Tennessee football: 10 players Vols can least afford to lose for 2022

With a ton of returning talent and lots of new additions to offset key losses, Josh Heupel has done a great job helping Tennessee football build up its depth in 2022. In fact, in most places, the bodies are there, something that you couldn’t say back in 2021 given all the departures that occurred after Jeremy Pruitt’s firing.

Still, depth is thinner in some places, and just because there are lots of players at a position, it doesn’t mean there is a plethora of proven quality players. That could make it tough on the Vols depending on the players they lose to injury this year, which will inevitably happen somewhere.

A season-ending injury to Juwan Mitchell wrecked UT’s linebackers in 2021. As we get set to break down such injuries, or any other type of absence from certain players, that would devastate the Vols most, the quality of the player and depth of the position matter. Here are the 10 Vols Tennessee football can least afford to lose.

6’0″ 190 pounds

Yes, he struggled in the Music City Bowl against the Purdue Boilermakers in Alontae Taylor’s spot. However, Warren Burrell is at least proven as a No. 2 cornerback, and there’s the potential he developed into the No. 1 role in the offseason for Tennessee football. He’s the only returning starter not at safety for UT.

Taking that into account, it’s crucial that Burrell stay on the field. Although where he starts is in question, he’ll start somewhere, and his familiarity with the system is a huge deal. You can also add in his familiarity just playing at this level, as he’s started at some point every year since 2019.

Although Heupel loaded up on transfers and newcomers in the secondary, a guy like Burrell is still crucial. Pass defense is already a big question for Tennessee football heading into this year. Losing one of its most reliable, experienced players, even if he doesn’t turn out to be the best player there, would make it a bigger problem.