1. Start well. The smattering of offseason hot-seat talk around coach Butch Jones has been put largely to rest by first-year athletic director John Currie. But the vocal minority of "negaVols" will grow and start clamoring for change if Tennessee loses its season opener to Georgia Tech. Tennessee needed overtime to beat Appalachian State in last year's opener, and that was before widespread injuries struck the team. There is no Sun Belt opponent to begin the 2017 schedule. It's an ACC foe that went 3-0 against SEC competition last season. Georgia Tech's uncommon triple-option offense throws another element of intrigue into a tough matchup. Whatever the outcome of that game, the Volunteers will need to have at least one quarterback playing with confidence when they head to Florida for game number three and a contest that will set the tone for the SEC East race.
2. Stay healthy. The Vols seemed on their way to an SEC East title for the first time since 2007 when they cracked due to mounting injuries last season. They enter the 2017 campaign thin on the defensive line and inexperienced at running back and wide receiver. Injuries at those positions could be devastating. Several Vols have said they plan to be more intentional about using the weight room between games this year to continue the strides toward better health and physicality they have made under new strength and conditioning coach Rock Gullickson.
3. Value the football. Jones was preaching the importance of ball security early in Tennessee's preseason camp, and with good reason. The Vols tied for 119th out of 128 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision teams last year with 14 fumbles lost. Kentucky's 16 fumbles lost was the only total worse in the SEC. Five of Tennessee's 14 fumbles came in a 45-38 loss to Texas A&M. With a new offensive coordinator and a new starting quarterback working the kinks out, the Vols cannot afford to be reckless with the football this season.
Butch Jones directs the game. The annual Spring Orange and White Football game was held at Neyland Stadium on April 22, 2017.Special Teams Depth Chart
KICKER
Aaron Medley, Sr., 6-2/203
Brent Cimaglia, Fr., 6-1/193
HOLDER
Parker Henry, R-Jr., 6-1/187
LONG SNAPPER (FIELD GOALS)
Elijah Medford, R-Jr., 5-9/204
PUNTER
Trevor Daniel, R-Sr., 6-1/227
Joe Doyle, Fr., 6-0/196
LONG SNAPPER (PUNTS)
Riley Lovingood, R-So., 6-0/210
KICK RETURNER
Evan Berry, Sr., 5-11/2015
Marquez Callaway, So., 6-2/199
PUNT RETURNER
Marquez Callaway, So., 6-2/199
Josh Smith, Sr., 6-1/206