Tennessee Football: Early 2015 Season Predictions

Opponent Result Game Notes
Bowling Green W Different level of talent.
 Oklahoma L  A lot of analysts are already calling the Oklahoma loss here. I wouldn't be surprised if that happened, but the Sooners' 2014 "collapse" is overblown. They lost a close game to a heated rival in Oklahoma State and showed up unprepared against Clemson. Otherwise, they lost to highly ranked opponents. I expect it to be a close game, with the Sooners winning by maybe one point.
 Western Carolina W  Different level of talent.
 at Florida W  It's time. That's hardly a reason to predict a win here, but at some point, you have to think that a team trending upward like Tennessee will finally overcome a rebuilding team like Florida. Jim McElwain may well be the guy for the Gators, but Josh Dobbs will prove to be the missing ingredient in a Vols victory that has evaded them for more than a decade.
Arkansas W This game is going to be a blast. Arkansas is the closest thing the SEC West has to Tennessee: a young, talented team with a lot to prove and a coach entering his third year who has shown the ability to win big, important games. The Razorbacks can and will run very well, but the Volunteers' own running attack and playmaking pass-rushers will make the key plays.
Georgia L This is an incredibly tough call. The Vols are a total of eight points away from beating Georgia in back-to-back seasons. It's truly a game of inches. While Tennessee can certainly win the game, it is probably another year away from besting the always strong Bulldogs.
at Alabama L No win would surprise me in 2015, but beating Alabama would be the biggest Tennessee win in many years. The Volunteers owned the game after the first quarter last season, so confidence in their ability to compete won't be an issue. What will be an issue is that all those 2014 true freshmen are still only going to be true sophomores going up against seasoned veterans on their home turf.
at Kentucky W Different level of talent.
South Carolina W Tennessee under Butch Jones has had South Carolina's number, winning two thrilling games the last couple of seasons. The Gamecocks lose their starting quarterback and starting running back. The Vols will continue the winning streak.
North Texas W Different level of talent.
at Missouri L Just like Tennessee has South Carolina's number, Missouri appears to have Tennessee's. The Tigers are established and experienced and can wreak havoc on a young team. If the game was in Knoxville again, I'd be tempted to call it a toss-up, but the road trip to Columbia gives the Tigers the edge.
Vanderbilt W Different level of talent.
Position Player Notes
QB Josh Dobbs Dobbs is without a doubt the starter for 2015. If he's healthy, there's no telling what his ceiling is. He needs to continue to work on his passing accuracy, which remains his main weakness.
RB Jalen Hurd Hurd is incredible. He'll contend for the Heisman in 2016, a prediction I stand by from when I first wrote it in May 2013. Incoming 5-star JUCO Alvin Kamara will provide the offense with yet another weapon and will allow Hurd to get his normal rest without the Vols missing a beat.
WR Marquez North The North Carolina native had a star-studded freshman campaign in 2013, but injuries hindered his progress last fall. There's no reason to believe that a healthy North can't come back and be better than he was two years ago. And if Tennessee is going to make big moves next year, he'll need to.
WR Von Pearson Pearson's first year on Rocky Top was a good one when he was healthy. The JUCO speedster should continue his solid career with a year under his belt.
WR Pig Howard Howard ended up being the most reliable receiver on the team in 2014 because he caught everything and stayed healthy. Butch Jones likes to run sweeps with his receivers, and Howard has been the beneficiary.
TE Ethan Wolf After Daniel Helm's transfer, there's no question as to who the man at tight end is. Wolf caught 13 balls in his first three games but really tapered off from there. The emergence of Hurd had a lot to do with it, as did Dobbs' inconsistency with the seam route.
OT Dontavius Blair After redshirting as an incoming JUCO (which frankly, I've never heard of), there's no excuse for Blair not to be a starter in 2015. That is, of course, if he's simply good enough, which may not be clear. Coaches complimented his improvement throughout the season, so I'll take them at their word.
OT Kyler Kerbyson Kerbyson was a more than serviceable starter last season and should continue to start going forward. Offensive line is a developmental unit that is not usually conducive to freshman starters.
OG Marcus Jackson Another returning starter on the offensive line!
OG Jashon Robertson And another returning starter on the offensive line!
C Mack Crowder Crowder missed two out of the Vols' last three games. With him, Tennessee averaged 280 rushing yards per game over that span. Without him, it averaged 112 yards. It's good to have this guy returning.
Position Player Notes
DE Derek Barnett At his current pace, Barnett will win the Ted Hendricks Award for the nation's best defensive end en route to a top-10 pick in the NFL draft. All of this is within his reach if he can begin playing with discipline and eliminate the multiple late hits called on him this year.
DE Corey Vereen Vereen played in the shadow of Barnett in 2014, but his speed-rushing skills can’t be overlooked.
DT Danny O'Brien After two years backing up defensive tackles in Knoxville, O'Brien got his first chance to start in August. He held his own but doesn't have much playmaking ability. An electric partner at tackle might do wonders...
DT Kahlil McKenzie Voila! McKenzie, even as a true freshman, will come in and make splashes immediately. He tossed All-American offensive linemen left and right at postseason practices, even after he missed his senior season. Certainly the Vols legacy will have greater challenges in the SEC, but you can't coach his natural brute strength.
MLB Dillon Bates His freshman season was cut short due to injury, but behind Barnett, Bates was the other true freshman getting the most playing time on defense. He has a great physique and a football mind. It's in his blood.
