One week from today, the Tennessee Volunteers will kickoff their 2024 season at home against Chattanooga. Josh Heupel’s squad has high hopes for a College Football Playoff run, and the pundits seem to be in line with that notion. Coming in at the preseason number 15, Tennessee has a solid chance to work their way into the new twelve team playoff format.
The roster depth has made huge strides over the last few seasons, with the offense specifically this season. Joe Milton, Jaylen Wright, Jabari Small, Ramel Keyton, and others have departed. The projected depth chart reflects the changes, but the Vols will still be immensely dangerous with the ball.
Quarterback
The Nico Iamaleava Era officially begins in 2024. After sitting behind Joe Milton in 2023, Nico burst onto the scene in Tennessee’s Citrus Bowl victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes. By all accounts, Iamaleava had a great offseason…Josh Heupel even called it “Elite”.
Behind him is RS senior Gaston Moore, who has been with Heupel since his UCF days. Moore will begin the season as QB2, but could give way to true freshman Jake Merklinger like he did to Nico last season. The staff is comfortable with Moore as the backup QB, but if Iamaleava were to miss any time, Merklinger could become the starter in the interim.
8 – Nico Iamaleava, RS Fr, 6’6” 215lb
13 – Gaston Moore, RS Sr, 6’2” 212lb
12 – Jake Merklinger, Fr, 6’3” 215lb
21- Navy Schuler, RS Sr, 6’0” 203lb
15 – Ryan Damron, RS Fr, 6’0” 205lb
Running Back
After losing Jaylen Wright and Jabari Small to the NFL Draft, Tennessee will look to Dylan Sampson to lead the backfield in 2024. Sampson is the leading returning rusher by a wide margin. He finished second on the team in 2023 with 604 yards on the ground. The next closest returner is Cameron Seldon at 106 yards.
Seldon is expected to be the RB2 when healthy. However, he injured his shoulder during spring practice and just got cleared for full contact. DeSean Bishop, who missed all of 2023, may get the initial RB2 touches until Seldon is ready for full go. Incoming freshman Peyton Lewis also missed the spring after undergoing offseason surgery.
6 – Dylan Sampson, Jr, 5’11” 201lb
23 – Cameron Seldon, So, 6’2” 222lb
25 – DeSean Bishop, RS Fr, 5’10” 200lb
22 – Peyton Lewis, Fr, 6’1” 210lb
20 – Khalifa Keith, So, 6’1” 239lb
Wide Receiver
The Tennessee passing game lost a lot of its juice last season when Bru McCoy was lost for the season due to an ankle injury. He was the mismatch that allowed other wide receivers to get open. He’s back for his final season on Rocky Top and the Tennessee offense should benefit greatly from his presence.
Squirrel White led Tennessee in receiving yards last season with just over 800 yards. His shiftiness and speed allow him to create big plays in the open field, even though he is a bit on the small side. Tulane transfer Chris Brazzell II could be in store for a huge season for the Vols. He’s looked the part in preseason practices and could be the team’s major stat leader by season’s end.
Even though Tennessee has primarily only played an initial group of receivers in the past, they probably have their deepest room in the Josh Heupel era.
Dont’e Thornton is back healthy after an ankle injury ended his 2023 season. He will be pushed for playing time by incoming five star freshman Mike Matthews and sophomores Kaleb Webb and Chaz Nimrod. Freshman Braylon Staley and redshirt freshmen Nathan Leacock and Nate Spillman will also try to carve out a role in this dynamic offense.
5 – Bru McCoy, RS Sr
3 – Squirrel White, Jr
17 – Chris Brazzell II, RS So
1 – Dont’e Thorton Jr, Sr
10 – Mike Matthews, Fr
84 – Kaleb Webb, So
81 – Chaz Nimrod, So
14 – Braylon Staley, Fr
85 – Nathan Leacock, RS Fr
80 – Nate Spillman, RS Fr
Tight End
Gone are McCallan Castles and mainstay Jacob Warren. As trustworthy as Castles and Warren were, they lacked elite athleticism. That’s where Ethan Davis and Holden Staes shine. Davis is basically a huge wide receiver, while Staes is a do-it-all type of TE. Alabama transfer Miles Kitselman is known as a solid in-line blocker, however, Tennessee coaches have been pleased with his route running and catching abilities.
0 – Ethan Davis, RS Fr
19 – Holden Staes, Jr
87 – Miles Kitselman, Sr
88 – Charlie Browder, RS Jr
86 – Cole Harrison, Fr
Left Tackle
Incoming LSU transfer Lance Heard became the immediate starter at left tackle the day he committed to Tennessee. The former five star recruit’s arrival moved incumbent John Campbell Jr. over to the right side of the offensive line. Larry Johnson III will serve as his backup to start the season, but freshman Bennett Warren could work his way into some playing time. The incoming four star lineman is a mountain and looks like a special player.
53 – Lance Heard
77 – Larry Johnson III
68 – Bennett Warren
73 – Brian Grant
Left Guard
One of the biggest question marks and most important position battles has been at left guard. After beginning the 2023 season as the starter, former Texas transfer Andrej Karic spent most of the season injured. It seems he has beaten out Jackson Lampley for the starting job to begin the 2024 season. Lampley and promising young sophomore Sham Umarov provide solid depth behind Karic
70 – Andrej Karic
75 – Jackson Lampley
79 – Shamurad Umarov
Center
Outside of QB Nico Iamaleava, Cooper Mays is probably the most important player on the Tennessee roster. The preseason All-American selection has been the heartbeat of the offensive line for the last few seasons, and the offense does not operate the same without him. If Mays were to miss time like he has in the past, Vysen Lang and William Satterwhite would likely battle to replace him.
63 – Cooper Mays
54 – Vysen Lang
53 – William Satterwhite
Right Guard
When healthy, Javontez Spraggins is one of the best interior linemen in the SEC. He has battled injury over the offseason, but appears ready for the start of the season. Ayden Bussell anr Masai Reddick should rotate in behind Spraggins.
76 – Javontez Spraggins
64 – Ayden Bussell
59 – Masai Reddick
Right Tackle
John Campbell Jr. served as the Tennessee left tackle in 2024. With the arrival of LSU transfer Lance Heard, Campbell has switched over to the right side. Last season, Tennessee struggled a bit at the right tackle spot, so Campbell should help stabilize the position in 2024. Dayne Davis can play all over the line, so he can fill in from time-to-time. His main spot should be as a swing tackle and backup to Campbell.
74 – John Campbell Jr
66 – Dayne Davis
65 – Trevor Duncan
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