Tennessee Football: Freshmen Who Will Play Significant Snaps in 2016

Tennessee football coach Butch Jones harps all the time on the idea that the Volunteers haven't yet built a program that is as stocked with depth and talent as any of their peers around the country.

Whether that's poor-mouthing with a purpose or not—the Vols should be really good in 2016, and nobody on Rocky Top is shying away from those expectations—several freshmen will still play this year.

Part of that is out of necessity, but the bottom line is that UT is recruiting at such a high level that the talent is simply too good to keep off the field.

However, a few star upperclassmen will block some uber-talented first-year players.

Defensive back Tyler Byrd, quarterback Jarrett Guarantano and running back Carlin Fils-aime would play on a lot of teams around the country, but they didn't make the list because UT is in an enviable place at those positions.

That's a product of consistent classes, and Jones is working on building a program that should be able to compete on a yearly basis.

The Vols have a good chance to have a good year in '16. Perhaps, it can even be special. But as many promising junior and senior players as there are in orange and white, the Vols will still rely on true freshmen such as receiver Marquez Callaway and several more redshirts like offensive tackle Drew Richmond.

Let's take a look at 10 freshmen who'll be on the field a whole lot this year for Tennessee.

Venzell Boulware, Offensive Guard

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Venzell Boulware is a 6'3", 306-pound redshirt freshman who spent much of his first year in Knoxville working out and waiting on the opportunity to crack the rotation at a position where the Vols had a lot of talent.

UT still has a bunch of really good players on the interior of the offensive line, but Boulware is too good to keep off the field.

There's a reason why teams such as Ohio State and Georgia came after him late in the recruiting process during the 2015 cycle, and Boulware displays exciting upside. There's even an outside opportunity he could start if the Vols wind up sliding an established guard to left tackle if Drew Richmond doesn't prove he's ready.

Boulware is turning heads and may just wind up being one of the top seven offensive linemen and the first guard off the bench behind starters Jashon Robertson and Dylan Wiesman.

Hailing from the same high school (Fairburn) in suburban Atlanta as Eric, Evan and Elliott Berry, UT had a tie to Boulware and used that in his 2015 recruitment.

He and Richmond have promising futures, but offensive coordinator Mike DeBord told the Chattanooga Times Free Press' Patrick Brown that the young men have to be patient through the growing pains.

"It's going to take time with them," DeBord said. "It is. They're going to keep getting better and they will continue to do that, but it's a tough position."

No matter how much DeBord tempers expectations, they're high. Boulware and Richmond appear to be up to it.

Marquez Callaway, Wide Receiver

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Tennessee is in desperate need of receivers to step up and take charge.

Even though Preston Williams is enjoying a breakout spring and Jauan Jennings and Josh Smith look like they're going to be in passing game coordinator Zach Azzanni's rotation, there are tons of open spots. 

The injured Josh Malone, who led the team in receiving a year ago, is an almost certain starter. But what about after him?

A really good candidate is 4-star target Marquez Callaway, who may have been the jewel of Tennessee's hefty wide receiver recruiting class that included five prospects. The 6'1 ½", 177-pound Warner Robins, Georgia, product has the skill set to step right on the field and play.

UT probably needs him to. Considering quarterback Joshua Dobbs isn't the most accurate signal-caller downfield, the Vols need some guys who can catch the ball in space, make a move and get some extra yardage. Callaway looks like he could be that guy.

He chose Tennessee over Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Georgia and several other programs that coveted him throughout the process. The Vols did a good job of selling the quiet star on playing time, and now, he has the potential to earn it. 

With Marquez North, Von Pearson and Johnathon Johnson gone to the pros or out of eligibility, UT needs able playmakers to fill the void. Callaway will have every opportunity to play his way into some snaps and some catches as a true freshman.

Vincent Perry, Wide Receiver

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Jones did remarkably well at keeping in-state talent at home during the 2015 recruiting class, and Vincent Perry could be a steal.

The 5'10", 175-pound receiver was a teammate of elite defensive end Kyle Phillips, who was one of UT's top targets in the whole class. But while scouting Phillips, Vols coaches fell in love with Perry too. He was recuperating from an injury, but once he came back, UT saw his electric potential.

He redshirted a season ago while still recovering from an injury, but Perry is back this spring, and he's showing glimpses of his potential.

While Tennessee got some players with elite change-of-direction skills in the most recent recruiting cycle, the Vols didn't have any receivers on the roster last year with that ability besides Perry.

That isn't just lip service, either. After three years of poor receiving statistics and underachievement, the Vols have had a refreshing spring at that position. Williams looks like a budding star, and Jennings could be special too.

But Perry is getting his share of praise. Jones told GoVols247's Ryan Callahan this week that Perry is "getting better and better and better" and gaining "more confidence."

With all those receivers that UT is recruiting, there's going to be competition for years, but Perry looks like he possesses the talent to be the first slot receiver off the bench behind Smith. He also could find himself in a starting role if he continues to develop.

