Tennessee's 2017 Opponents, Part 1

• Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets/Rambling Wreck are an intriguing team and a popular darkhorse ACC Coastal pick. Unfortunately that is probably mostly predicated on the fact that Georgia Tech exceeded expectations last season while ignoring some important personnel losses like quarterback Justin Thomas, who put up 7,157 yards of total offense and accounted for 62 touchdowns over the last four seasons. Here's the kicker: Georgia Tech has no clear-cut replacement for Thomas, with the two most likely candidates being Matthew Jordan and TaQuon Marshall, a pair of juniors with little experience at the quarterback position between them. Now, the news on offense certainly isn't all bad as a dynamic trio of backs returns in Dedrick Mills, Clinton Lynch, and JJ Green. Mills handles the B-back duties and is a bigger back who is very capable of picking up the tough yards. JJ Green and Clinton Lynch are the A-backs and both offer up good change of direction skills. Qua Searcy is another quality option at the A-back, but Georgia Tech lost a very good player in Marcus Marshall, who was the #2 rusher by yardage last year and third on the team in all-purpose yards. Marshall has transferred to James Madison. Tech also needs to replace the center and left tackle on the offensive line but the staff seems to be optimistic about the OL, hoping to build on the second lowest rushing yard per game average in Paul Johnson's tenure at 258.1 yards per game. The starting wide receivers return for whatever that's worth. A-back Clinton Lynch was the leading receiver last season with wideouts Ricky Jeune and Brad Stewart accounting for 25 receptions, 427 yards, and a touchdown and 19 receptions, 382 yards, and no touchdowns respectively. The days of Calvin Johnson and Demaryius Thomas at GT have clearly come and gone. Defensively, Tech has questions to answer throughout it's front six. The presumed starting linebackers combined for a whole 6.5 tackles for loss last season. Their projected starters on the defensive line accounted for an unimpressive 10 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. That means that last season the anticipated starters for Georgia Tech's front six were far from impressive. However, pass against the Tech secondary at your own risk as all five of the starters return after combining for 13 interceptions and 32 passes broken up. Georgia Tech will likely be relying on freshmen to take over the kicking duties this season. As much as people are picking the Jackets to match or even improve on last season, it's equally possible that they will fail to match last season's win total and could take a step back.
• Indiana State: The Sycamores went 4-7 last season in the Missouri Valley Conference, and I feel like that's probably the best possible starting point here is to establish that Indiana State isn't on Tennessee's level at all. In the spring game, ISU's quarterbacks combined for 23-55 with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Issac Harker, last season's starter, went 5 of 13 for 33 yards. Freshman Zach Larkin got a fair bit of work and might be Harker's top competition for the #1 job. The Sycamores will be looking for a new top running back. Dimitri Taylor is the returning leading rusher with 451 yards and a touchdown on 107 carries in 2016, but in the spring game he seemed to give up some ground to another former top back at ISU in LeMonte Booker (missed last season with an ACL tear) and perhaps even a true freshman in Jason Berango. The Sycamores are hoping to see overall improvement in their running game this season after only managing 1,729 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. All of last season's starting wideouts are gone, but #2's Bob Pugh and Kelvin Cook return along with starting tight end Jacquet McClendon, although McClendon is primarly a blocker. The interior of the offensive line returns, but replacements must be found for three of the top four offensive tackle options from last season. The defensive ends and a linebacker return in the front six of ISU's 3-3-5 defense. The returners in the front six combined for 105 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, and 8 sacks, so there is some talent to work with, but finding people to fill the remaining holes will be important in trying to improve on last season. In the secondary, the nickel and both safeties must be replaced, but the starting corners from last season return. All of last season's key specialists return, and LeMonte Booker has excelled on kickoff returns in the past.
• Florida: Any conversation about a team begins with the quarterbacks, and opinions vary greatly on the Gator's current quarterback situation. Luke Del Rio didn't exactly set the world on fire when he was playing last season, with Austin Appleby ultimately producing the better numbers after Del Rio's season officially ended with an injury. Felippe Franks was a top quarterback recruit in the 2016 class who ultimately redshirted last year before throwing his name very much in the mix this spring. Then, because that quarterback room wasn't already crowded and complicated, Florida added graduate transfer quarterback Malik Zaire from Notre Dame. Zaire is known to have plenty of talent but he's yet to really put things together yet. So that's three possible starters and no clear answer as to how things will pan out. Florida has options at running back, the three best appearing to be Jordan Scarlett, Mark Thompson, and Lamical Perine. An interesting possibility is Kadarius Toney, who got looks at running back in the spring. Antonio Callaway, Brandon Powell, and Tyrie Cleveland appear to be the top receiving options out wide, having combined for 113 receptions, 1,406 yards, and 7 touchdowns. Top two tight ends DeAndre Goolsby and C'yontai Lewis chipped in 5 touchdowns on their 56 receptions and 526 yards. Those five have and likely will continue to provide the bulk of the receiving production. Freddie Swain and Josh Hammond will also continue to have roles in the rotation. There has been some shuffling along the offensive line with Martez Ivey moving from left guard to left tackle, prompting Fred Johnson to replace Ivey. T.J. McCoy takes over at center full time. There is a fair bit of experience up front for the Gators and they should be an asset to the quarterbacks. Quality depth does appear to be a potential concern if injuries pile up. Defensively, Florida is looking for defensive tackles, outside linebackers, corner, and to find a permanent solution to the revolving door at end opposite CeCe Jefferson and Jordan Sherit. Cece Jefferson is still looking to finally deliver fully on his promise after being a highly touted recruit. Sherit has been solid but unspectacular. Promising redshirt sophomore Jabari Zuniga only started three games last year but is the Gators returning leader in tackles for loss and sacks. Physically impressive upperclassmen Khairi Clark and Taven Bryan appear to be the top options to take over at defensive tackle, but both have plenty to prove as the two juniors have a combined 59 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks to their credit. Freshmen like Elijah Conliffe, Kyree Campbell, and Zachary Carter have opportunities present for playing time on the defensive line. David Reese appears to have things pretty well locked down at middle linebacker, but the two outside jobs are very much up for grabs. Redshirt sophomore Kylan Johnson appears to be a strong candidate to win one of the open spots with redshirt freshman Jeremiah Moon positioning himself well for the other job. Moon was on his way toward playing a fair bit as a freshman before a season-ending injury. Former nickel Duke Dawson appears likely to take over at one of the starting corner spots while season-ending starting safety Chauncey Gardner Jr. appears to be the frontrunner for the other vacant corner opening. Nick Washington should take over at one of the safety spots after starting six games there before having his season derailed by injury, and Marcell Harris should carry over his starting role from last season into this one. Second team All-SEC placekicker Eddy Pineiro returns as does All-American punter Johnny Townsend. It's not set in stone, but Antonio Callaway is likely to handle return duties on both kickoffs and punts.
