Tennessee football: 10 players Vols can’t afford to lose in 2020

Hometown: Jackson, Tenn.

For an offensive line as deep as Tennessee football’s it’s odd that the Vols would have so many members there make this list. However, they are a bit thin on the exterior, and they have rare advantages on the interior.

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Brandon Kennedy is a rare advantage with his experience playing center. Trey Smith, however, is a rare advantage because of his generational talent. The guy has earned First Team All-SEC starting at guard twice, including once as a freshman, when he earned Freshman All-American honors. He would’ve earned All-SEC playing left tackle in 2018 if his season wasn’t cut short.

Back before the pandemic hit, the 6’6″ 330-pound graduate of the University School of Jackson shocked the world by deciding to return for his senior season. A Preseason All-American and top NFL Draft prospect, his return helped shoot up the excitement for the Vols.

If Smith does not play, UT loses a major advantage at offensive line, particularly on the interior. When he went down in 2018, the offensive line got even worse. That evidence combined with the questions surrounding Cade Mays, another guard, is what would put Smith on here. He reset expectations for Rocky Top, and losing him would ruin that resetting.

Obviously, his health is a concern with the blood clots in his lungs amidst a pandemic. Still, he’s Tennessee football’s top player, and with Jeremy Pruitt still building up the depth of his program, that’s more than enough to put him atop this list.