Tennessee football: Projecting two-deep depth chart for 2022

Right tackle

1. Jeremiah Crawford

With Cade Mays gone and K’Rojhn Calbert transferring, this is the biggest question for Tennessee football on offense. Jeremiah Crawford makes sense here, though. He’s the one guy Josh Heupel signed in his 2021 recruiting class, and the junior college transfer was the Vols’ highest-graded offensive lineman last year.

Now, he only played 104 snaps in the regular season, but he was primarily at left tackle, a much harder role. As a result, it makes sense to move him over to right tackle this year and let him start his final season of eligibility. Crawford clearly has the talent to, so the job is his.

2. Dayne Davis

For two years in a row, Dayne Davis was a standout spring practice player. However, once a walk-on, he is meant to be a rotational lineman, but he’s not somebody likely to stand out up front. Davis was Mays’ backup at right tackle last year, and he’ll be Crawford’s backup there this year.

That doesn’t mean he won’t provide value. Again, Josh Heupel’s system calls for a deep rotation up front, and that combined with injuries means Davis will see plenty of action. He had two starts in 2021. As a result, he’ll still be a key rotational player even if he’s not the full-time main starter.