Tennessee Football: Grading Volunteers' Top Freshmen Post-Week 10

Tennessee head coach Butch Jones is redefining "rebuilding" on Rocky Top. The Volunteers have played 23 true freshmen, more than any other team in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

While it has been a slow go in the development process, the Vols finally broke through with a big win last weekend, beating division foe South Carolina 45-42 in Columbia to set up the possibility for a bowl berth.

UT has to win two of its final three games to go to the postseason.

First-year fingerprints were all over that victory over the Gamecocks as budding stars such as running back Jalen Hurd and defensive end Derek Barnett continued to emerge as household names.

Potential stars abound as fruits from Jones' first full recruiting class, and solid role players are shaping up as well from that haul and redshirts from the previous cycle. Several have played so much it's difficult to believe they were going through orientation just a few months ago.

Let's take a look at Tennessee's top youngsters and critique their promising performances in their abbreviated careers.

Jalen Hurd, Running Back

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His 764 total yards and three touchdowns are impressive on their own, but statistics don't do justice to how well true freshman running back Jalen Hurd has played.

While it's difficult for a player as hyped as Hurd to live up to the expectations he carried with him from high school, he's done that and more under difficult circumstances.

Running behind a maligned offensive line and struggling to get the ball in open space, there were times this season when Hurd was the only bright spot on a depleted offense. His numbers are strong despite being limited by injury in two games.

Now that Josh Dobbs has been inserted at quarterback and infused a dynamic element to UT's offense, Hurd has benefited significantly. In two games with Dobbs at the helm, the 6'3", 227-pound running back has 184 rushing yards and added 85 receiving yards.

Against the Gamecocks, he made one of the game's biggest plays when he took a screen pass on 4th-and-3 21 yards for a touchdown after spinning away from a would-be tackler.

In that game, he finished with 21 carries for 125 yards and seven catches for 58 yards and a touchdown.

As the line grows and gets better, Hurd is going to be able to showcase his immense skills. It won't be long until he's one of the league's best runners.

Grade: A+

Josh Malone, Wide Receiver

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As is the case with many of these offensive freshmen, Josh Malone's development cannot really be measured in statistics due to the unit's struggles.

But the 6'3", 204-pound pass-catcher from Gallatin, Tenn., certainly has a wealth of talent, as he displayed in UT's loss to Ole Miss with five catches for 75 yards. The key for him is going to be consistency, a trait that has eluded him thus far.

Malone had to learn how to practice and develop better work habits at the beginning of the season, something UT coach Butch Jones told The Daily Beacon's Dargan Southard Malone overcame.

While that hasn't been Malone's issue the past couple of games, he has failed to stay on the same high level he played at against the Rebels. Part of that is Tennessee's deep receiving corps, but he had just one catch (a nine-yard touchdown) against Alabama and was shut out against South Carolina.

On the season, he has 20 catches for 218 yards and that score, good enough for Tennessee's fifth-best receiving numbers. Those are solid numbers but short of the spectacular of which he's capable.

Malone is only going to get better, and he's off to a good start to his career.

Grade: B-

Ethan Wolf, Tight End

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The true freshman from Minster, Ohio, has been a starter almost from the moment he walked onto campus in time for spring drills.

Ethan Wolf's importance to the team goes far beyond stats.

Though he has shown a bit of freshmanitis lately, blowing a lead-blocking assignment on a 4th-and-goal play early in the South Carolina game and dropping a couple of passes in recent weeks, he is still vital to the success of the offense.

Wolf is Tennessee's best blocking tight end already, and the 6'5", 240-pound freshman is also a receiving threat who was sorely missed when he was forced to sit out the better part of two games following an ankle injury earlier this season.

He missed the entire Oklahoma game, and UT coach Butch Jones told the Chattanooga Times Free Press' Patrick Brown how much his absence hurt:

"I'll go back and watch the video again and see how we performed," Jones said, "but anytime Ethan Wolf doesn't play, it hurts you, just because he's a talented young man."

Wolf has 19 catches for 164 yards so far this season, and he makes his presence felt every time he steps onto the field. He wears the number of his idol and former Vols great Jason Witten. Wolf has flashed the potential to perhaps be UT's best tight end since him.

Grade: B-

Jashon Robertson, Offensive Guard

Credit: 247Sports

Even in the revolving door that has been Tennessee's offensive line this season, true freshman right guard Jashon Robertson has remained entrenched at the position where he began the year.

That speaks volumes for the kind of prospect the Nashville native is.

The 6'3", 304-pound lineman was a bit of an afterthought late in the recruiting process last year, committed to Vanderbilt for months. Then, James Franklin went to Penn State, and Robertson wound up joining childhood friend Jalen Hurd in Knoxville.

It didn't take him long to move from defensive tackle to offensive guard, and it's a move that someday will make him a lot of money.

