Who is Starting at Left Guard?
Four-fifths of the offensive line is almost completely set in stone: Lance Heard at left tackle, Cooper Mays at center, Javontez Spraggins at right guard, and John Campbell Jr at right tackle. However, the left guard position is far from settled. The names listed on the roster who could contribute are Jackson Lampley, Sham Umarov, and Andrej Karic.
Lampley is a 6' 5", 325 lb redshirt senior who could be a lot like Ollie Lane last year, a solid veteran who knows what to do and where to be but lacks the high-end talent. Karic is a 6' 6", 314 lb senior who has struggled to see the field after transferring from Texas, but if he can take a step forward, he can be the answer the Vols are looking for.
Umarov is an interesting case; he's a former 4-star redshirt freshman and sits at a massive 6' 7" and 330 lbs, who could legitimately compete for a starting position. As a freshman, he saw action in four games, which is impressive as the offensive line is widely considered a developmental position. He has the highest ceiling of the three but probably the lowest floor as well.