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PREDICTIONS FOR THE FIRST 3 GAMES
Tennessee 66 Wyoming 20
Tennessee 59 MTSU 17
Tennessee 34 Florida 30
2002 VOLS DEPTH CHART AND COMMENTARY updated on June 25, 2002
Quarterbacks:
QB:
Casey Clausen
Clausen should be one of the top quarterbacks in the country along with Dorsey, Manning, Leftwich,the guy from Louisville (Ragone?) and Grossman. CJ Leak started at QB in the ACC previously and looks like he can be a good backup. Hopefully, Banks redshirts and competes for playing time in 2003. If we are able to sign Chris Leak in 2003, Banks might move to WR.
Tailbacks:
TB:
Jabari Davis
It could be tailback by committee next year. Davis is up to 235 lbs and has been dominating during Spring Practice. Redshirt freshman Keldrick Williams and sophomore Cedric Houston are also big time TB's who will definitely be in the mix. Fleming and Tinsley can also "carry the mail." Tinsley has the best moves out of all of them, and he could see time at WR, TB, or Slotback . Riggs is one of the highest rated incoming freshmen in the country. If there aren't enough carries to go around, Williams could move to Fullback. Look for Davis to win the starting job and to see the most carries.
Fullbacks:
FB:
Troy Fleming
Fleming is multi-talented and will contribute by running the ball, blocking, and making catches out of the backfield. Revill looks big and should see some playing time at FB. Mayes should redshirt in 2002, and play behind Fleming for a year before competing for a starting job. Realistically, in 2002, one of the tailbacks will probably play FB when Fleming is resting. Davis is probably the best blocker of the TB's.
Wide Receivers:
WR:
Kelley Washington
WR:
Leonard Scott
Scott is the only senior in this group. Everybody else is either a freshman or sophomore. Washington will see the ball the most and will be the first or second WR taken in the 2003 draft. Fulmer and Sanders need to find a way to spread the ball around among the other WR’s because KW will be double teamed often. With the exception of Reed, all of these guys can really make plays if given the chance. However, they need to keep learning their routes. Hannon will be a superstar in the future, but it might be wise to redshirt him in 2002 to save him for the future. Jomo Fagan also appears to have the talent, but he might have to wait until 2003 to see more playing time. Jon Wade and Jason Allen are potential playmakers, but at least one of them if not both will be used on defense. Look for Leonard Scott to start opposite Washington. Also expect some big plays out of Fayton (Redshirt Freshman) and Mojo (Sophomore), even though they didn't show much during the Orange and White Game. Tony Brown should step up this year as a redshirt sophomore, as some expect him to be the third WR. Also look for Tinsley to get the ball in his hands whether coming out of the backfield or lining up as a slotback or WR.
Tight Ends:
TE:
Jason Witten
Witten looks like an AA, but somebody else needs to step up. Kirkland appears to have a lot of talent, but he hasn't even arrived on campus yet. Sudan Ellington has moved to TE from DE, and he needs to learn the position quickly. Ellington and Kirkland will compete for the #2 TE spot.
Offensive Line:
LT:
Sean Young
LG:
Jason Respert
C:
Scott Wells
RG:
Chavis Smith
RT:
Will Ofenheusle
This should be the best OL in the nation. Benedict, Douglas, Jefferies, and Rob Smith all have the strength to play as freshmen. However, all of them will probably redshirt due to our quality depth on the OL. If Munoz is healthy, he could push Young for a starting Tackle spot. Herrera can play anywhere on the OL. This is the best OL ever at UT.
Kickers:
K:
Alex Walls
Walls should hold on to the kicking job, although Wilhoit might come in for field goals of 50 plus yards. Wilhoit could also handle kickoffs from the beginning unless the transfer from Georgia Tech (Newman) can consistently kick the ball into the end zone.
Punters:
P:
Dustin Colquitt
Colquitt improved last year as the season progressed and should start at Punter for the next 3 seasons. Reed will move to H-back/WR, where he might be able to help. If Colquitt struggles, Wilhoit or Newman might challenge for the starting job at Punter. Seth Reagan will be the holder, but he appears to be a nonfactor at Punter.
