We’re just a day away from Tennessee football beginning its slate of spring practices. The Vols will hit the practice field on Monday morning, starting a period of practices that will culminate in the annual Orange & White Game.
There’s plenty to monitor as UT gets back in action, as well. With Tennessee falling well short of the College Football Playoffs a year ago, it shook things up in the offseason in an attempt to get back on track.
Here are the top three storylines to keep in mind as practices begin.
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Who Stands Out at Quarterback?
Tennessee is emerging itself into a three-man quarterback battle between George MacIntyre, Faizon Brandon and Ryan Staub. While the decision won’t be made during spring camp, we’ll get our first look at what all three have to offer.
Heading into the spring, the favorite to win is MacIntyre. That’s because he has a year in the system and will have the leg up as far as understanding the offense and having chemistry with teammates. However, he’s going to need to show he’s bulked up physically and continue to show off his arm.
Brandon may have the highest ceiling of the trio, but he’s entering his first season of college football. He’ll need to prove that he’s able to make the adjustment quickly and avoid freshman mistakes.
Staub has the most college experience, transferring in from Colorado, but hasn’t played much in his career. He’s also someone who will need to prove he has the arm of an SEC-caliber quarterback.
What Does Jim Knowles’ Defense Look Like?
For the first time under Josh Heupel, Tennessee fired a coordinator this offseason. The Vols moved on from Tim Banks and hired Jim Knowles, most recently from Penn State, as a replacement.
First, it’ll be interesting to see what changes at practice. Not only is Knowles new, but he brings in a handful of new position coaches to join him while returning just William Inge and Rodney Garner. The new faces include co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Anthony Poindexter, LEOs coach Andrew Jackson and cornerbacks coach Derek Jones.
The other aspect is the personnel. Knowles retooled the defense and brings in a number of transfers that will be interesting to watch in the spring. Along with his four Penn State additions, Amare Campbell, Xavier Gilliam, Dejuan Lane and Chaz Coleman, eyes will be on Auburn corner Kayin Lee, Michigan safety TJ Metcalf, Kansas State safety Qua Moss, Tulane edge rusher Jordan Norman and others.
Who Gains a Leg Up on Offensive Position Battles?
Along with quarterback, Tennessee is set to host a handful of other position battles. Those will be important to monitor during spring camp.
On the offensive line, it’s easy to project three spots. David Sanders Jr. will start at left tackle, Sam Pendleton will be the starting center and Wendell Moe Jr. will start at one of the guard spots. The other two are a bit tougher, though. It feels safe to assume Jesse Perry will start somewhere, but will that be at right guard or right tackle? Will LSU transfer Ory Williams look ready to start at right tackle, instead? How do returning guard Sham Umarov and West Virginia transfer guard Donovan Haslam factor in?
Wide receiver is also a spot to have an eye on. Braylon Staley will start in the slot, and Mike Matthews will start at one of the outside spots. However, the other is up for grabs. The three options will be second-year pass catchers Travis Smith Jr. and Radarious Jackson and true freshman TK Keys.
