Tennessee football: 10 Vols who need a good spring practice for 2019

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 22: Offensive lineman Marcus Tatum #68 of the Tennessee Volunteers guards Zachary Carter #17 of the Florida Gators during the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida won the game 47-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images /

Just like Jahmir Johnson, Nathan Niehaus has a lot to prove at guard. And that is a position that is wide open like every other position for Tennessee football on the offensive line, but Niehaus has more work to do than Johnson.

Jeremy Pruitt didn’t seem to favor him as much last year, as he only played in 10 games and started in six. He benefitted from Riley Locklear being unable to stay healthy and Jerome Carvin not coming on. Of course, Niehaus had more of a transition from a spread offense, so this is really his proving year.

Locklear is still a threat, and so is Carvin depending on where he ends up. Compound that with the recruiting class, which we already said includes Jackson Lampley and Melvin McBride, and Niehaus has a ton of work to do to hold onto his job as well. It is incredibly important that he do his part because Pruitt clearly wants more help, and Jim Chaney has no loyaly to guys like him considering he’s a newcomer as an offensive coordinator.

Simply put, Niehaus is not safe at all. He’s got to take a major step forward this spring to show the coaches that he truly is a player meant to start in the pro-style offense for a Pruitt-led team in the SEC. Niehaus was part of how disastrous everything was last year, so him having a chance to make up for that depends significantly on what he does in the spring.

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