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

Hometown: Huntington, W. Va.

Although K’Rojhn Calbert and Jahmir Johnson can provide value at tackle for Tennessee football, Darnell Wright is a rising star, and the exterior of the Vols’ offensive line is not as proven as the interior. A player with Wright’s talent, however, helps to provide a major advantage provided he lives up to the expectations he had coming out of Huntington High School in West Virginia.

The only unanimous five-star in Rocky Top’s 2019 recruiting class, Wright started most of last season at right tackle. There was a developmental curve, however, as he was not an early enrollee and also had to battle a couple of injuries. That should all be behind him now, allowing for an explosive emergence of one of the most talented players on the team.

Wright is penciled in as the one starter at right tackle once again this year. At 6’6″ 330 pounds, he provides great value over replacement. Jeremy Pruitt has done a great job rebuilding the line, and the depth is there, but it’s not as strong at this position, and nobody is at the level Wright should be at.

Battling injuries last year, though, could make Wright staying in the lineup a bit of a concern. If he is knocked out, UT could have some issues. It comes down to depth more than the people behind him, but Will Friend needs a deep rotation for Jim Chaney’s offense to do what it can do.