Tennessee Football: Winners and Losers from the Volunteers' 2015 Spring

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee's annual Orange and White Game featured flashes of brilliance from marquee players. But once it was over, it felt a little incomplete.

Perhaps that's as fitting of a conclusion to the Vols' injury-riddled spring as could be expected.

After a first half where starters roamed the field, the second half lulled. Key players took extended breaks, and the backups received long looks.

Much like the rest of spring, Saturday was not always pretty, but it served a key purpose for head coach Butch Jones: to find leadership on both sides of the ball and to see how little-used players performed on a team depleted by injuries.

"For the most part, I thought a very, very productive spring, especially when you add the 13 individuals who had to sit out this spring," Jones said following Saturday's spring game.

"You try to have a great grasp of where your football team is after 15 practices, but it's really hard because when you take those 13 individuals off the field, we're a different football team. What we really had to focus on was the individual improvement with everybody in our football program."

The expected players performed well on Saturday, led by quarterback Joshua Dobbs, outside linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin and cornerback Cameron Sutton. Even limited running back Jalen Hurd burst out for a couple of big runs in a no-contact jersey.

The wide receiving corps underperformed, much the way it has throughout the spring.

With the monthlong session of 15 practices now over, let's take a look at the biggest winners and losers from Tennessee's spring.

Winner: Joshua Dobbs

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Saturday's quarterback skills challenge was the latest example of Joshua Dobbs' growth in competitiveness.

Midterm freshman Quinten Dormady already had put up an impressive seven points in accuracy drills that demanded hitting targets all over the field.

With Dobbs sitting at six points before the final throw—and the crowd of more than 63,000 at Neyland Stadium screaming—the rising junior lofted a pass over a net and nailed one of the three garbage cans sitting behind it for two points and the win. The crowd roared, and Dobbs jokingly jabbed back at coach Butch Jones.

Jones had been jawing at his quarterback, trying to ramp up the pressure. Dobbs said afterward he wasn't concerned about the final outcome.

"Oh no," he said with a smile. "I was gonna win it."

"He always rides me hard, so I know I just trust in my skills and my ability as I did," Dobbs said about Jones. "I throw targets all the time … it was nothing I hadn't done before. It was good to have a little competition, crowd involvement. It was good to come out with a win."

Dobbs won all spring. After flashing raw skills last year in leading the Vols on a bowl run and a TaxSlayer Bowl victory, he worked on his leadership. He polished that by pushing the offense. All the while, the coaching staff pushed Dobbs.

Through 15 practices, he was consistent, according to his coach. He capped off his spring with an impressive game that has him poised for big things in the 2015 season.

"The mark of great players is they elevate the players around them, they bring them along," Jones said. "Josh is starting to do that.

"I like where he’s going."

Loser: Wide Receivers

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Tennessee's talented wide receiving corps was already limited with injuries and short on numbers when rising senior Von Pearson was named a suspect in an alleged rape Friday, according to the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Head coach Butch Jones, who suspended Pearson indefinitely, discussed the ordeal with the media Saturday.

"That's an ongoing situation," the coach said. "He's suspended indefinitely, but there are consequences for choices and actions. We constantly educate our players, and it's not an illustration of our football program.

"I'm disappointed, but we have to move forward."

Later, Jones added, "We're not going to tolerate it. It's inexcusable. So, I think you guys know how we run our football program. We have tremendous kids in this program, and it's not an indication of what we have. It's unfortunate, and that's all I'm saying."

Apart from the Pearson situation, it hasn't been a strong spring at all for the receivers, anyway. They've been inconsistent, and again on Saturday, they dropped several passes that should have been caught for big plays.

With Marquez North and Jason Croom out, as well as Josh Smith battling back from season-ending surgery a year ago, the receiving corps was nowhere near a full unit. The receivers struggled because of the shortage and all the bumps and bruises.

Now, it seems virtually every position is wide-open exiting the spring. North and Pig Howard should have key roles among the group, but the Vols need players to stand out in what should be one of the most talented positions on the team.

"We have very, very good kids on the perimeter, so I know they'll come back exceptionally strong," Jones said.

They must prove it.

Winner: Alvin Kamara

Credit: 247Sports

Jalen Hurd (left) stands to be a big winner this fall because Alvin Kamara (right) was a big winner this spring.

