Let me start by saying that I don't expect all of these guys to start, but there's a lot of reason to expect all of them to play some meaningful minutes this season. Now, a caveat: I don't intend to include any offensive linemen right now. The reason for that is things are still very much in flux on the offensive line and I could probably name ten guys I expect to make an impact this season, but how big that impact might be hinges heavily on who winds up where in that pecking order that doesn't exist yet. Some inconsistent performances this camp have also made things harder to call there.
Eric Gray - You would think it might go without saying that a guy who established state records and dominated the state as a running back might make an immediate impact, and yet there's a case to be made that heading into fall camp Gray was an afterthought at the running back position. Now, he's having the kind of lead-up to the season that should have Tim Jordan looking over his shoulder when it comes to getting touches out of the backfield. Where Ty Chandler is a speedster who can flat fly once he gets into the open field, Gray is more similar to Alvin Kamara, who wasn't the fastest back but was a nightmare to tackle because of his quick-twitch movements that prevented tacklers from getting clean hits in. Gray is also an excellent receiver and kick returner, so expect to see quite a bit of the freshman back this season.
Brandon Johnson - As a sophomore, Johnson looked like one of the most consistent receivers on the roster and was seemingly poised for a big junior season. That never materialized with the return of Jauan Jennings and emergence of Josh Palmer, and ultimately Johnson fell out of use and had arguably his worst season in Knoxville. If camp has been any indication, Johnson has absolutely no intentions of repeating last year's struggles as a senior. He's at minimum returned to his sophomore form, and with improvement in the strength and conditioning program, has likely exceeded where he's been at any point in the past. Johnson is right there as one of the first two guys off the bench when the staff wants to get Jennings, Palmer, or Callaway a breather, and with his experience, it's likely he would be the first man up if an injury occurred.
Jacob Warren - It's hard to say right now how much use Warren might get this season as part of the mix at tight end, and he could still find himself passed up by the freshmen, but Warren has become one of the more consistent options at tight end. He's bulked up for the position, and he is the tallest of the tight ends. After arriving looking like a wide receiver, he now looks the part of a tight end and is more than capable of holding his own as a receiver. There is still some reason for concern regarding his blocking, but with true freshmen Sean Brown and Jackson Lowe finding their heads swimming a bit and with Austin Pope and Andrew Craig looking more likely to fill an H-back role, Warrren has a very good chance to be the primary backup to Dominick Wood-Anderson.
Darel Middleton - Of the two JUCO defensive linemen who joined the team this summer, Middleton was more of an afterthought. He was a very large afterthought at 6-7, 311-pounds, but he wasn't necessarily expected to be a big contributor. Now, some are projecting he may be a starter and that's not a reach at all. Middleton doesn't always know what to do out there, but what he does do is attack quickly with a high motor. Sometimes you'd rather have a high-motor guy go out there doing the wrong thing as opposed to having someone do everything right but fail to make plays. Middleton now makes it two JUCO defensive linemen likely to make immediate impacts this fall.
Greg Emerson - A top defensive line recruit, a serious injury before his senior season essentially cost him two years as he was unable to play as a senior and essentially took most of a year to return to form, but he's getting there now and is another lineman poised to take over a starting role. The season-ending injury suffered by Emmit Gooden was a terrible loss but also an opportunity that Emerson has seized upon. A former high school defensive end, he brings an attacking, playmaking mindset to the nose tackle position.
Matthew Butler - Butler has carried a strong spring over into the summer, and he's probably sitting as a likely starter right now with Aubrey Solomon's status still uncertain. Butler wasn't the most heralded addition to the Vols, but all he's done since arriving is provide solid minutes as a reserve, biding his time until the opportunity came for an expanded role. Once that chance came for him, he took it by the reins and has shown no sign of fading away. Butler was a sack machine in high school and a return to anything close to that form is bad news for the SEC.
Henry To'o To'o - Summer enrollees rarely emerge as starters in the SEC. Henry To'o To'o isn't a typical SEC freshman, and right now he has the inside track on starting at Will linebacker for the Vols. In fact, his integration into the defense reminds me somewhat of Darrin Kirkland Jr.'s, but with one big difference: Kirkland didn't start week one. This is the type of player that the Vols have struggled to secure in recent years in recruiting and is a guy who will make a huge impact this season.
Quavaris Crouch - While he may not be currently poised to start, Crouch is certainly in a position to play significant minutes after shifting from inside linebacker, where he spent the spring, to outside linebacker. With Jordan Allen out indefinitely, one of the younger players must step up, and Crouch, with his spring jump, looks most likely to emerge as a key reserve.
Shawn Shamburger - Although he's been a regular contributor over the last two seasons, it appears Shamburger's time has finally come as he looks likely to at least begin the season as the starting Star (nickel). Baylen Buchanan's injury situation will keep him off the field indefinitely, which had the staff re-evaluating their plans at the position. They looked at a number of options, but Shamburger has made a strong case for the job. A possible factor in this could be Alontae Taylor, who is locked in a battle for his job at corner and could potentially become a more realistic option at Star if the staff elects to go with the final name on this list.
Warren Burrell - Never underestimate the importance of being on campus for spring football. Warren Burrell wasn't the most heralded recruit of the cycle by a long-shot, but here he is pushing for a starting job at corner. Burrell still doesn't always know exactly what he should be doing, but he does it all well, full speed, and with an eye on making plays. It's that playmaking ability that has him fighting for that job with Alontae Taylor. No matter who wins, expect all three to be big parts of the defense this season.
No comments:
Post a Comment