Position-by-Position Preview of Tennessee's 2015 Roster

Spring practice provided some hurdles that at times made it difficult for the Tennessee Volunteers to field a two-deep roster, but that temporary plight should lead to improved depth in 2015.

For the first time since the mid-2000s, the Vols appear to have enough talent on their roster to provide a weekly threat to every opponent on their schedule.

But is UT's depth chart experienced enough to make a legitimate run at the SEC East?

Some positions appear to be completely replenished by third-year head coach Butch Jones and his staff. Others are replete with enough depth to please a coach who wants to be loaded everywhere.

On the offensive side of the ball, UT looks ready to surge as far as junior quarterback Joshua Dobbs and his talented-but-underachieving receiving corps can take them. There are plenty of questions, considering Dobbs hasn't yet excelled against elite competition, but he has all the tools to shine.

Defensively, coordinator John Jancek's unit appears poised to take off. If the Vols can fill considerable holes at middle linebacker and defensive tackle depth with all the unproven talent on their roster, that side of the ball could carry the team.

There's no shortage of excitement on Rocky Top, as almost everybody who's put together a way-too-early top-25 list for '15 has included the Vols. Now, the only concern is: Can they back it up with wins?

To fill some lazy, hazy dead time of the offseason, let's take a look at a position-by-position breakdown for the 2015 Vols.

Quarterbacks

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When Joshua Dobbs took over at quarterback last year, he elevated the Vols offense. In doing so, he has also elevated expectations for a program yearning for an upward trajectory.

The 6'3", 212-pound junior signal-caller is unquestionably the face of coach Butch Jones' resurgent program. He also personifies the current state of the Vols in that he may not be perfect but darn sure is talented and exciting to watch.

Dobbs' detractors rightfully point to the fact that once he'd taken over in 2014, the Vols had already run the gauntlet of their early-season schedule. He hasn't yet proven that he can beat a quality opponent.

But after working with new offensive coordinator Mike DeBord this offseason, this spring he looked better-equipped to handle the adversity that quality defenses will throw at him than he was a season ago.

Mechanically, he's much improved with his footwork and in repeating his throwing motion. That led to much more consistency throwing the ball this spring, but he has to prove it against the Oklahomas, Georgias and Alabamas of the world. Until he does, there will be unbelievers. But there's no questioning his ability.

NFL.com's Chase Goodbread lists Dobbs as one of his breakout players on the verge of stardom.

Behind him, many more questions abound. Following the transfer of Nathan Peterman to Pittsburgh, UT is left with three talented true-freshmen backups with varying skill sets.

This spring, Quinten Dormady stole the spotlight from dual-threat signal-caller Jauan Jennings, leaving drills as the clear No. 2, regardless of the coaches' staying mum on the subject. Jennings has a world of ability but hasn't put the throwing aspect of quarterbacking together quite yet.

When Sheriron Jones arrives this summer, there will be even more competition. 

One of those kids will likely have to play, but the Vols probably hope the other two can redshirt. As long as Dobbs stays healthy, the Vols could do big things.

Running Backs

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Much like quarterback, the Vols are talented at the top of the running back depth chart, but unproven names lurk not far below.

If the combination of super-sophomores Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara can stay on the field in 2015, Tennessee will be better than it was a season ago at running the football. 

Hurd is a 6'3", 230-pound monster who burst onto the scene as a freshman with 1,120 total yards and seven touchdowns despite playing behind what wound up being statistically one of the two worst offensive lines in the history of UT football.

Not only did he show a knack for the big play, but he was dependable enough to gain important yardage in short-yardage situations. He also was forced to play despite being banged-up.

Kamara should ease some of that load. The former Alabama running back was a 4-star player coming out of junior college, and some services such as 247Sports even rated him a 5-star prospect.

With Hurd limited this spring, Kamara proved he could carry the team on his shoulders throughout a rigorous, month-long practice schedule that resembled an NFL minicamp.

