Tennessee Football: Volunteers Who Will Break out in 2015

If 2015 is going to be painted orange, the Tennessee football team needs superstars to emerge.

Not only must the Vols get championship-quality play from some new faces or previously little-used contributors, they'll also need key players at important positions to take their games to another level.

With such a talented roster built by head coach Butch Jones over the course of the last two jumbo recruiting classes, UT has elite potential. It's just a matter of that translating onto the field and especially in the win column.

That's the next (and most difficult) step. Jones was asked, according to GoVols247's Wes Rucker, at SEC media days, "when you're a coach of a team that's building toward something, when do you know—as opposed to just think—that the team is actually ready to win?"

After acknowledging it as a great question, Jones pointed to the lopsided win over Iowa in the TaxSlayer Bowl as a potential turning point.

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I think there has to be a defining moment at some point in your program where your players look around (and see it), because you can stress it, stress it, stress it, but at some point in time, there needs to be tangible evidence, and we were able to see that last year, particularly at the tail end of our season. And the way our football team last year prepared for that football game was the best bowl preparation of any football team I've ever been a part of. When we arrived at Jacksonville, the focus and determination of our football team led by a small senior class was remarkable. I think that set the stage for our offseason conditioning program and into spring football. 

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The Vols have gotten bigger, stronger and faster in the offseason. The freshmen who were depended on a season ago will be depended on to be veteran leaders now.

At some point in a program rebuild, there must be a huge surge forward. Let's take a look at some of the players whose breakouts in 2015 will help that happen.

Joshua Dobbs, Quarterback

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Considering the two best teams the Vols have beaten with Joshua Dobbs behind center were seven-win South Carolina and Iowa, the rising junior hasn't proven he's a winner just yet.

But there are simply too many intangibles for the 6'3", 212-pound junior not to take a massive step forward this year.

The proverbial light didn't just come on for Dobbs once he took over for the injured Justin Worley at the end of last year. It burned so brightly that his emergence has helped fuel a huge hype train in Knoxville.

This offseason, rather than just tread water, he made some mechanical adjustments in his throwing stance, which looked this spring like it helped him with his accuracy, consistency and arm strength.

Butch Jones has challenged Dobbs with being a "CEO quarterback," and Dobbs has responded by leading in every phase of his life.

From embarking on a prestigious month-long aerospace engineering internship to being a counselor at the Elite 11 camp, it's been a busy offseason.

Dobbs also has found time to lead workouts with his receivers, and he appears poised to be at the helm of a high-powered offense that features his dual-threat arsenal.

With Dobbs' ability to beat teams throwing or running and his innate ability to freelance into positive yardage when plays seemingly break down, his skill set is something that UT fans should gush over.

It appears the Alpharetta, Georgia, native is on the precipice of greatness. The only thing standing in his way is an elite performance against an elite opponent. Once that happens, he may be the next star in the league.

Alvin Kamara, Running Back

Credit: 247Sports

The transformation of UT running back Jalen Hurd into a household name is one that appears primed to occur at any time.

But it's Hurd's backfield mate who may wind up with a bigger impact on Tennessee's season.

The Vols know what they're going to get from the 240-plus-pound Hurd. He's a bruiser between the tackles who also can turn it up and blaze past defenders.

There's nothing to suggest he won't be a premier back if UT gets solid offensive line play.

Behind him, there are questions.

That's why Kamara's emergence is so vital. Considering the 5'11", 195-pound tailback is the ideal back for Butch Jones' offense, he should prove he's capable of not only being a serviceable backup but an emerging star.

"Alvin stepped in our program from Day 1 and didn't say a word and just kept working and working and working, and he has earned the respect of his teammates," Jones said at SEC media days. "We look forward to those two (Kamara and Hurd) playing football together."

This spring while Hurd rested his shoulder after surgery cleaned it up, Kamara was the everyday, every-down back.

He can get the tough yards between the tackles, and everybody who follows recruiting knows that before he originally signed with Bama, he sped past everybody at Norcross (Georgia) High School.

The way he hit the sideline, turned the corner and bolted up the sideline this spring during practices was reminiscent of some of the great Tennessee runners of yesteryear.

Marquez North, Wide Receiver

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Ever since he arrived on campus looking like an NFL rookie, big things have been expected from Marquez North.

He is a 6'4", 224-pound portrait of promise.

But he has been held back during each of his first two seasons on Rocky Top, failing to reach his potential. Whether that's his fault or not is debatable.

In 2013, the Vols struggled mightily at the quarterback position, and North struggled to get on the same page with his signal-callers as three players took snaps for UT.

He still wound up with a strong freshman campaign that included 38 catches for 496 yards despite getting in the end zone just once.

Last year, North showed the propensity to score touchdowns early in the season, reaching paydirt four times. But injuries hobbled him midway through the season, and a torn labrum cost him most of the second half.

He finished with 30 catches for 320 yards and never had more than six catches or 68 yards in a single game.

"It was real frustrating for me," said North to the Knoxville News Sentinel's Dustin Dopirak during a spring where he was still recovering from surgery. "I was really down on myself, really. I'm a prideful guy and I couldn’t really do a lot."

He'll be healthy this fall, and with an established, accurate quarterback who happens to also be one of his closest friends off the field, things are setting up for North to have a big year.

The Vols offense desperately needs a go-to receiver, and North has that ability. If he's able to fill the role, UT may have a big year.

Kahlil McKenzie, Defensive Tackle

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It's so hard for a true freshman to live up to the massive hype that comes with 5-star status, especially the kind that was generated by Kahlil McKenzie at national all-star showcases when he pushed offensive linemen aside like cornstalks.