The former high school wrestler's brute strength is evident up front, and with his athleticism, he's an ideal fit for the zone-blocking scheme under line coach Don Mahoney. As the season has worn on, Robertson has gotten better, and he'll be a stalwart for years to come.

He has had ups and downs, as has every other lineman there, but other than redshirt junior Marcus Jackson, a case could be made he is UT's most consistent lineman.

Grade: B

Brett Kendrick, Offensive Tackle

Credit: 247Sports

Tennessee's future appears extremely bright, but one position that desperately needs players to step up is offensive tackle.

Redshirt junior Kyler Kerbyson—who is best suited for guard—and redshirt senior and former walk-on Jacob Gilliam (who is playing on a torn ACL) are the current starting tackles for the Vols.

But Brett Kendrick and Coleman Thomas have shown some glimmers of potential at the position through a year that has been rife with struggles.

Kendrick is a redshirt freshman from Knoxville who hasn't gotten nearly as much playing time as Thomas but looks more athletic and therefore a better fit for the position. He also displays the length and athleticism necessary to play there.

After a rough start against Arkansas State, he has been serviceable in extended action during recent weeks. While Thomas is an extremely versatile prospect with a bright future who may move inside where he's better, Kendrick should stay outside.

He'll have a nice future battling for a starting spot, even if the present isn't so pretty.

Grade: C-

Derek Barnett, Defensive End

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Tennessee freshman defensive end Derek Barnett is having a monster season.

While he takes a back seat to Texas A&M star freshman Myles Garrett in the statistics department, a closer look at Barnett's season shows he is actually having a better year.

Garrett shattered Jadeveon Clowney's conference record for sacks as a freshman with his three-sack performance against Louisiana-Monroe, giving him 10.5 for the year to beat Clowney's eight.

Barnett has seven so far, and he should break the old record as well. But every one of the 6'3", 267-pound freshman's sacks has come in conference play, highlighted by three-sack games against Ole Miss and South Carolina.

Just three of Garrett's sacks have come in the SEC.

Barnett also is second to Missouri's Shane Ray with 14 tackles for a loss, a number that's good enough to put him in a tie for seventh nationally. That number is the highest for a true freshman in UT history.

He is also fourth on the team in tackles and has made a legitimate case to be an All-SEC performer as well as a dark horse for an All-American. He's the most fearsome pass-rusher the Vols have had since Reggie White, and he's only a freshman.

So, yeah, he gets a good grade.

Grade: A+

Todd Kelly Jr., Safety

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The son of former UT great Todd Kelly has carved a nice niche for himself as a true freshman.

He already has started a pair of games and played in all nine of them, registering 22 tackles, recovering a fumble, intercepting two passes and breaking up a pair of passes.

Though he's already one of Tennessee's best coverage safeties and possesses the physical skills to be a force in the run game at 6'0", 203 pounds, he hasn't been able to keep junior LaDarrell McNeil off the field during the latter's resurrection after a dismal sophomore year.

Kelly has a bright future on the Hill and has all the skills to be a longtime starter. But it's just the consistency and assignment issues that have sidelined Kelly from being a full-time starter just yet.

Throughout the recruiting process, he was coveted by virtually every major college program in the country, and he has proved why this year. Against two of UT's biggest rivals (Georgia and Florida), he corralled an interception in both games.

McNeil is better against the run right now and a more punishing hitter, but in time, Kelly will be the more complete player.

Grade: B-

Emmanuel Moseley, Cornerback

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Emmanuel Moseley is incredibly skinny, but he's skilled.

There's no other explanation for how the rail-thin, 5'11", 178-pound cornerback has gotten some considerable reps for the Vols throughout the season.

The craziest thing is he actually arrived in Knoxville at 145 pounds and packed on 33 pounds in order to get on the field, according to his official UTSports.com bio.

He was a starter for the vast majority of spring drills even with the slight frame. It wasn't until Michael Williams started playing well that Moseley was relegated to backup.

One of the fastest and most unheralded players on the team has shown some flashes of his impressive talent this year, but unfortunately for him, the lasting impression is him getting beaten by Ole Miss receiver Vincent Sanders on consecutive plays to start the Rebels' onslaught.

Backing up potential All-SEC player Cameron Sutton, Moseley has 14 tackles, two tackles for a loss and three pass deflections so far this season.

The slip-ups in coverage make it difficult to give Moseley a quality grade, but he has an extremely bright future. The fact is he's playing a difficult position to come in and excel at as a true freshman, but he's not doing a bad job at all, and he's getting important snaps.

Grade: C

Aaron Medley, Kicker

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A couple of misses in swirling winds at Columbia have made Aaron Medley's statistics look a little worse for wear, but given the uncertainty around the kicking game entering the season, he has solidified it nicely.

The first-year kicker with the big leg from Lewisburg, Tenn., has made 13 of 18 field goals and every one of his 27 extra points. After mis-hitting a wounded duck on his season's first try, Medley has been nearly automatic from close range.