They'll feed off each other, as long as they stay healthy, and make each other better. They are both do-it-all, every-down backs.

Behind them, things get dicier, but this summer is supposed to bring depth in the form of a senior and a freshman.

Cincinnati fifth-year graduate transfer Ralph David Abernathy IV is a nice change-of-pace back and special teams dynamo who expects to play his final season in Knoxville. Freshman John Kelly from Oak Park, Michigan, should also play right away.

If he gets everything lined up academically, freshman Joe Young is also supposed to join UT, according to the Charlotte Observer's David Scott. If all three make it in, depth will become less of an issue.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

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After a rough spring, the ideal scenario for UT would be for its receivers to spend this offseason with a considerable chip on their shoulders as they prepare for the 2015 season.

Quite frankly, they followed an underachieving, injury-riddled '14 season with a sluggish spring session. Now, rather than being considered a team strength, the pass-catchers are an uncertainty. 

Talent is unquestioned. If Von Pearson returns from his indefinite suspension as he deals with a legal issue, the Vols are going to be loaded with playmakers. Even if he doesn't, there's enough talent to field a strong unit.

Senior Pig Howard has consistently proven he's the go-to receiver of the group, so there's no reason to believe he won't do so again this year. Big-bodied potential stars Marquez North and Jason Croom have the physical gifts to emerge as stars if they finally take the next step.

Sophomores Josh Malone and Josh Smith will play key roles and are both good enough to push to start. Senior Johnathon Johnson and incoming freshmen Preston Williams, Vincent Perry and Jocquez Bruce all are talented enough to get on the field as well.

Williams, especially, brings a flair to Knoxville and a skill set that could translate to immediate playing time if he recovers from a knee injury that ended his senior year prematurely.

Though UT lost one of its promising sophomore tight ends to transfer in Daniel Helm, Ethan Wolf is still the future at the position. The 6'5", 240-pound sophomore is a blocking force and also has the soft hands to be a threat in the passing game. If he can put everything together, he'll be a major weapon on the Vols' offense.

Behind him is senior and former walk-on A.J. Ellis, who played a major role in 2014 and will see his play set expand this year. Ellis was a nice story when UTSports.com released video of him being awarded with a scholarship last December. He has the ability to close his career with a quality season.

After those two, there are question marks but serious athleticism with redshirt freshman Neiko Creamer and incoming freshman Kyle Oliver. Sophomore A.J. Branisel has recovered from a knee injury that led to a redshirt in 2014 and will battle Creamer for third-string duties.

In situations where the Vols need a fullback or H-back, walk-on Joe Stocstill will be on the field.

Offensive Line

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There's no sugarcoating the disastrous 2014 from Tennessee's offensive line, but lost in the hide-your-eyes statistics was the fact that the group improved as the year progressed.

More than any other position on the field, offensive linemen improve the more reps they get together. That's perhaps why there's so much more optimism surrounding the group than there was a season ago, when the Vols were forced to replace every starter.

This year, UT welcomes back five players who started significant games for the Vols a season ago. Though starting tackle Jacob Gilliam graduated, the Vols have some players with big upsides.

Leading the group is sophomore Jashon Robertson, a guard who started almost immediately as a freshman a year ago after moving over from defense. Even after what was widely considered a wildly successful first year, Robertson was awarded as the most improved offensive player this spring.

"You're never content or complacent," Robertson told the Tennessean's Matt Slovin. "You're always driving to be better and improve on things."

Robertson appears ticketed for stardom, and there are hopeful prospects beyond him as well. Seniors Marcus Jackson (guard) and Kyler Kerbyson (left tackle) showed flashes of quality a season ago, though the consistency wasn't where it needed to be.

At the right tackle spot, redshirt sophomore Brett Kendrick rode a solid spring to a firm lead to start, with elite prospect Drew Richmond arriving to battle for the job this summer. Richmond obviously has seen the opportunity ahead: "I expect to start," he said via GoVols247's Ryan Callahan.

