Tennessee returns 13 scholarship players from a year ago including Riley Locklear who missed most of last year due to shoulder surgery. Five returning linemen started games last year with Cade Mays, Cooper Mays, Jerome Carvin, Darnell Wright and K’Rojhn Calbert.

Dayne Davis is also back. Davis was one of the big stories of the spring as the walk on held his ground at left tackle and will battle for a starting spot this fall with five who started games last year. Another returning player who will factor into the competition for a starting spot on the interior is Javontez Spraggins. Spraggins played in 8 games a year ago and started one as a tight end in the jumbo package.

The other returning underclassmen are Ollie Lane, R.J. Perry, James Robinson, Kingston Harris, Jackson Lampley, and Chris Akporoghene.

Josh Heupel welcomes in William Parker, and Jeremiah Crawford as scholarship newcomers. Parker is from Nashville where he played at Pearl-Cohn High School and Crawford was a late addition to the class as Heupel found and signed him from Butler Community College. Heupel was looking for more depth and competition at tackle. Crawford is 6-5, 315 pounds and can play on the edge.

It has to be the versatility of the group. Cade Mays can play any of the positions and has started everywhere but center in his college career. Jerome Carvin can play guard, center and in a bind could play right tackle. Calbert can play inside or outside as well. So offensive line coach Glenn Elerbee has some flexibility with his most experienced players as he tries to sort out what is his combination of his best five.

It’s left tackle and overall depth at tackle if there are any injuries. Dayne Davis is a great story and will battle for the starting spot. Cade Mays could be forced to play there if Davis doesn’t hold up. Could Crawford be a factor at left tackle? At right tackle, Darnell Wright has all the talent but has yet to put it together. Mays could play there if thats the make up of the best five. Calbert could play out there. His challenge is to stay healthy as he has battled knee problems since he was in high school.

R.J. Perry looks as good as anyone physically but can he play. Can he factor into the competition at the tackle spot as Elerbee looks to create some depth.

A year ago due to COVID, injuries and indecision, Tennessee played 8 different starting combinations in 10 games. For this offense to develop, they need more consistency and continuity up front.