He also has the kind of demeanor you love from a kicker. He's calm and seems to forget his misses as quickly as he runs off the field. Despite missing kicks of 43 and 45 yards against the Gamecocks, Medley trotted onto the field and split the uprights for a 32-yarder that wound up being the game-winner.

Seven of his 36 kicks have gone for touchbacks, so he'd obviously like to improve that number, but that will come with age and experience.

Normally, freshmen have to kind of come into their own in the SEC, but Medley got off to a strong start. He'll be extremely important down the stretch, but it's hard to complain about how well he's done so far.

Grade: B

All Others

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When you play as many freshmen as the Vols, you can't include everybody. Here's a quick breakdown of how everybody else is doing.

• Dewayne Hendrix - The highly coveted defensive end has seen action in five games after battling through some injuries. He has two tackles and is getting some key reps now. He has a bright future.
• Cortez McDowell - Taking much the same trajectory as Jalen Reeves-Maybin did a year ago, the converted safety has found his career path at outside linebacker. He's one of UT's best special teams players this year and has 12 tackles. He'll be firmly in the rotation on defense next year.
• Coleman Thomas - Tennessee's longtime starter at right tackle suffered a high ankle sprain that chased him from the starting lineup. Whether or not tackle is his future home, the versatile lineman will be etched as a starter somewhere on the line for years to come.
• Dillon Bates - After making his name early on, the son of Bill Bates tore his labrum after getting six early-season tackles and is expected to receive a redshirt. He will be a major part of the defense moving forward.
• Derrell Scott - Nagging injuries kept Scott out of the rotation, but the talented runner saw extensive action against UT-Chattanooga and has 11 carries for 40 yards this year. With Marlin Lane hurt, he may find himself firmly in the mix for carries these last three games.
• Daniel Helm - Helm has been overshadowed a bit by fellow freshman Ethan Wolf, but he has played a lot of football, too. Once he gets to be a better blocker, Helm is going to be a strong tight end. He has four catches for 28 yards.
• D'Andre Payne - Payne is going to be battling for a spot in that crowded secondary next year, but the speedy defensive back from Washington, D.C. has five tackles this year, mostly on special teams.
• Gavin Bryant - The prospect from Alabama has taken this season to redshirt and reshape his body. Next year, he's expected to battle Jakob Johnson, incoming Cecil Cherry and perhaps one of the current outside 'backers to replace A.J. Johnson in the middle of UT's defense.
• Charles Mosley - After breaking his leg in the preseason, Big Charles is redshirting and will probably find his permanent home on the offensive line. UT hopes he can become the tackle the team desperately needs.
• Evan Berry - The versatile athlete and younger brother of Eric Berry has found his niche as a kick returner with Devrin Young out, averaging 31.7 yards per return. He has been worked out at safety and running back as coaches try to determine which side of the ball his future holds.
• Joe Henderson - The NCAA flagged one of Henderson's test scores, and his future status with UT is up in the air.
• Michael Sawyers - The defensive tackle from Nashville who committed to the Vols on national signing day hasn't provided the impact many thought he would. He has a long way to go to live up to his massive potential.
• Rashaan Gaulden - One of UT's youngsters performing on special teams, Gaulden has four tackles and should figure into the mix to replace Justin Coleman at nickelback or perhaps one of the safety spots next year.
• Vic Wharton - The slot receiver from the Nashville area has four catches for 15 yards in limited action. He will battle Pig Howard and Josh Smith at a crowded spot next year.
• Dimarya Mixon - The versatile first-year player is one of UT's promising young defensive linemen. He has played in nine games and has four tackles and a quarterback hurry backing up Owen Williams.
• Neiko Creamer - One of UT's seven legacies has moved from receiver to outside linebacker to tight end during his redshirt season as coaches look for the best way to utilize his talent.
• Jakob Johnson - The "Alpha Dog" of UT's class has settled in at middle linebacker and has four tackles, mostly on special teams but also in mop-up duty of Johnson.
• Elliott Berry - The other brother of Eric Berry broke onto the scene making some plays but has yet to have an impact in games this year. He could play a hybrid role similar to that of LaDarrell McNeil in the future. He's a 'tweener linebacker/defensive back.
• Ray Raulerson - Raulerson was always going to redshirt this season and will provide depth in the interior of the offensive line in the future, probably at center.
• Kendal Vickers - The redshirt freshman defensive end has kind of gotten lost in the shuffle with all the young talent and hasn't registered a tackle. He's going to have to break through this offseason if he's going to make a difference, especially with more capable players coming in.
• Austin Sanders - One of the strongest offensive linemen, Sanders has gotten off to a slow start, but he hasn't performed poorly when he's gotten on the field this year. He should be battling to start at guard in the future.
• Ryan Jenkins - He has battled chronic knee problems for much of his career, but Jenkins has finally gotten healthy and actually got on the field against South Carolina. He was a highly recruited prospect who could work his way into reps in the future.

All stats and information taken from UTSports.com or CFBStats.com.

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