Tennessee football: 10 players Vols can least afford to lose for 2018

This might come as a bit of a shock to people. Chance Hall missed all of last year due to injury. He also missed most of the 2016 season as well. So now, as he tries to ease back into the rotation, how could he be so crucial?

Well, it’s because of all the questions surrounding the Tennessee football offensive line. Hall is one of the only lineman on the Vols’ roster who has proven anything. He started pretty much the entire 2015 season and was very solid doing so.

Now, as he gets back to being fully healthy, he’s one guy that Jeremy Pruitt can count on. Hall’s reliability is not something that line coach Will Friend can take for granted, and neither will offensive coordinator Tyson Helton.

If Hall goes down, the Vols will have to shift guys around or turn to somebody with no proven track record of success up front. There is unproven depth on the line and a collection of bodies who should be solid, especially at tackle, where Hall will likely play. But that’s just it. The depth is unproven, making things difficult.

As a result, Tennessee football needs Hall to be healthy this year. And if you want to bring up that they played all last year without him, I’ll bring up their 4-8 record last year and the horrendous play of the line. That serves as proof of his value more than anything. So yeah, despite getting healthy, he’s crucial for this team.