continue to use him there, and as a leader, he’ll be a perfect fit at the position.

With 34 starts on the offensive line overall, Robertson is the veteran up front any way. Also, he was a converted defensive tackle as a freshman, so he already has experience shining at a position he converted to.

As a result, the 6’3″ 305-pound senior will start at center for the Vols this Fall. That’s our boldest prediction so far.

2. Coleman Thomas

We have Coleman Thomas as one of the starting guards on the roster, but he will also move back over to center if there’s an injury to Jashon Robertson. Thomas is the only other guy with significant experience at the position, so we have him No. 2 on the depth chart. That’s why we added a fifth offensive guard on the depth chart.

And with the way Butch Jones uses his rotations up front, don’t be surprised if he mixes in Thomas even if Robertson is not hurt.

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