Tennessee football: 10 Vols freshmen most likely to play early in 2018
Tennessee football is going to have lots of competition on its offensive line this year like anywhere else. Sure, Trey Smith is a sure starter. And yes, Drew Richmond is back. But everywhere else is open competition and up for grabs. That works significantly in Jerome Carvin’s favor.
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A four-star prospect from Cordova, Carvin could potentially back up Richmond as the blindside tackle. It could be a Memphis-area duo in the rotation over there. He could also potentially start at right tackle with Chance Hall still trying to get healthy and nobody else who is proven there.
Or perhaps the 6’5″ 303-pound true freshman could move inside and start at guard opposite Trey Smith. Any of the roles are available for him, and given the fact that he was an early enrollee as well, he’s definitely going to be in the rotation.
It’s clear, like most coaches, Jeremy Pruitt wants to run at least eight-deep on the line. Carvin’s play in the offseason and in the spring suggests he’s very likely to be in that group. So it’s almost a sure bet that he’ll see action on the field.
After arriving on campus at 330 pounds, Carvin trimmed down to that 303 mark through conditioning. Being able to do that is a testament to his work ethic and will go a long way towards him succeeding on the field as well.
Simply put, Carvin may not be a full-time starter, but he’ll definitely be on the field as an offensive lineman. He fits the mold of what Pruitt and Tyson Helton want too perfectly. So outside of special teams, he’s the most likely Tennessee football freshman to play early this year.