KNOXVILLE – Tennessee’s deep, veteran offensive line was supposed to be a stabilizing force for an otherwise young offense in 2017, and it still could be.
That preseason storyline is quickly becoming outdated, however, as the Volunteers approach the halfway point of training camp with several linemen nursing injuries and some unexpected buzz coming from elsewhere on the offense.
Fresh off the news that right tackle Chance Hall will miss the season with a knee injury, Tennessee’s coaches unleashed a wave of optimism this week about a crop of young running backs and receivers who entered preseason practice under the radar but have emerged during camp.
Head coach Butch Jones left little ambiguity Tuesday in saying about his freshman running backs that “all three are going to have to play, and they’re going to be important to the success of our season.”
Physical talent is assumed in the players the coaching staff recruited, but Jones and first-year offensive coordinator Larry Scott are impressed with how newly arrived running backs Ty Chandler, Timothy Jordan and Trey Coleman have adapted mentally to the college game through nine practices.