Tennessee Vols' Butch Jones gives first depth chart

photo Butch Jones, Tennessee's head football coach, speaks during a news conference in this file photo.

KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee football program released its preseason two-deep depth chart Tuesday afternoon.

It’s the first depth chart first-year coach Butch Jones has released during his tenure, and it mostly reflects how the Volunteers ended spring practice more than three months ago.

“All that does is it tells us who lines up first when fall camp arrives,” he said before spring practice when asked about releasing a depth chart.

And it could change quite a bit by the time Tennessee opens the season against Austin Peay one month from today.

At quarterback, Justin Worley and Nathan Peterman are bracketed as starters, and two of the more notable items are the absence of tailback Marlin Lane and Curt Maggitt’s second-team status behind Brent Brewer at outside linebacker.

Lane was suspended for the end of spring practice as Rajion Neal and Alden Hill, one of the spring’s surprises, staked their claim to the top of the backfield pecking order, but the junior rejoined the Vols for summer workouts.

Maggitt missed spring practice as he recovered from the torn ACL he suffered against Missouri last November, and Jones said at SEC media days last month he expects the junior to be ready for the start of practice Friday afternoon.

At two positions that should feature intriguing competition during camp, Alex Bullard is listed as the starter ahead of Marcus Jackson at left guard and LaDarrell McNeil is ahead of Byron Moore alongside Brian Randolph at safety.

Six freshman or first-year players dot the depth chart: tight end Wood Quinn; receivers MarQuez North and Paul Harris, an early enrollee; and cornerbacks Riyahd Jones, Malik Foreman and Cameron Sutton.

Jones and six players, including Worley, will address the media at 11 a.m. today.

Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com, and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/patrickbrowntfp

Upcoming Events