OLB Jalen Reeves-Maybin Reeves-Maybin came into his own last year. He led the team with 101 tackles, tallied his first sacks and his first interception in orange. His trajectory is up, way up.
OLB Curt Maggitt Maggitt's comeback season was somewhat forgotten in 2014, but he led the team in sacks and took over as the leader of the defense after A.J. Johnson's suspension. His unfiltered joy after the second sack against South Carolina in overtime was truly beautiful.
CB Cam Sutton Sutton has emerged as one of the SEC's best cornerbacks. His stats may slide simply because quarterbacks won't throw his way in 2015.
CB Justin Martin The commitment of this JUCO stud was quite a coup for Butch Jones' staff. The Volunteers really needed a second lockdown corner, and they got one from Martin.
S Brian Randolph Nothing new here. Randolph has been doing his thing in Tennessee for three years.
S LaDarrell McNeil See "Brian Randolph."
Opponent	Result	Game Notes
Bowling Green	W	Different level of talent.
Oklahoma	L	A lot of analysts are already calling the Oklahoma loss here. I wouldn't be surprised if that happened, but the Sooners' 2014 "collapse" is overblown. They lost a close game to a heated rival in Oklahoma State and showed up unprepared against Clemson. Otherwise, they lost to highly ranked opponents. I expect it to be a close game, with the Sooners winning by maybe one point.
Western Carolina	W	Different level of talent.
at Florida	W	It's time. That's hardly a reason to predict a win here, but at some point, you have to think that a team trending upward like Tennessee will finally overcome a rebuilding team like Florida. Jim McElwain may well be the guy for the Gators, but Josh Dobbs will prove to be the missing ingredient in a Vols victory that has evaded them for more than a decade.
Arkansas	W	This game is going to be a blast. Arkansas is the closest thing the SEC West has to Tennessee: a young, talented team with a lot to prove and a coach entering his third year who has shown the ability to win big, important games. The Razorbacks can and will run very well, but the Volunteers' own running attack and playmaking pass-rushers will make the key plays.
Georgia	L	This is an incredibly tough call. The Vols are a total of eight points away from beating Georgia in back-to-back seasons. It's truly a game of inches. While Tennessee can certainly win the game, it is probably another year away from besting the always strong Bulldogs.
at Alabama	L	No win would surprise me in 2015, but beating Alabama would be the biggest Tennessee win in many years. The Volunteers owned the game after the first quarter last season, so confidence in their ability to compete won't be an issue. What will be an issue is that all those 2014 true freshmen are still only going to be true sophomores going up against seasoned veterans on their home turf.
at Kentucky	W	Different level of talent.
South Carolina	W	Tennessee under Butch Jones has had South Carolina's number, winning two thrilling games the last couple of seasons. The Gamecocks lose their starting quarterback and starting running back. The Vols will continue the winning streak.
North Texas	W	Different level of talent.
at Missouri	L	Just like Tennessee has South Carolina's number, Missouri appears to have Tennessee's. The Tigers are established and experienced and can wreak havoc on a young team. If the game was in Knoxville again, I'd be tempted to call it a toss-up, but the road trip to Columbia gives the Tigers the edge.
Vanderbilt	W	Different level of talent.
Position	Player	Notes
QB	Josh Dobbs	Dobbs is without a doubt the starter for 2015. If he's healthy, there's no telling what his ceiling is. He needs to continue to work on his passing accuracy, which remains his main weakness.
RB	Jalen Hurd	Hurd is incredible. He'll contend for the Heisman in 2016, a prediction I stand by from when I first wrote it in May 2013. Incoming 5-star JUCO Alvin Kamara will provide the offense with yet another weapon and will allow Hurd to get his normal rest without the Vols missing a beat.
WR	Marquez North	The North Carolina native had a star-studded freshman campaign in 2013, but injuries hindered his progress last fall. There's no reason to believe that a healthy North can't come back and be better than he was two years ago. And if Tennessee is going to make big moves next year, he'll need to.
WR	Von Pearson	Pearson's first year on Rocky Top was a good one when he was healthy. The JUCO speedster should continue his solid career with a year under his belt.
WR	Pig Howard	Howard ended up being the most reliable receiver on the team in 2014 because he caught everything and stayed healthy. Butch Jones likes to run sweeps with his receivers, and Howard has been the beneficiary.
TE	Ethan Wolf	After Daniel Helm's transfer, there's no question as to who the man at tight end is. Wolf caught 13 balls in his first three games but really tapered off from there. The emergence of Hurd had a lot to do with it, as did Dobbs' inconsistency with the seam route.
OT	Dontavius Blair	After redshirting as an incoming JUCO (which frankly, I've never heard of), there's no excuse for Blair not to be a starter in 2015. That is, of course, if he's simply good enough, which may not be clear. Coaches complimented his improvement throughout the season, so I'll take them at their word.
OT	Kyler Kerbyson	Kerbyson was a more than serviceable starter last season and should continue to start going forward. Offensive line is a developmental unit that is not usually conducive to freshman starters.
OG	Marcus Jackson	Another returning starter on the offensive line!
OG	Jashon Robertson	And another returning starter on the offensive line!
C	Mack Crowder	Crowder missed two out of the Vols' last three games. With him, Tennessee averaged 280 rushing yards per game over that span. Without him, it averaged 112 yards. It's good to have this guy returning.