Tennessee Football: Recapping the Biggest 2015 Offseason News so Far

The biggest news for the Tennessee football program these days is that everybody is talking about the Volunteers.

UT football is always a year-round hot topic in the state and among the fanbase, but for much of the past decade, the Vols haven't been relevant enough to talk about. That's no longer expected to be the case in 2015.

Entering his third season as Tennessee coach, Butch Jones has generated a palpable buzz around the program with top-shelf recruiting, some considerable star-power potential and an exciting upcoming home schedule.

For the first time since Derek Dooley's final, botched campaign in Knoxville, folks are talking about a potential Top 25 program roaming the Neyland Stadium turf. There hasn't been a ton of news so far since last season ended with a TaxSlayer Bowl victory, and that's a good thing.

With the first session of summer school having begun and all of the signees except for running back John Kelly and defensive lineman Quay Picou safely on campus, it looks as if most of the pieces are going to be in place for an SEC East run.

All those spring injuries that kept players out of the 15-practice session are expected to heal, too.

The time for excuses is over. The Vols appear ready to take a major leap forward despite imperfections such as inexperience at some pivotal positions and a difficult schedule. But before we look ahead to brighter days, let's recap the offseason news thus far.

First Top-5 Class Since 2007

Credit: 247Sports.com

Everybody stood up and took notice with the 2014 "legacy class" coach Butch Jones assembled that wound up as a top-10 haul across the board.

But what would he do for an encore?

How about sign a group of 30 players in the '15 cycle that wound up being the program's first top-five class since the 2007 season, long before 247Sports had a service? That year, Rivals.com ranked UT's class of 32 third nationally.

Though that class featured the great Eric Berry, it largely underachieved.

Hopefully for the Vols, a class of players that looks like their deepest, most impressive group in a long time—arguably ever—won't do the same. 

The '15 group ranked fourth overall by 247Sports and not only featured probable stars but met major needs and filled huge holes, starting with quarterback, where a 4-star trio of Quinten Dormady, Sheriron Jones and Jauan Jennings all committed.

The Vols needed impact defensive linemen, so they went out and signed six, including 5-star beast defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie and high 4-star defensive end Kyle Phillips, as well as Shy Tuttle, who arrived mid-term and dominated at times this spring.

The Vols had to have offensive linemen, and they signed five of those, too. It became one of the best classes in school history at the position when marquee in-state offensive tackle Drew Richmond flipped from Ole Miss on national signing day to complete the class.

That's not even to mention potential studs such as Alvin Kamara, Preston Williams, Justin Martin or Darrin Kirkland Jr. The list goes on and on. The group is deep, talented and appears to be the kind of class that can be a difference-maker as the Vols try to take a huge step forward.

Dobbs, DeBord Developing Chemistry

Credit: 247Sports

New UT offensive coordinator Mike DeBord has hit the ground running in Knoxville.

When Butch Jones' longtime offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian bolted for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterbacks coach, it seemed puzzling at best.

But Jones, who told Bleacher Report back in the spring that he saw his departure as an "opportunity," went out and hired a familiar face to him who maybe didn't bring the big-name star power that Big Orange Nation coveted.

Still, the early returns on Mike DeBord are positive. 

While the two-pronged world of being a good offensive coordinator revolves around strong play-calling ability (a trait DeBord has yet to prove in Knoxville), the first quality a coordinator needs to have is the ability to teach and communicate with players. DeBord is proving he has that part mastered.

"We know him," Jones told the Big Orange Caravan in Nashville, according to GoVols247's Ryan Callahan. "We trust him. And, again, he has paid big dividends because our players believe and respect him."

From the first time DeBord met quarterback Joshua Dobbs, the two had an immediate rapport. That first extended interview weekend, DeBord mentioned to Dobbs a mechanical tweak he needed to make. Dobbs did, and he began to see visible improvement in his accuracy.

After that, Dobbs went on to excel this spring. It was only practice, but he was much more consistent repeating his mechanics and was more accurate and routinely zipped passes all over the field.

The two speak of each other as if they were old friends who were meant to land with one another.

"Just being there with him talking football with him and getting to know one another, that helps us on the field," Dobbs told B/R this spring. "We're definitely on the same page. We definitely like the same plays and similar things out there, and that really shows. That's what you have to have between your quarterback and your new offensive coordinator."

The real proof will come on the field, but the initial reactions to the DeBord-Dobbs duo have been extremely positive. Maybe DeBord is just what UT needed.

Von Pearson Suspension

Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

No matter how you look at it, the several sexual assault investigations involving University of Tennessee athletes over the course of the past few years have been alarming.

