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Tennessee football: 5 key position battles for Vols 2019 spring practice

By Caleb Calhoun

ATHENS, GA - SEPTEMBER 29: Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers discusses a play with Bryce Thompson #20 during the game against the Georgia Bulldogs on September 29, 2018 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA - SEPTEMBER 29: Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers discusses a play with Bryce Thompson #20 during the game against the Georgia Bulldogs on September 29, 2018 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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1. Offensive line

We could have just named the trenches in general as position battles. That’s a huge reason Tennessee football’s spring is going to matter significantly. All spots are open up front on both sides, but they are for completely different reasons.

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The Vols have it wide open on the defensive line because they replace all of their elite production. They have it wide open on the offensive line because, well, the unit was historically bad last year. Hey, that’s no surprise, right? All five spots are open, so we condensed it to one race.

Jeremy Pruitt, Will Friend and new offensive coordinator Jim Chaney need immediate help there. With Trey Smith still out indefinitely, Chance Hall giving up football and Drew Richmond in the transfer portal, things are more wide open.

This is why the Vols had a historically great offensive line class in recruiting for 2019. They picked up five players, one of whom is a five-star on Rivals and three more of whom are four-stars. Pruitt is trying to restock that position.

Now, it’s true that the best player in that class, five-star Darnell Wright, won’t be here until the summer. But the Vols will have four-star Wanya Morris, who would have been a five-star before getting hurt, and three-star Chris Akporoghene both on Rocky Top in the spring. Brandon Kennedy should also be back from a season-ending injury.

Oh, and they have guys like Jerome Carvin playing with more experience this year after just being a freshman. Take all this into account, and even without three of the linemen in the 2019 class on the roster, spring practice on the offensive line should be a huge deal.

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Chaney was a former offensive line and specializes coaching that position, so that’s going to be a big plus. Tennessee football desperately needs to improve there. With not as much time spent teaching how to practice this year, the Vols have more time to find the right talent. Add in the newcomers and the returners, and this is going to be the top race to watch in the spring.

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