Tennessee football: Vols top five seniors for 2019 season

Heading into 2019, Tennessee football’s senior class is thin. However, it has very important people. Here are the top five Volunteers seniors for this year.

One of the most exciting parts of Tennessee football heading into 2019 is the number of returning starters the Vols have. What makes it more exciting, on paper at least, is how few seniors are part of the program.

Jeremy Pruitt’s second team with the Vols only has 14 seniors listed on the roster, including fourth-year and fifth-year seniors. However, one of them, Riley Lovingood, is a long-snapper. Another, Landon Knoll is a walk-on. And Pruitt hinted at one press conference earlier this year that Brandon Kennedy, despite being listed as a redshirt senior, has two years left.

So there are very few players on this roster who are for sure in their last season on Rocky Top heading into 2019. However, the players who are in their fourth and fifth years all have crucial roles for Tennessee football.

Pretty much every single player listed as a senior outside of Knoll has a great chance at significant playing time. And a few of them are going to be crucial and asked to carry the Vols this year in their quest for a turnaround season.

As we get set to break down the top seniors on the 2019 team, we’re obviously looking at their talent. But their leadership abilities, health, and importance to keeping the team and their unit together are all crucial as well. Oh, we are also looking at their potential given that it’s only their second year in Pruitt’s system.

These guys committed to play for Butch Jones and shine in his system and certainly didn’t plan the transition period from 2017 to 2018. But they have taken it all in stride, and now is their chance to shine with it.

Who are the most standout players in this group? Which ones are most likely to go out with a bang? Let’s break that down here. These are the top five Vols seniors entering the 2019 Tennessee football season.