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Tennessee football: Top 10 dark horse Vols for 2021 season

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee linebacker Bryson Eason (20) and Tennessee offensive lineman Dayne Davis (66) at the Orange & White spring game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, April 24, 2021.Kns Vols Spring Game
Tennessee linebacker Bryson Eason (20) and Tennessee offensive lineman Dayne Davis (66) at the Orange & White spring game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, April 24, 2021.Kns Vols Spring Game /
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Tennessee tight end Hunter Salmon (89) scores a touchdown at the Orange & White spring game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, April 24, 2021.Kns Vols Spring Game
Tennessee tight end Hunter Salmon (89) scores a touchdown at the Orange & White spring game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, April 24, 2021.Kns Vols Spring Game /

Hunter Salmon. player. 839. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Tight end. 3. Redshirt sophomore

6’5″ 245 pounds; Hometown: Birmingham, Ala.

The only thing that is true about tight end at the moment is the fact that Princeton Fant is likely to start for Tennessee football this year. Sean Brown and Jackson Lowe entering the transfer portal along with Austin Pope’s forced retirement due to medical issues leaves the second tight end spot, reserved primarily for blockers, wide open.

Julian Nixon and Miles Campbell are two star freshmen who could fill the void, but they are more like receivers. Trinity Bell is the only blocking tight end among the freshman. That leaves a bit of competition between the other two returning players.

Hunter Salmon and Jacob Warren were both on the team last year. Warren saw a lot more action. As a result, the expectations are higher for Warren to actually break out. However, this is a list of dark horse Vols for a reason, and the graduate of Vestavia High School in Vestavia Hills, which is still in Alabama’s Jefferson County but just outside of Birmingham, could take that spot.

Despite redshirting in 2019 and not seeing any action in 2020, it’s possible for Salmon to break out and surprise everybody this year. If somebody gets hurt, Salmon could be the blocking tight end to complement Fant. He may be a walk-on, but he’s got potential, and he did perform in spring ball, so watch out.

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