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Tennessee football: 10 Vols who could leave early for NFL after 2019

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10: Ty Chandler #8 of the Tennessee Volunteers takes a hand off from Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half of the game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-7. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10: Ty Chandler #8 of the Tennessee Volunteers takes a hand off from Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half of the game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-7. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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One of the reasons it’s hard for us to figure out what happens on the offensive line is Trey Smith’s health. He’s still in limbo due to the blood clots, but he was able to practice with Tennessee football during spring ball and can run drills.

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As a result, Smith is not likely to return out of football shape if he does play this year. What’s also clear is that he is a proven elite lineman. The guy was a freshman All-American as a guard, and he emerged as the one elite player for the Vols at left tackle, the most important position, last year.

That means Smith has versatility and can play the key position on the line everybody cares about. So the 6’6″ 337-pound junior is already an elite NFL prospect. If he can get his blood clots under control, there will be no reservations about his pro potential.

And even if Smith does not play this year, he could be an NFL prospect next year, which is why he’s so high on this list. Multiple mock drafts have him as a potential top 10 pick. That’s how high people are on Smith, and when he has played, he’s lived up to every bit of the expectations he had as an offensive lineman entering the program back in 2017.

Related Story. Ranking every Vols' NFL Draft class this decade. light

More experience at tackle this year could cause Smith’s draft stock to explode as well. He’s got so much potential that it wouldn’t be a terrible idea for him to sit out this season anyway to make sure he’s fully right, even if he is good to go. The only reason Smith isn’t clear-cut No. 1 on this list is his health.

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