Quarterback: This one seems pretty obvious as Quinten Dormady and Jarrett Guarantano continue to battle it out for the starting job, but also worthy of attention is the scramble between a redshirt sophomore walk-on, true freshman scholarship player, and likely two true freshmen walk-ons for the third string spot. For what it's worth, I think Zac Jancek is trailing Will McBride right now, but I also don't think that door is closed. Ultimately, the staff would like to redshirt McBride, and I imagine they would also like to redshirt Seth Washington and Brandon Hines assuming health allows for that. This may make Jancek the #3 by default barring injury as he could be the only player other than Dormady and Guarantano not on track for a redshirt. As for the winner between Dormady and Guarantano, consistency will be the name of the game. Whoever can complete passes with the highest percentage and the fewest turnovers/50-50 balls is probably going to have the best chance to start. This spring, that player was Dormady, but he's not a shoe-in to start just yet.
Running back: The starter is clear and undisputed. John Kelly will be the top back to start the season barring an injury or a freshman doing something insane in the next month. Of more interest is who the two or three backs sharing carries with Kelly is the much more interesting question. Ty Chandler and Carlin Fils-aime seem the obvious answers, but it's worth bearing in mind that Fils-aime still has plenty to prove and Chandler has proven just as much as Trey Coleman and Tim Jordan the college game. All three freshmen backs have earned praise at times this summer, but none of that has happened in pads. The trio are also all bigger than Fils-aime and in particular Jordan looks to have his frame very nicely filled out and college ready. Jordan's neck is unnaturally thick, while Coleman and Chandler have much more the type of physique one might expect of a true freshman. I don't think any of the five backs will redshirt based on how the staff has used backs in the past, but the top three will handle almost all of the non-garbage time carries along with the quarterbacks. For my part, I'd guess at Chandler and Jordan spelling Kelly in that order.
Wide receiver: If you're a wide receiver at Tennessee and your name isn't Jauan Jennings, you are playing for your spot in the rotation in camp. Jennings is clearly the only player secure in his job. Josh Smith has something to prove after an underwhelming redshirt junior campaign that showed none of the flashes of brilliance he had shown as a true sophomore and redshirt sophomore. Tyler Byrd needs to turn promise into results, particularly in the form of touchdowns. Marquez Callaway's insane athleticism has to translate finally. Brandon Johnson has to prove himself to be healthy. Jeff George will have to earn the playing time he received last year again this year by producing, something he often neglected to do last season. Latrell Williams needs to show off the speed that made him a coveted piece in the 2016 class. All the freshmen will have to show what they've got, but one in particular who has gotten some summer praise has been Josh Palmer. No guesses as to the order of the receivers is wrong, but if I were betting on the starting trio I'd guess at the three dogs in the group: Jennings, Byrd, and Callaway.
Tight end: Ethan Wolf is the starter. At the end of spring, Jakob Johnson was the #2. Eli Wolf is also a strong candidate to play at tight end this season. There's really only one wild card in the group right now and that is LaTrell Bumphus, who has the size you'd like in a tight end at 6-3, 258 and has displayed promise. If Bumphus doesn't break through into the rotation, I don't think Austin Pope will at this time and the Wolf brothers and Johnson will handle the bulk of the work at that position.
Offensive line: One of the most dramatic sets of battles, but it's in the best way. Tennessee has a lot of talented and proven options throughout the group and there will be plenty of shuffling. Trey Smith, Brett Kendrick, Chance Hall, Marcus Tatum, and Drew Richmond will jockey for position at tackle. At guard, Venzell Boulware, Jack Jones, Ryan Johnson, and maybe Jashon Robertson, K'Rohjn Calbert, and Chance Hall will battle it out for the starting roles. Jashon Robertson will also compete with Coleman Thomas at center. Options abound and there's no reason to think this won't be a very good offensive line, no matter who starts where.
Defensive tackle: The position battles are less interesting than tracking player health, specifically the health of Shy Tuttle. If he isn't competing because he isn't there yet, the starters are pretty clearly Kahlil McKenzie and Kendal Vickers. If Tuttle is healthy, he will battle for one of the starting jobs. Otherwise, Alexis Johnson and Quay Picou are the most likely guys to play, although likely defensive end Matthew Butler can also play some tackle when needed.
Defensive end: This is as dramatic as it gets. Two five stars and a four star will battle to win two starting jobs in Jonathan Kongbo, Kyle Phillips, and Darrell Taylor. Beyond them, two freshmen appear to be the most likely contributors in Matthew Butler and early enrollee Deandre Johnson, although converted linebacker Ja'Quain Blakely will look to make progress after a rough spring. No one is guaranteed anything right now. These six players will have to earn it every single day of practice. They will likely jockey back and forth throughout camp, but for now I'm going with the spring leaders to be the starters come September 4th: Jonathan Kongbo and Darrell Taylor.
Linebacker: The drama is all at the outside spots as Darrin Kirkland Jr. is the man in the middle. As for the outside linebacker spots, there are at least favorites to start right now in Cortez McDowell and Austin Smith. Still, Daniel Bituli, who is the likely #2 in the middle, is a possibility to play outside as well. Quart'e Sapp is healthy again and ready to push for a job. Colton Jumper appears to be a possibility at both outside linebacker spots, and Dillon Bates is reportedly right there with Jumper for the strongside #2 job. The good news with the weakside and middle linebackers is they are somewhat interchangeable, so Bituli really is a candidate to start there. If he does, all this gets blown up as the depth charts change completely.
Cornerback: I'm including nickel here because the #2 nickel is definitely a battle with Shawn Shamburger and Baylen Buchanan possible options there. Justin Martin is currently the favorite to win the boundary corner job and Rashaan Gaulden should continue to handle the nickel duties. Who will play the field corner is tougher to figure out as graduate transfer Shaq Wiggins and Emmanuel Moseley are likely to duke it out for the starting job. Cheyenne Labruzza, Marquill Osborne, and even Shamburger could throw a wrench into Martin's plans, while Terrell Bailey will try to catch up quickly to compete with Wiggins and Moseley, not for the top job but for the #2 duties. Osborne has the ability to also play at nickel and even field corner, making him one of the most versatile corners on the roster. D.J. Henderson could come along late in the game, but so far he's likely relegated to a reserve role.
Safety: Todd Kelly Jr. is locked in as the starter at strong safety. As for free safety, right now it appears to be Nigel Warrior, but Micah Abernathy is healthy again and the same is true for Evan Berry. I would still lean towards Warrior as the starter, but Abernathy started ten games last season and can't be dismissed in the competition. Berry, on the other hand, has been a bit easier to dismiss as he has yet to really emerge on defense in the way he has on special teams. Regardless, right now these four are likely the two deep at safety. Maleik Gray is converting from high school linebacker to safety and Theo Jackson is a little light to play SEC safety right now. Both look more likely to help on special teams if they don't redshirt.
Punt returner: This is really the only other competition, and that is because the staff will be looking for a reliable returner to replace Alvin Kamara and Cam Sutton, who handled the bulk of the punts the last two seasons. Of the few punts that the two current NFL players didn't handle, two went to Marquez Callaway, and he was electric both times, returning one for a touchdown and averaging 57 yards per return with a long of 62. Josh Smith has also handled punts in the past, but he offers more of a steady hand rather than any explosiveness in the role. I favor Callaway to handle the job, but any player who has that kind of explosion in the open field will give themselves a chance.
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