Tennessee Football: Volunteers Poised for a Bounceback Year in 2015

Last year was a season of revival for a Tennessee football program that hadn't been to the postseason in four seasons and hadn't won a bowl game in seven.

That doesn't mean everybody on the Volunteers' roster had career years, though. For those who struggled or whose opportunity to excel was hindered because of situations beyond their control, 2015 is a second chance to shine.

From players who were robbed of most of their season because of injuries to others who failed to do enough to earn their coaches' trust, this year should feature several rebound stories.

Player revitalization has become commonplace during the first two seasons of head coach Butch Jones' regime.

A season ago, the careers of safety LaDarrell McNeil, nickelback Justin Coleman and punter Matt Darr were reclaimed from the scrap heap. All were integral parts of Tennessee's turnaround.

With a slew of injuries this spring, players who may not otherwise be getting an extended look are showcasing what they can do. That's going to build quality of depth once the regulars return.

It's the reason why Jones told the Chattanooga Times Free Press' Patrick Brown prior to spring drills of the injury setbacks: "That really hurts the progress of your football team. But if you look on the positive side, it also allows many opportunities."

Here are some candidates to bounce back this year.

Marquez North, Junior Wide Receiver

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So much is expected of junior receiver Marquez North that he falls into both categories as a candidate for a rebound year.

Yes, shoulder surgery cost the talented pass-catcher the final three games of the 2014 season. While he did play in the previous two contests against South Carolina and Kentucky, the 6'4", 224-pound receiver was limited and held without a catch.

But prior to getting hurt, North had consistency issues with Justin Worley at quarterback. North had four touchdown catches through eight games, but there were also lapses such as a one-catch performance against Ole Miss and a three-catch, 15-yard outing against Georgia.

That's uncharacteristic for an elite receiver. Though North hasn't proven he is yet, he certainly possesses the physical attributes and skill set to be one.

SI.com's Andy Staples wrote recently that North "will ensure next year's pro day is well attended." Comments such as that prove the expectations for a player of North's ilk are that he is talented enough to bypass his final season in Knoxville.

North is limited this spring while recovering from the surgery, but he will be depended upon greatly this year.

With his friend and last year's roommate Joshua Dobbs now the starting quarterback, it would benefit Tennessee to have the duo develop a rapport that results in big numbers.

Flashing the propensity to catch scoring passes last year was a big step in the right direction. As the most physically gifted member of a stacked receiving corps, he now needs to prove he can consistently be a go-to target.

Josh Smith, Redshirt Sophomore Wide Receiver

Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

One of Tennessee's most eye-opening early season highlights showed sophomore receiver Josh Smith hurdling an Arkansas State defender following a catch.

The play displayed the athleticism of the 6'1", 205-pound playmaker, who was lightly regarded as a recruit out of the nearby Christian Academy of Knoxville.

Following a drop-riddled freshman year where Smith played out of necessity, it looked like he was going to be a big part of UT's offense last season. Two-plus games into the year, he had 10 catches for 135 yards and a touchdown.

Then, he suffered a nasty high-ankle sprain against Oklahoma that cost him the rest of the season and required November surgery. Thankfully for him and the Vols, he was given a redshirt. He still has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

Smith is trying to regain his football shape this spring and discussed last year's setback with The Tennessean's Dustin Dopirak last week:

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It was very frustrating because I had put so much work into getting better from my freshman year, because that was a struggle. Getting hurt was kind of like, 'Dang.' I had taken a major step up. I was proving that. Just to get injured was kind of a little shot to my heart. It was hard, but I gotta bounce back now.

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Even with stars such as Marquez North, Von Pearson and Pig Howard outfitting UT's receiving corps, Smith was a key component. He's expected to be this season, too.

By the time September gets here, Smith won't show any ill effects from the injury or subsequent surgery and should be able to pick up where he left off.

Brett Kendrick, Redshirt Sophomore Offensive Tackle

Credit: 247Sports

Tennessee's seemingly never-ending search for quality offensive tackles finally settled on Kyler Kerbyson and Jacob Gilliam last season.

That left then-redshirt freshman Brett Kendrick on the sideline despite some glimpses of a promising future in two spot starts against Arkansas State and Alabama.

During those two games, UT gave up only three sacks and ran for 366 yards. Kendrick performed admirably. Now with Gilliam gone and Coleman Thomas suspended, Kendrick and redshirt junior Dontavius Blair have a huge opportunity this spring to catch Butch Jones' attention.

The head coach told the Chattanooga Times Free-Press' Patrick Brown of Kendrick's spring start:

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He's responded, and he's shown great resiliency. He's put his head down, he's continued to work and he's going to be rewarded for that. He needs to just continue to work and treat every day as if it's the most important day in working to be the best person, best player he can possibly be. He's done that, so I've been really, really encouraged by everything that I've seen from Brett.

