1/23/2024 football Edit

Vols OL Javontez Spraggins returning for 2024 season

Tennessee offensive lineman Javontez Spraggins (76) celebrates after a play during a game between Tennessee and Akron at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. (Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Noah Taylor • VolReport

Managing Editor

Noah is a graduate of the UT College of Journalism & Electronic Media and has covered Tennessee football since 2019. He joined Rivals in 2022.

Another piece of Tennessee's offensive line for the 2024 season has fallen into place.

With a number of key contributors and starters having announced their return to the Vols' front for next season, Javontez Spraggins joins that group.

Spraggings is currently enrolled for the spring semester and with the team, Rocky Top Insider reporter and was confirmed to VolReport by a UT spokesperson on Tuesday.

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The 6-foot-3, 325-pound Spraggins, who has one season of eligibility remaining, started 11 games at right guard during the 2023 season.

After sustaining an injury against Georgia in late November, Spraggins missed the last two games against Vanderbilt and Iowa in the Citrus Bowl. A UT spokesperson said Spraggins is still recovering from injury as Tennessee begins workouts.

Spraggins arrived in Knoxville as a three-star prospect in the 2020 signing class. He appeared in eight games as a freshman during the 2020 season before starting 12 games as a sophomore in 2021.

Spraggins started 24-straight games before his injury between the 2022 and 2023 seasons. As a senior last season, he played 699 offensive snaps and finished as the Vols' highest graded offensive lineman at 67.9 according to Pro Football Focus.

Spraggins' return provides Tennessee with three returning starters to its offensive line, joining starting center Cooper Mays and tackle John Campbell Jr.

Though the Vols lost Ollie Lane (eligibility) and Gerald Mincey (transfer), they return experience and depth in tackle Dayne Davis and guards Jackson Lampley and Andrej Karic.

Tennessee added former five star prospect Lance Heard from LSU earlier this week. Heard is expected to play the left tackle position, moving Campbell to the right side.

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