Position preview: The OL

Tennessee returns four of five starters on the offensive line in 2016 and all total they return six players who have career starts with Brett Kendrick, Coleman Thomas, Jashon Robertson, Chance Hall, Dylan Wiesman, and Jack Jones. The Vol offensive line gave up 23 sacks in 2016 but three of those were by the second unit line and starting quarterback Josh Dobbs was only sacked 5 times in the last six games of 2016. The offensive line returns everyone from a season ago except for left tackle Kyler Kerbyson as the unit helped the Vols gain the most yards on the ground (2,908) since 1951.

The biggest news for the Vols is that barring a rash of injuries they should not have to count on a true freshman to make major contributions for the first time in three years.

The Vols signed 3 offensive tackle types in the class of 2016 and their biggest story line has been weight gain. Marcus Tatum and Nathan Niehaus have both added over 30 pounds since signing day. And while neither one of them will be forced to play earlier barring no major injuries, their weight gain certainly shows the program's ability to evaluate and find players early as the Vols were one of the first schools to over both.

The other newcomer is Nashville native Ryan Johnson who the Vols again offered very early. The lifelong Tennessee fan is the most physically ready of the three at either tackle or guard.

Experience, chemistry and, finally, some depth. This is a close knit offensive line unit who returns 71 career starts combined. With 71 starts spread over six players, this is obviously an experienced offensive line and with two players coming off redshirts a year ago in Venzell Boulware and Drew Richmond, the depth and competition for offensive line coach Don Mahoney is the best it's been since he's arrived at Tennessee.

The main question, and frankly maybe the only question, is left tackle. Redshirt junior Brett Kendrick started two games at left tackle in 2014, but outside of that no one on the roster has started or played any significant snaps at left tackle. Kendrick, who certainly has improved a great deal since his left tackle start against Alabama as a redshirt freshman, will battle with former Rivals 5-star Drew Richmond for the position.

Richmond redshirted last season focusing on growing stronger and more physical. In the spring, he certainly needed to show more of that particularly in the run game. Settling in with someone quickly in fall camp at left tackle will be important. There are plenty of expectations among fans for Richmond to be the guy at left, but Kendrick has his own set of expectations and it should make for an interesting battle in fall camp. Richmond took all the left tackle snaps in the spring as Kendrick worked at right tackle with the absence of Chance Hall who was rehabbing a shoulder after surgery.