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With Thomas' uncertainty, Kendrick could emerge as a favorite to start. Two of UT's three projected tackles in the 2015 recruiting class (Jack Jones and Chance Hall) already are on campus, so Kendrick is ahead of them.

Elite prospect Drew Richmond arrives this summer to join the competition. With Kerbyson currently entrenched at the left tackle position, it looks like everybody is battling for one spot.

If Kendrick continues to progress, he can go a long way toward solidifying a shaky position for the Vols.

Chris Weatherd, Senior Defensive End

Wade Payne/Associated Press

There are few players on Tennessee's roster with as much untapped potential as ultra-athletic senior Chris Weatherd.

After his odyssey to get through junior college finally landed him at Knoxville mere weeks before the start of the 2014 season, the 6'4", 217-pound pass-rushing specialist had a limited grasp of the defense.

Still, he was too talented to keep off the field.

Defensive coordinator John Jancek schemed up ways to put Weatherd in a position at outside linebacker to get after quarterbacks. Weatherd wound up playing in all 13 games, starting one and finishing with 12 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

Entering his senior season, it's now or never for Weatherd when it comes to being an every-down difference-maker. He has shifted down to defensive end this spring, according to UT linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen.

If he can stay on the field, it's great news for UT. But the 2013 season and most of Derek Dooley's head coaching tenure are examples of how defensive breakdowns in containment can't be tolerated. Weatherd has to be smart and disciplined enough to be depended on against the run.

With so many injuries along the defensive front this spring, Rocky Top Insider's Daniel Lewis reported this week that Weatherd was working exclusively at defensive end in drills viewed by the public.

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Weatherd's always been somewhat of a hybrid player anyhow, often lining up at linebacker and walking up to the line to act as a de facto defensive lineman, so getting snaps as a DE isn’t a huge adjustment for him. It also could be a move to help the Vols, who are without Curt Maggitt and Derek Barnett this spring, with depth at the position for the time being.

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Weatherd should factor heavily into Jancek's plan this season. When he is on the field, he makes things happen. He could be poised for a breakout year.

Dillon Bates, Redshirt Freshman Linebacker

Credit: 247Sports

Just when it seemed like Dillon Bates was going to be firmly entrenched in the two-deep depth chart last year, he tore his labrum against Georgia and was forced to miss the entire season.

The former 4-star prospect from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and son of UT legend Bill Bates was all set to back up Jalen Reeves-Maybin on the weak side. Instead, he had surgery and dealt with the months of rehab.

Now, after a redshirt season, it's a new year and a new position for the linebacker. With so many injuries depleting the defense, Bates is getting an important opportunity to replace former All-SEC player A.J. Johnson in the center of UT's defense.

There has been a learning curve thus far, but Bates—who told GoVols247's Wes Rucker he wants to be at or near 240 pounds by the time of the Orange and White Game—has the ability (and soon the size) to slide inside.

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I knew all the terminology and everything. It's still just a different place on the field. It's a whole different world than the Will, so, you know, it's just getting with everybody, getting with all the older guys, getting the terminology down, getting all the different techniques down. It's all coming naturally, and the more work at it I do, the better I’ll be.

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According to Rocky Top Insider, coordinator John Jancek said Thursday that the players trying to earn that spot need to do more. By the time fall practice gets here, freshman Darrin Kirkland Jr. will be in the mix, joining Bates, Gavin Bryant, Kenny Bynum and Jakob Johnson.

The pick here is Bates winning that job. If he does, he'll rack up big numbers for the Vols as a redshirt freshman.

Malik Foreman, Junior Cornerback

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Junior defensive back Malik Foreman has always been one of the fastest players on the Vols ever since flipping from Vanderbilt to UT.

He just hasn't been able to translate that skill into much meaningful playing time.

Last spring, the 5'10", 187-pound defender was penciled in as a starter before true freshman Emmanuel Moseley won the job. While he has provided depth in his two years, amassing 20 tackles, one interception and one tackle for a loss, he's never started a game.

With Moseley out "a few weeks" with mononucleosis, according to The Daily Times' Grant Ramey, Foreman has been logging first-team reps.

Even if Moseley comes back and regains the starting job or if it goes to incoming JUCO transfer Justin Martin, Foreman figures to be in the mix at the all-important nickelback position.

While it's too early to anoint Foreman a steady starter, he has received praise from head coach Jones.

"Malik has had a very good spring so far," UT's coach told Ramey. "This is a tremendous opportunity for him and right now Malik is making the most of his opportunity. He's playing with the style that we expect. A physicality, playing the ball in the air, playing fast, playing instinctual."

As LaDarrell McNeil and Justin Coleman proved a season ago, there is playing time to be gained in the defensive backfield by impressing the coaching staff. Foreman will try to be the next one to see a significant boost in snaps.

 

All statistics gathered from UTSports.com, unless otherwise noted. All recruiting information via 247Sports, unless otherwise noted. Quotes and observations obtained firsthand, unless otherwise noted.

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