Redshirt junior Dontavius Blair and freshman Jack Jones could battle for reps, too.

At center, though senior Mack Crowder has the experience and current lead on the job, sophomore Coleman Thomas could battle him for the job. Thomas is athletic and was talented enough to earn some starts at tackle in '14 before being shifted to center.

Dylan Wiesman provides quality depth at guard, as will freshmen Zach Stewart, Venzell Boulware and Chance Hall; the latter two are versatile enough to play inside or out.

The Vols have plenty of talent along the offensive front. It's just a matter of finding the right five and building enough quality depth so that a repeat of last year won't happen again.

Defensive Line

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They're college football's fearsome twosome, a pass-rushing duo who look as if they're ready to terrorize SEC quarterbacks all season.

Sophomore Derek Barnett and senior Curt Maggitt give Vols fans something to be excited about, as they spent much of the second half of last season racing to see who could get to the quarterback first.

Barnett enjoyed a freshman year for the ages, eclipsing the statistics and dominance of any defender in school history. Maggitt, once fully recovered from a torn anterior cruciate ligament that cost him more than a season of action, was a force as well.

Beyond them, UT defensive line coach Steve Stripling has built an embarrassing array of quality depth. Juniors Corey Vereen and LaTroy Lewis have proven to be quality SEC players, and senior Chris Weatherd is a pass-rushing specialist. Dimarya Mixon's moving back to his natural end position could pay depth dividends as well.

Then there's the spoils of the best defensive line class (on paper) in UT history, as Kyle Phillips, Andrew Butcher and Darrell Taylor all walk into a crowded and versatile talent pool.

At defensive tackle, the picture is a bit cloudier, but there's plenty of talent there, too. Returning starter Danny O'Brien will try to rebound from missing spring drills to hold off a stable of elite prospects. Senior Owen Williams should have a key role in the line's depth, too.

But everybody is talking about a trio of linemen who've not played a lot (if any) snaps for the Vols. 

This spring, mid-term enrollee Shy Tuttle was the talk of early camp, as he proved he'll be able to step right in and play immediately. Redshirt sophomore Kendal Vickers may have been the surprise of the spring and will push to start at the 3-technique.

UT is set to add a pair of tackles this summer in Quay Picou and Kahlil McKenzie, but everybody wants to see McKenzie. The 5-star legacy already has, perhaps unfairly, been labeled the next superstar lineman at UT. He has the size, athleticism and swagger to be special but has yet to step onto a college football field.

The Vols are going to have waves of talent to throw onto the field. Unlike a season ago, the depth will be such that Stripling can keep his players fresh and throw out versatile packages that will keep opposing offensive lines guessing.

Linebackers

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Playing too many snaps last year took its toll on Jalen Reeves-Maybin, as the outside linebacker seemed to lose a step as the season progressed. Then, after a layoff prior to the TaxSlayer Bowl, he came out and had the best game of his career against Iowa.

Now it appears the rising junior from Clarksville, Tennessee, is poised to become the Vols' next great linebacker.

The only question is: Will it be at his natural weak-side spot or inside? With A.J. Johnson gone, the Vols had a gaping hole at middle linebacker this spring that has yet to be filled adequately by Kenny Bynum, Dillon Bates or Gavin Bryant.

Bynum and Bates likely will battle freshman Darrin Kirkland Jr. for the job this fall, but if none of those seize the role, it would be logical for the coaching staff to move JRM into the vital role.

If so, the weak side should still be in good hands. UT has a slew of talent along the outside with Cortez McDowell, Elliott Berry and incoming freshmen Quart'e Sapp and Austin Smith.

Considering Bates has already proven he can play on the outside making the two-deep as a true freshman before a season-ending injury cost him most of last year, it may wind up benefiting the Vols to move JRM, though that will be a last resort.