Perry has a high ceiling. He just has to get there.

Marquill Osborne, Defensive Back

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How do you break into what could be one of the deepest, most talented secondaries in the SEC?

You enroll early and show everybody why the top programs in the country pursued you relentlessly. That's what Marquill Osborne has done so far this spring, flashing consistent brilliance that lets everybody know that those overtures from Ohio State, Clemson and others weren't just a passing fancy.

This kid is really good, and he may just be good enough to play right away at one of the Vols' two deepest positions.

Right now, the 5'11", 183-pound former 4-star true freshman from Cornelius, North Carolina, is playing at nickelback behind senior Malik Foreman. Yes, Foreman had a dynamic close to the '15 season after a rough start, and he's locked down that spot at the moment.

But a few slip-ups, and the ultra-talented Osborne could find himself thrust into a starting role. Just one injury and he could be there, too.

With Micah Abernathy now back a level at safety, Osborne is running with the second team at nickelback, and it looks like he's probably slotted to be the versatile star of the future there for the Vols.

That position is so important that you need a player with a diverse skill set to play there, and Osborne has it. He's fast and fluid, as well as being long and lanky. He doesn't shy away from contact, but he's also strong in coverage.

He's the kind of guy who can have a solid, strong career or break out and be an all-conference player. Regardless of where he falls in between, Osborne will man the secondary for a long time. Those days may just start this year.

Drew Richmond, Offensive Tackle

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For the third straight year, maybe the most important question mark facing Tennessee's team from a positional standpoint is the left tackle.

Two years ago, walk-on Jacob Gilliam answered that in a memorable way, playing on a torn anterior cruciate ligament for part of his season while turning in a triumphant final year at UT. Last season, the Vols put Kyler Kerbyson there out of position, and he wound up being a revelation.

Now, the Vols look toward redshirt freshman Drew Richmond, who was a 4-star prospect and one of the most hotly recruited tackles in the nation out of Memphis University School.

It's going to be a good battle between Chance Hall and Brett Kendrick on the right side, and both of those guys are capable of starring at that spot. But if Richmond doesn't hold down the left side, UT may need to move a guard there.

He'd love nothing more than to prove he's the man the team has been waiting on. He told GoVols247's Wes Rucker recently:

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I'm just working on my consistency. It's an every-day battle. Your mental ability takes you farther than your athletic ability, and I've been learning that. I work every day to continue to work on my mind to go through things with adversity, and just try to condition my mind to be more consistent and finish plays and play up to the standard that we hold ourselves to.

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Those little things come up big during the heat of games. One mistake on the edge, and you have an injured quarterback or a busted play, so Richmond's development hinges on consistency.

He already has the physical side of things covered.

Quart'e Sapp, Outside Linebacker

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Though Quart'e Sapp looked like a special teams dynamo early in the season, an injury that sidelined him for the rest of the year came early enough to get him a redshirt.

That's great news for Tennessee, given how good the second-year freshman from Milton High School in Alpharetta, Georgia, has looked this spring.

At 6'2", 214 pounds, he can absolutely fly for a second-level defender. Yet, he's physical enough to mix it up on an every-down basis. While Sapp may not be out there on most of the defensive plays, he'll almost certainly carve a niche.

Defensive coordinator Bob Shoop is known for having an attacking defense that puts players with varying skill sets in position to make plays. A linebacker with the speed and agility of Sapp almost certainly will have a role in a defensive scheme that he absolutely loves.

"It's (more aggressive with) both packages and play calls," Sapp told Rucker. "We're predominantly looking more to get after the quarterback. We've put in more packages with different guys in different positions. He's made his mark already here. He wants to be aggressive and attack the QB."

Sapp kept a lot of people guessing throughout the recruiting process before picking the Vols mere weeks before national signing day. Even with limited spots, UT really wanted him to be a part of the future of its defense.

The future is now for Sapp. With Jalen Reeves-Maybin out for the spring, Sapp is getting tons of meaningful reps. Even when the senior gets back on the field, there's another spot where Sapp can slot.

You'll see a lot of him this fall, and he has the ability to be a household name before the season ends.

Darrell Taylor, Defensive End

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One of the most talked-about surprises of the early days of spring was redshirt freshman defensive end Darrell Taylor.

The 6'4", 230-pound edge-rusher is a physical specimen who looks like one of those prototypical star SEC defensive ends who wind up being high NFL draft picks. He's developmentally a long way from there, but Taylor has a huge upside.

Even in a group of ends that include Derek Barnett, Corey Vereen, LaTroy Lewis, Dimarya Mixon, Austin Smith and the addition of top-ranked JUCO prospect Jonathan Kongbo, you have to think Taylor will carve out some snaps.

He's just the kind of player that Shoop can turn into a pass-rushing freak.

"When he walks in the room he looks likes a totally different person," UT defensive line coach Steve Stripling told The Daily Times' Austin Bornheim of the 15 pounds that Taylor added in his redshirt campaign. "His numbers are unbelievable. He’s put on so much weight, his energy level just continues to be outstanding, so he's really developed."

