The Tennessee Vols had a big offseason, particularly on defense with the addition of Jim Knowles and all the talent he brought over from Penn State. However, one area still remains underrated and that's the offensive line. Tennessee has a big, physical unit up front, and it's beginning to be retooled and reloaded as one of the better groups in the nation.
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CBS Sports broke down the best returning offenses in college football across different categories, including returning offensive line production. Tennessee came in at No. 6 in the nation and was the top-ranked SEC team which is no small feat at all.
Tennessee is bringing back one of the best offensive lines in the country
Tennessee brings back one of the best units at arguably the most important position outside of quarterback: the offensive line. What stands out most is that the Vols only lost 5.5% of their pass-block snaps and still ranked No. 11 in sacks allowed.
Joey Aguilar wasn’t the most mobile quarterback either, and if Faizon Brandon wins the job, he could really benefit from his dual-threat ability. MacIntyre also brings the ability to tuck the ball and run when needed.
The expected starting group from left to right is likely Ory Williams, Wendell Moe Jr., Sam Pendleton, Jesse Perry, and David Sanders Jr. This is a very solid group, with Donovan Haslam, a former West Virginia starter, and former Vol starter Shamurad Umarov is also competing for a spot.
Sanders at right tackle could make the biggest jump out of this group. He was solid as a true freshman and possesses the combination of size and athleticism that projects for him to be a potential first-round NFL Draft pick. A lot of people are also high on Jesse Perry as a redshirt freshman, who only allowed three sacks in nearly 400 pass-blocking snaps. He should take another step forward as well. Wendell Moe has been a four-year player between Arizona and Tennessee and brings a ton of experience. The offensive line has a strong group of big-time players, and the numbers back it up, which should help keep Tennessee's offense afloat.
What makes this group even more special is that Tennessee will likely be trotting out a quarterback who has never started before, whether it’s Faizon Brandon or George MacIntyre. That should allow the offensive line to help settle him in and give him some support. The last thing Tennessee needs is a young quarterback running around like a chicken with his head cut off.
The Vols also have DeSean Bishop, one of the best running backs in the nation. Bishop helps cover up offensive line mistakes and takes pressure off the quarterback. With Heupel emphasizing the run game more, Tennessee has a strong core to build around its starting quarterback.
Overall, the offense might lack experience in some spots, but up front Tennessee has one of the best units in the nation, and they should help bridge the learning curve for the Vols next season.
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