Tennessee football: 10 Vols who need a good spring practice in 2022

Nothing is ever fully settled in spring practice. After all, it’s before Summer workouts, fall camp and even the start of the season, all of which allows players to win starting jobs. However, spring ball is still crucial in many ways, and given the roster makeup of Tennessee football, certain players need it much more than others.

Spring is most crucial for players competing for a spot in a rotation where all the talent hasn’t arrived yet. If you’re competing for a role and new guys are coming in August, those new guys will get more of a look, so this is your chance to stand out.

In addition to players competing for starting roles, the age of players is crucial too. If you’re a veteran in such competition, this is likely going to be your last chance to play, so you’ve got to make an impact. Let’s take a look at who fits this bill for Tennessee football. This is our ranking of the 10 Vols who need a good spring practice.

6’4″ 325 pounds

There’s only one position battle on the offensive line, right tackle, and everybody who could play that role is on campus. However, rotational interior linemen are crucial too, as somebody has to back up Jerome Carvin and Javontez Spraggins. With Masai Reddick not coming until August, guys he might supplant need to stand out.

Ollie Lane could end up being one of those guys. The local kid who went to Gibbs High School in Corryton, Tenn., which is still in Knox County, saw five starts last year due to injuries. However, he isn’t anywhere close to being a lock in the rotation given the competition.

As a result, Lane needs this spring to solidify himself as an interior lineman. It’s not as crucial for him as others, though, because he has two years of eligibility left, so this isn’t his last chance to play. Also, he serves as Tennessee football’s backup center now to Cooper Mays, so he has multiple ways to see the field.