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Tennessee football’s top 10 in-state players for 2022

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee running back Jabari Small (2) during a game against Pittsburgh at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021.Kns Tennessee Pittsburgh Football
Tennessee running back Jabari Small (2) during a game against Pittsburgh at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021.Kns Tennessee Pittsburgh Football /
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Tennessee offensive lineman Ollie Lane (78) at practice on Tuesday, September 3, 2019.Kns Vols Filmstudy
Tennessee offensive lineman Ollie Lane (78) at practice on Tuesday, September 3, 2019.Kns Vols Filmstudy /

Even if the state isn’t as deep as Alabama, Georgia or Florida, Tennessee football has been at its best when building its team around in-state talent. Josh Heupel missed out on lots of in-state players in the Vols’ 2022 recruiting class, but that had a lot to do with low expectations for the program last summer and the NCAA investigation.

This doesn’t mean the Vols don’t have players from within the state who will be key to the team this season, though. Many returning guys have been valuable parts of the program for a few years now, and some of them took a huge extra step in Heupel’s system.

Even if it’s thinner than in years past, particularly with the Vols in their heyday, they still need those players going forward. Who is most crucial, though? Well, let’s break that down here. Excluding any newcomers, this is a ranking of Tennessee football’s 10 most important in-state players entering the 2022 season.

Offensive lineman. Senior. 10. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Ollie Lane. 839

6’4″ 325 pounds

There are four starters and four more rotational players returning on the line for the Vols. Of those four rotational players, the two primary contributors last year are from within the state, both from the eastern portion. Ollie Lane is a local Knox County kid, hailing from Corryton, Tenn., and graduating from Gibbs High School.

The other is Dayne Davis, who was once a walk-on, hails from Bluff City, Tenn., and graduated from Sullivan East High School. Although Davis has a chance to be a starter this year, Lane gets the nod as the more crucial in-state player for Rocky Top.

Last year, Lane played over 100 more snaps and had a higher PFF regular season grade. While Davis is locked in at tackle, Lane is the utility interior lineman, filling in wherever somebody is hurt. Tennessee football will be hurt at some point at guard or center, so Lane will se tons of action, and his play will be crucial, especially if he steps in at center.

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