5 stories to monitor during Vols preseason
Football time in Tennessee is less than a month away, and preseason practice is nearly here.
The Vols will begin practice on Friday ahead of their Sept. 1 season opener against West Virginia.
Here are five story lines to watch throughout preseason practice.
Who is winning Vols QB job?
Preseasons featuring quarterback competitions are always more interesting. That’s the situation at Tennessee.
When spring practice ended, returning starter Jarrett Guarantano appeared to have a stranglehold on the spot. But the competition resets following the summer arrival of Keller Chryst, a graduate transfer from Stanford with 13 career starts.
How does Trey Smith look?
Smith was sidelined throughout spring practice and limited to non-practice conditioning due to an undisclosed medical condition. ESPN reported Tuesday that Smith had blood clots in his lungs. Pruitt said two weeks ago that Smith will participate in practice on Friday and be ready for the season. That’s encouraging.
But given what he went through and his importance to the team — Smith was a preseason first-team All-SEC pick — he’ll be worth monitoring throughout the preseason.
Plus, beyond his health, what position will Smith play? He can play guard or tackle. Where he lines up will play a role in determining the other starters.
Which summer arrivals will make an impact?
The Vols added 17 summer enrollees to the roster. Several are candidates to see playing time.
Two players worth close monitoring are tight end Dominick Wood-Anderson and defensive tackle Emmit Gooden. They are highly touted junior-college transfers who project as impact players in their first season at UT.
Who is poised for a breakout season?
The preseason offers a chance for players who aren’t established names to prove their worth.
How about running back Tim Jordan or wide receiver Josh Palmer? Ty Chandler seems in line for the top tailback position, but carries will be spread around. Jordan looked the part of rotation regular in the spring game, when he rushed for 57 yards on nine carries working behind the first-string offensive line. Palmer caught only one pass last season, but the sophomore registered a gamehigh 77 receiving yards in the spring game.
Perhaps Baylen Buchanan breaks out as the lock-down cornerback Tennessee needs. The Vols are looking for a pair of new starters at cornerback, and Buchanan has the most experience among the candidates.
How will Vols top players returning from injury do?
Wide receiver Jauan Jennings and safety Todd Kelly Jr. didn’t practice during the spring while recovering from knee surgeries. Linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. practiced sparingly and did not play in the spring game. Each player is a former starter who has had a big season in the past.
It’s yet to be seen whether the Vols can count on these players to produce at a high level this season.