KNOXVILLE – For all sorts of reasons, the Tennessee football offensive linemen are looking forward to the rest of 2019.
That’s partly because 2018 wasn’t a lot to write home about.
Now five practices into spring workouts, the unit already has started to show improvement after being one of the team’s more visible weaknesses a year ago. In the first year under then-offensive coordinator Tyson Helton, the Volunteers’ offensive line was unable to consistently protect quarterback Jarrett Guarantano and backup Keller Chryst, each of whom became a hittable target virtually every time he dropped back to pass.
Helton departed for Western Kentucky and was eventually replaced by former Georgia offensive coordinator Jim Chaney, a more experienced play-caller. That, along with another year with offensive line coach Will Friend and with strength and conditioning coach Craig Fitzgerald should make the line noticeably better this season.
As for depth, the Vols lost three-year starter Drew Richmond but return Brandon Kennedy, who started the season opener at center but tore an ACL in practice a week later. And they have added five freshman offensive linemen, two of whom – Chris Akporoghene and Wanya Morris – are already on campus. Akporoghene has sat out the first part of spring with a knee injury, but Morris, a five-star recruit, has been able to come in immediately and start improving.