Defensive Line:
Strongside DE:
Omari Hand
Strongside DT:
Rashad Moore
Weakside DT:
Demtrin Veal
Weakside DE:
Constantin Ritzmann
People have said the DL is the weak link on this team, but there is no shortage of experienced talent on the DL. Losing Overstreet, Haynesworth, Henderson, and Jackson might hurt, but the DL should still be among the best in the SEC. Rashad "Boo" Moore and Ritzmann need to stay healthy, and they can be really good. Demetrin "The Real Deal" Veal can contribute at DT or DE and should start somewhere. Kendrick and Franklin will compete for a starting job at DT, while Omari Hand will compete for a starting DE spot. Karlton Neal is bigger this year, and he should provide quality depth at DE along with Mondre Dickerson. Wesley Holmes and Ovince Saint Preux (the Hattian Sensation) should be surprises as pass rushing Ends in 2002. Mapu should see playing time at DE before taking a two year leave of absence (under the “BYU Rule,” he’ll still have four years to play three upon returning), while most of the other incoming freshmen on the DL will likely redshirt. If some of the DT's face injury or fail to step up, Laron Harris will probably be the first of the incoming freshmen to play at DT. Harrell also has the size, but he might end up on offense. Greg Jones probably needs to add weight before he contributes.
Linebackers:
SLB:
Eddie Moore
MLB:
Robert Peace
WLB:
Kevin Burnett
Haralson, Marvin Mitchell, and Gaither will probably redshirt in 2002. In 2003, Haralson could either play MLB or DE. Marvin Mitchell might be better utilized at DE or possibly TE. Burnett and Eddie Moore will start at OLB in the Fall, and both appear to be solid players. Burnett is finally healthy, so look for him to become one of the greatest LB’s ever at UT in his remaining two years. Either Peace or Whiteside will start in the middle. Tony Campbell should provide quality depth on the outside, while Jason Mitchell is also expected to make some big plays as a redshirt freshman OLB. Kevin Simon should make big plays if he can stay healty. Simon can contribute on the outside or in the middle. O.J. Owens still has 3 years left to play and might be able to contribute at LB. Owens was a highly ranked DB coming out of high school, but the jury is still out with regard to whether he can play at the college level.
Secondary:
RCB:
Jabari Greer
LCB:
Julian Battle
FS:
Rashad Baker
SS:
Gibril Wilson
Greer and Baker appear to have locked up starting jobs at CB and FS. The other two spots in the secondary are up for grabs. Mark Jones is a huge playmaker and might start at SS. Gibril Wilson, a Juco transfer, is a hard hitting SS who will either start or provide quality depth. Steve Marsh has started in the past in the secondary, but he will probably be a backup this year. Julian Battle and Willie Miles will compete for the open CB spot with Corey Larkins and Robert Boulware also seeing playing time. In my opinion, Battle looks like a first round draft pick at CB. Battle, last year’s starting SS, can also contribute at both of the safety spots when he's not playing corner. When Baker rests, Mark Jones, Robert Boulware, or Julian Battle will likely see action at FS. Shannon Benton will also contribute at one of the safety spots as well as on special teams. Jason Allen and Jon Wade both have the talent to play in the secondary as true freshmen, but there might be enough quality depth in the secondary to redshirt them. Overall, this should be the most talented secondary we’ve had in years, so look for more big plays from these guys.
CJ Leak
James Banks
Cedric Houston
Keldrick Williams
Gerald Riggs, Jr.
Will Revill
Ed Harrison
Ruben Mayes
CJ Fayton
Derrick Tinsley
Chris Hannon
Montrel Jones
Tony Brown
Jomo Fagan
Justin Reed
Sudan Ellington
Aaron Kirkland
Jake Finlayson
Michael Munoz
Heath Benedict
Anthony Herrera
Brandon Jefferies
Chuck Prugh
Victor McClure
Rob Smith
Gil Dumont
Rich Gandy
Cody Douglas
James Wilhoit
James Wilhoit
Mondre Dickerson
Jonathon Mapu
Cory Anderson
David Ligon
Aubrayo Franklin
Tereia Smalls
Laron Harris
Justin Harrell
Ed Kendrick
Andre Taylor
Greg Jones
Karlton Neal
Wesley Holmes
Ovince Saint Preux
Jason Hall
Tony Campbell
Kevin Simon
Omar Gaither
Keyon Whiteside
Parys Haralson
Marvin Mitchell
Jason Mitchell
O.J. Owens
Willie Miles
Corey Larkins
Shannon Benton
Antwan Stewart
Robert Boulware
Jon Wade
Charles Small
Mark Jones
Chris Heath
Jason Allen
Steve Marsh
Shannon Benton
