KNOXVILLE - The last time Tennessee went through a football coaching transition, the Volunteers relied heavily on freshmen for three straight seasons as they restocked the program with talent.
By the end of Butch Jones' first season as coach in 2013, the Vols were led by a true freshman quarterback, Joshua Dobbs, and receiving key contributions from a trio of freshman receivers: Marquez North, Jason Croom and Josh Smith.
Defensively, cornerback Cam Sutton started every game on his way to Freshman All-SEC honors. Classmates Devaun Swafford and Malik Foreman also made contributions in the secondary that season, while Corey Vereen and Danny O'Brien played their way into the defensive line rotation.
This time around, as Jeremy Pruitt inherits the program, the Vols have a deeper list of proven veterans who are likely to stock the depth chart when the team opens the season against West Virginia on Sept. 1.
But there are at least a few freshmen who could make an immediate impact, and several others who will get a chance as the season continues.
Here are five freshmen to watch:
1. Alontae Taylor, cornerback
Whether it comes in the season opener or not, Taylor appears destined for a starting opportunity. The former do-it-all star for Coffee County Central has impressed during preseason practices after putting in a solid performance as a second-team cornerback during the Orange and White game in April.
Expect Pruitt to do what he can to manage the expectations around Taylor, but it's clear he's a talented player. Given the lack of proven cornerbacks on the roster, Taylor is in prime position to contribute immediately.
2. Paxton Brooks, punter
As long snapper Riley Lovingood recently put it, "finding a punter like Trevor Daniel is not easy at all." Daniel exhausted his eligibility last year as Tennessee's all-time leader in yards per punt (45.9). The battle to replace him is between Brooks and redshirt freshman walk-on Joe Doyle. Brooks, a scholarship player from West Columbia, South Carolina, was inconsistent in the spring game, but enrolling early benefited the lanky punter.
"It's actually a really big deal for a punter to come in and get adjusted to the speed of the college game, because in high school you can take a little longer on your punts, because there's not really a big rush," Lovingood said. "Paxton came in and learned really fast and was really willing to adopt our styles."
3. Cedric Tillman, wide receiver
An unheralded, diamond-in-the-rough recruit from Las Vegas, Tillman looks imposing enough to compete early at the college level. He'll be behind a trio of proven veterans in Jauan Jennings, Brandon Johnson and Marquez Callaway to start the season, but there is room behind them for Tillman to emerge and get some targets from Tennessee's quarterback.
4. Bryce Thompson, defensive back
Could there be room for another true freshman in the secondary rotation in addition to Taylor? If so, Bryce Thompson stands out among a massive chase pack that includes fellow true freshmen Trevon Flowers and Brandon Davis as well as redshirt freshmen Cheyenne Labruzza and Terrell Bailey.
Thompson was recruited as an athlete and could also get a look at wide receiver at some point, but his athletic ability and Tennessee's lack of depth in the secondary make him a solid candidate to play early.
5. A defensive lineman to be named later
Tennessee would welcome the emergence of a contributor from a group of freshman defensive linemen that includes Greg Emerson, Kingston Harris, John Mincey and Kurott Garland. The Vols have four senior defensive linemen they will rely on. They also have a few versatile outside linebackers who can slide onto the defensive line.
As the season goes on and injuries accumulate, however, the Vols surely will need at least one freshman defensive lineman to emerge and play well.
Contact David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DavidWCobb and on Facebook at facebook.com/volsupdate.