Tennessee Football: Former Top Recruits Who Will Finally Shine in 2016

During the first three years of Tennessee football head coach Butch Jones' tenure, freshmen have been forced into action early and often.

So, to discuss the topic of former top recruiting prospects who will finally excel in 2016, you have to understand the definition of "finally." In the midst of a decade-long program malaise, Volunteers fans were hard-wired to think that if a prospect couldn't come in and play immediately, he must not be that great.

After all, the on-field product was so mediocre (or worse) that each year's incoming crop of recruits needed to be spectacular to change the tenor on Rocky Top.

Back in 2013, Jones' first year, for instance, he told the Associated Press' Steve Megargee the following when the season opener rolled around and three true freshmen started.

"Some of it was that is just where we are at with the program," Jones said. "It is what it is. Then some guys have done a great job. Freshmen develop differently. I think this was a very talented incoming freshman class."

As Jones built the program, stockpiling players, the need of freshmen to come in and play immediately has dwindled. Even so, UT still has seen more than its share of first-year players getting on the field over the last three years.

Also, at the level Tennessee is currently recruiting, if some of these guys don't come in and immediately set the SEC on fire, folks are wondering if they weren't overrated.

That's why you'll see a lot of second-year players on this list. At somewhere like Alabama or Ohio State—more established programs—not seeing the field during the freshman campaign is a good thing and not out of the ordinary at all. Once the Vols get there, the program will have arrived.

Let's take a look at some of the players who were highly touted by analysts coming out of high school and who should make an impact in '16, even if it is a little later than a lot of people projected.

Jason Croom, Redshirt Senior Tight End

Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

One guy who truly does fit the definition of a player who has spent a long career without reaching his lofty potential is redshirt senior tight end Jason Croom.

Though he saw action throughout much of his career as a wide receiver, the 6'5", 246-pound pass-catcher battled injuries far too often. He suffered a shoulder injury as a freshman, which caused him to redshirt. He missed the TaxSlayer Bowl after a knee injury as a sophomore, and he didn't play a snap a season ago.

He still has 39 catches for 574 yards and six touchdowns in his career. Though he hasn't always used his immense size to his advantage, Croom proved he has a knack for the end zone when healthy.

Now that he's no longer bothered by injuries, he swapped positions and could really break out in 2016 as a tight end. A player with his size and speed could be a mismatch for defenders off the edge. Even though he's behind junior Ethan Wolf on the depth chart, Croom will have a key role.

He also should be a major red-zone weapon.

"I just envision myself making big plays at tight end," Croom told the Chattanooga Times Free Press' Patrick Brown this spring.

With respected assistant Larry Scott now calling the shots at tight end, Croom will be taught well. Will it be a pretty big adjustment learning another position in his final year? Yes, but this spring, he looked like he was up to the challenge.

When Croom began his career as a jumbo 4-star receiver and the nation's 32nd-ranked player at his position with a slew of strong offers, great things were predicted. Injuries derailed those hopes, but there's still another year to surge for the Norcross, Georgia, native.

If he does, a player with his physical attributes could find himself on an NFL roster next season.

Rashaan Gaulden, Redshirt Sophomore Safety

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Rashaan Gaulden doesn't really qualify as a former top recruit, but he certainly came into Knoxville with a lot of clout.

Being at in-state powerhouse Independence High School in Thompson's Station, Tennessee, Gaulden dominated alongside former Vols and current California receiver Vic Wharton. He had more than 200 tackles in an unbelievable senior season.

Though he was only considered a 3-star recruit, Gaulden had offers from Florida State, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Alabama, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State, USC and others. A ton of top programs were enamored with the 6'1", 178-pound defensive back's skills.

Not only was he fast enough to be solid in coverage, but he had terrific tackling instincts and proved he could play at a high level in Middle Tennessee.

After showing out on special teams (seven tackles in 11 games), he was poised to break out a season ago as a true sophomore—all set to start at nickelback heading into the season before a foot injury cost him every single snap of last year.