But early buzz on the 6'3", 327-pound defensive tackle is that he may just be ready to do it.

After a spring that saw UT find a couple of dependable rotation guys in freshman Shy Tuttle and sophomore Kendal Vickers, McKenzie arrived this summer with much pomp and circumstance.

Though he didn't play his senior year of high school after being forced to sit out due to transfer rules, McKenzie showed out at The Opening camp last summer. Then, he showed well at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

The legacy who is the son of Oakland Raiders general manager and former UT player Reggie McKenzie and nephew of Vols great Raleigh McKenzie was the second-rated defensive tackle in the nation.

He's impressed everybody since arriving in Knoxville, including senior leader Curt Maggitt, according to FoxSports.com.

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I know Kahlil will be able to help us as well. He's a real strong guy. He's just got crazy big legs. They're huge. What I see from him is a guy who comes from a great background, a football grounded family, so he understands football and I don't see him make too many jokes when we're in practice or working out. Anytime he's got questions he’s not scared to ask.

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With McKenzie's massive body and elite athleticism coupled with UT's need for big bodies to help against the run, it's hard to envision a scenario where he doesn't play a lot immediately. He may even start.

Regardless, he's an ideal candidate for a huge freshman season.

Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Outside Linebacker

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After Jalen Reeves-Maybin led the Vols in tackles a year ago, there are few around East Tennessee who don't know who he is or his value for UT.

But most around the SEC probably haven't heard of the speedy outside linebacker who is getting ready to play his junior season.

That should change this year.

Regardless of where "JRM" plays on the field, he'll gobble up tackles. Last year, from his customary weak-side position, the Clarksville, Tennessee, native filled up the stat sheet with 101 tackles and 11 tackles for a loss.

GoVols247's Wes Rucker says JRM is "irreplaceable." Veteran linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen said he's the smartest linebacker he's ever coached.

Despite a late-season lull, the rested defensive star made up for UT's middle linebacker struggles in the TaxSlayer Bowl with a career-high 13 tackles. With A.J. Johnson gone, he'll be asked to do much more this year, and that means even more tackles.

If the Vols need for him to, JRM has the ability to shift over to the middle and fill that gap. Hopefully, either Darrin Kirkland Jr. or Dillon Bates will emerge to allow him to stay at home.

If he does, it'll be a huge season. Learning a new position wouldn't be the most difficult thing for JRM, who has made all the defensive positioning calls before and could again this season.

He's a potential All-SEC candidate, and if UT's defense has a good year, that probably means he blew up on the field.

Darrin Kirkland Jr., Middle Linebacker

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If Tennessee can't find a playmaking middle linebacker this fall, all the excitement surrounding the season may be moot.

So, the Vols need to get one ready to play right away.

Fortunately for UT, it has a 6'2", 235-pound former elite prospect with a huge upside who has yet to take the field in Darrin Kirkland Jr.

While it's asking a lot for any true freshman to come in and play the position of middle linebacker immediately, Kirkland has a lot of positives on his side.

He enrolled early, so even though he missed the spring with a torn pectoral muscle, he's been in a college strength-and-nutrition program and has been immersed in the playbook. Also, a couple of semesters of school under his belt will prove beneficial this fall.

He's big, and he has the kind of sideline-to-sideline speed that SEC teams covet. He also is extremely intelligent, and his name has been mentioned by several around the program this summer as a guy who could break out.

"All of our freshmen linebackers," UT coach Butch Jones said to Dustin Dopirak when asked about which youngsters are impressing. "We talked about that being an area of need, an unproven area, but those are three very talented linebackers. We're very, very excited about that."

Junior cornerback Cameron Sutton also mentioned Kirkland by name.

It would be unwise to rule out Dillon Bates in the race to be UT's starting middle linebacker, but Kirkland appears to have the "Wow" factor when it comes to guys who can play right away. Expect him to seize that role and run with it.

Rashaan Gaulden, Nickelback

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It takes a special skill set to play nickelback, and UT had a quietly solid one a season ago in senior Justin Coleman.

You've got to be big enough to creep up in the box and a sure enough tackler to be a force in the run game. But you've also got to be quick, strong in coverage and physical enough to chuck receivers at the line and protect the center of the field.

In coordinator John Jancek's scheme, the nickelback makes a lot of outside alignment calls, too. It's perhaps one of the two or three most important positions on the defense.

Thankfully for UT, Rashaan Gaulden seems to have it all.

After a strong spring saw him draw praise from his coaches and earn the Andy Spiva Award for most improved defensive player, the 6'1", 184-pound sophomore from Spring Hill, Tennessee, appears ready to hold down that starting position for a long time.

Gaulden once registered more than 200 tackles during his senior season at Independence High School, and he also has a strong, wiry frame that's perfect to play the position with hybrid skills of a cornerback and safety.

As GoVols247's Wes Rucker analyzed post-spring:

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There's a bit to be worried about at this position, but a glass-half-full person could see an awful lot to like, too. Tennessee will miss newly signed Minnesota Viking Justin Coleman's consistency at this position, but Gaulden on the surface seems to offer a bit more upside and playmaking ability. Despite playing through an injured hand/wrist (that eventually required surgery) this spring, Gaulden seized his opportunity at the nickel spot and showed out several times on the practice field. He’s an aggressive player who has a knack for being around the ball and making plays, which is exactly what you want from the versatile nickel spot.

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There may be some shaky moments as Gaulden gets acclimated to starting in the SEC, but he's a quality athlete who has a high upside at the position. The Vols need for him to be strong there to avoid having to move Cameron Sutton from cornerback.

All quotes obtained via SEC Network Broadcast, unless otherwise noted. All statistics gathered from UTSports.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.