Tennessee football: 10 Vols who should redshirt in 2019

Tennessee football has two feature running backs who are juniors and then a power back who is a sophomore. With that collection, there doesn’t seem to be any room for Carlin Fils-Aime, a senior who played defensive back midway through last year.

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It almost seems like there’s just no room for Fils-Aime in Jeremy Pruitt’s system no matter what. After all, why take a redshirt when he’ll just be a redshirt senior next year with Tim Jordan and Ty Chandler, the two people ahead of him, also being seniors?

Well, if the Vols have a great season, there’s a strong likelihood of Chandler leaving early for the pros. The guy has proven more than enough through two years on Rocky Top, and he’s the most versatile offensive weapon on the team. As a result, Fils-Aime needs to take that chance if he ever wants significant playing time on Rocky Top.

In limited time through three years, Fils-Aime is at least averaging six yards a carry with 309 career rushing yards and five touchdowns. So the guy is a proven playmaker. He could take a redshirt, hope that Chandler turns pro, and then become the by-committee starter with Jordan next year, as both are seniors.

Sure, Eric Gray is waiting in the wings, but he’s young enough that Fils-Aime should hold him off. So the redshirt is definitely worth it. He owes it to himself to have at least one year as the chance to make a lot of plays for the Vols.