He went from a spring award winner for his dramatically improved play to a glorified cheerleader on the sideline during last season's 9-4 record.

Now, he's got a chance to shine. He's playing for Bob Shoop, a guy who recruited him when he was at Vanderbilt and an assistant with whom he's had a strong relationship since high school. With Malik Foreman and Marquill Osborne entrenched at nickel, Gaulden moved to safety this spring.

By the end of the 15 practices, he was starting alongside Todd Kelly Jr.

"Rashaan adds a whole different element of physicality, not just on the defensive side but on special teams as well," Jones told SEC Country's Dave Hooker. "He's getting back now with the overall discipline of being able to play safety. ... He's one of our best tacklers on defense and he plays with a high level of physicality and a motor."

That's huge news for the Vols, who have a ton of talent on the back level. If Gaulden can be the player they've always thought he'd develop into, that UT defense could be really strong.

Kahlil McKenzie, Sophomore Defensive Tackle

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With all the hype surrounding 5-star defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie coming out of high school, he was anointed to be dominant right away.

He was the sixth-ranked player overall nationally according to 247Sports' composite rankings, is the son of former Tennessee defender and Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie, and obliterated some of the top players in the nation at high school summer camps and showcases.

But McKenzie wasn't allowed to play his final season in high school due to California transfer rules. He also suffered a knee injury that he had to rehab, wasn't a mid-term enrollee and reported to UT overweight.

Rather than dominate, McKenzie scuffled much of the first half of the season. As the year went on and Shy Tuttle was lost for the season, he was depended on more and got better and better. McKenzie wound up playing in all 13 games, making 14 tackles with a sack, tackle for loss and a forced fumble.

At 6'3", 344 pounds, he's still battling his weight and wants to drop a few more pounds to be better suited for the SEC trench warfare, but he looked even better than last year this spring.

With the Vols thin on numbers in the defensive interior, they'll need McKenzie to play a lot of snaps, so this summer program is extremely important for him. Most forget this will be his first of such as a college football player.

Some national recruiting analysts thought McKenzie was one of the most college-ready prospects in the entire 2015 class, but playing one of the most difficult positions for a first-year player and the fact that he'd been forced out of action for more than a year were difficult obstacles to overcome.

This year, he'll be ready. And big numbers really could follow. Once that light comes on for McKenzie, he's got the ability to be one of the best defensive tackles in the country with his strength and run-stuffing prowess.

If he comes along, Tennessee's defense is going to be impressive up the middle with Tuttle and middle linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. also stacking the interior.

Kyle Phillips, Sophomore Defensive End

Credit: 247Sports

A top-40 prospect, the nation's fourth-ranked strong-side defensive end and fresh off a ridiculous performance in the U.S. Army All-American Game, Kyle Phillips was expected to step right in at Tennessee and provide the Vols with a pass-rushing force.

Instead, the 4-star prospect (who was actually labeled a 5-star on 247Sports) never really got going. As a reserve defensive end who even shifted inside to play some on the interior played in six games, making eight tackles with one sack and 1.5 tackles for a loss.

Season-ending shoulder surgery sidelined him at a time when he was about to get a whole lot more playing time after Tuttle's injury.

All of a sudden, everybody was wondering just how a can't-miss prospect couldn't make much noise in his first year.

In 2016, he's planning on getting a fresh start. Though the shoulder injury kept him out this spring, he'll reunite with Shoop, who recruited him heavily when he was at Vanderbilt. The defensive coordinator has a history of developing pass-rushers, and Phillips will welcome a change.

After essentially being unblockable off the edge in that high school-ending all-star game, it looked like UT was trying to make Phillips into a defensive tackle at times a season ago. This year, he'll be back on the edge with players such as Derek Barnett, Corey Vereen, Darrell Taylor, Jonathan Kongbo and others.

