A combination of coaching turnover, some poor recruiting by the prior staff and players transferring have kept Tennessee from fielding a veteran team top to bottom for the last decade or so. Tennessee, assuming the Vols don't get a surprise rash of injuries like last year, will be a veteran team in 2017.
The Defense could have nothing but 3 year or more players in the starting lineup. Unless there is a surprise young player who takes a position for himself, the only players likely to get starting time with less than 3 years on campus are Bituli and Warrior. Even then, they will both have to beat out veteran players to get that spot.
On Offense, if Dormady ends up being the starter, the only positions where depth will be managed by players who have less than three years on campus is backup QB, backup RB and in the WR rotation. Trey Smith may simply outplay the older players at an OL position to take a starting spot, but he wouldn't start due to a lack of experienced depth.
On Special Teams, the KR, K, LS, and P are all 3 year or more players. The only position up for grabs is PR.
The Vols are replacing some talent from last year's team, but this is a veteran team. If they can stay healthy, that experience could mean the Vols have a better season than many of us may expect.
The Defense could have nothing but 3 year or more players in the starting lineup. Unless there is a surprise young player who takes a position for himself, the only players likely to get starting time with less than 3 years on campus are Bituli and Warrior. Even then, they will both have to beat out veteran players to get that spot.
On Offense, if Dormady ends up being the starter, the only positions where depth will be managed by players who have less than three years on campus is backup QB, backup RB and in the WR rotation. Trey Smith may simply outplay the older players at an OL position to take a starting spot, but he wouldn't start due to a lack of experienced depth.
On Special Teams, the KR, K, LS, and P are all 3 year or more players. The only position up for grabs is PR.
The Vols are replacing some talent from last year's team, but this is a veteran team. If they can stay healthy, that experience could mean the Vols have a better season than many of us may expect.