After a spring where he was talked about as much as any player on the roster, newcomer Alvin Kamara didn't have the finale he would have liked.

Though he looked good running the ball on the first couple of series, he wound up with just 10 carries for 19 yards and a touchdown. Still, that doesn't take away from a dynamite spring that has coaches buzzing about his potential to be a star right away.

Kamara is getting a second shot at the SEC after transferring from Alabama to Hutchinson Community College a year ago, and he is taking advantage this time around.

He said it's obvious what the biggest difference is between now and when he was with the Crimson Tide.

"Maturity, both on and off the field," he said Saturday. "I feel like I'm a better football player and a better person. That gave me a couple of battle scars, but battle scars are good sometimes."

This spring, Kamara was a leader on the field, playing through nagging injuries. When he missed time, the offense wasn't the same without him. He's the ideal running back for this system; he has the ability to be an every-down back and is quick in the hole and on the second level.

He didn't get many opportunities to show that Saturday, but that doesn't matter.

Running back mate Jalen Hurd gained 40 yards on his only three carries too, giving UT fans a glimpse of the one-two punch they'll see this fall.

"I feel like we can be deadly," Kamara said. "It was just a little taste of what we can do out there today."

With Joshua Dobbs, Kamara and Hurd, UT's running game could be exceptional. A mediocre spring finale did nothing to dampen that excitement.

Loser: Upperclassman Defensive Tackles

Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

It's hard to "lose" when you don't even play. Yet, that's exactly what Danny O'Brien and Owen Williams may have done.

With those two guys sidelined by injuries, midterm freshman Shy Tuttle and redshirt sophomore Kendal Vickers were two of the biggest spring surprises. Both appear ready to help right now.

For a guy such as O'Brien who started last year and played so many snaps, it's probably a great thing. He may be able to get a welcome respite during a game and not have to play so many snaps.

It's also great for the Vols, who desperately need to build depth on the interior of the line.

So take "losers" how you will here. The upperclassmen definitely could lose some snaps to the younger guys. O'Brien's role is safe, but Williams will undoubtedly be fighting for every play he can get.

The biggest positive in all this is that the Vols have found two more potential vital future cogs in the line. Tuttle was the ninth-rated defensive tackle in the country, per 247Sports, and he is living up to the hype already.

He lost weight, looked explosive and was one of the biggest difference-makers all spring on an injury-depleted line.

Vickers, on the other hand, has worked his way from a lightly recruited defensive end to a 6'3", 288-pound tackle who is prepared to play three years into his Vols career. He turned plenty of heads this spring and had a crucial sack on Saturday.

"I thought he had a very, very good spring," Jones said.

That's big news for the Vols, who basically played most of 2014 with a three-man rotation at defensive tackle. If Kahlil McKenzie can come in and produce as expected, UT will have at least six interior linemen it can depend on.

Winner: Defensive Backfield Depth

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The biggest revelation of Tennessee's entire spring may be just what an embarrassment of riches the Vols have in the secondary.

As if returning starters Cameron Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley, Brian Randolph and LaDarrell McNeil weren't enough, the Vols found additional playmakers who make the secondary the deepest spot on the field.

Rashaan Gaulden locked down the nickelback spot with an excellent spring, making so many plays that his upside was evident. He should do a strong job at a demanding, important position vacated when Justin Coleman left.

While sophomore safety Todd Kelly Jr. already showcased his abilities as a true freshman, coach Butch Jones continually praised classmate Evan Berry for his performance this spring as he began to play with a better understanding of the defense.

Junior Malik Foreman also did well while Moseley recovered from mononucleosis. Even freshman safety Stephen Griffin was singled out by Sutton as having a good spring.

"With all those guys who are a big part of our defense being out, it was an opportunity for guys to step in and make some plays," Sutton said. "They did."

Throw in the trio of newcomers—Justin Martin, Micah Abernathy and Darrell Miller—coming in this summer, and the Vols could be really deep and really good at all four spots.

They had a stellar finale too, outbattling receivers for several balls, punching should-be completed passes free and shutting out the receivers in one-on-one drills Saturday. Tennessee could be strong on the back end of its defense in 2015.

Loser: Dillon Bates

Credit: 247Sports

Dillon Bates is going to play a lot of quality football for Tennessee soon enough. He just isn't the slam-dunk answer to the Vols' middle linebacker concerns, as was hoped.

