Tennessee football: 10 Vols 2019 true freshmen most likely to play early

He wasn’t an early enrollee. But Darnell Wright is the only unanimous five-star in Tennessee football’s 2019 recruiting class. That he plays the position with the biggest needs only makes him more likely to not just see action this year but also start.

Offensive line isn’t just a unit of desperate need. It’s even greater at offensive tackle. After all, Chance Hall, Drew Richmond and Trey Smith were all key tackles last year, and one has retired, one has transferred while another’s status remains in limbo.

Add in Nathan Niehaus, a guy who can play tackle, leaving the program, and things are wide open at the position. Only Marcus Tatum is a sure bet there. But Wright, as a five-star who will be playing that position, comes with immediate hype. Jeremy Pruitt and Jim Chaney will be looking for him to steal a starting role early.

Given his size and his rating, it’s pretty obvious that Pruitt recruited Wright to be able to step in early. Even if he does not get a full-time starting job, it will be a shock if he is not in the rotation somehow. Again, we’re basing this all on speculation about the hype surrounding him. He didn’t practice in the spring, after all.

But what’s clear is that Wright is the crown jewel of the 2019 class and Pruitt’s hopes of rebuilding the program this year. His talents alone could be the necessary addition to the Vols turning things around.