The latest of those came just before the Orange and White Game spring finale when rising senior receiver Von Pearson was named a rape suspect and suspended indefinitely, according to the Tennessean.

Pearson remains suspended, though he has yet to be charged with anything. The investigation is continuing, but there is at least cautious optimism that he won't be charged.

"You always have to be careful when speculating about a sensitive legal situation with so many moving parts, but the general sense I've gotten from people in and around the Tennessee program is that things are looking better for Von Pearson," GoVols247 reporter Wes Rucker told B/R.

"There's always the chance those people are being a bit naively optimistic, but I get the sense that there's genuine optimism—and growing optimism—that Pearson could be reinstated in time to play for the Vols in 2015," Rucker said. "That certainly would be good news for the Vols, because Pearson had a solid debut season in 2014 despite limping through most of it with a nasty high ankle sprain."

From a strict on-the-field standpoint, Pearson's loss would be big. A season ago, the former JUCO transfer wound up with 38 catches for 393 yards and five touchdowns despite being hindered much of the season with the injury and lingering effects.

Despite the issues, Pearson proved he's an electrifying athlete who is capable of being a game-breaker. 

On the heels of the A.J. Johnson and Michael Williams investigation, coach Butch Jones was quick and decisive with the indefinite suspension. Pearson shouldn't be expected back until some sort of resolution is reached in the case.

Yes, UT has a ton of receiving talent to make up for Pearson's loss, whether it's permanent or temporary. But the fact of the matter is the position has largely underachieved the past two seasons. The Vols need offensive help, and Pearson would provide it.

Most importantly, the program wants to put incidents like this one in the rear-view mirror.

Shiny, New Kamara

Credit: 247Sports.com

It's hard to prove your worth in spring practice, especially when nearly 20 of your teammates are injured in what amounted to playing against second-teamers much of the time.

Still, JUCO transfer running back Alvin Kamara stood out.

Whatever caveat you want to attach to his breakout spring aside, one thing was obvious: Kamara can play.

When the Vols pair him with a healthy Jalen Hurd this fall, that healthy sophomore duo could wind up being special.

UT coach Butch Jones told AL.com's Matt Zenitz recently just what he thinks about Kamara's many positive attributes:

"

Alvin's done a great job of really fitting into our system. He's done a great job of embracing our standards, our expectations…Alvin can make you miss. He can get the tough yards. And again, we need depth in our backfield. And we need more depth than what we have right now, but he adds also to the competitive component, and you can see a real healthy relationship between him and [returning starter] Jalen Hurd.

"

With Hurd hurt most of the spring, Kamara carried the load with nobody but walk-ons behind him. Plenty of practices, he was pounded for carry after carry. For much of the spring, he played with minor injuries before being sat down by coaches for a few drills late in the spring.

Perhaps most importantly, according to Kamara and those around him, his work ethic has improved dramatically from his time at Alabama where he battled maturity issues after being signed by the Crimson Tide out of Norcross (Georgia) High School in 2013. 

The Vols have very little depth at running back this year. They need Kamara to be durable and dynamic. That's why it's such major news that his first spring in Knoxville was so strong.

Now, it has to translate when it's most needed.

Switching to the Swoosh

Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Tennessee officially joins up with Nike apparel on July 1 after partnering with Adidas since 1997.

Though the biggest gains in recruiting and national perception are expected to come in basketball, it's still massive news for the Vols.

Everybody wants to know what the uniforms are going to look like and just how much Nike is going to do with the smokey gray uniform and that Pantone 151 orange that had seemingly not been quite right over the past few years until recently.

But much of UT's branding scheme is getting a makeover, too. The Vols will keep the "Power T," and it will become the universal logo predominantly throughout the men's and women's athletic programs. The name "Lady Vols" will only pertain to the women's basketball team.

Some photos leaked in recent days displaying the new font of "Tennessee" featuring the top of the "T" being in the shape of the state. Also, there's a logo with the words "My All" in an outline of the state with Nike's signature swoosh as well.

This is in reference to UT's "I will give my all for Tennessee today" sign the football players hit on the way out of the locker room to play football games.

After this was announced last year, the Nike switch has been eagerly anticipated.

How will it affect the look of the team's signature football jerseys? Will there be any positive effects to recruiting or other aesthetic things? What will the fans think of the Nike overhaul? As the news, photos and logos trickle out, there is going to be reactions one way or another.

An apparel switch of this magnitude is big news to everybody around the athletic department.

All quotes and observations gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. All statistics gathered from CFBStats.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.