Tennessee football: Top 10 in-state Vols on 2020 roster

Hometown: Memphis, Tenn.

One of Jeremy Pruitt’s first major pickups for Tennessee football was securing Jerome Carvin out of Cordova High School if the Memphis area just weeks after he took the head coaching job during the Early Signing Period in 2017. Carvin was a four-star recruit, and at 6’5″ 313 pounds, he has played in all but one game during his two years on Rocky Top.

Last year, Carvin emerged as the starter at right guard down the stretch of the season, and he helped the Vols go 6-1 over their final seven games after moving into that role. Entering this year, he figures to be a rotational player again, and he could be starting at right guard while also spending time at center behind sixth-year senior Brandon Kennedy.

However, we had to move Carvin down a spot on this list for one reason: the arrival of Cade Mays. If Mays receives and eligibility waiver to play, he will likely be the starting guard alongside Kennedy and Trey Smith, relegating Carvin to a rotational player. He’s still a valuable player, nonetheless, who will see the field a good bit no matter what happens.

As of right now, Jeremy Pruitt and Jim Chaney have nine proven guys they know will be able to be a part of their offensive line rotation, and Carvin is one of them. If he receives that waiver, Mays will be the 10th guy. But Carvin providing a level of versatility by being able to play center and guard and providing quality depth and experience puts him on this list.