That's a talented group, but Phillips has elite ability as well. A lot of players missed the spring with injuries, but that didn't dampen Shoop's excitement, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel's Grant Ramey:

"

When I look out there on the D-line and I see Kyle Phillips, Derek Barnett, I see (Kendal) Vickers, I see Shy Tuttle, I go, 'Geez, that's a pretty good group.' Then you add (signee Jonathan) Kongbo, (Corey) Vereen, who has practiced minimally this spring. You sit there and go 'Wow.' When those guys are out there, it's going to look a lot different.

"

Phillips hopes his second season in Knoxville is altogether different. If he can get that shoulder healthy and shake off some dust this fall, he'll be firmly in the rotation once the season starts.

Drew Richmond, Redshirt Freshman Offensive Tackle

Credit: 247Sports

Drew Richmond provided a 6'5", 301-pound exclamation mark on the 2015 recruiting class when he flipped from Ole Miss to Tennessee on national signing day.

Everybody just figured he'd step right in to a shaky situation on the offensive line and start at one of the tackle spots.

Instead, he never saw the field. When the Vols needed a freshman to step in once Brett Kendrick got hurt prior to the Georgia game, it was classmate Chance Hall who was called on instead of Richmond. The Memphis, Tennessee, product redshirted, worked out and battled the frustrations that come with sitting out.

Richmond went from one of the most highly touted offensive linemen in the nation as the country's third-rated tackle to an afterthought on Saturdays. This spring, he took some lumps, but he exited drills as the favorite to be the Vols' starting left tackle as a redshirt freshman.

His position coach, Don Mahoney, saw some growth and maturity, according to GoVols247's Ryan Callahan:

"

He's really grown up a lot from last fall to now. When I say that, really in the way that, again, if a mistake happens, he realizes that. If there were to be a missed assignment, he realizes that something wasn't quite right, and the game is starting to slow down for him where he's playing at a higher level. He’s making calls and he’s playing faster, and he’s really starting to make the progress we’ve been hoping for.

"

There's still a ways to go for Richmond, but he's likely going to be depended on in a big way in what could be the Vols' biggest season in a decade.

Starting as a redshirt freshman (if he indeed does that) would be a major accomplishment for any SEC offensive lineman, but it'll be a year later than a whole lot of people expected.

At UT, it's become commonplace in recent years to have freshmen starting tackles with guys such as Ja'Wuan James, Antonio "Tiny" Richardson and Hall. Richmond may follow in those footsteps, but it would be in his second season.

It's time for him to show everybody why he was a top prospect.

Preston Williams, Sophomore Wide Receiver

Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

One of the biggest breakout players in the entire SEC this spring was Tennessee receiver Preston Williams, a physical specimen who everybody in the South wanted out of high school.

After battling through a knee injury he suffered in high school and an NCAA issue that caused him to miss a few weeks of fall camp, it looked like Williams may not even get on the field a year ago. Instead, he wound up with two touchdown grabs in the Western Carolina game.

But after a huge fumble in the Arkansas game, he just disappeared. A hamstring injury basically cost him the entire second half of the season.

This spring, with leading receiver Josh Malone out with injury, Williams proved why he was a top prospect. The 6'4", 209-pound sophomore was the seventh-ranked receiver in last year's class and never really lived up to expectations in a poor UT receiving corps.

With a season under his belt and with a more mature attitude, Williams now appears ready to shine. Something clicked, and Jones told GoVols247's Wes Rucker that made all the difference:

"

Big spring, remarkable progress, and it all started with his mentality and his attitude and inner drive to be the best. He'd be in the training room at 6 a.m. on off days getting treatments and getting in the cold tub at 6 a.m. It's a byproduct of his investment—his investment in the receiver position, in the program, and himself. He still has strides that he has to make in terms of route running and catching the football and high-pointing and all that, but his attitude, his mentality, it's been great to see.

"

Of all the second-year players on Tennessee's roster, Williams and Kirkland Jr. may be the top picks to have huge seasons. If Williams can emerge as an alpha in UT's receiving corps, he can add a dimension to the Vols offense that hasn't existed during Jones' tenure.

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

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