Butch Jones Must Find Senior Leadership on Young Tennessee Volunteers Team

After Tennessee cruised past the Utah State Aggies Sunday evening, fans and media pundits alike raised their expectations for the Volunteers' 2014 season.

And while the team certainly looks improved over last season—particularly on defense—it's up to second-year head coach Butch Jones to find a solid group of veteran leaders who can keep the team focused, particularly once they hit the meat of one of the toughest schedules in college football.

Looking Ahead at Tennessee's SEC East Schedule

It's still too early to determine if Tennessee is one of the most improved teams in the SEC or if Utah State simply regressed since posting a 9-5 record in 2013. Regardless, the Vols' blowout win against the Aggies was one of the most impressive Week 1 performances in the SEC East. 

South Carolina and Missouri looked vulnerable in their debuts, while hapless Vanderbilt may be headed back toward the dark ages under first-year head coach Derek Mason. 

Wade Payne/Associated Press

Although Florida has yet to play and Georgia may have one of the strongest offenses in the conference, the 2014 season still presents the Vols with their best chance to finish in the top half of the SEC East since 2009. 

Leading the charge for Jones and Tennessee are two key senior players: Justin Worley and A.J. Johnson.

Worley's Leadership Under Center

Although he may not have the arm strength and natural talent of Tyler Bray, there's a good chance Justin Worley will leave Tennessee with a greater legacy than his predecessor at quarterback. 

Looking back at the 2013 season, Worley leading the Vols to a last-second win over No. 11 South Carolina may have been the biggest SEC upset of the year. 

Much of that win was due to Worley playing the best football of his career against the Gamecocks. 

However, his excellent performance against Utah State—27-of-38 for 273 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions—shows that he still hasn't peaked as a quarterback. 

One of Worley's biggest assets is his overall command of the offense. ESPN.com's Chris Low reports that Worley's teammates, including senior tailback Marlin Lane, have great confidence in his ability to call the right plays and keep everyone on the same page:

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We have a new offensive line, other new players, but he did a great job of communicating and getting everything going. I love Justin.

 

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A.J. Johnson: Tennessee's Best Overall Player

With a career stat sheet as loaded as A.J. Johnson's, it's hard to pick any glaring deficiencies in his game—although lack of speed in pursuit is his biggest drawback. Or maybe the right word is "was."

If Sunday night's game is any indication, Johnson shaved a few milliseconds off his 40-yard dash time during the offseason, as he seemed to be everywhere on defense and special teams for the Vols.

Not only did he have nine tackles and an interception on defense, but he also helped strip the ball from Utah State's kickoff return man, setting Tennessee up for a quick touchdown to take a two-score lead.

Placing Johnson on special teams when he's such a valuable player on Tennessee's defense may seem risky, but Jones told Lauren Moore of The Leaf-Chronicle that Johnson was ready for the opportunity: 

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We need to improve our kickoff coverage from last year, and Johnson has a great sense of getting to the ball. We thought with the youth and inexperience on this football team that he needed to be on that football team and he wanted to do it.

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Johnson's decision to return to Tennessee was pivotal for the team's chances of making the postseason in 2014. With so many young faces on defense, his leadership, aggressive play and knowledge of defensive coordinator John Jancek's playbook will be invaluable for his inexperienced teammates taking the field beside him. 

Other Seniors Must Step Up

While Worley and Johnson are certainly the leaders of the Vols' offense and defense, the other seniors on the team, rare as they may be, also must become vocal presences on the field and in the locker room.

Wade Payne/Associated Press

Lane struggled running the ball against the Aggies during Week 1, and he needs to quickly find his groove as the season continues to give freshman Jalen Hurd time to adjust to playing in the SEC.

Fellow senior Jordan Williams may be on the verge of a breakout senior season as a defensive lineman, and his 4th-and-1 stop against the Aggies helped establish Tennessee's defensive dominance for four quarters.

The Vols' 2014 class may be the largest stockpile of talent on the roster, but it's up to Jones and a handful of seniors he inherited to push Tennessee toward another big upset win on their way to a bowl berth.

If they can pull it off this season and prove to the nation and potential recruits that the Vols are on the rise, Jones' rebuilding project in Knoxville may finish ahead of schedule.