• Massachusetts: One of the few remaining independent programs in the FBS, UMass struggled last season but returns a much more experienced team in 2017. However, it's not a team without some flaws, as one would expect from a team that won two games in 2016. Quarterback Andrew Ford, a Virginia Tech transfer, had a pretty respectable season for his part, completing 60.8% of his passes for 2,665 yards and 26 touchdowns with 14 interceptions. His favorite target is high school teammate and Penn State transfer Adam Breneman, a 6-4 tight end who averaged 11.5 yards per catch while collecting 8 touchdowns on his 70 receptions. Ford's second favorite target Andy Isabella also returns after collecting 62 passes (12.9 ypr) and 7 touchdowns. The other two receiver jobs appear to be fairly wide open, but Sadiq Palmer and Brennon Dingle are the likely candidates. Last season's starting running back Marquis Young returns after accounting for 898 yards and 4 touchdowns. UMass has all of four running backs on their roster and of them only two have carried the football in a game. Only their both tackles and a guard return on the offensive line. All four defensive linemen who ended the season as starters return, having combined for 151 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks last season. Downey was a starting linebacker last year, moving down to end this season under new defensive coordinator Ed Pinkham, who has scrapped the 3-3-5 in favor of a more traditional 4-3 scheme, creating an opportunity for Shane Huber, who had 20 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and an interception in 4 games played and 3 starts last season. Colbert Calhoun and Steve Casali will continue to man the other two linebacker spots, where they accounted for 163 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks. Lee Moses and Jesse Monteiro look likely to hold down their safety jobs with Jackson Porter continuing to hold onto the corner job he ended the season with, joined by returning starter Isaiah Rodgers. UMass has some nice pieces to work with to potentially improve on last season, but there is a big talent disparity between the Vols and Minutemen.
• Georgia: Georgia is tough to pin down. They have an excellent group of running backs and some wide receiver talent, and quarterback Jacob Eason showed some flashes as a freshman. Of course, that offense was pretty bad, the running backs haven't been able to stay healthy, and the offensive line was pretty well gutted from last season. Oh, and leading receiver Isaiah McKenzie took his talents to Denver, leaving for the NFL. Jacob Eason has been believed to be pushed by freshman Jake Fromm. The running backs have to stay healthy. Talented receivers have to step up. And last but definitely not least the offensive line has to do their best to keep the running backs and quarterback upright. Bottom line: the offense is mostly one big question mark. Things look pretty bright as far as returning talent goes on defense, but whether or not that defense can take the next step is a little less clear. The defense needs the linebackers to step up and produce more like 3-4 outside linebackers. Trenton Thompson is a standout on the defensive line, but the defense needs him to go from very good to consistently dominant. Georgia is a few steps away from being very, very good and taking control of the top of the SEC East, but it's hard to say for sure whether or not that will happen this season. I'm of the opinion that there may be too many questions for them to take command of the division, even if they do manage to win it.
• South Carolina: Well, if I know anything about South Carolina, it's that they have a quarterback they like and believe  is ready to lead the team as a true sophomore. Jake Bentley is a name Vol fans wish they didn't know as well as they do. The Gamecocks should have plenty of weapons at running back as well, adding UNC transfer Ty'Son Williams to go with Rico Dowdle and A.J. Turner. A two tight end base consists of former walk-on Hayden Hurst and K.C. Crosby, who combined for 833 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns last year. The top two wideouts are back in Bryan Edwards and Deebo Samuel. Just for good measure they also return four of five starting offensive linemen. On paper, this offense should make significant strides. On defense, this is not one of Will Muschamp's Florida defenses. Certainly not at defensive end. South Carolina had 21 sacks last year, but 9 of them left with Darius English. In fact, players who produced 12 of the 21 sacks are gone. At this point, there doesn't appear to be much help coming from the 2017 class, so look for help to come from returning players or some serious struggles this season. The defensive tackles are back but Ulric Jones and Taylor Stallworth were largely unspectacular last year. The secondary returns in good shape with all four expected starters getting at least six starts under their belt last year. Skai Moore is back after redshirting last year with a neck injury and he will join Bryson Allen-Williams as leaders of the defense. Rashad Fenton looks to frequently be the 11th man as the nickel.