Jauan Jennings (15) and a official come to terms after Jennings got into a scuffle with a Florida player. The Florida Gators visited the Tennessee Volunteers in a important SEC football contest at Neyland Stadium on September 24, 2016.KNOXVILLE - When Tennessee opens the 2017 football season against Georgia Tech in the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in 235 days, the Volunteers will have a much different look than the past couple of seasons.
Many of the players who became household names while helping Tennessee go from winning seven Southeastern Conference games in four seasons to having a nine-win season considered a disappointment are moving on, leaving the Vols in an unfamiliar spot.
After spending the better part of the past decade rebuilding or trying to deliver on lofty expectations, the program is in a reloading situation in which it must tap into its recruiting to replace the departing handful of talent. Much of the burden will fall on the 2015 signing class, the third-year players who now take over as the backbone of the program.
Only four scholarship players - punter Trevor Daniel, offensive lineman Brett Kendrick, receiver Josh Smith and defensive tackle Kendal Vickers - remain from the 2013 class that included the cornerstone trio of quarterback Josh Dobbs, linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin and cornerback Cameron Sutton, as well as key contributors like Malik Foreman, Corey Vereen and Dylan Wiesman.
Most of the talent from Tennessee's 2014 signing class is gone, too. Using Rivals' ratings, the Vols signed 18 four- or five-star prospects, including All-America defensive end Derek Barnett, wide receiver Josh Malone and running back Jalen Hurd, who left the program eight games into the 2016 season. Only five of those touted prospects remain: defensive backs Evan Berry, Rashaan Gaulden and Todd Kelly Jr., and linebackers Dillon Bates and Cortez McDowell.
What happened to the other 13? Barnett and Malone are entering the NFL draft early, and receiver Von Pearson and linebacker Chris Weatherd came from junior college, giving them only two years with the Vols. Defensive end Joe Henderson left the program for academic reasons, and defensive tackle Michael Sawyers was dismissed for disciplinary reasons.
Before Hurd's departure, six players from that class transferred out: receiver Vic Wharton (California), defensive back D'Andre Payne (Iowa State), tight end Daniel Helm (Duke), offensive tackle Dontavius Blair (West Alabama), defensive end Dewayne Hendrix (Pittsburgh) and running back Derrell Scott (East Carolina).
While some of the less heralded recruits of the 2014 class include offensive line starters Jashon Robertson and Coleman Thomas plus other contributors like linebacker Elliott Berry, kicker Aaron Medley, cornerback Emmanuel Moseley and tight end Ethan Wolf, most of the talent waiting in the wings comes from the 2015 haul.
The hard-running John Kelly is Tennessee's leading returning rusher and takes over in the backfield with Alvin Kamara headed to the NFL, and the ultra-competitive Jauan Jennings is the Vols' leading receiver after catching 40 passes for 580 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore.
The future of Tennessee's offensive line still lies with the third-year quartet of Venzell Boulware, Chance Hall, Jack Jones and Drew Richmond, and at quarterback Quinten Dormady will battle redshirt freshman Jarrett Guarantano to succeed Dobbs.
Linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. is expected to become Tennessee's defensive cornerstone with Barnett and Reeves-Maybin out of the picture, and safety Micah Abernathy showed flashes of difference-making talent.
The return to health from season-ending injuries of defensive tackles Kahlil McKenzie (pectoral) and Shy Tuttle (knee) is vital for the Vols' defensive future, as is finding replacements at defensive end for Barnett and Vereen.
Kyle Phillips played the majority of this past season at defensive tackle because of injuries to teammates, but he's naturally an end. Many coaches and players are eager to see what defensive end Darrell Taylor can do with a full workload of snaps.
Cornerback Justin Martin was one of the highest-rated recruits in the class, but things have not clicked for him. Defensive end Austin Smith, a converted linebacker, and linebacker Quart'e Sapp are promising players who have battled injuries their first two years with the Vols. Continued development is key for safety Stephen Griffin and defensive tackle Quay Picou.
Next season already is underway for the Vols as they start winter workouts this week with new strength coach Rock Gullickson and await more changes to the coaching staff.
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.