Tennessee football: Five biggest reasons for Vols turnaround this season
2. Freshman starters are developing.
In addition to using a bunch of new defensive linemen, Tennessee football also had to turn to lots of freshmen to play early on. This included linebacker Henry To’o To’o, defensive back Warren Burrell and offensive linemen Wanya Morris and Darnell Wright.
More from Vols Football
- How to Win a GUARANTEED $200 Bonus Betting Just $5 on the Vols vs. Florida!
- Tennessee Football at Florida: Five Keys to a Vols Victory
- Week 3 SEC Power Rankings: Did Tennessee Football’s Win Help At All?
- Week 3 AP Polls: Why Did Tennessee Football Drop in the Polls?
- Tennessee Football: Top Five Performers in 30-13 Win vs. Austin Peay
Well, it’s safe to say they were thrown to the wolves a bit too soon. To’o To’o was tasked with calling the plays in the opener against the Georgia State Panthers for a reason we’ll get to soon enough. And he did a miserably job of it as well as staying in position. He just wasn’t ready for that spotlight yet.
Meanwhile, the offensive line struggled severely. Wright and Morris weren’t settled in as starters year, as Jim Chaney and Will Friend spent the first part of the season trying to find the right combination of guys. By the time Wright and Morris were settled in, they were already 1-3. However, since the bye, all of these guys have improved dramatically.
The linemen still have growing pains, but they get better every week. And To’o To’o has proven his ability to be a star in the making at inside linebacker, while Quavaris Crouch is also now able to play more there. Brian Maurer also got better when he wasn’t getting hurt at quarterback, and JT Shrout was crucial in the win over the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Top five Vols performers in win vs. Kentucky. light. Related Story
Now, the early playing time for the freshmen was a huge plus for the Vols. It will serve Jeremy Pruitt well going forward given the fact that he needs to replace lots of key talent after this year anyway. He’s set at offensive tackle, inside linebacker and quarterback. That’s a big deal.