Tennessee’s Ty Chandler breaks off a long run against Missouri during a home game in November 2018.QUARTERBACKS
What’s known is that Jarrett Guarantano is the unquestioned starter at the position. The junior started all 12 games in 2018, and having a year knowing what head coach Jeremy Pruitt wants to do can only help. It also helps having spent a lot of time with new offensive coordinator Jim Chaney this offseason, developing a relationship with the Volunteers’ play-caller. Behind him sits a competition between a pair of freshmen, J.T. Shrout – who redshirted last season – and Brian Maurer, who enrolled early.
RUNNING BACKS
Ty Chandler showed how dynamic he could be as a sophomore with two touchdowns covering at least 75 yards. Chaney’s plan is likely to find ways to get Chandler the ball in space, where he could be most effective. Junior Tim Jordan filled in nicely when called upon and had a 100-yard rushing performance in the 2018 opener against West Virginia, but behind the pair lie questions. Jeremy Banks – who played on both sides of the ball last season – seems more entrenched at running back this season and could provide some power between the tackles, while true freshman Eric Gray could fill a role similar to Chandler. Senior Carlin Fils-aime is a wild card who has shown an ability to be a playmaker, with five touchdowns in his career.
RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
It’s a senior-led group, led by Marquez Callaway and Jauan Jennings. The pair, along with Brandon Johnson and Tyler Byrd, give the Vols four receiver who have played a lot of football at Tennessee. Juniors Josh Palmer and Jordan Murphy have taken steps to be playmakers, with Palmer slated to start along with Callaway and Jennings. Senior tight end Dominick Wood-Anderson gives Guarantano another option, having caught two touchdown passes in 2018. His improved blocking will make him hard to take off the field this season.
OFFENSIVE LINE
In the past two seasons, seven Vols linemen have had to retire due to medical reasons, the most recent being Nathan Niehaus, who started six games in 2018. Not much has been answered as far as how much better the group has gotten heading into this season, as a lot hinges on the health of junior Trey Smith, who is attempting to play after missing the final five games of last season due to blood clots. Brandon Kennedy started the 2018 season opener at center before being lost for the season with a knee injury and is still working his way back. Much has been made of the four-player signing class, led by Wanya Morris and Darnell Wright, and there also have been some positive early returns on the play of K’Rojhn Calbert and Marcus Tatum.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3 or at Facebook.com/VolsUpdate.