Vols release depth chart; walk-on earns start at MLB

KNOXVILLE — When the preseason began Aug. 3, Tennessee football coach Butch Jones said six players were in the running to start at the critical middle linebacker spot. Five of those players were on scholarship.

On Monday, with the season opener five days away, the lone walk-on was listed as the starter.

Sophomore Colton Jumper was at the top of Tennessee’s first depth chart of the 2015 season. Jones pointed out that depth charts are fluid at this point, and that he expects freshman Darrin Kirkland Jr. and redshirt junior Kenny Bynum to also play middle linebacker in Saturday’s opener against Bowling Green in Nissan Stadium in Nashville.

Still, it’s evidence of a strong camp by Jumper.

“He is one of those individuals that has always worked hard, doesn’t hardly say two words, just takes coaching and works very hard at everything that he does,” Jones said. “He does have a skill set in terms of speed, athleticism and toughness.”

Jumper was a two-time all-state pick at Baylor School in Chattanooga. After spending a postgraduate year at the Hun School in Princeton, New Jersey, he walked on last season and played in one game, the opener against Utah State.

Jumper began the preseason battling with Kirkland, Bynum, redshirt freshmen Dillon Bates and Gavin Bryant and sophomore Jakob Johnson, who is now a tight end.

“He’s just a hardworker,” junior weakside linebacker Jalen ReevesMaybin said. “He never complains about anything. He just comes in and grinds. ... We’ll all see Saturday that he’s been preparing for it.”

Jumper’s status was one of several interesting aspects of the depth chart.

Sophomore Todd Kelly Jr. is listed as a starting safety opposite senior Brian Randolph. Kelly fills the void left by senior LaDarrell McNeil, who Jones said Monday might be out for the season. Kelly had 33 tackles and three interceptions as a backup last season.

Kelly is listed ahead of fifth-year senior Max Arnold. Sophomore Evan Berry is the other backup safety.

“He played a lot last year,” junior cornerback Cam Sutton said of Kelly. “It’s nothing new to him. It’s not like it is his first game or anything. We’re all confident in him.”

Junior Malik Foreman was listed as the starting nickelback, with freshman Micah Abernathy as the backup. Foreman replaces sophomore Rashaan Gaulden, who is out for the season with a broken foot.

Senior Kyler Kerbyson is listed as the starter at left tackle. Sophomore Jashon Robertson moved from starting right guard to left guard, replacing the injured Marcus Jackson. Junior Dylan Wiesman is listed as the starting right guard ahead of freshmen Jack Jones and Venzell Boulware.

However, senior Mack Crowder and sophomore Coleman Thomas are listed as co-starters at center. Thomas is also listed as a co-starter with redshirt sophomore Brett Kendrick at right tackle.

“The offensive line will continue to move some people around,” Jones said. “But we will also work more toward continuity in the individuals working together. We aren’t in any place right now to say, ‘These are our starting five,’ because we have too many kids that have worked really, really hard to put themselves into that conversation.”