With several more months in the weight room ahead of him before live action this spring, Taylor's upside is exciting. He'll probably finish the spring a little bit ahead of Smith, who was lost until June with a shoulder injury. So, he just continues to move up the depth chart.

End is another one of those positions where players are really going to have to work and show out to earn reps; there's just so much depth there. But Taylor's impressive spring is going to be a nice little paragraph on his resume.

Now, he just has to build on it.

Nigel Warrior, Safety

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Perhaps the biggest coup of the entire recruiting class for Tennessee was 4-star legacy Nigel Warrior.

Though the Vols were on the mind of Dale Carter's son throughout the recruiting process, his pledge to Tennessee was never a sure thing. They had to wait all the way till the morning of national signing day to secure his commitment, and many of the programs around the SEC wanted him.

In the end, Warrior chose Tennessee over Auburn, Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State and others. There's a reason why he was so coveted.

While Tyler Byrd may wind up having just as much upside as Warrior, the Peachtree Ridge (Georgia) product is more polished. He's a hard-hitting, versatile playmaker who can play at safety or perhaps even at cornerback.

The Vols like Warrior to begin his career at safety, however, and while that's a crowded spot, he can earn reps. Right now, Todd Kelly Jr., Rashaan Gaulden, Micah Abernathy and Stephen Griffin are vying for reps. Evan Berry will join the conversation once he returns from injury too.

That's a lot of safeties.

But Warrior is really, really good, and Jones already has shown the propensity to play the best players. If he comes in and shines, there's no reason to believe Warrior can't make a lot of plays as a true freshman.

Warrior will thrive in special teams, where the Vols are regularly dynamic. He'll fit right in on those units, but he has his mind on bigger, better things. 

He wants to earn his marks on Shoop's defense, and while it's never a guarantee for true freshmen to make it on to the field, it wouldn't be wise to bet against the son of one of UT's all-time great defensive backs.

Warrior has that swagger about him, and his game can back it up.

Latrell Williams, Wide Receiver

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There's going to be plenty of rust on 3-star receiver Latrell Williams once the 5'11", 171-pound target makes it to Knoxville.

The Lake City, Florida, prospect isn't the most polished player in Tennessee's class. 

But he may wind up being the most dynamic.

You simply can't teach wheels like Williams has, and that's why the Vols were thrilled when they were able to flip him from Miami on national signing day. His name may have been lost in the confetti of signing Byrd, Warrior and Kongbo, but Williams has a lot of excitement surrounding him, too.

As a matter of fact, he may be the most likely of the group of receivers to play right away, despite being UT's second-lowest ranked prospect in its class, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

When you have a blazer like Williams on the sideline, you don't keep him there if you can help it. If DeBord can expand his horizons and be more innovative offensively in '16, there's no reason why we shouldn't see some designed plays for the true freshman.

Reverses, bubble screens and short crosses can turn into one cut and a touchdown for a player with Williams' wheels. The rest of his game isn't bad, either. Yes, he needs to get in the weight room, get stronger and get acclimated to the offensive scheme. But he also has that intangible that the Vols lack.

There just aren't any players on Tennessee's roster like Williams. Because of that, it wouldn't be a stretch to say he's almost certain to have some packages designed just for him this year.

Eli Wolf, Tight End

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The days of the lone Wolf in Tennessee's tight end corps are over.

Eli Wolf, the 6'4", 216-pound brother of UT junior tight end and two-year starter Ethan Wolf, elected to join his brother in Knoxville last year, taking a preferred walk-on spot for Jones rather than play on a scholarship for Eastern Michigan.

After a year of adding weight and bulking up, Wolf hasn't looked like a player without a scholarship this spring. Instead, he looks like a guy who will help the Vols as a redshirt freshman and who'll ultimately be an epic steal once his days in Knoxville are done.

The Minster, Ohio, product may be behind the elder Wolf and redshirt senior converted receiver Jason Croom at tight end, but that doesn't mean he'll watch much of the year from the sideline.

At this point, he's become more than just a feel-good spring story. Late last week, the younger Wolf even got the best of his brother, according to Rocky Top Insider's Daniel Lewis.

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The Vols got practice started with the Circle of Life Drill, and perhaps the most intriguing matchup of the spring was big brother Ethan Wolf against little brother Eli Wolf, who has been a pleasant surprise for the Vols this spring. Believe it or not, it was the younger Wolf who not only hung with, but also ultimately got the best of big brother despite a size and age disadvantage. Eli Wolf might be working himself into the conversation for at least the third tight end spot this fall.

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Wolf may wind up being the biggest stretch on this list, but he's used to having the odds stacked against him. All that said, he's already working his way into some important spring reps in his first spring on Rocky Top.

So, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him wind up snagging a few catches this fall.

All quotes and information gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. All recruiting information gathered from 247Sports unless otherwise noted. All stats gathered at UTSports.com unless otherwise noted.

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