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Tennessee football: Updated ranking of Vols 10 assistant coaches for 2020 season

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 19: Tee Martin of the Tennessee Volunteers introduced during a break in the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 19, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 71-68. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 19: Tee Martin of the Tennessee Volunteers introduced during a break in the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 19, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 71-68. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images /

Pick Analysis. Offensive Line. 6. player. 839. Scouting Report. Third Year. Will Friend

Last year, we had Will Friend at No. 10 on this list, and there was a reason for that. Tennessee football’s offensive line was historically bad. About a third of the way through this year, he was in danger of the same thing happening to him. The line was as much of a reason as anything for the struggles early on that resulted in UT’s 0-2, 1-4 and 2-5 starts.

However, the success changes made up front, which began with the transition from the spread to the pro-style amidst a wave of injuries in the spring of 2018, finally began to show. That development is why he was able to move up to No. 6, and considering what he was dealing with, he deserves all the credit in the world.

Friend had to develop two freshman offensive tackles in the starting lineup, a starting center returning from a season-ending injury, and his bets lineman, Trey Smith, converting back from tackle to guard while returning to health after missing the end of the previous season due to blood clots. That’s an insane amount of transition to have to work with.

Well, it paid off, and the Vols began to gel significantly down the stretch of the season. Sure, those guys were all talented, but Friend had to make it come together. Now, with the arrival of Cade Mays and everybody else back, expectations are through the roof with this bunch.

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