Tennessee football 2018 preview by position: Vols offensive line

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 15: A general view of one end zone at Neyland Stadium during the game between the LSU Tigers and the Tennessee Volunteers on October 15, 2011 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 15: A general view of one end zone at Neyland Stadium during the game between the LSU Tigers and the Tennessee Volunteers on October 15, 2011 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images /

Tennessee football has numerous questions on the offensive line heading into 2018. Here is a preview of the Volunteers at that position.

Heading into last season, even with Butch Jones’s seat warming up and numerous questions surrounding the Vols, offensive line appeared to be a position of strength for Tennessee football. However, a year later, injuries, multiple early departure and poor play altogether in 2017 leave this unit in a total state of uncertainty.

With Phillip Fulmer becoming athletic director and bringing in Jeremy Pruitt to reinstall a pro-style offense with Tyson Helton, you know that there is a concerted effort to bring toughness back to the Vols. And on the offensive side, a focus of that is clearly improving the line.

A rash of injuries left major concerns for the unit earlier this spring. Combine that with the departure of key guys like Coleman Thomas, Brett Kendrick, Jack Jones and Jashon Robertson, and you can see why Tennessee football’s offensive line situation is so unclear.

However, everybody is healthy now. On top of that, there are three new commitments and two other transfers at the position. So talent is there, we just have to see if Pruitt, Helton and line coach Will Friend can get it all to come together.

In this post, as we preview the Vols’ offensive line situation, we’ll break it down by projected starters, projected rotational guys and projected backups. As always, we’ll close with a final take on the overall situation.

As Fulmer said when he hired Pruitt, it’s hard to be cute and win in the SEC. To restore the necessary toughness on Rocky Top, the offensive line needs to get better and more durable. Have they done that here? Let’s take a look. This is our preview of the the offensive line for the Tennessee football 2018 season.