The versatile and athletic 6'3", 225-pound redshirt freshman shifted inside this spring after playing his first season in Knoxville as an outside linebacker. After tearing his labrum early in 2014, Bates missed the rest of the year and received an extra year of eligibility.

With A.J. Johnson gone and the job wide-open, UT moved Bates to battle junior Kenny Bynum, redshirt freshman Gavin Bryant and (eventually) Darrin Kirkland Jr. for the spot. Kirkland was injured and missed the spring.

Bynum is nowhere near as athletic as Bates is, though he knows the defense. Bates is smart and talented, but he wasn't fully healthy during the past month, was still learning the position and played inconsistently.

Or, as defensive coordinator John Jancek told GoVols247's Wes Rucker of the situation at middle linebacker: "It's been rough."

Nobody is writing off Bates. That would be dumb considering he immediately ascended to the two-deep rotation on the outside as a true freshman a year ago. He just hasn't caught on at a new position yet.

After a rocky spring, Bates had some positive flashes in the spring game.

Coach Butch Jones said he "did some good things" and that it was "good to see." Perhaps it's unfair to include him since he played banged-up most of the spring, but the bottom line is he had a huge opportunity and didn't take advantage of it.

Whether Bates eventually moves back outside or is on the interior to stay, he will find his way onto the field soon. The only problem is the Vols need somebody to take charge of the middle linebacker role right now.

And nobody has.

Winner: Brett Kendrick

Credit: 247Sports

When UT offensive guard Jashon Robertson was named the offense's most improved player on Saturday, it was a bit of a surprise.

Robertson already was arguably the Vols' best offensive lineman from a season ago. The real improvement came from little-used tackle Brett Kendrick, who went from a guy who didn't get a lot of reps to the current starter at right tackle.

Butch Jones again singled out the redshirt sophomore Saturday as having a strong spring. That's huge news for a Tennessee team that desperately needs to find dependable tackles.

With senior Kyler Kerbyson entrenched on the left side, Kendrick seized his opportunity to lock down the other spot, beating out Dontavius Blair and others to get the nod.

While that battle will continue into a summer that will see highly regarded prospect Drew Richmond join the fold, Kendrick has a head start.

At 6'6", 316 pounds, he finally looks the part of an SEC offensive tackle. He obviously has put the necessary work in the weight room, and he now has the strength to match his size and athleticism. 

The biggest test will come in fall drills when defensive ends Derek Barnett and Curt Maggitt are back on the field for the Vols. While the linemen UT trotted out there this spring should help the team, if Kendrick can hold his own against that duo, he'll stand up against anybody.

Don't count out Blair, Richmond or Jack Jones, either. Kerbyson seems like a sure starter, but finally some SEC-level tackles are vying for that other spot. Kendrick is currently running with the first team because he earned it. 

But he'll have to continue to progress to keep it.

Loser: Dontavius Blair

Credit: 247Sports

One of the most polarizing players on Tennessee's team is redshirt junior Dontavius Blair.

To hear some fans discuss the 6'8", 300-pound redshirt junior, you'd think he's either a future NFL star lineman or a total bust who won't ever play in Knoxville. 

Most likely, he's somewhere in between.

After he was recruited to replace Antonio "Tiny" Richardson as UT's left tackle of the future, Blair simply wasn't ready a season ago. This spring was a huge opportunity for him to move in as the No. 1 tackle on the right side, and yet he wasn't able to take advantage of it.

That doesn't mean he lacked improvement. As a matter of fact, offensive line coach Don Mahoney told GoVols247's Ryan Callahan this week that Blair has made progress.

"I'm encouraged in the last couple of practices that we've had,” Mahoney said. "He still is not as consistent as he needs to be. But between now and fall camp, there's more time for him to continue to grow, and the biggest reason I say that in that I'm encouraged is, again, he's matured a lot. He's grown up a lot."

Blair has the size to be a stud. He had some of the SEC's top programs wanting him out of junior college, and it simply hasn't translated. With a big offseason in the weight room, however, there's still time for him to move into a starting spot, or at the very least, a key reserve role.

But this was his second major opportunity to win a job on the offensive line, and he didn't do it. 

Quotes and observations obtained firsthand, unless otherwise noted.

Brad Shepard covers SEC football and is the Tennessee Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow Brad on Twitter @Brad_Shepard.