On the strong side, Curt Maggitt has the versatility to play upright and shift back a level to play outside linebacker, the position at which he was recruited. Behind him, Smith has the same body type and the potential to fill in once Maggitt leaves.

Though the Vols say they're a 4-3 defense, they play mostly in nickel sets, because spread offenses are the current flavor of the day in college football. In those instances, there will only be two linebackers on the field, so there won't be any depth issues.

Linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen has done a strong job recruiting to the position in each of the past two seasons. So while UT has a lot of youth on the second level, talented players must live up to expectations and seize the jobs. That's going to be a big storyline this fall.

Defensive Backs

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There's really only one word to describe Tennessee's secondary: loaded.

Simply put, the back end of the defense should be one of the team's deepest, most talented positions, along with defensive end. If the Vols' defensive backs aren't a massive team strength, it will be a disappointment.

Starting with the cornerbacks, junior Cameron Sutton is primed to be a breakout candidate. Though he inexplicably was shut out of any postseason honors a season ago, the third-year player from Jonesboro, Georgia, has improved in each of his first two seasons in Knoxville.

His progress and prowess haven't been ignored by NFL scouts or draft experts. WalterFootball.com analyst Charlie Campbell has Sutton going 10th overall to the Washington Redskins in the '16 draft. With that guy at the helm of your position group, you have to like your chances.

On the other side, UT has talented sophomore Emmanuel Moseley as the incumbent starter, who also has elite potential. If he falters for any reason, the Vols have highly recruited JUCO corner Justin Martin coming in this summer. Martin was the second-ranked JUCO corner nationally and spurned offers from LSU, Texas A&M, Auburn and others to head back to Tennessee to play his college days.

UT has other talented corners as well, as incoming freshmen D.J. Miller and Micah Abernathy round out a strong group.

At nickel, Rashaan Gaulden had an exceptional spring and looks ready to step into the role vacated by Justin Coleman. Gaulden is a tackling machine and, only a year removed from being a special teams force, will be depended on mightily on defense.

The back end of UT's defense is perhaps the stoutest position group. Seniors Brian Randolph and LaDarrell McNeil return to anchor the safety spot, and behind them, sophomores Todd Kelly Jr. and Evan Berry have the chance (and the pedigrees) to be special.

And that isn't even mentioning corners Malik Foreman, Devaun Swafford and safeties Stephen Griffin and Max Arnold. The Vols have depth everywhere on the back end of the defense to help them win a lot of games.

Specialists

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From a comfort standpoint, the Vols' kicking duties are on opposite ends of the spectrum.

On one side, it would be hard to find a position more settled than place-kicking duties, where sophomore Aaron Medley solidified the job with an exceptional freshman season that saw him make 20 of 26 field goals and all of his extra points.

Perhaps most impressive was his consistency from short distances. The Lewisburg, Tennessee, native made all but one of his 20 attempts inside 39 yards and has a booming leg that can kick from distances nearing 70 yards.

He's going to be a really good one if he continues down this same path.

At punter, things are a little iffier. After Matt Darr enjoyed a resurgent senior season, the Vols are going to be hard-pressed to replace him. Thankfully, they've got a couple of viable options.

Maryland fifth-year transfer and Nashville native Nathan Renfro will play his final season with the Vols after averaging nearly 41 yards per punt over his career with the Terrapins. 

He'll battle former U.S. Army All-American Tommy Townsend, who will enter his freshman season in Knoxville trying to win the starting duties. Townsend is the younger brother of Florida punter Johnny Townsend, so he has the bloodline to be an SEC specialist.

Evan Berry should retain duties at kick returner, and though Cameron Sutton handled punt returns a season ago, transfer Ralph David Abernathy IV could step into that role to keep the valuable Sutton out of harm's way on special teams. Other newcomers could fill that role as well.

All observations gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. All statistics gathered from CFBStats.com, unless otherwise noted. All recruiting information obtained from 247Sports.

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