Tennessee football: 10 Vols most likely to receive 2019 postseason recognition

Given how bad Tennessee football was on the offensive line last year, it’s hard to figure anybody from that group should be on this list. Add in the fact that Brandon Kennedy is coming off a season-ending injury, and lots of things should be working against him.

However, Kennedy is returning to play center, where he is a proven performer. And since he didn’t play outside of one game last year, he’s not a part of the historically bad play we pointed out on the offensive line.

This year, Kennedy could become the feature lineman as the center, particularly in Jim Chaney’s system. Jeremy Pruitt loved him for a reason and still had him penciled in as the starting center despite holding him out in the spring. That’s how big of a deal he is, and if the coaches love him that much, he must be very good.

National experts must think so too, by the way, as Kennedy is on the watch list for this year’s Rimington Trophy. That distinction comes despite him missing all of last year, so there must be serious reason to believe in him. And if he stays healthy, he’ll likely take almost ever snap at center, which will give him numerous chances to shine as a lineman.